There's a lovely bit of rural bigotry cunningly disguised as a petition to ban cyclists from farm-to-market roads - essentially all county roads - in the state of Iowa. It's includes this slightly over blown prose:
Over the past ten years the number of bicyclists using these farm-to-market roads for recreational purposes has increased dramatically as have the number of preventable accidents and fatalities.
Rural commerce and citizens are significantly impacted when forced to share the farm-to-market roadways with bicyclists. Because of the growth of today's commerce and agricultural business, shared roadways are no longer safe or practical in today's society.
Gosh, the cows must be feasting on all those dead bodies. Nationally, the number of cycling deaths has been trending downward, though a slight uptick last year gave some of the busy bodies an opportunity to hyperventilate. I'd expect that Iowa is trending downward too.
In fact, Mike Brownlee of the Iowa Bicycling Coalition wrote this on July 8th: "There were eight bicyclist fatalities in 2008 in Iowa and the state averages about 5-7 bicycle deaths per year." (Source - Iowa Bicycle Coalition) Want to bet there were more deaths from falls in the bathtub? Maybe Iowa should ban bathtubs. It would save more lives.
So, absent a high body count, amputated limbs, heads lolling in the gutter, and the like, I think it's safe to say that the petition is, um, suitable for spreading on Iowa's lush, green corn fields thereby making them lusher and greener.
It's a non-starter, folks.
Comments
Iowa can suck it.
I'm not going to click that link, which I assume is to that petition. Why give it traffic it doesn't deserve? Given the stats you quoted, I wonder what a "dramatic" increase is? As for shared roadways, yes, let's build separate bicycle boulevards adjacent to every roadway, as they do in many European cities. Well, one can dream can one? Thanks.
Bike riders think they own the road yet the have no respect for the rules of the road and are a hazard to everyone on the road including themselves.
I'm all for the free exchange of ideas, so I have to ask - if cyclists are "a hazard to everyone on the road including themselves" as J so adroitly pointed out, what studies, statistics, or other objective, observable facts support this statement? Mike Brownlee said there were 8 cycling fatalities in Iowa last year. How many motorists died or were injured due to cyclists? How many pedestrians? What negative economic impact (if any) occurred in that state due to cyclists, and was it dramatically offset by the positive effects on the economy? What are the annual bicycling sale figures (in millions of dollars) and how many people are employed in the industry. What happens to those jobs and those sales if cycling is outlawed?
Inquiring minds want to know.
If you people are so sure we are wrong, then let it go to a vote of the people in 2010. What is more fair then a good old fashioned vote. Lets see what the majority of the people of IOWA want. How does it get any better then that? I bet they want the bicycle's gone. That is why you are such a mad bunch of people.
Truck 234, you seem to think that petition will result in a vote sometime next year. Iowa doesn't have a means for citizens to introduce legislation via petition. It's meaningless. You'd have to convince Iowa legislators to call for such a vote, and so far at least, there's been no action in that direction.
You may want to consider the economic impact that cycling brings. Besides the jobs from all those small businesses, consider the amount of money a big tour like RAGBRAI brings into the state. Touring cyclists ride into town, spend money, and leave. It's gravy for those small towns, at least the ones that have the fore sight to attract the riders.
Finally, though, it comes down to numbers. The whiners who signed that 'petition' are far outnumbered by cyclists, business owners, and thoughtful legislators. The bogus 'petition' is little more than an opportunity for them to vent. And trucker, democracy ALWAYS comes down to numbers.
Ed, we know the petiton will not call for a vote. We were told by a Legislator to do the petition, then get a sponsor. which I think we have. As far as economic impact, ask Indianola to give all the cost veres income from Ragbria. You can turn a lot of dollars, but if there is no profit in it, whats the use. Just ask Chrysler. Now if you want some numbers, 20,000 biclist in Iowa, 3 million people. Lets vote. Farm gross dollars for 2006 from the Iowa Reg. 19 billion
Ed
If you want more numbers, I will have them, as soon as the state of Ia. gets back to me. By the way, why do you think 3 wheeled ATV's got banned by the Fed. Gov.?
