Why Motorist Speeding Is Such A Problem
Some of my friends in Europe may find the following hard to follow, or even to believe. The idea that a person cannot permanently loose their lisc. for speeding or continue to drive after multiple DUI’s, is tough enough. The idea that the laws we do have aren’t enforced can be mind blowing (rarely do you hear of a person getting a ticket that hasn’t broken another law, crashed or was double the posted speed limit).
For those living in The U.S, there really was a time when business and residential speed limits were 15mph. You never worried or waited pulling out of parking lots or away from a stop sign anywhere. You just merged.
People turning right used the right lane. This was because folks coming towards them, turning left, took the left lane. It was possible not just because speed limits were lower everywhere, but people obeyed the law. They knew they’d be ticketed. Not just for speeding, but illegal lane changes. Three tickets in a year meant a temporary suspension of your license. Yes, there really was a time when it was easier to get around, not just walking or riding a bike, but also for motorists.
Speeding causes congestion. Not just where lights are timed. When motorists speed from one light to the next they set longer and back up more traffic behind them. Almost daily, as I take the new bike lane from Avenue of The Cities to The Mississippi, motorists give me dirty looks as I roll past them. I slow to get a green light. I am not stopped and they have to wait for the person in front of them to get going. I don’t blame them. When I drive, it annoys me to deal with this foolishness. My wife, who is no cyclist, is getting worried. There are more and more times I refuse to drive her car (she hates to drive more than I).
All the above leads to Road Rage. Road Rage and the resulting harrassment are the real reason more people don’t walk or ride bikes on public streets. This, of course, means we have a lot more folks driving instead of utilizing alternate transportation. Our bikes have been relegated to exercise toys (how many local shop owners ride to work?). Frankly, a good bike, whether “e” or not, is too expensive to be just a toy. Inquire at any shop. It is getting harder and harder to sell quality bikes. People find it too hard to find places they feel safe to use them! This, even though we now have more and more segregated paths to share!
The fact is, most bike lanes and paths don’t go where we need to be. Sure, more and more businesses are learning the benefits of locating near trails, but we need to get to work, Dr. apt’s and to our homes! I’m lucky, I live close to segregated paths and of course work near a path. Many people are moving further and further from work, shopping and entertainment!
Now, I have been accused of attacking law enforcement (how can you say you support them or law and order if you speed?). I often ask, “when was the last time you saw a cruiser that was not speeding?” The fact is, they are moving with traffic and WE have asked our city fathers not to enforce our laws. This has to change.
It would be amazing if it were easy to ride our bikes or e-bikes for journeys of five miles or less. Were you aware that doing so drastically reduces what it costs to build, maintain and expand our roads? The fact is, cyclists already pay more than their fair share of road use taxes. We pay taxes for STROADS, Limited access highways and Interstates where we aren’t allowed to ride. In no state do motoring taxes and fees cover the cost of administration, much less actual road building. Property and income taxes, mostly out of overdrawn federal coffers, cover the shortage (that’s why we needed a bi-partisa infrastructure bill). Every mile of bike lane actually saves money. Multi-Use Paths at the very least reduce leisure driving (I have dozens of customers with e-bikes specifically for attending special events, fests and for dining/drinking). It is time we make ALL alternate transportation, much more practical.
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