Quoted message said:The way one develops a habit is by responding in the same way to the same situation at all times.
That is much the same as observing a rule.
This is bad?
Quoted message said:Constantly evaluating one's situation and remaining aware enough to respond flexibly is the
opposite of forming a habit.
No argument there, but...
Quoted message said:I proceed without stopping when appropriate, regardless of traffic signs.
So you're saying that you actually waste time evaluating whether to stop at an inanimate
signal? Doesn't that detract from the more important task of being aware of the exceptions,
rather than the rule?
As a traffic rider, I can say with a certain amount of confidence that introducing new variables
is a bad idea. As a lazy person, I find that following the rules is easier on me and on other
road users.
And, as a practical person, I want no questions to be raised in the aftermath of any accident as to
which operator was at fault.
I know this all sounds very much like a safety lecture, and I'm sorry about that. However, I can't
think of any more compelling way of making this argument.
Several people have pointed out, nicely, that there is a social contract involved in road use, and
that cyclists are not exempt from it. This is a fundamental precept of road cycling. Adherence to
the traffic laws is a basic concept that supersedes individual judgement of whether or not a control
device is appropriate. If you don't like the stop sign at Dogpatch and Canyon, write your
councilperson, but for now you have to stop.
Or you can ignore the social contract (traffic law) since your situational awareness and judgement
is superior. You can ride like a messenger, even though you have no tags to make. That doesn't make
you cool, by the way.
You might want to look into the messenger profession, I understand there are always openings.
Interesting, I think, that most of the people disagreeing with your position are old farts with
plenty of sedate years of happy and pain free cycling under their belts, not to mention a few
good meals.
--
_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________ ------------------"Buddy Holly,
the Texas Elvis"------------------
__________306.350.357.38>>[email hidden]__________
