Anti-bicyclist screed in the Austin American-Statesman

From the "my subsidies are deserved, yours are a waste" department comes this letter in today's Austin American-Statesman (registration required). I sent a letter in response, referencing the study by Martin Wachs, "Improving Efficiency and Equity in Transportation Finance". We'll see if they run it.

Stop whining, cyclists

I'm sick of the bicyclist whiners wanting government (meaning taxpayers) to provide them with cushy paths on which to bicycle. We, the vast majority, pay for our roads through taxes, license fees, tolls, etc. Bicyclists contribute nothing but problems on public streets.

If bicycles are a must, then bicyclists and bicycle makers and sellers should foot the bill. If the government is to provide these bike paths, bicyclists should be required to buy a license, have insurance, get a regular safety inspection and wear a helmet. Also, bicycles have no place on walking or jogging trails.

BOB HAMILTON
Austin

Speaking of the world revolving around drivers, Bird to the North has a fun entry, "Car shapes help take over parking," that I'd like to consider for a form of street protest (out of the "Cars don't say 'hi'" realm).

She writes:

There's been a lot on taking over parking spots in New York and across the country. Do car-shaped tents help? Michael Rakowitz's new project, P (LOT), takes over parking spaces - this time with car-shaped tents. You can get in on the fun too - the tents are rentable at the Museum of Modern Art in Vienna.

Index Keywords: mobility; car-culture; parking