Comments on: Bike and Ped Infrastructure Depends on Federal Funds, Too http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/18/bike-and-ped-infrastructure-depends-on-federal-funds-too/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/18/bike-and-ped-infrastructure-depends-on-federal-funds-too/comment-page-1/#comment-70229 Larry Littlefield Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:14:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6464#comment-70229 Take it from me, if you are in an SUV or minivan and you are closer than 3 feet, your mirror could knock a bicycle rider to the asphalt. Since being slammed that way myself, I've noticed that automobile mirrors are lower than my elbow and handlebars, while truck and commercial van mirrors are higher. What a design. Front bumpers positioned to crash through the side windows of more fuel efficient cars, killing the occupants in low speed crashes, mirrors designed to injure bicycle riders, and rear windows positioned to provide plausible denyability when backing over pedestrians. Take it from me, if you are in an SUV or minivan and you are closer than 3 feet, your mirror could knock a bicycle rider to the asphalt.

Since being slammed that way myself, I’ve noticed that automobile mirrors are lower than my elbow and handlebars, while truck and commercial van mirrors are higher.

What a design. Front bumpers positioned to crash through the side windows of more fuel efficient cars, killing the occupants in low speed crashes, mirrors designed to injure bicycle riders, and rear windows positioned to provide plausible denyability when backing over pedestrians.

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