Sierra Club -- cycling is scary - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-04-2005, 08:36 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>> From the January issue of the Sierra Club's magazine, ostensibly
>> trying to encourage people to ride:
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> "But I'm scared stiff of biking"
> Well, you should be. There are a lot of idiots behind the wheel, and
> 662 cyclists were among the more than 42,500 Americans slaughtered in
> motor vehicle accidents in 2002. Bikers should learn safety measures
> and, above all, wear a helmet. About 85 percent of those cyclists were
> not wearing helmets. Avoiding main roads and staying sober greatly
> increase your odds of survival, since about 60 percent of bike
> fatalities occur on major roads, and over a fourth of the dead
> cyclists had been drinking. Also, the fatality rate soars at night.

The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club. They exist
mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not to line
their pockets, it's to feather their caps.

Matt O.

01-04-2005, 08:36 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>> From the January issue of the Sierra Club's magazine, ostensibly
>> trying to encourage people to ride:
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> "But I'm scared stiff of biking"
> Well, you should be. There are a lot of idiots behind the wheel, and
> 662 cyclists were among the more than 42,500 Americans slaughtered in
> motor vehicle accidents in 2002. Bikers should learn safety measures
> and, above all, wear a helmet. About 85 percent of those cyclists were
> not wearing helmets. Avoiding main roads and staying sober greatly
> increase your odds of survival, since about 60 percent of bike
> fatalities occur on major roads, and over a fourth of the dead
> cyclists had been drinking. Also, the fatality rate soars at night.

The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club. They exist
mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not to line
their pockets, it's to feather their caps.

Matt O.

01-04-2005, 08:36 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>> From the January issue of the Sierra Club's magazine, ostensibly
>> trying to encourage people to ride:
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> "But I'm scared stiff of biking"
> Well, you should be. There are a lot of idiots behind the wheel, and
> 662 cyclists were among the more than 42,500 Americans slaughtered in
> motor vehicle accidents in 2002. Bikers should learn safety measures
> and, above all, wear a helmet. About 85 percent of those cyclists were
> not wearing helmets. Avoiding main roads and staying sober greatly
> increase your odds of survival, since about 60 percent of bike
> fatalities occur on major roads, and over a fourth of the dead
> cyclists had been drinking. Also, the fatality rate soars at night.

The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club. They exist
mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not to line
their pockets, it's to feather their caps.

Matt O.

01-05-2005, 12:15 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club.
They exist
> mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not
to line
> their pockets, it's to feather their caps.

You're welcome to hate whomever you wish, of course. The Sierra Club
certainly has its share of flakes and that article does include some
stupid comments, but not all chapters or members are the same.

I've been a Sierra Club member for about 10 years. The chapter I
belong to has a few flakes, but our membership is predominantly
scientists, engineers and teachers. Our chapter is involved with our
community: we pick up trash at local parks; we help the county plant
trees for erosion control; we sponsor film festivals and lectures; we
organize outings, etc. To my knowledge, nobody in our chapter gets
paid.

As for the cycling article: if their data are correct, then I'm
surprised by the number of cyclists who drink and ride. I'm
comfortable on public roads -- alert, but comfortable -- but there's no
way I'd go out there with a couple of beers in me.

The night riding statistic doesn't surprise me so much -- without
proper reflection/lighting we can be damned hard to see. It's worth
taking note even if the rest of the article is screwy.

JR

01-05-2005, 12:15 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club.
They exist
> mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not
to line
> their pockets, it's to feather their caps.

You're welcome to hate whomever you wish, of course. The Sierra Club
certainly has its share of flakes and that article does include some
stupid comments, but not all chapters or members are the same.

I've been a Sierra Club member for about 10 years. The chapter I
belong to has a few flakes, but our membership is predominantly
scientists, engineers and teachers. Our chapter is involved with our
community: we pick up trash at local parks; we help the county plant
trees for erosion control; we sponsor film festivals and lectures; we
organize outings, etc. To my knowledge, nobody in our chapter gets
paid.

As for the cycling article: if their data are correct, then I'm
surprised by the number of cyclists who drink and ride. I'm
comfortable on public roads -- alert, but comfortable -- but there's no
way I'd go out there with a couple of beers in me.

The night riding statistic doesn't surprise me so much -- without
proper reflection/lighting we can be damned hard to see. It's worth
taking note even if the rest of the article is screwy.

JR

01-05-2005, 12:15 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club.
They exist
> mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not
to line
> their pockets, it's to feather their caps.

You're welcome to hate whomever you wish, of course. The Sierra Club
certainly has its share of flakes and that article does include some
stupid comments, but not all chapters or members are the same.

I've been a Sierra Club member for about 10 years. The chapter I
belong to has a few flakes, but our membership is predominantly
scientists, engineers and teachers. Our chapter is involved with our
community: we pick up trash at local parks; we help the county plant
trees for erosion control; we sponsor film festivals and lectures; we
organize outings, etc. To my knowledge, nobody in our chapter gets
paid.

As for the cycling article: if their data are correct, then I'm
surprised by the number of cyclists who drink and ride. I'm
comfortable on public roads -- alert, but comfortable -- but there's no
way I'd go out there with a couple of beers in me.

The night riding statistic doesn't surprise me so much -- without
proper reflection/lighting we can be damned hard to see. It's worth
taking note even if the rest of the article is screwy.

JR

01-05-2005, 12:15 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club.
They exist
> mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not
to line
> their pockets, it's to feather their caps.

