Say No To High Speed Cycling in the Woodlands
Craig Mathews
Steve Schoger
Thanks for posting Craig, and here is my reply to Mike Bass’s email to a small group of the Bike the Woodlands Coalition members. NOTE: Mike Bass is a Woodlands Township Board of Director and up for re-election. Mike is a good guy, and VERY favorable to the needs of cyclist. Please VOTE for Mike this Nov 4th, as well as the others who are running for re-election….otherwise, you can see the type of governess we will get if Tom Sloan’s merry band of bike haters get into office.
Steve
Yes, and agreed, Mike, Dr. Sloan is disingenuous and antediluvian, if a hypocrite with his Hippocratic oath of “do no harm!” Perhaps his op-ed should have been titled, “Just say “yes” to high speed autobahn driving in the Woodlands!” I am sure he has supporters of his point of view, but I, and probably several thousand (not just a “small special interest”) bicyclists (and other residents who appreciate what it brings to our community) who use our roadways, don’t have that point of view. I encourage you to write a “counter point”…it would mean a lot, and help set the record straight. Attached is Dr. Sloan’s piece that I scanned to a pdf.
Counterpoint by point of Dr. Sloan’s misinformed dribble:
- In the first paragraph, he is blaming the future ambiance of the Woodlands on a “new threat from a small special interest.” Not even worthy of an explanation of this lie.
- 2nd par: Hmmm, “bike lanes clog traffic”…another Dr. Sloan lie.
- 3rd par: So, Dr. Sloan wants us just to put the BFC trophy on the shelf and get back in our cars and drive away.
- 4th par: Dr. Sloan is warning that the sky is falling, because a Master Bike and Ped plan is being undertaken….shaking my head…WHY!? What is the good doctor afraid of? Perhaps not being able to be “king of the road?”
- 5th par: Another Dr. Sloan lie and made up statement to incite and divide…no one in the cycling community is bad mouthing our pathways…they serve a good purpose and are well used. Could you imagine, the carnage, if the road cyclists that Dr. Sloan is referring to all ride on the pathways…yikes…the ER’s would be overflowing and the public outcry would be deafening! But that is what Dr. Sloan wants…to free up his roads!
- 6th par: So, Dr. Sloan is against spending $100k to determine the best future course of action, an amount that is 0.0001% of the Township budget, and worried that it will result in progress, safety and good decisions!?
- 7th par: Hmmm, riding a bike is an “amenity,”? “Worsen traffic?”…another selfish Dr. Sloan perspective….the goal is to facilitate traffic and provide safe passage for the “vulnerable” road user; Dr. Sloan probably does not remember that a bike rider has every right to be on the road as a motor vehicle, or is it that he just doesn’t want to be delayed or inconvenienced, or have to “share the road?” A system of roadways that provide for safe passage of a vulnerable road user, whether it be an improved shoulder or bike lane, is going to move traffic more efficiently, prevent accidents and save lives. Maybe Dr. Sloan is going to lobby the next Texas legislature to revise the roadway rules of the road to ban bicyclists!?
- 8th par: Hmmmm, “allow a few to indulge their high-speed hobby”…so, 3000 plus bike riders going to and from work or for fitness and recreation or to go to the neighborhood retail establishments at 15-20 mph is “high speed”…another Dr. Sloan distortion…the real truth is Dr. Sloan wants to do his “high speed” driving in the Woodlands, terrorizing any one on foot or two wheels and not have to wait for a group of cyclists to clear the intersection so he can turn right on red, or avoid having to come to a full stop!
- 9th par: Another, pitch by Dr. Sloan to get the vulnerable road users off of the road, so drivers can have full and exclusive use of the roadways, and anyone bike rider that dares to ride on the roadway will be run over…a ‘get out of my way, get off my road’ mentality…yes, Dr. Sloan, that is the “safe” thing to do!
- 10th par: Never was a ploy to say riding a bike will save the world…only in Dr. Sloan’s mind. Even Dr. Sloan might benefit from some bike riding!
- The rest of the op ed piece is Dr. Sloan’s political pitch…for God knows what, I am not sure!? Yeah, give me some of that Dr. Sloan world! I believe most of the residents of the Woodlands enjoy the quality of life here, and appreciate the ability to ride a bike (or walk, run, play) safely, without being “banned” from the roadways, as Dr. Sloan advocates.
