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From: His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-Hammock on 1 Aug 2010 18:35
Leave Afghanistan for nations that want to build nations other than
their own. Some countries want to pacify Afghanistan, but then not
even their backyard is secure. Mexico is sinking into chaos, and their
own cities are walled for security.

"Dutch become 1st NATO member to quit Afghanistan"

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Netherlands became the first NATO country to
end its combat mission in Afghanistan, drawing the curtain Sunday on a
four-year operation that was deeply unpopular at home and even brought
down a Dutch government.

***

The Dutch are busy building bike facilities for their citizens, and
someday we may truly need them to do nation building based around the
bicycle.

"Bicycles Against Poverty (BAP) Project"

http://www.dosomething.org/project/bicycle-against-poverty-bap-project


---------------------------------------------------

THE WISE TIBETAN MONKEY SAYS

"Bicycle is the smart way to go to pacify the world"

http://webspawner.com/users/BANANAREVOLUTION
From: His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-Hammock on 3 Aug 2010 12:12
On Aug 3, 3:52 am, Kalle Mustonen <kalle.musto...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Europe also can have, should have and does have better cycling than
> "Europe". Europe is not just the Amsterdam museum district you
> Americans love to frequent. Even Amsterdam is de facto just an
> arrondissement in conurbation Zaanstad, with Europe's busiest
> motorways connecting it to other "blocks" of the "town". It's true
> that some parts of Europe have shorter median home-to-work distances
> (or whatever) than other parts of Europe or US on the average. But
> that doesn't give warm feeling to those who live in the parts of
> Europe that have longer distances or those who have long distances in
> parts with short median distances. It might be politically effective
> for you to say that "European" style cycling suits the people in
> Europe, but thats wrong. "European" style of cycling suits only those
> people in Europe it suits and it would suit a number (much smaller
> than some parts of Europe) of people in US.

Trying to bring European cycling to America is like bringing an
European car to America... And yet some people insist on the very
best.

What a waste of car!

The fact that "European"
> style suits large share of people in some specific parts of Europe
> doesn't compensate for the fact it doesn't suit some people in those
> parts and and large share of people in other parts of Europe.

Well, you seem to agree with me. We may be different, and maybe better
by leaving the 3 spd Dutch bike home, and taking off in an aggressive
road bike, not long haul or "pro," just medium distance, say under 10
miles (that's 20 miles R/T).

Of course, we need SPACE. A bicycle needs space to be safe, even
taking into account that someone falls into traffic. A bike lane
barely cuts it, but it doesn't go everywhere. Notice there's no pure
system even in Paris where they started the program. Some people --
kids, families-- bike paths, not mixed paths like we find around here.
The latter adds aggravation and danger to other users.

So we need to TAKE THE LANE if bicycling is ever to take off.

>
> And what's up with calling it "European" style? Last time I checked,
> the light of proper cycling was brought to you by a Europen man, at
> time your culture was record deep in ignorance of proper cycling. The
> man himself has later concluded that his attempts have been like
> forcing a snake in to the barrel of the gun; trying to insert a
> component profoundly incompatible with your culture. Just take a look
> at your national cyclist organisation; fighting proper cycling like
> pest. Meanwhile back in Europe; UK goverment dept4Trans says that
> "bikeability level 3 will enable you to cycle anywhere in London".

I admit that our organizations are caught up in conflicts and
contradictions. Even the Florida Bicycle Association banned me a long
time ago because my comments could hurt those associated with the
Republican Party. Imagine, the party that wastes a fortune in war,
trying to bring nation building to America. ;)

Notice that my taming of the beast takes more than creating space for
bicycles, and deals with TAMING TRAFFIC, EASING OUR WAR ON DRUGS, etc,
which in turn could free funds for bike facilities.

>
> Mr Monkey, you're right that change has to start from the bottom, but
> you have not quite grasped what that means and in fact your
> suggestions are of opposite. Until the big payback comes (never), your
> society will give cyclists bad laws and bad intepretations of good or
> neutral laws.

You probably agree with me that "we have the best laws money can buy."
Traffic tickets are a milking cow and so are "accidents" and DUI's.
What can we do?

So asking society to do good to cyclist is not going to
> be any good. The change can start only within the cyclists and that
> means you. First you should quit being scared of traffic.

Who me, scared of traffic? Well, I'm just afraid of drivers with
overwhelming power to take me out.

That's not a good strategy for SURVIVAL IN THE JUNGLE. Actually there
are some Darwin Awards for those who die because of stupidity. Not me,
remember I'm wise... and I'm waiting for the new program to kick in,
September 15th.

You know
> what's antidote to being scared of traffic? You should also learn to
> make distinction between feeling of fear and actual danger. Always
> keep in mind the history and purpose of the fear. Learn to analyze the
> fear mongering writings like the ones you posted links to here;
> dissect them into componenets of fear and danger and learn how they
> work against you.

They are not fear mongering, but an attack on the jungle that keeps us
from enjoying life and fighting Climate Change.

The revolution is that cyclists will learn that
> cycling IS safe and quit being scared.

The revolution starts when there's coordination. A few people around
the world TAKING THE LANE is all it takes.

You should not ask motorists to
> give you the lane; motorists' view of cyclists is and will be that
> they are roadway obstacles that should be removed. Only cyclists have
> the cyclists view and is their job to nurture it. Motorists will
> accept cyclists using as much of the roadway they need, when they
> realize they can not do nothing about it. That's why you should be an
> overhelming force.

Again, the overwhelming force in numbers. We don't want bazookas. ;)

Ditch the buses and get on your leather hammock;
> FEEL the safety of riding properly like Keri's flip-flop guy; use as
> much of the roadway you need for safe and comfortable travel as if
> your name was Ken O'Brien.
>
> Kalle
> Europe

The leather hammock is missing in my collection. But I can always go
in search of the hunter-gatherer within me and go walking. WALK, WALK
UNTIL YOU DROP.

Thank you, European Man!



From: His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-Hammock on 3 Aug 2010 13:54


On Aug 3, 8:41 am, Kenneth O'Brien <kob22...(a)mac.com> wrote:
> Begin forwarded message:

We are not going to let the cyclists at the mercy of the reckless
drivers who claim the road is theirs, right?

"Bike lane or full lane" is the deal we have for the drivers.

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