What, no responce ED? I was waiting for you, I have lots of numbers.
"Responce" to what? Your numbers? That alleged petition hasn't reached 800 signatures yet. I can find that many people who believe that Michael Jackson died for their sins or that Elvis appeared on their front porch in a UFO.
Or are you referring to the 3 wheeled ATVs that were banned for rolling over so easily?
Ed, you didnt respond to the numbers, how did the Bike coalition come up with 24 million, oh, it was there own paid for study, you did not respond to how much profit Indianola made from Ragbrai, what, dont like them numbers, so blow them off, as far as our 800, what about our signed petition's ED.We will count them later. What about a vote of the people? Lets try that one on for size. ED, dont forget,democracy always comes down to numbers. So lets VOTE.
Truck, I still don't know what you're referring to with that 24 million figure. 24 million dollars? Cyclists? It really helps to have some frame of reference, so feel free to cite those references. If you're saying RAGBRAI brings in $24 million, that may not be out of line when compared to similar tours in other states. But again, what's the reference?
Also, since I'm part of the Reality Based Community, it's only fair to point out that I question unsubstantiated assertions, regardless of their origin. So with that in mind, take a look at commuteroutrageDOTconm for the stupidnomics post. LAB says that bicycling contributes $133 billion to the economy, or about $2200 per cyclist, a figure that grossly distorted.
Ed
The Iowa bike coalition says that biking brings in 24 million dollars. They do not say if that includes Ragbria. They also do not say where that number came from. After some research, I did find out that they had there own study done. Whoop pee, I can have a study done and get all the numbers I want, that is what the 24 million is about. Now for real numbers, when bicyclists talk about banning farmers, I just have to laugh, how stupid could you be. Where are they going to get food? Iowa, in 2006 had a revenue of 19 billin dollars from agriculture. Check it out in the Iowa finace registry/ Could not find 08, but I know it would be way higher because of grain prices. Thanks
I live in Iowa and I know first hand how dangerous it is to come around a curve on a 55mph county highway and BAM, there's a cyclist in the middle of the road and I have to slam on my brakes to miss him. They don't follow the laws, they cut you off at intersections to get in front of you to slow you down two blocks down the road and make auto traffic VERY VERY dangerous. This petition is WELL on it's way to making a difference for not only the safety of the bikers but also the safety of the cars that try to avoid them, when we can see them.
If you were from Iowa and experiencing this day after day after day, you would be upset and worried about safety too!
First, you're driving at high speed around a blind curve and you have to brake to avoid someone or something on the road - and somehow it's the cyclist's fault for being there? If it were a neighbor's prize Holstein, would it be the cow's fault or would it be that you were driving too fast for conditions? It's always the overtaking driver's responsibility to pass safely. Always. No pie for you.
Now, as for cyclists running red light and all the rest - did you call the police when that happened? If a motorist does the same, do you call the cops or immediately demand that all motorists be banned from state roads? Reasonable, rational people see the absurdity of the bogus 'ban the bikes' petition based on what passes for logic among some Iowans.
You're right in one thing. I've never been to Iowa, but what makes you think twisty roads exist there alone? Take a deep breath, slow down, and pass when it's safe. It ain't rocket science.
We should learn from Coloroado and college towns and install more biker lanes.
Biker lanes! Why didn't I think of that? We could have lanes for Harleys and other big-displacement bikes. We could have lanes for smaller bikes, mopeds, and even electric-assist bicycles. But why stop there? Let's add special lanes for tiny Smart Cars, larger passenger cars, lanes for trucks and vans, and another for semi-trucks and buses. Adding that up, it comes to 16 lanes or about 192 feet of roadway width. Gosh, it surely would make the road safer, although all the adjacent houses and businesses would have to be razed to accommodate that extra width. But they'd certainly be happy to know that their homeless existence would be far safer due to huge, multiple lane roads.
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