I don’t know of anyone who is advocating adding $$$$ of bike lanes, to every roadway; we are tax payers too and believe it or not, are just as concerned about needless expenditures. All of us want a safe passage on our roadways, without undue risk to life or limb. Most of us (on bikes) cannot safely ride on the pathways, and our roadways are not only being expanded with no consideration for the safe passage of vulnerable road users, but our existing roadways also have hazards that require bicyclists to ride on the roadways. Dr. Sloan’s “sticking his head into a hole in the sand” attitude is not going to improve things, but rather, it will make traffic worse.
Steve
From: Mike Bass [mailto:mike...@mikebassthewoodlands.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 11:11 AM
To: ctan...@gmail.com; dhitc...@harc.edu; george...@sbcglobal.net; gwne...@swbell.net; hhbo...@gmail.com; rca...@comcast.net; ssch...@comcast.net
Subject: Villager Op Ed-- Tom Sloan
Did you see Sloan’s OP Ed in the villager this morning? I tried to find it on line but could not. His singly focused anti-bike lane position ignores the status quo “share the road” philosophy still actively supported by most state and local governments. This philosophy does not support bike lanes as an alternative, thus having the effect of forcing many cyclists onto roadways which increases potential risks of confrontation with motorists and injury. The Woodlands Master Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure Planning Project is designed to look at all alternatives and develop practical, affordable solutions which will safely support the active lifestyle our residents expect. Sloan continues to try to frame and limit the scope for this Project before it has even started.
Since Sloan is tying this issue to our election I may write a Counter Point for next week- if I can find the time
Regards,
RE-ELECT Mike Bass
The Woodland's Township Board of Directors, Position 2
P.O. Box 132769
The Woodlands, Texas, 77393-2769
https://www.facebook.com/mike.bass.756
mike...@mikebassthewoodlands.com
Tel 713-299-1184
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Steve Schoger
And not to get too political, but an informed voter is a well-armed voter…here is the view on cycling by a Woodlands Township Director, Ryan Elkins, that is running against Jeff Long, the incumbent. Jeff has been chair of the transportation committee of the Woodlands Township Board and has been supportive of cycling, especially doing a Bike Master Plan. As you can see from Ryan Elkin’s comments, he would rather bikes not be on our roadways, even though he is just saying “no” to bike lanes…he is supported by Dr. Tom Sloan. Who would you vote for?!
Ironically enough, our bike advocacy group is not “shouting out” for bike lanes, but rather, for safe passage and mobility! How many riders have crashed (and broken collarbones) from our curbs that jut out onto the shoulder or from the gaps/lips between the shoulder and the roadway? Coach Joe, my wife, Tracy, Greg Shotts, and the list goes on. If we can’t use our shoulders for bike lanes, we got to go onto the roadway. And how many cyclists do we have outside the Woodlands that are trying to have safe passage into the Woodlands (or vice versa), with SH242, I45 and other major roadways making it very difficult, without some help. Hmmmm, what’s wrong with this picture!
Steve
This comment was posted in The Villager in response to David’s ‘Guest Column’ last week. Another person not to vote for
Ryan Elkins for The Woodlands Township Director Position 3 posted at 11:03 am on Tue, Sep 2, 2014.
Posts: 3
User HACK,
That is why I am running for The Woodlands Township Director Position 3. Residents are currently frustrated over the traffic congestion we find ourselves in everyday throughout The Woodlands, and the last thing the majority of the residents I have spoken with want are bike lanes, and I WILL represent their voice as your current Director for position 3 does not. The Woodlands is my hometown, I have grown to understand the needs and wants of my fellow residents. What I have to offer is fresh ideas, a fresh perspective, and fresh leadership that represents what you and our fellow residents want. Its OUR Community, OUR Voice.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
I would like to ask for your vote on November 4th.
Kind Regards,
Ryan Elkins
RyanEl...@gmail.com
Appeared in todays Villager, local doctor, Cyclist (?), against bike lanes, bike trails are enough. Always helps to know what the opposition is saying and why.
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Jim & Dianne
----- Original Message -----From: Craig MathewsSent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 11:34 AMSubject: Say No To High Speed Cycling in the Woodlands
Appeared in todays Villager, local doctor, Cyclist (?), against bike lanes, bike trails are enough. Always helps to know what the opposition is saying and why.
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