[sustran] Born to be wild! (Just not in our cities, thanks!) was: motorcycles, Athens..

[K. Tsourlakis]

The problem is not to target only at motorcycles, but not to leave them out of scope e.g. labelling them as "little guys". For instance, the official policy of the greek government is currently against private automobiles and in favour of public transit, bicycles and motorcycles (of course this is the _declared_ policy, not the _implemented_ - actually Athens is unwalkable, lacks even 1 km of bike lanes, while motorcyclists gain always new privileges and car space is meticulously preserved, e.g. when tramways are designed).

I consider the SUV ban would be a positive measure, despite the dangers you mention (i.e. to be used as a substitute for more effective actions - this danger is always present in any positive measure), because it sends the correct message to the general public.

You have also to take into consideration the imminent danger lying in the spread of motorcycles, for places where their use is now marginal. Athens and other motorcycle plagued cities are a vivid paradigm on how these places may become.

Yes, I do appreciate your interest in forwarding my posting, but if they are greeks they are certainly aware of the situation in Athens. In fact it is more those who are not greek, who should be notified on where their slackness towards motorcycles can lead a city (if you think they would care about)



>Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 16:07:41 +0200 (CEST)
>From: "Todd Edelman" <edelman at greenidea.info>
>Subject: [sustran] Born to be wild! (Just not in our cities,	thanks!)
>	was: motorcycles, Athens..
>To: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
>Message-ID: <2097.62.245.95.24.1148047661.squirrel at mail.smartweb.cz>
>Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-2
>
>KT wrote:
>
>>>
>>> You may be thinking that reducing motorcycle traffic in many parts of
>>> the EU will not make a big difference, but you must realize that in
>>> those cities where motorcycles are a significant part of the traffic
>>> it will make a huge difference. I am not sure if you also imply that
>>> people living there are worth less attention, but in any case don't
>>> expect your arguments to sound them very persuasive.
>
>
>KT, I dont think that is what I said. I agree that in cities like Athens
>and perhaps some other southern EU cities reducing the number/danger of
>motorcycles will make a difference because they represent a significant
>part of the transport mix.
>
>---
>
>>>
>>> I don't find logical the position, either to ban all forms of
>>> motorized traffic immediately, or leave them all. Some of them may be
>>> easier to be banned. Why not start from them? Even if this is
>>> considered by some as a small victory, it is still a victory. When
>>> environmental and living conditions start to improve, this will
>>> certainly create an incentive to follow further the carfree path,
>>> which will improve also the totality of the cities of Europe and tha
>>> whole world.
>
>
>I am pretty sure I didnt say to leave them all. My point was that things
>like reasonable and enforced speed limits will affect ALL vehicles on the
>streets, including cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles. This will
>reduce the damage caused by all of them, as we start to equip, re-equip,
>re-design and design cities for full functionality without individual
>motorised vehicles.
>
>Also, if only motorcycles are targeted it lets the cars off easy: This
>solves little in many places and gives the motorcyclists a political
>advantage, in comparison to all individual motorcized forms being
>targeted. This has I suppose some similarities to the kind of funny
>argument by many drivers of "normal-sized" cars to get SUVs out of the
>cities. I am for getting SUVs and motorcycles out, but the reality is that
>"normal" cars do more damage.
>
>A city in Belgium gave free transport passes to people/families who gave
>up their cars, and I strongly suggest something similar is done in Athens
>regarding motorcycles. (Maybe there can be former-motorcyclist only
>sections of PT with black leather seats, and simulated motorcycle sounds
>and vibrations ;-))
>
>---
>
>>>
>>> Certainly it will be nice if European Commission makes something on
>>> this point, although they are frequently accused for involving
>>> unnecessarily in local matters. But of course, not only motorcycles
>>> can cross the borders, but also pollution, mentalities and prospective
>>> road victims.
>
>
>YES, transport is in no way a local matter, as I am sure you agree. Some
>things are more important than others but my understanding is that the
>entire territory of the EU needs to be reasonably safe and homogeneous in
>regards to conditions. So Athens and perhaps other places need serious
>action on motorcycles, and many cities need serious action on speed limits
>and also emissions from Diesel vehicles.
>
>I hope you also appreciate that I forwarded your points about motorcycles
>in Athens to the one of the Greek MEPs on the Transport and Tourism
>committee.
>
>- T
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------
>
>Todd Edelman
>International Coordinator
>On the Train Towards the Future!
>
>Green Idea Factory
>Laubova 5
>CZ-13000 Praha 3
>
>++420 605 915 970
>
>edelman at greenidea.info
>http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain
>
>Green Idea Factory,
>a member of World Carfree Network
>



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