B
Brent Hugh
Guest
Some poor motorist who had to wait 5 seconds has posted her anti-bike diatribe for your amusement.
Here is the link to the full article; below that is an excerpt:
http://illinoisleader.com/columnists/columnistsview.asp?c=6972
--------------------
MORRISON: Beware of bicycles Tuesday, July 15, 2003 By Joyce Morrison ([email protected])
OPINION -- Beware of bicycles - they could be hazardous to your health.
There are 55 bicycle trails in Illinois.
In fact, within "bicycle distance" of where we live is the Chain of Rocks bridge. This bridge
crosses the Mississippi River, which connects the Illinois bicycle trail beginning at Pere Marquette
State Park near Grafton, Illinois, to the well-known Katy Trail in Missouri. The Chain of Rocks
Bridge was recently renovated especially for pedestrians and bicycles and was paid for by we the
taxpayers.
With that wonderful recreational provision, why would 4,500 bikers (mainly from St. Louis) choose to
make a 100 mile bike ride on roads already heavy with tourist traffic that are two lane, curvy,
hilly roads under construction?
That is what Derry Brownfield of the Common Sense Coalition would call "ignorance gone to seed."
Last Sunday on our way to church, we had the "privilege" of having our patience tested. We were
behind one batch of these bikers going up a normally busy road with a steep winding hill, blind
curves, no road shoulder. And these bikers were not about to budge out of the way. To top it off,
the road was freshly milled in preparation for a new surface.
To see these two wheelers peddling up the hill with rear ends stuck in the air in tight fitting
britches is a humorous sight. But it wouldn't have been funny to have seen one stretched out along
the road with tire marks across him. These Sunday road warriors were literally risking their lives
to prove they had the right.
We were in our car. We had our seat belts on as required by the law - our insurance and license fees
were paid. We had paid fuel tax when we purchased our gasoline. Now wouldn't you think that would
give us a bit of a priority?
What was that biker's investment that would give him the right to go down the middle of the highway?
Bikers have no license, no vehicle insurance, no seat belts, no fuel tax. They are not making any
contribution into the local economy in the way of tourism dollars. They had their own manned rest
stops that furnished them with food and water, and they certainly can't pack home much from the
local shops on the back of their bikes or in those tight britches.
. . .
Bicycles have been around for a long time and brought joy to many. If used responsibly, a bicycle is
a wonderful source of exercise and recreation. But are we being prepared to be forced to use
bicycles for our major mode of transportation? Could it be this activity is purposely being placed
into an elitist status with no restrictions and licensing in an effort to lure people into this
mental mode?
If you are a biker, please ride responsibly on a trail that has been provided for your
entertainment, and for your own safety and the safety of others, please keep off the highways.
--------------------
--Brent bhugh [at] mwsc.edu
Here is the link to the full article; below that is an excerpt:
http://illinoisleader.com/columnists/columnistsview.asp?c=6972
--------------------
MORRISON: Beware of bicycles Tuesday, July 15, 2003 By Joyce Morrison ([email protected])
OPINION -- Beware of bicycles - they could be hazardous to your health.
There are 55 bicycle trails in Illinois.
In fact, within "bicycle distance" of where we live is the Chain of Rocks bridge. This bridge
crosses the Mississippi River, which connects the Illinois bicycle trail beginning at Pere Marquette
State Park near Grafton, Illinois, to the well-known Katy Trail in Missouri. The Chain of Rocks
Bridge was recently renovated especially for pedestrians and bicycles and was paid for by we the
taxpayers.
With that wonderful recreational provision, why would 4,500 bikers (mainly from St. Louis) choose to
make a 100 mile bike ride on roads already heavy with tourist traffic that are two lane, curvy,
hilly roads under construction?
That is what Derry Brownfield of the Common Sense Coalition would call "ignorance gone to seed."
Last Sunday on our way to church, we had the "privilege" of having our patience tested. We were
behind one batch of these bikers going up a normally busy road with a steep winding hill, blind
curves, no road shoulder. And these bikers were not about to budge out of the way. To top it off,
the road was freshly milled in preparation for a new surface.
To see these two wheelers peddling up the hill with rear ends stuck in the air in tight fitting
britches is a humorous sight. But it wouldn't have been funny to have seen one stretched out along
the road with tire marks across him. These Sunday road warriors were literally risking their lives
to prove they had the right.
We were in our car. We had our seat belts on as required by the law - our insurance and license fees
were paid. We had paid fuel tax when we purchased our gasoline. Now wouldn't you think that would
give us a bit of a priority?
What was that biker's investment that would give him the right to go down the middle of the highway?
Bikers have no license, no vehicle insurance, no seat belts, no fuel tax. They are not making any
contribution into the local economy in the way of tourism dollars. They had their own manned rest
stops that furnished them with food and water, and they certainly can't pack home much from the
local shops on the back of their bikes or in those tight britches.
. . .
Bicycles have been around for a long time and brought joy to many. If used responsibly, a bicycle is
a wonderful source of exercise and recreation. But are we being prepared to be forced to use
bicycles for our major mode of transportation? Could it be this activity is purposely being placed
into an elitist status with no restrictions and licensing in an effort to lure people into this
mental mode?
If you are a biker, please ride responsibly on a trail that has been provided for your
entertainment, and for your own safety and the safety of others, please keep off the highways.
--------------------
--Brent bhugh [at] mwsc.edu