You're welcome to hate whomever you wish, of course. The Sierra Club
certainly has its share of flakes and that article does include some
stupid comments, but not all chapters or members are the same.

I've been a Sierra Club member for about 10 years. The chapter I
belong to has a few flakes, but our membership is predominantly
scientists, engineers and teachers. Our chapter is involved with our
community: we pick up trash at local parks; we help the county plant
trees for erosion control; we sponsor film festivals and lectures; we
organize outings, etc. To my knowledge, nobody in our chapter gets
paid.

As for the cycling article: if their data are correct, then I'm
surprised by the number of cyclists who drink and ride. I'm
comfortable on public roads -- alert, but comfortable -- but there's no
way I'd go out there with a couple of beers in me.

The night riding statistic doesn't surprise me so much -- without
proper reflection/lighting we can be damned hard to see. It's worth
taking note even if the rest of the article is screwy.

JR

01-05-2005, 01:24 PM

On 5 Jan 2005 12:15:10 -0800, "SlowRider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Matt O'Toole wrote:
>> The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club.
>They exist
>> mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not
>to line
>> their pockets, it's to feather their caps.
>
>You're welcome to hate whomever you wish, of course. The Sierra Club
>certainly has its share of flakes and that article does include some
>stupid comments, but not all chapters or members are the same.
>
>I've been a Sierra Club member for about 10 years. The chapter I
>belong to has a few flakes, but our membership is predominantly
>scientists, engineers and teachers. Our chapter is involved with our
>community: we pick up trash at local parks; we help the county plant
>trees for erosion control; we sponsor film festivals and lectures; we
>organize outings, etc. To my knowledge, nobody in our chapter gets
>paid.
>
>As for the cycling article: if their data are correct, then I'm
>surprised by the number of cyclists who drink and ride. I'm
>comfortable on public roads -- alert, but comfortable -- but there's no
>way I'd go out there with a couple of beers in me.
>
>The night riding statistic doesn't surprise me so much -- without
>proper reflection/lighting we can be damned hard to see. It's worth
>taking note even if the rest of the article is screwy.
>
>JR

It isn't surprising that riding drunk leads to accidents. Balance is
pretty damn important to riding a bike and I bet it goes ride down the
tubes when you drink. Is it possible that 1/4 bicycle accidents
involves a tipsy rider? Who checks to see? I don't think breathalyzer
testing is required for a bike rider.

01-05-2005, 01:24 PM

On 5 Jan 2005 12:15:10 -0800, "SlowRider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Matt O'Toole wrote:
>> The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club.
>They exist
>> mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not
>to line
>> their pockets, it's to feather their caps.
>
>You're welcome to hate whomever you wish, of course. The Sierra Club
>certainly has its share of flakes and that article does include some
>stupid comments, but not all chapters or members are the same.
>
>I've been a Sierra Club member for about 10 years. The chapter I
>belong to has a few flakes, but our membership is predominantly
>scientists, engineers and teachers. Our chapter is involved with our
>community: we pick up trash at local parks; we help the county plant
>trees for erosion control; we sponsor film festivals and lectures; we
>organize outings, etc. To my knowledge, nobody in our chapter gets
>paid.
>
>As for the cycling article: if their data are correct, then I'm
>surprised by the number of cyclists who drink and ride. I'm
>comfortable on public roads -- alert, but comfortable -- but there's no
>way I'd go out there with a couple of beers in me.
>
>The night riding statistic doesn't surprise me so much -- without
>proper reflection/lighting we can be damned hard to see. It's worth
>taking note even if the rest of the article is screwy.
>
>JR

It isn't surprising that riding drunk leads to accidents. Balance is
pretty damn important to riding a bike and I bet it goes ride down the
tubes when you drink. Is it possible that 1/4 bicycle accidents
involves a tipsy rider? Who checks to see? I don't think breathalyzer
testing is required for a bike rider.

01-05-2005, 01:24 PM

On 5 Jan 2005 12:15:10 -0800, "SlowRider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Matt O'Toole wrote:
>> The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. I hate the Sierra Club.
>They exist
>> mostly for the benefit of the people on their payroll. If it's not
>to line
>> their pockets, it's to feather their caps.
>
>You're welcome to hate whomever you wish, of course. The Sierra Club
>certainly has its share of flakes and that article does include some
>stupid comments, but not all chapters or members are the same.
>
>I've been a Sierra Club member for about 10 years. The chapter I
>belong to has a few flakes, but our membership is predominantly
>scientists, engineers and teachers. Our chapter is involved with our
>community: we pick up trash at local parks; we help the county plant
>trees for erosion control; we sponsor film festivals and lectures; we
>organize outings, etc. To my knowledge, nobody in our chapter gets
>paid.
>
>As for the cycling article: if their data are correct, then I'm
>surprised by the number of cyclists who drink and ride. I'm
>comfortable on public roads -- alert, but comfortable -- but there's no
>way I'd go out there with a couple of beers in me.
>
>The night riding statistic doesn't surprise me so much -- without
>proper reflection/lighting we can be damned hard to see. It's worth
>taking note even if the rest of the article is screwy.
>
>JR

It isn't surprising that riding drunk leads to accidents. Balance is
pretty damn important to riding a bike and I bet it goes ride down the
tubes when you drink. Is it possible that 1/4 bicycle accidents
involves a tipsy rider? Who checks to see? I don't think breathalyzer
testing is required for a bike rider.