Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, Ronn! Blankenship wrote: > At 09:04 AM Wednesday 10/3/2007, Julia Thompson wrote: > > >> On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, Charlie Bell wrote: >> >>> >>> On 03/10/2007, at 10:23 PM, Jim Sharkey wrote: >>> Apparently, they're too quiet: http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8s1n79o0&; The National Federation for the Blind is complaining that when the cars are running on solely electricity, blind people cannot hear them and it could be dangerous as they cross the street. >>> >>> ...oh no - ban bicycles too. Or possibly, blind people should cross >>> at pedestrian crossings with audible Walk signals... >>> >>> Charlie. >> >> Yes on the audible walk signals, and if those were common everywhere, that >> would be great. Unfortunately, in Austin, you can't find any of those >> unless you're within a mile of the State School for the Blind. :P > > > Have local mockingbirds* learned to imitate the sounds? > > _ > *or self-appointed comedians Dunno. Don't see them so far into the city. My blind friend tells me he's heard one of the cars in question, and it sounds bicycle-ish, so his inclination would be to step back enough to make room for a bicycle, not a car. Which could be bad if the driver isn't paying attention. Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
FYI two different approaches to bicycles...
the attachment is a list i get here in los angeles; which is striving to become more bicycle friendly. thi belowlink describes what is going on in mainland china where there are wars between bicycles and cars over who owns the roads: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/11/content_390685.htm Knowledge is Power - Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase.___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
Adding a nice little purr to the hybrid motors might prove to catch the public's fancy, so maybe we're not just accomodating 0.5% of the population. http://idiotgrrl.livejournal.com/ __ "God does not play dice with the Universe" -Albert Einstein "Albert, quit telling God what to do with His dice." -Niels Bohr >From: Ronn! Blankenship <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion >To: Killer Bs Discussion >Subject: Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint >Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:53:53 -0500 > >At 07:23 AM Wednesday 10/3/2007, Jim Sharkey wrote: > > >Apparently, they're too quiet: > >http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8s1n79o0&; > > > >The National Federation for the Blind is complaining that when the > >cars are running on solely electricity, blind people cannot hear them > >and it could be dangerous as they cross the street. > > > >I'm not sure what they want to do about this. > > > >Equip them with a version of those noisemakers that you attach to >your bumper that supposedly warn deer> > > > > >I just can't see > >manufacturers going back to the drawing board to make their cars > >louder to satisfy less than 0.5% of the population. > > > >Jim > >NBF has a big sign on their building you can see from I-95. Who's it > >for? Maru > > > >Is it in Braille? > > >-- Ronn! :) > > > >___ >http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
bikes v. cars
Like everyone else"? A majority of people in motor vehicles speed. Cyclists who do flaunt road rules, flaunt different road rules to car drivers, but they're still a minority of cyclists. Try riding a bicycle as a vehicle for a few days, and you'll see how dangerous a few motorists can be. I've been hit by cars twice this year (neither time my fault - first time a car turned into a parking space across a bike lane without signalling when I was alongside, second time a car reversed into me when I was stopped waiting for him to reverse...). Yes, cyclists who break the rules piss me off too, as they make it harder for the law-abiding ones, but don't make out that "everyone else" obeys the rules and only cyclists infringe. That's simply bollocks. A look at the Wheels of Justice website will soon show you that... Charlie i ride a bike and drive so i can see both sides. i am of the opinion that both groups exhibit extremely hostile and discourteous behavior, at least in los angeles. pedestrians are not much better. i would think anyone ambulating by feet or bike would take more care because they are far more vulnerable. i notice a lot of bicyclists exhibit their share the road attitude by riding double and forcing cars to match their speed if they can not pass. i notice a lot of drivers open their doors without checking to see if a bicylist is approaching. so it goes... "think of it as evolution in action..." jon Knowledge is Power - Don't let your dream ride pass you by.Make it a reality with Yahoo! Autos. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
At 09:04 AM Wednesday 10/3/2007, Julia Thompson wrote: >On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, Charlie Bell wrote: > > > > > On 03/10/2007, at 10:23 PM, Jim Sharkey wrote: > > > >> > >> Apparently, they're too quiet: > >> http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8s1n79o0&; > >> > >> The National Federation for the Blind is complaining that when the > >> cars are running on solely electricity, blind people cannot hear them > >> and it could be dangerous as they cross the street. > > > > ...oh no - ban bicycles too. Or possibly, blind people should cross > > at pedestrian crossings with audible Walk signals... > > > > Charlie. > >Yes on the audible walk signals, and if those were common everywhere, that >would be great. Unfortunately, in Austin, you can't find any of those >unless you're within a mile of the State School for the Blind. :P Have local mockingbirds* learned to imitate the sounds? _ *or self-appointed comedians -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
