Bike friendly employers abound in county

Austin Sherwood, head of advertising for the Boardwalk, wouldn't dream of driving to work.

[Wescruz]

While they might be bicycle friendly, they should also be motivated to instruct their employees how to properly ride their bikes around town. The bicyclists are really terrible at obeying traffic laws that they as well as motorists are BY LAW SUPPOSED TO OBEY.
Just this morning I was coming down the offramp of Emeline Avenue and low and behold....a bicyclist coming from under the bridge almost failed to stop there and would have run right out in front of me. I had to turn to him and yell for him to obey the law and stop at the stop sign. That is one example I among many I have witnessed. BICYCLISTS DO NOT THINK THEY HAVE TO STOP AT STOP SIGNS, SIGNAL LIGHTS, OR SIGNAL IF THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. So I really do not care to hear about bike to work, bike to school. STRAIGHTEN UP YOUR ACT!!!

[the balance]

Since when do cars always stop at stop signs, stop lights, or stop before making a right on a red? Or stop for pedestrians in crosswalks? I live in Soquel where several people have been mowed down by CARS running red lights, and CARS plowing through crosswalks with people in them crossing the street. Bikes might not always make these stops, but please don't put on the holier-than-attitude.

[Whistleberry]

Hey, Wescruz--take a hike, or ride a bike. The idea here is to get out of your car for one day. You might like it. There are plenty of cyclists who DO obey traffic laws. Maybe you can see them better if you aren't looking through a windshield.

[Wescruz]

the balance wrote:

Since when do cars always stop at stop signs, stop lights, or stop before making a right on a red? Or stop for pedestrians in crosswalks? I live in Soquel where several people have been mowed down by CARS running red lights, and CARS plowing through crosswalks with people in them crossing the street. Bikes might not always make these stops, but please don't put on the holier-than-attitude.

Oh for crying out loud! You're kind just keep up the attitude and keep on with that fighting with us motorists out there, I guarantee you that a car will win the fight everytime silly person. And, hey.....by the way. WHO PAYS FOR THE BIKE LANES, HUH? Do they tax cyclists? No. Why not? I am paying for your skinny behind to be able to have a stretch of ashphalt for your EXCLUSIVE USE. Pay for it you people! IT ISN'T A FAIR DEAL THAT MOTORISTS HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BIKE LANES.....I suggest you be a little less hot about my remarks, as I do feel I make legitimate points. Butof course liberals never listen to anything but the sound of there own drum. Like in the drum circles. Oh, stop your nonsense.

[Wescruz]

Whistleberry wrote:

Hey, Wescruz--take a hike, or ride a bike. The idea here is to get out of your car for one day. You might like it. There are plenty of cyclists who DO obey traffic laws. Maybe you can see them better if you aren't looking through a windshield.

Hey, you bicyclists!! Pay for the bike lanes, you DEADBEATS!!

[local]

the balance wrote:

Since when do cars always stop at stop signs, stop lights, or stop before making a right on a red? Or stop for pedestrians in crosswalks? I live in Soquel where several people have been mowed down by CARS running red lights, and CARS plowing through crosswalks with people in them crossing the street. Bikes might not always make these stops, but please don't put on the holier-than-attitude.

Stupid comment! I have only seen TWO bikes actually STOP at a stop sign.

This weekend, I was driving on Granite Creek Road and there was a group of 12 bikers taking up the whole lane - going up hill. They would NOT move to the side even though they were riding very slowly and backing up cars. They could care less. This went on for over 3/4 of a mile. Share the road goes BOTH ways.

[Wescruz]

local wrote:

<quoted text>
Stupid comment! I have only seen TWO bikes actually STOP at a stop sign.
This weekend, I was driving on Granite Creek Road and there was a group of 12 bikers taking up the whole lane - going up hill. They would NOT move to the side even though they were riding very slowly and backing up cars. They could care less. This went on for over 3/4 of a mile. Share the road goes BOTH ways.

Yes, I concur. And also.....PAY FOR THE BIKE LANES YOU HYOCRITES!!! why should the auto owners pay for all the bike lane costs? hmmmm? None of you out there will reply to that because you know there is no reason why you cyclists should not pay your fair share of the road for you to ride in those wonderful exclusive bike lanes. you DEADBEATS!!!

[Big Dummy]

Somewhat ironic that Santa Cruz Bicycles disn't make the list. I think I herad they were the company least likely to ride a bike to work :)

[Luca]

The City receives annual Transportation Development Act Allocation funds of approximately $50,000. This money is reserved for bicycle and pedestrian facility development and maintenance. These funds are set aside for capital projects and or bikeway maintenance. Over the last 30 years this has been the most consistent funding available for bikeway development. A number of the bike paths and bike lanes in the City have been funded using this funding source. Other sources of revenue include ISTEA,State Bicycle Transportation Account, Safe Routes to School, and Air District funds. Anybody that pays taxes in this state pays for the bike lanes.

[Westside Homeowner]

Great! Nice to see some good news.

