[sustran] Re: [carfree_cities] Re: EU laws to put brake on bikers (motorcyclists) BUT BUT BUT

[Todd Edelman]

> Todd E. said, ?I don?t think motorcycles resemble bicycles in any way.?
>
> In addressing motorcycle use, I think it is important to recognize the
> similarities of bicycles and motorbikes.  They are both less expensive to
> purchase and operate than a four-wheeled vehicle.  They consume a similar
> amount of road and parking space.  They both tend to be single occupancy
> vehicles (though to a less extent in Asia).  They can both move through
> traffic
> by accessing space between lanes, sidewalks, and other informal spaces.
> Operators of both vehicles have a greater tendency to break traffic
> rules and
> be overlooked in enforcement of those rules.
>
> This is debatable, but I also find that there is a wider variation in
> operating
> behavior in these modes than in four-wheel vehicle operation.  My
> experience
> has been that within both bike and motorcycle operators, there are very
> aggressive, very slow-moving, very risky, and very inexperienced riders
> in both
> modes.  I think the points I mention above allow for this within-group
> variation
> to be more easily expressed than in a car.
>
> Of course there are a great number of differences between the two as
> well. I?m hardly arguing that they should be considered the same in all
> policy, but
> to deny any resemblance between the vehicles and their operators may
> blind us to
> potential obstacles and solutions.
>
> -Scott

THANKS, Scott! I guess I was thinking of a city of motorised two-wheelers
and a city of non-motorised two-wheelers, and how big a difference THAT
would be between the two.

Because of the physical similarity there are lots of problems, yes. I
think that traffic enforcement is an important part of the solution, as a
part of a behaviour change programme, involving clowns on bikes pretending
to be operating motors and polluting, for example.

In my experience most cyclists go onto the sidewalk/pavement when they
have no other choice, so if we create acceptable spaces for bicycles on
streets (whether through slowing the street, getting the parked cars off
of the street, getting all of the cars off the street, etc) we can solve
at least two problems.

T

T


>
>
> ================================================================
> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
> (the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main focus
> is on urban transport policy in Asia.
>


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Todd Edelman
International Coordinator
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