At 07:23 AM Wednesday 10/3/2007, Jim Sharkey wrote: >Apparently, they're too quiet: >http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8s1n79o0&; > >The National Federation for the Blind is complaining that when the >cars are running on solely electricity, blind people cannot hear them >and it could be dangerous as they cross the street. > >I'm not sure what they want to do about this. Equip them with a version of those noisemakers that you attach to your bumper that supposedly warn deer> >I just can't see >manufacturers going back to the drawing board to make their cars >louder to satisfy less than 0.5% of the population. > >Jim >NBF has a big sign on their building you can see from I-95. Who's it >for? Maru Is it in Braille? -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
On 04/10/2007, at 12:23 AM, Horn, John wrote: >> Julia Thompson wrote > >> (Most cyclists tend to be >> significantly more safety-conscious than many drivers, I've noticed.) > > Would that be the ones who ride straight through red lights and stop > signs without stopping? That's a particular pet peeve of mine. If > you > want to share the road, fine. But obey the rules of the road like > everyone else. "Like everyone else"? A majority of people in motor vehicles speed. Cyclists who do flaunt road rules, flaunt different road rules to car drivers, but they're still a minority of cyclists. Try riding a bicycle as a vehicle for a few days, and you'll see how dangerous a few motorists can be. I've been hit by cars twice this year (neither time my fault - first time a car turned into a parking space across a bike lane without signalling when I was alongside, second time a car reversed into me when I was stopped waiting for him to reverse...). Yes, cyclists who break the rules piss me off too, as they make it harder for the law-abiding ones, but don't make out that "everyone else" obeys the rules and only cyclists infringe. That's simply bollocks. A look at the Wheels of Justice website will soon show you that... Charlie Australia National Ride To Work Day Oct 17th Maru ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
On 04/10/2007, at 12:04 AM, Julia Thompson wrote: > > Most of the cyclists I know are responsible and will use their > bells if > they're approaching an intersection with pedestrians waiting to cross. > Banning bicycles is not the answer, penalizing irresponsible > behavior by > cyclists is. Yes. I was being sarcastic there. :-) > (Most cyclists tend to be significantly more > safety-conscious than many drivers, I've noticed.) That's because of the imbalance in power. An accident that would minorly inconvenience a car driver could kill a cyclist. (Says Charlie, sitting here in a fluoro windvest, about to get on his bike and ride to work...) As for audible crossings at intersections, they all are in Victoria, and across Australia (and they vibrate for the deaf-blind too...). Charlie. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Weekly Chat Reminder
As Steve said, "The Brin-L weekly chat has been a list tradition for over six years. Way back on 27 May, 1998, Marco Maisenhelder first set up a chatroom for the list, and on the next day, he established a weekly chat time. We've been through several servers, chat technologies, and even casts of regulars over the years, but the chat goes on... and we want more recruits! Whether you're an active poster or a lurker, whether you've been a member of the list from the beginning or just joined today, we would really like for you to join us. We have less politics, more Uplift talk, and more light-hearted discussion. We're non-fattening and 100% environmentally friendly... -(_() Though sometimes marshmallows do get thrown. The Weekly Brin-L chat is scheduled for Wednesday 3 PM Eastern/2 PM Central time in the US, or 7 PM Greenwich time. There's usually somebody there to talk to for at least eight hours after the start time. If you want to attend, it's really easy now. All you have to do is send your web browser to: http://wtgab.demon.co.uk/~brinl/mud/ ..And you can connect directly from William's new web interface! My instruction page tells you how to log on, and how to talk when you get in: http://www.brin-l.org/brinmud.html It also gives a list of commands to use when you're in there. In addition, it tells you how to connect through a MUD client, which is more complicated to set up initially, but easier and more reliable than the web interface once you do get it set up." -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ "This message was sent automatically using launchd. But even if WTG is away on holiday, at least it shows the server is still up." ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
On 03/10/2007, at 10:23 PM, Jim Sharkey wrote: > > Apparently, they're too quiet: > http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8s1n79o0&; > > The National Federation for the Blind is complaining that when the > cars are running on solely electricity, blind people cannot hear them > and it could be dangerous as they cross the street. ...oh no - ban bicycles too. Or possibly, blind people should cross at pedestrian crossings with audible Walk signals... Charlie. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, Horn, John wrote: >> Julia Thompson wrote > >> (Most cyclists tend to be >> significantly more safety-conscious than many drivers, I've noticed.) > > Would that be the ones who ride straight through red lights and stop > signs without stopping? That's a particular pet peeve of mine. If you > want to share the road, fine. But obey the rules of the road like > everyone else. > > - jmh The ones that do that around here tend not to live long enough to be a significant part of the population. :P Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
