M
Mark & Steven Bornfeld
Guest
David Damerell wrote:
> Quoting Steven Bornfeld <[email protected]>:
>
>> Context is everything. Anti-helmet folks using risk compensation seem
>>to say that any perceived protective measure is useless for its intended
>>function--that safety measures in short do not promote safety--that they
>>promote risky behavior.
>
>
> This, specifically, is false. I've mentioned many times to Scharf that the
> only effect of lights actually demonstrated by research is that of "any
> lights" versus "no lights" (not, alas, "battery lights SMS sells^W likes"
> versus "dynamo lights").
>
> Based on the research of the UK's Transport Research Laboratory I am quite
> confident that lights improve overall safety.
>
> I also believe that brakes improve overall safety, although I have no
> definite statistics (but there's nothing wrong with using supposition
> where there _are_ no definite statistics); I think that riding at all with
> no brakes is so dangerous that it simply is not possible to increase speed
> in order to achieve a similar level of danger on a bike with brakes, and
> incredibly difficult to maneuver so as to achieve that level of danger.
I assume you don't race track. ;-)
Seriously, in Brooklyn there are plenty of riders on fixed gears riding
in traffic, though most have a front brake. Of course, most of those
guys are terrific bike handlers.
Steve
--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
> Quoting Steven Bornfeld <[email protected]>:
>
>> Context is everything. Anti-helmet folks using risk compensation seem
>>to say that any perceived protective measure is useless for its intended
>>function--that safety measures in short do not promote safety--that they
>>promote risky behavior.
>
>
> This, specifically, is false. I've mentioned many times to Scharf that the
> only effect of lights actually demonstrated by research is that of "any
> lights" versus "no lights" (not, alas, "battery lights SMS sells^W likes"
> versus "dynamo lights").
>
> Based on the research of the UK's Transport Research Laboratory I am quite
> confident that lights improve overall safety.
>
> I also believe that brakes improve overall safety, although I have no
> definite statistics (but there's nothing wrong with using supposition
> where there _are_ no definite statistics); I think that riding at all with
> no brakes is so dangerous that it simply is not possible to increase speed
> in order to achieve a similar level of danger on a bike with brakes, and
> incredibly difficult to maneuver so as to achieve that level of danger.
I assume you don't race track. ;-)
Seriously, in Brooklyn there are plenty of riders on fixed gears riding
in traffic, though most have a front brake. Of course, most of those
guys are terrific bike handlers.
Steve
--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001