| On a per-capita basis, I would not be surprised if Phoenix had the highest annual incidence rate of friendly bikers being hit by cars (Lots of Hummers down here too), steamrollers, garbage trucks, 18 wheelers, riding lawnmowers, old ladies in Cadillacs on their way to spend their inheritance at the Indian casino slot machines, and old men in golf carts. Additionally, I would venture to say that 96.53% of those are hit and run's.
I have driven bikes in Seattle, Portland, and all points in between and always drove extremely defensively. Down here I ride paranoididly and still have come pretty close to being nailed by some dip stick on a cell phone who suddenly decides he doesn't want to be in that left-turn-only lane just as I am almost at his rear bumper and without looking, he whips his pickup truck (with the lassoo hanging on his rear view mirror) right at me.
It's really too bad. If you can make it out of the city alive and your bike in one piece we have some of the greatest riding places I've ever seen. Especially now that we are dropping out of the 115's down in to the 90's and soon the 80's. From now until April is serious riding time in the great Southwest for sure!
I signed the petition. Will it do any good? Who knows?
Phoenix Arizona - The Red-Light-Running, Hit and Run Capital of the World!
Last edited by AZroaddust : Sep 30th, 2006 at 06:46 AM.
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