Comments on: Auburn University to become more bicycle friendly http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396 News Releases from Auburn University Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:37:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Matt http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396/comment-page-1#comment-52 Matt Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:42:52 +0000 http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/?p=396#comment-52 @M Koppersmith Research is not invalidated by age, but by new, contradictory evidence. You do bring up a good point, though. The fact that drivers today are even more distracted than before would likely increase accident rates in all cases (bikers traveling towards/with traffic or on sidewalks), but certainly not decrease accident rates. @M Koppersmith

Research is not invalidated by age, but by new, contradictory evidence. You do bring up a good point, though. The fact that drivers today are even more distracted than before would likely increase accident rates in all cases (bikers traveling towards/with traffic or on sidewalks), but certainly not decrease accident rates.

]]> By: Dave Corley http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396/comment-page-1#comment-45 Dave Corley Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:03:52 +0000 http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/?p=396#comment-45 Great idea, safe bike/pedestrian lanes will get a lot of cars off the road & hopefully get more people out for some much needed exercise - however I've seen numerous near accidents mainly due to a moron on a bike who doesn't have a clue of basic bike rules - anyone who drives a car, motorcycle or bike on campus should have to take a simple "rules of the road" test that covers right of way for bikes, pedestrians & vehicles, if you don't make 100%, walk... Great idea, safe bike/pedestrian lanes will get a lot of cars off the road & hopefully get more people out for some much needed exercise – however I’ve seen numerous near accidents mainly due to a moron on a bike who doesn’t have a clue of basic bike rules – anyone who drives a car, motorcycle or bike on campus should have to take a simple “rules of the road” test that covers right of way for bikes, pedestrians & vehicles, if you don’t make 100%, walk…

]]> By: Bill McCallister, Jr. http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396/comment-page-1#comment-41 Bill McCallister, Jr. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:01:50 +0000 http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/?p=396#comment-41 I really was pleased to see the progress in providing an alternative to using a car. Keep up the good work. Once again Auburn is on the correct path to the future. I really was pleased to see the progress in providing an alternative to using a car. Keep up the good work. Once again Auburn is on the correct path to the future.

]]> By: Illinois War Eagle http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396/comment-page-1#comment-39 Illinois War Eagle Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:32:13 +0000 http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/?p=396#comment-39 Great story. I would have loved to have seen this back in the 80's and 90's growing up in Auburn and also going to college there. I can't tell you have many hundreds of times I drove out to Chewacla simply because I never felt comfortable riding my bike out on Wrights Mill Road or South College. Great story. I would have loved to have seen this back in the 80’s and 90’s growing up in Auburn and also going to college there. I can’t tell you have many hundreds of times I drove out to Chewacla simply because I never felt comfortable riding my bike out on Wrights Mill Road or South College.

]]> By: M Koppersmith http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396/comment-page-1#comment-37 M Koppersmith Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:11:06 +0000 http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/?p=396#comment-37 I would question the accuracy of a 14 year old study re the safety of bicycling on sidewalks vs the steet. Technology changes such as the widespread use of cell phones, and texting by inattentive drivers, has likely rendered this report obsolete. Information reported in many newspapers indicates this as a causation factor not only in automobile accidents, but also in accidents between vehicles and both bicycles and pedestrians alike. Such widespread use did not exist 14 years ago. When I was growing up parents and teachers alike always taught us to walk and ride facing and watching the traffic so that you would have a chance to jump out of the way in case an oncoming driver was not paying attention to his driving for any reason such as tuning the radio, etc. It would seem that this is even more important now that drivers have cell phones, navigation systems, and other such items which can and do distract them. Just my observations from a senior citizen perspective. I would question the accuracy of a 14 year old study re the safety of bicycling on sidewalks vs the steet. Technology changes such as the widespread use of cell phones, and texting by inattentive drivers, has likely rendered this report obsolete. Information reported in many newspapers indicates this as a causation factor not only in automobile accidents, but also in accidents between vehicles and both bicycles and pedestrians alike. Such widespread use did not exist 14 years ago. When I was growing up parents and teachers alike always taught us to walk and ride facing and watching the traffic so that you would have a chance to jump out of the way in case an oncoming driver was not paying attention to his driving for any reason such as tuning the radio, etc. It would seem that this is even more important now that drivers have cell phones, navigation systems, and other such items which can and do distract them.

Just my observations from a senior citizen perspective.

]]> By: Matt http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396/comment-page-1#comment-9 Matt Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:48:28 +0000 http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/?p=396#comment-9 Actually, GS, it is more dangerous to ride on the sidewalk than the street. There are a few studies which have proven this fact. Here is a good outline about a 1994 study that compared cycling on a sidewalk vs. the street: http://tinyurl.com/5mkazv . The original paper can be found here: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/00224375/1996/00000027/00000003/art82242 "The average cyclist in this study incurs a risk on the sidewalk 1.8 times as great as on the roadway, and the result is statistically significant." "The greatest risk found in this study is for bicyclists over 18 traveling against traffic on the sidewalk. Each of these characteristics is hazardous in itself; combined, they present 5.3 times the average risk." Actually, GS, it is more dangerous to ride on the sidewalk than the street. There are a few studies which have proven this fact. Here is a good outline about a 1994 study that compared cycling on a sidewalk vs. the street: http://tinyurl.com/5mkazv . The original paper can be found here: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/00224375/1996/00000027/00000003/art82242

“The average cyclist in this study incurs a risk on the sidewalk 1.8 times as great as on the roadway, and the result is statistically significant.”

“The greatest risk found in this study is for bicyclists over 18 traveling against traffic on the sidewalk. Each of these characteristics is hazardous in itself; combined, they present 5.3 times the average risk.”

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