quote:
Originally posted by TheArtist
Other than for that handfull of people, how does that educate everyone else. Heck I still don't know what your trying to educate peple about?
As for giving kids bikes. If there are bad bikes, hand out flyers letting people know what to look for. Especially to organizations around town that do hand out or want to hand out bikes. Tell organizations that you would be willing to give free bike lessons, that if they want to hand out bikes in order for the kid to get them for free, have the condition that the kid, or adult, should also get a safety lesson at the same time.
GENIUS! Unfortunately, Santa is NOT qualified NOR insured to provide bike lessons, aka Effective Cycling classes. There are four well-qualified people in this town, aka licensed cycling instructors, who provide bicycle driving classes through the auspices of Community Cycling Project. They are Ed Wagner of Owasso, Sandra Crisp of the City of Tulsa Parks Department, Gary Parker of Eugene Fields Elementary, and Brian Potter of TCC-North.
With what little they have to work with, CCP provides specific and professional bicycle driving instruction, certified by the League of American Bicyclists, to convicted felons at Exodus House. After completing the Effective Cycling course, CCP provides properly repaired donated bikes and accessories for the clients to use as basic transportation.
Another unfortunate situation, CCP doesn't happen without FUNDING or volunteer support.
What is really needed is publicly funded bicycle driving classes at the 4th and 5th grade level in the public school system. This demographic is the number one roadkill statistic. The number one dangerous manuver: the mid-block dart-out.
Kid appears out of NOWHERE on a bike, in the middle of the block, right in front of your car. Though you will be unharmed, you'll wish you were DEAD. Post traumatic will haunt you for life, even if it was not your fault. Also, teaching 4th and 5th graders would serve as precursor to regular high school drivers' ed.
Regular bike drivers also make better car drivers. Unless you know how to do the front flip, ala BikerFox, one bad move on a bike could make for a really BAD day. Effective Cycling does not teach the front flip. Then again, if you NEED the front flip, it's probably way too LATE. There's only one relevant safety record: 100%.
Yes, cycling on the BA and in fast-moving heavy traffic is risky business and looks suicidal. So is eating out at Taco Bell. But, Santa uses Effective Cycling to manage and minimize the risks.
BikerFox, BTW, is more like BikerChicken. He does NOT practice Effective Cycling. He rides AGAINST traffic. He rides on the sidewalk, which, btw, is illegal in the City of Tulsa. At least he stops for red lights.
Most people, like yourself, are totally IGNORANT about what is really required to qualify as true "bike lessons." You seem to have a misguided, dangerous misconception that proper "bike lessons" can be accomplished on the cheap, free even, and on a Saturday morning. Nothing can be further from the truth.
As in the earlier post, Santa invited rwarn to accompany him on a outing on I-44 and write a story: What really happens behind the scenes at 911 dispatch when Santa rolls. Inquiring minds, especially Santa, would like to know.
Thank you, sgrizzle, for opening up a whole can of WORMS and inspiring an off-topic thread. New Rule: Avoid shooting the messenger.
