Want to fix Modesto's roads? Then fix poor driving habits

By DAVE BOWMAN
columns@modbee.com

last updated: August 20, 2008 05:13:49 AM

I get that some folks are in favor of the proposed transportation tax that will raise gasoline prices and promises to deliver the sweet wonder of new and rebuilt roads and transportation corridors. Some people believe in Santa Claus and UFOs as well. Nevertheless, it is, I suppose, possible that a transportation tax via an increased sales tax to build roads might work.

Meanwhile, I have come to believe that the bigger problem with our roads isn't their condition or even their design, but, frankly, the people who drive on them. Sadly, we're nuts -- and not the baseball kind.

Permit me some observations based on the last week of riding a bicycle on Modesto streets.

In general, stop signs mean that drivers should stop their cars, not blow three quarters of a car length past the stop sign, suddenly realize that a bicyclist with the right of way is ahead of the car, instantly slam on the brakes and simultaneously make an obscene gesture to demonstrate his displeasure with the bike rider who dared to be in the car's way.

I recognize speed limits are usually treated as optional, simply a suggestion as to how fast you should drive. But the idea of the "limit" part is that it is the fastest you should drive a car on a given section of road. While it is usually permissible to go slower, within reason, going faster than the so-called "speed limit" is occasionally frowned upon. More importantly, the physics of speeding cause a driver's response time to be decreased. Thus a car driver has to react quicker when (if?) he spots a bicyclist who has the courage and gall to appear in the part of the road that the car wants to use at high speed.

The so-called "bike lane" really is for bikes, not cars. So the next time you want to turn right and decide to use the bike lane as your turn lane, then suddenly realize than an irate bicyclist is kicking the side of your car, don't act so shocked. After all, you no doubt caught the bike rider by surprise when you veered into what is clearly marked "bike lane" without so much as a signal or looking to see who might already be there.

Speaking of bike lanes, what's the point in having them if: a) people are going to stack their trash cans, or, b) dump their tree limbs and lawn clippings in them? In addition, a minor complaint here, but the trees that overhang the bike lanes aren't all that fun to duck under, but I can live with that.

So raise the taxes and build and repair all the roads you think you might. Unless our driving habits change, all we're really doing is building a nicer coliseum in which the lions can enjoy their dinner. At least we could spend some of those millions on legitimate bike lanes and paths.

Bowman is a former submarine weapons specialist who lives in Modesto. E-mail him at columns@modbee.com.

• Comments
• Add Comment
• Disclaimer