Bicycle Rights: "...deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. ..." [excerpt of 14th Amendment] When there are obstructions in the paths of cars our taxes clean it up, faster than glass is cleared from bicycle ways. We are reminded that we bicyclists are required to obey the traffic laws just as cars do, but we are not "equally protected". Abeit there are some squirrelly things about the way the 14th Amendment was written and applied, the CONCEPT is clear: We are to be treated as equals. Purely, it we should be PRIORILY protected by law because we are less harmful, take up less space and natural resources, pollute less, and are more vulnerable to injury by cars.
Paradoxically, in Arcata, a Green Party stronghold, broken glass is left for too long. It should be a priority of City works to clean it up in the spirit of "equal protection of the laws". The cops should observe and report, and cleanup crews dispatched quickly. This brings up the idea of the taxes that go to CalTrans being kept here for more local street improvements, since we are subsidizing larger cities' transportation maintenance. We have the power to network with other cities to change these State and Federal problems. It is but the critical mass of public awareness that causes these entities to change their tune. Don't underestimate our power in this regard.
Street signs: That inform drivers when there is a 2-way stop, and which way the cross traffic is running. A sign could read: "2-way cross traffic does not stop", or "1-way cross traffic does not stop", with arrows indicating the direction of that cross travel. This differentiates from a 4 way stop intersection. This would prevent accidents. Especially for out-of-town drivers in a hurry or even locals having a bad-hair day, late to that pressing appointment.
Go back to Dex Anderson, INDEPENDENT candidate for Arcata City Council in 2002 main page.