What Condition My Condition Is In

 

I just dropped in to see.

Traffic scofflaws are getting exponentially worse and more bold worse here in Longmont, CO.  In a previous post about motor vehicle operators not stopping at stop signs, I displayed disdain towards both hypocritical drivers and clueless local politicians.  Nobody seems to want to hear the truth or about any proposed common sense solutions to the escalating traffic problems here, especially the Enforcement angle. There has been a recent exception in that someone in the city's staff has at least seen the light that is Education of both drivers and at risk road users.  Yes, both need education and as soon as it warmed up this Summer another annual season began with the permeation of Sidewalk Salmon bicycle riders, who are a danger to themselves mostly, but can be to others.  With uneducated and/or careless road use getting worse, it's only a matter of time before we experience the deaths that always accompany this form of selfishness.

The rest of Colorado's Front Range seems to be experiencing the same road pains.  In this case, the selfishness of a driver was compounded by alcohol and methamphetamine inpairment when he took the life of a cyclist: 

https://gazette.com/denver-gazette/family-friends-in-shock-after-cyclists-death/article_dc704f86-b837-11eb-9dd4-7b994da45d35.html  

I "knew" Mike Inglis from social media before I exited it a couple of years ago, friended up through mutual USAF Special Tactics friends.  That particular community is small and tight, with almost automatic respect.  Adding in that Mike rides bicycles and does so at a level that is akin to the levels we achieved in being USAF Special Tactics Airmen, I followed the two wheeled escapades of he and his wife.  When I read the above article a week or so after the incident, I told myself that I should find a way to contact Mike and at the very least offer condolences.  The opportunity arose at the Colorado Rockies Home Opener V2.0 when I saw him in passing at the ballpark.  I introduced myself and offered my condolences  He was very gracious and lit up when I ended our chance meeting by letting him know how fortunate he is to have a bicycle fabrication genius for a brother.  Rest Easy, Gwen

Stop?

In Colorado, Stop Means Stop.  At a red light (solid or flashing) or stop sign, motorists must make a complete stop at a clearly marked stop line or before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. And if there is no stop line or crosswalk, the driver needs to stop before entering the intersection itself.  When enforced, this Class A Infraction normally carries a $70 fine and $10 surcharge.  Depending on the circumstances, a red light or stop sign violation could also result in a Reckless Driving conviction. When one of these violations leads to the death of another person (especially at risk roadway users), Vehicular Homicide charges are another possibility.  Why is it then, that in the past week and a half here, I have not seen ONE motorist at a Stop signed intersection without opposing traffic come to a stop?  In some cases there was opposing traffic and still the violator pulled right out without stopping, some not even slowing down.  Are people's lives so important that a few seconds of their day are worth the risk of $80 in fines, or even the lives of other road users?  Is this what society is becoming?

Since the State Of Colorado passed SB 18-144 aka The Idaho Stop Law, municipalities have had the opportunity to adopt it as law.  This law allows bicyclists to roll through a Stop sign when unopposed by traffic and treat red lights as a Stop sign, due to traffic control devices not always being able to notice a bicycle as a vehicle at a signal.  Since Idaho adopted this law, vehicle vs bicycle collisions decreased by 14%.  Why is it then that so many municipalities are sitting on their hands and not adopting this new law, as Thornton has and was already in place under Home Rule laws in a few other municipalities here in Colorado?  City Council here decided to sit on their hands on this issue last May for one year.  I had contacted Council via email at one point about their intentions and heard nothing but crickets from most of them.  The one Council Member that did respond stated that the CML (Colorado Municipal League) advised against adopting SB 18-144.  I contacted the CML and they advised they were not advising neither for, nor against adopting SB 18-144.  My Bullshit Meter is a finely tuned instrument.  I'm now left wondering how liable the City is for 14% of the bicyclists who have had a collision with a motor vehicle since May 2019...

Again, the needle is skipping on the broken record that is my chirping about Education and Enforcement are what is needed most to protect at risk road users.  The motoring scofflaws that refuse to come to a Stop at Stop signs need to start paying for their selfishness, or others will be paying for their sins...especially at risk road users.

One last thought on the matter, in reading comments on media posts about anything to do with bicyclists there is often much crowing from motorists to the tune of "Bicyclists never Stop for Stop signs!"  How many of them never Stop for Stop signs in their vehicles?  In the past week and a half here, I see a parade of hypocrites.