Another
police reign of terror to end the bicycle reign of terror, the second in as
many years. In this case it’s like using a steam roller to kill an ant and begs
the question of just what is the problem the city of Valencia is hoping to
solve. The police actually call this an “information campaign” with the punch-line
being a fine of 200€. Three marauders were cited for not having bells on their
bikes. Thank god the police are protecting the citizenry from these animals.
The
worst thing about this anti-cycling campaign is that most of the people in
Valencia seem to be in favor of it or at least acquiescent. This is what I take
from the tone of the articles appearing in Valencia’s two daily newspapers and
from the television coverage on the local news. There was no shortage of people
voicing their concern over the outrageous and deadly behavior of the city’s
bike riders. It’s easy enough to find
footage of cyclists breezing through red lights at deserted intersections or
riding down sidewalks but it’s another thing to actually find a problem with
this behavior. Put a camera at any intersection of the city and you will
witness some pretty brutish driving habits that seem to be accepted techniques
by the police. Wait for a light to turn yellow and you will see a line of cars
gunning it to screech through while cars waiting on the opposing lane roll
through the light before it has even changed to green. Most drivers watch the
flashing green pedestrian signal and use that as their green light. Yesterday I
was almost run over by a city bus using this tactic. I pointed to the red light while scowling at the driver.
12
cyclists were fined for chaining their murderous machines to trees or lamp
posts, something strictly forbidden under the new decree drafted in 2010,
obviously by people who never cycle. When called on this stupid prohibition one
of the PP functionaries commented that the city has generously provided 4,000
bike parking spaces throughout the city, a city of almost a million people. Do
the math while you scour the city for a place to leave your bike. Once again, just what problem does the city want to solve by this law? And it’s not
like chaining your bike will do any good as bike theft seems to be a perfectly legal
and respected profession from the way local police ignore it completely.
There
were nine infractions of cyclists dragging unauthorized loads behind their
bikes which is simply code for singling out gypsies who improvise trailers for
their bikes in their search for chatarra and other riches stolen from
trash containers throughout the city. One man’s garbage is another man’s food
for the day. It reminds me of the Anatole France quote from Le Lys Rouge:
La majestueuse égalité des lois, qui interdit au riche comme au pauvre de
coucher sous les ponts, de mendier dans les rues et de voler du pain (in its majestic equality, the law
forbids rich and poor alike from sleeping under bridges, begging in the streets and
stealing loaves of bread.)
The message the city is sending to
the people of Valencia could not be clearer: you shouldn’t ride a bicycle and
if you do you will be held to a standard far higher than that expected of
automobiles. It doesn’t matter that no one has been killed by a cyclist while cyclists
and pedestrians are run down like dogs by motorists. I would be grateful if the
local police would enforce a single traffic law: the maximum speed limit of 50
kph in the city.
Vehicle
Speed
|
Odds
of Pedestrian Death, Source 1
|
Odds
of Pedestrian Death, Source 2
|
20
mph 32k
|
5%
|
5%
|
30
mph 48k
|
45%
|
37%
|
40
mph 64k
|
85%
|
83%
|
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