Comments on: Ride Of Silence http://bikeprovidence.org/2008/02/10/ride-of-silence Providence Bicycle Coalition (PBC) Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:52:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Alan Barta http://bikeprovidence.org/2008/02/10/ride-of-silence#comment-565 Alan Barta Fri, 23 May 2008 00:50:33 +0000 http://bikeprovidence.org/2008/02/10/ride-of-silence/#comment-565 When Groundworks was still in operation, they had me do a survey of all grates on roads indicated in the decade old, unrealized Providence Bicycling Plan, which included signage and striping on capitol city streets. There were 456, only 2 of which had squares and not killer slots running parallel to travel. The section of road where more of these impediments were to be found was, ironically, the bike lanes alongside the Woonasquatucket River, Promenade Street, over 100 in total. The only other bike lanes are on Allens Avenue, which are punctuated with crossing train tracks. Wonderful. You'd think they'd take grates into consideration before laying out such a plan. I've witnessed in person several horrific accidents, one a block from home. A man, possibly homeless, who used to drape his ancient Schwinn with plastic bags stuffed with only God knows what, was walking his bike across Pontiac Avenue in a crosswalk when a workman in a van ran him over. He was still alive when the rescue squad arrived to tidy up. I've not seen him since, though. By way of memorials, I used to place white painted ghost bikes where bicyclists were injured or killed, but that's not necessarily the best place for them. The times I put them in high visibility positions where they could do the most good, city and town officers quickly removed them or vandals stomped them flat out of sight. They allow balloons, flowers, placards to stricken motorists, but never suggest any memorial to cyclists, because nobody wants to hear that message, even though you're reducing your carbon and physical footprint, leaving more room for automotive impatience. When Groundworks was still in operation, they had me do a survey of all grates on roads indicated in the decade old, unrealized Providence Bicycling Plan, which included signage and striping on capitol city streets. There were 456, only 2 of which had squares and not killer slots running parallel to travel. The section of road where more of these impediments were to be found was, ironically, the bike lanes alongside the Woonasquatucket River, Promenade Street, over 100 in total. The only other bike lanes are on Allens Avenue, which are punctuated with crossing train tracks. Wonderful. You’d think they’d take grates into consideration before laying out such a plan.

I’ve witnessed in person several horrific accidents, one a block from home. A man, possibly homeless, who used to drape his ancient Schwinn with plastic bags stuffed with only God knows what, was walking his bike across Pontiac Avenue in a crosswalk when a workman in a van ran him over. He was still alive when the rescue squad arrived to tidy up. I’ve not seen him since, though.

By way of memorials, I used to place white painted ghost bikes where bicyclists were injured or killed, but that’s not necessarily the best place for them. The times I put them in high visibility positions where they could do the most good, city and town officers quickly removed them or vandals stomped them flat out of sight. They allow balloons, flowers, placards to stricken motorists, but never suggest any memorial to cyclists, because nobody wants to hear that message, even though you’re reducing your carbon and physical footprint, leaving more room for automotive impatience.

]]> By: Paul Klinkman http://bikeprovidence.org/2008/02/10/ride-of-silence#comment-513 Paul Klinkman Fri, 16 May 2008 17:43:53 +0000 http://bikeprovidence.org/2008/02/10/ride-of-silence/#comment-513 Is there a way to memorialize the site of any bear-trap storm drain covers, the kind that grab bicycle tires and flip the cyclist on her/his head? Is there a way to memorialize the site of a bad accident? Does anyone know of a particular dead man's curve near the route of the ride of silence? Is there a way to memorialize the site of any bear-trap storm drain covers, the kind that grab bicycle tires and flip the cyclist on her/his head?

Is there a way to memorialize the site of a bad accident? Does anyone know of a particular dead man’s curve near the route of the ride of silence?

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