Comments on: Watch Out For Mr. Thornton If You’re Riding In Kalamazoo http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/watch-out-for-mr-thornton-if-youre-riding-in-kalamazoo/ Two Wheels, one GPS and a Camera Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:09:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: klshttp://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/watch-out-for-mr-thornton-if-youre-riding-in-kalamazoo/comment-page-1/#comment-43 kls Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:34:12 +0000 http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/?p=206#comment-43 I went back to the Kalamazoo Gazette story this afternoon to see if any new comments had been posted.A guy calling himself fedupornot says that Michigan statutes say that "a low-speed vehicle shall be operated at a speed of not to exceed 25 miles per hour and shall not be operated on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour except for the purpose of crossing that highway or street."That's a viewpoint I've never seen before. He conveniently doesn't notice that it's talking about low-powered vehicles, not human-powered one. I went back to the Kalamazoo Gazette story this afternoon to see if any new comments had been posted.

A guy calling himself fedupornot says that Michigan statutes say that “a low-speed vehicle shall be operated at a speed of not to exceed 25 miles per hour and shall not be operated on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour except for the purpose of crossing that highway or street.”

That’s a viewpoint I’ve never seen before. He conveniently doesn’t notice that it’s talking about low-powered vehicles, not human-powered one.

]]> By: klshttp://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/watch-out-for-mr-thornton-if-youre-riding-in-kalamazoo/comment-page-1/#comment-42 kls Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:50:34 +0000 http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/?p=206#comment-42 On careful rereading, I see that Mr. Thornton doesn't say that HE couldn't react. He says "Not everybody..."I think he's like the vast majority of motorists who think they possess superior skills. Sort of like the children of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon, "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."I wouldn't put a whole lot of faith in driving tests. I took mine in about 1963 and I doubt that my reaction time has improved much. Impulse control, maybe. Reaction time, not so much. On careful rereading, I see that Mr. Thornton doesn’t say that HE couldn’t react. He says “Not everybody…”

I think he’s like the vast majority of motorists who think they possess superior skills. Sort of like the children of Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”

I wouldn’t put a whole lot of faith in driving tests. I took mine in about 1963 and I doubt that my reaction time has improved much. Impulse control, maybe. Reaction time, not so much.

]]> By: The Spokesriderhttp://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/watch-out-for-mr-thornton-if-youre-riding-in-kalamazoo/comment-page-1/#comment-40 The Spokesrider Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:26:15 +0000 http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/?p=206#comment-40 I picked up a copy of the Gazette today and saw that article. I like the way the guy said "Not everybody can react...". I thought that's what we had drivers' road tests for -- to keep the people who can't handle those situations off the road.At least it isn't as bad as an article a few months ago where one of the police officers was quoted as saying he thought bicycles should ride on the left. I picked up a copy of the Gazette today and saw that article. I like the way the guy said “Not everybody can react…”. I thought that’s what we had drivers’ road tests for — to keep the people who can’t handle those situations off the road.

At least it isn’t as bad as an article a few months ago where one of the police officers was quoted as saying he thought bicycles should ride on the left.

]]> By: my2milehttp://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/watch-out-for-mr-thornton-if-youre-riding-in-kalamazoo/comment-page-1/#comment-39 my2mile Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:41:56 +0000 http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/?p=206#comment-39 I've noticed that the usual argument is something along the lines of the driver looking out for the cyclist's safety. This guy says that bikes should not be on the road because he might run someone over. Paying attention would also prevent running someone over, but that never crosses his mind. I’ve noticed that the usual argument is something along the lines of the driver looking out for the cyclist’s safety. This guy says that bikes should not be on the road because he might run someone over. Paying attention would also prevent running someone over, but that never crosses his mind.

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