> Julia Thompson wrote > (Most cyclists tend to be > significantly more safety-conscious than many drivers, I've noticed.) Would that be the ones who ride straight through red lights and stop signs without stopping? That's a particular pet peeve of mine. If you want to share the road, fine. But obey the rules of the road like everyone else. - jmh CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information or otherwise protected by law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
On Wed, 3 Oct 2007, Charlie Bell wrote: > > On 03/10/2007, at 10:23 PM, Jim Sharkey wrote: > >> >> Apparently, they're too quiet: >> http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8s1n79o0&; >> >> The National Federation for the Blind is complaining that when the >> cars are running on solely electricity, blind people cannot hear them >> and it could be dangerous as they cross the street. > > ...oh no - ban bicycles too. Or possibly, blind people should cross > at pedestrian crossings with audible Walk signals... > > Charlie. Yes on the audible walk signals, and if those were common everywhere, that would be great. Unfortunately, in Austin, you can't find any of those unless you're within a mile of the State School for the Blind. :P (And my blind friend lives on the other side of the river from there.) Most of the cyclists I know are responsible and will use their bells if they're approaching an intersection with pedestrians waiting to cross. Banning bicycles is not the answer, penalizing irresponsible behavior by cyclists is. (Most cyclists tend to be significantly more safety-conscious than many drivers, I've noticed.) (And another complaint of mine, there's a standard for elevators -- when the elevator arrives, one beep should mean it's going up and 2 beeps for down. Some elevators don't do that, though, grrr) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
Jim Sharkey wrote: > > I'm not sure what they want to do about this. I just can't see > manufacturers going back to the drawing board to make their cars > louder to satisfy less than 0.5% of the population. > That's exactly what they must do. Maybe just some bell signs could be enough for the blind to detect the electric cars. Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Hybrid Cars: An unexpected complaint
Apparently, they're too quiet: http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8s1n79o0&; The National Federation for the Blind is complaining that when the cars are running on solely electricity, blind people cannot hear them and it could be dangerous as they cross the street. I'm not sure what they want to do about this. I just can't see manufacturers going back to the drawing board to make their cars louder to satisfy less than 0.5% of the population. Jim NBF has a big sign on their building you can see from I-95. Who's it for? Maru ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Car free London?
On 03/10/2007, at 11:07 AM, Dan Minettte wrote: u >> >> Yep. I'm still wondering what bits of London are 20 mins apart by car >> and hours apart by public transport (apart from at 3am, at which time >> most of London is 20 mins by car and unreachable at all by public >> transport...). > > I thought it would be obvious...trips that require several transfers. Maybe, but I'm having trouble thinking of real-world examples within inner or outer London, and certainly had no trouble getting from Hammersmith to Acton or whatever (which is radial...). Took an hour on the bus instead of 40 mins in the car. > > Anyways, the example is Exmouth Rd. and Appledore Ave to Balmoral and > Waverly and back on a Sunday afternoon I like the way you sneak the "and back" in there, as I was figuring on two places 20 mins apart, not two place 20 mins there and back, which obviously changes things drastically by adding extra waiting time for the turnaround, along with specifying Sunday when traffic is at its best and public transport on its worst day (and people would be making different sorts of journey to a weekday). Also, not giving the proper road names - "Balmoral and Waverly" means *nothing* to a Brit - and no suburbs makes it way harder than it needed to for me to look. There are over 30 streets called Balmoral something inside the M25 London Orbital. There are none called Waverly something. There are 40-ish called "Waverley" something. In fact, I can't find where there are two roads intersecting called those things, and I've looked. I found the junction of "Exmouth and Appledore" at http://tinyurl.com/3xoy4y but the other one eludes me. You're also talking "Greater London", which is out beyond "outer London" as referred to in the original article. Places like Harrow, Kingston and Ruislip aren't considered London proper (they don't have London postcodes). This is called "stacking the deck"... > > FWIW, the frequency of the outlying busses was a bit more than I > would have > guessed. It's pretty good in the UK. And, as I pointed out, any limitation on private transport would lead to an increase in routes and frequency of public transport. If you actually point out where you were talking about (try a google maps pointer) and I'll check your work against the public transport route finder... Charlie. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
