Comments on: Bikes mounting, it’s time to break the cycle http://dailytrojan.com/2009/11/19/bikes-mounting-it%e2%80%99s-time-to-break-the-cycle/ University of Southern California Thu, 24 May 2012 19:41:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Christopher Miranda http://dailytrojan.com/2009/11/19/bikes-mounting-it%e2%80%99s-time-to-break-the-cycle/comment-page-1/#comment-2236 Christopher Miranda Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:06:47 +0000 http://dailytrojan.com/?p=5382#comment-2236 <p>My apologies--I forgot about longboarders and skateboarders who weave through pedestrian traffic. Many of them know how to jump off their boards to stop, but not how to stop their boards from hitting others.</p> My apologies–I forgot about longboarders and skateboarders who weave through pedestrian traffic. Many of them know how to jump off their boards to stop, but not how to stop their boards from hitting others.

]]> By: Christopher Miranda http://dailytrojan.com/2009/11/19/bikes-mounting-it%e2%80%99s-time-to-break-the-cycle/comment-page-1/#comment-2235 Christopher Miranda Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:04:43 +0000 http://dailytrojan.com/?p=5382#comment-2235 <p>The worst part about this is that it's not just bicyclists who disregard traffic law. I have witnessed all vehicles--cars, bicycles, Campus Cruiser, DPS chariots, and DPS SUVs--disregard traffic law.</p> <p>It might be argued that DPS chariots and DPS SUVs do not have to stop at stop signs. After all, they have places to be, maybe emergencies. I, however, witnessed a DPS chariot crossing Jefferson and McClintock during a "Walking" phase, after coming out of the bike path on Jefferson, going against traffic. I was curious about where the DPS officer was headed, and because I was on bicycle, followed the officer to PSA, the parking area for chariots. I do not believe that finding a parking spot would qualify as an emergency, enabling the DPS officer to cross the street in the crosswalk during a Walking phase. After all, bicyclists have been cited for doing this exact thing! Of course, during this pursuit, I also witnessed a DPS SUV barely slowing down at a Stop sign, and 2 chariots not even slowing down at the same stop sign. DPS needs to realize that it sets examples for students who are unfamiliar with California Vehicle Code, as it relates to bicycles.</p> <p>Pedestrians also need to realize that even on campus, they should look down the street before crossing. It isn't just a bicycle safety issue. Pedestrians need to be smart. Bicyclists need to be smart. Cars, and the DPS need to be smart.</p> The worst part about this is that it’s not just bicyclists who disregard traffic law. I have witnessed all vehicles–cars, bicycles, Campus Cruiser, DPS chariots, and DPS SUVs–disregard traffic law.

It might be argued that DPS chariots and DPS SUVs do not have to stop at stop signs. After all, they have places to be, maybe emergencies. I, however, witnessed a DPS chariot crossing Jefferson and McClintock during a “Walking” phase, after coming out of the bike path on Jefferson, going against traffic. I was curious about where the DPS officer was headed, and because I was on bicycle, followed the officer to PSA, the parking area for chariots. I do not believe that finding a parking spot would qualify as an emergency, enabling the DPS officer to cross the street in the crosswalk during a Walking phase. After all, bicyclists have been cited for doing this exact thing! Of course, during this pursuit, I also witnessed a DPS SUV barely slowing down at a Stop sign, and 2 chariots not even slowing down at the same stop sign. DPS needs to realize that it sets examples for students who are unfamiliar with California Vehicle Code, as it relates to bicycles.

Pedestrians also need to realize that even on campus, they should look down the street before crossing. It isn’t just a bicycle safety issue. Pedestrians need to be smart. Bicyclists need to be smart. Cars, and the DPS need to be smart.

]]> By: mc http://dailytrojan.com/2009/11/19/bikes-mounting-it%e2%80%99s-time-to-break-the-cycle/comment-page-1/#comment-2077 mc Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:36:03 +0000 http://dailytrojan.com/?p=5382#comment-2077 <p>USC students who commute on bicycles are not the problem. As a cyclist myself I have ridden with real cycling pro's and understand how important safety is. All those students are not "COMMUTING" they just don't want to walk 50 let alone 500 yards. They are the worst cyclist I have ever seen awho don't even care about safety gear and even less common courtesy. Go stand at Gate 5 at high noon and tell me USC is not in trouble. USC quality of life is suffering and even outsiders (visitors, contractors, LAFD, LAPD) cannot beleive how unsafe the students are. IT is not DPS job to teach common sense. It is time to stop riding in the interior of the campus it is too unsafe and no one listens or cares if they are late.</p> USC students who commute on bicycles are not the problem. As a cyclist myself I have ridden with real cycling pro’s and understand how important safety is. All those students are not “COMMUTING” they just don’t want to walk 50 let alone 500 yards. They are the worst cyclist I have ever seen awho don’t even care about safety gear and even less common courtesy. Go stand at Gate 5 at high noon and tell me USC is not in trouble. USC quality of life is suffering and even outsiders (visitors, contractors, LAFD, LAPD) cannot beleive how unsafe the students are. IT is not DPS job to teach common sense. It is time to stop riding in the interior of the campus it is too unsafe and no one listens or cares if they are late.

]]> By: Hat http://dailytrojan.com/2009/11/19/bikes-mounting-it%e2%80%99s-time-to-break-the-cycle/comment-page-1/#comment-2070 Hat Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:12:53 +0000 http://dailytrojan.com/?p=5382#comment-2070 <p>Oh my gosh, we better educate students about the DANGERS OF CYCLING before it's too late!!! What has caused this sudden rash of anti-cycling articles in the Daily Trojan?</p> <p>As a cyclist commuting from the west side of Los Angeles, I would welcome secure bike storage near the edge of campus (bike lockers--racks don't count, unless there's a DPS officer standing by them 24/7, and even then...). Until DPS implements secure storage, I will ride my bike across campus to store it in my office.</p> <p>What DPS does not seem to realize is that discouraging cyclists is just going to encourage them to drive--they don't just magically go away when you harass them. Ah well, I guess it's not DPS's problem if the traffic around campus gets worse.</p> Oh my gosh, we better educate students about the DANGERS OF CYCLING before it’s too late!!! What has caused this sudden rash of anti-cycling articles in the Daily Trojan?

As a cyclist commuting from the west side of Los Angeles, I would welcome secure bike storage near the edge of campus (bike lockers–racks don’t count, unless there’s a DPS officer standing by them 24/7, and even then…). Until DPS implements secure storage, I will ride my bike across campus to store it in my office.

What DPS does not seem to realize is that discouraging cyclists is just going to encourage them to drive–they don’t just magically go away when you harass them. Ah well, I guess it’s not DPS’s problem if the traffic around campus gets worse.

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