I also agree that while the bike path is a wonderful idea, it is going to be
no place for people biking between Moscow and Pullman at 15-25 mph. I hate
to think that motorists will become even more resentful of cyclists on the
highway if there is a bike path!
I was a little annoyed at the comments in yesterday's Argonaut. Asked to
comment about how bicyclists and motorists could better co-exist, the police
officer interviewed rattled off a list of things cyclists do wrong, then
added that Deborah Budwig was doing nothing wrong--not one word about what
motorists could do to increase their awareness of cyclists.
Lois
At 10:58 AM 4/30/97 -0700, Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute wrote:
>Lois,
>
>I think these are both good ideas. Thank you for raising the topic. I am
>inclined to offer PCEI as an organizing tool for such an event (#1). There
>may be a few individuals here interested in spearheading it.
>
>I am of the opinion that even with the Chipman Trail, bicyclists riding
>fast between Pullman and Moscow (eg, those doing it for transportation
>rather than a leisure stroll) will continue to ride on the highway
>(particularly when there are lots of people on the trail). We need to keep
>(make) the highway safe for bicycle commuters.
>
>Incidently, on the Thursday before the recent Triathlon. I contacted the
>Washington Department of Transportation requesting that they sweep and
>stripe the highway before the event (Sunday, April 20). The Spokane
>regional office had me call the Colfax shop office who told me that they
>were scheduled to sweep and hose the highway (shoulders) that week, but
>that they had "no control" over striping schedules.
>
>Deborah Budwig was killed on a section of highway with an inside bend where
>cars traditionally hug the shoulder. The stripe was all but gone on that
>piece of the highway. While a strip is not going to stop a drifting car,
>it does act as part of the communication between bicyclists and motorists.
>
>Tom
>
>>I've been thinking a lot about the recent death of Deborah Budwig. I think
>>all of us who bike the Pullman highway know that it could have been any of
>>us. Two thoughts occurred to me:
>>
>>1. a memorial ride from Pullman to Moscow to call attention to the number of
>>people who bike that road and the need for cyclists and auto drivers to be
>>vigilant. (But this requires organization and I'm not sure I'm up for it.)
>>
>>2. having cyclists wear a black arm band on their left arm (the side the
>>cars are on) during the month of May.
>>
>>If you think #2 is a good idea, I will do some spreading of the word. If #1
>>appeals, someone else will have to organize it.
>>
>>Lois Melina
>
>
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