[Wescruz]

Luca wrote:

The City receives annual Transportation Development Act Allocation funds of approximately $50,000. This money is reserved for bicycle and pedestrian facility development and maintenance. These funds are set aside for capital projects and or bikeway maintenance. Over the last 30 years this has been the most consistent funding available for bikeway development. A number of the bike paths and bike lanes in the City have been funded using this funding source. Other sources of revenue include ISTEA,State Bicycle Transportation Account, Safe Routes to School, and Air District funds. Anybody that pays taxes in this state pays for the bike lanes.

That's okay. I still maintain that the lions share of funding to create and maintain bicycle lanes comes from DMV license fees and tag fees. So come on now.....you and your ilk like to think that this information you pull out disguises that fact. The tax us and then create names for the sources to hide the real place that tax comes from. You know if private entities do that it is called......what? MONEY LAUNDERING. So the government is ACTUALLY LAUNDERING MONEY TO DISGUISE IT'S ORIGIN AND TO FOOL OLD ORDINARY JOE AND JANE BLO OUT HERE. Get real and wake up and SMELL THE COFFEE!!

[Wescruz]

"They" tax us, I meant to key. I forgot the "y". I don't want it to sound like I am laundering anything.:)

[Luca]

WHO PAYS FOR THE BIKE LANES, HUH? We all do, and I don't ride a bike.

[rider]

Wescruz, I hate to say it but you sound pretty ignorant with respect to the tiresome argument of cyclists not paying for the road.

Many sources of funding pay for the roads, not just vehicle licensing and gas taxes. Do you own a home, or rent one? The property tax bill, significantly larger than what your car tax is, goes a long ways, as do state and federal income tax to road improvement.

Further, perhaps you'd feel better with the consolation that more people riding means less traffic jams if you choose to drive, and less wear and tear on the roads (and thus fewer maintenance and expansion dollars to come up with).

I'm sorry that not everyone follows the law when riding -- you're right, cyclists should, and many do (something you conveniently ignore?), but the same can be said of drivers who roll stop signs, cut people off without signaling, etc.

[rider]

Wescruz wrote:

<quoted text>
That's okay. I still maintain that the lions share of funding to create and maintain bicycle lanes comes from DMV license fees and tag fees.

Wescruz, this report from the California Department of Transportation seems to indicate otherwise; tag and license fees support the CHP, and DMV:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/ote/fund...

[Luca]

Motor Vehicle Fees –(Chart 17)
The state also collects vehicle license, registration and drivers license fees. The
revenues are not earmarked for transportation projects; however, the bulk of the
money is allocated to CHP and DMV for traffic law enforcement and regulations.

[commenter2001]

Wescruz wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, I concur. And also.....PAY FOR THE BIKE LANES YOU HYOCRITES!!! why should the auto owners pay for all the bike lane costs? hmmmm? None of you out there will reply to that because you know there is no reason why you cyclists should not pay your fair share of the road for you to ride in those wonderful exclusive bike lanes. you DEADBEATS!!!

What an old blowhard.

We all pay for roads, bike lanes and sidewalks.

Most adult cyclists also own a car.

You'd better get used to bikes because more and more people are going to be riding.

Gas prices are just taking a little breather before reaching for the stars again.

[Wescruz]

rider wrote:

Wescruz, I hate to say it but you sound pretty ignorant with respect to the tiresome argument of cyclists not paying for the road.
Many sources of funding pay for the roads, not just vehicle licensing and gas taxes. Do you own a home, or rent one? The property tax bill, significantly larger than what your car tax is, goes a long ways, as do state and federal income tax to road improvement.
Further, perhaps you'd feel better with the consolation that more people riding means less traffic jams if you choose to drive, and less wear and tear on the roads (and thus fewer maintenance and expansion dollars to come up with).
I'm sorry that not everyone follows the law when riding -- you're right, cyclists should, and many do (something you conveniently ignore?), but the same can be said of drivers who roll stop signs, cut people off without signaling, etc.

It's okay, I know we could go back and forth all day on here resolving nothing.
You have your way of looking at this and I have mine. The thing is.....bikes hitting a car generally do not do much harm to the occupants of the vehicle, but a car hits a bike and there is at least usually an injury if not a fatality. Just thought I would remind you of that. And I do not care how you look at it....the majority of road work is done with taxes taken when we renew our licenses and buy our vehicle tags and plates. So that is the way I will always guage this.'nuff said.

[Wescruz]

rider wrote:

<quoted text>
Wescruz, this report from the California Department of Transportation seems to indicate otherwise; tag and license fees support the CHP, and DMV:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/ote/fund...

I don't believe the report. Sorry. Yeah I'm one tough customer huh?:)

[Wescruz]

commenter2001 wrote:

<quoted text>
What an old blowhard.
We all pay for roads, bike lanes and sidewalks.
Most adult cyclists also own a car.
You'd better get used to bikes because more and more people are going to be riding.
Gas prices are just taking a little breather before reaching for the stars again.

Geez. Blowhard? Old blowhard? How dare you!! quit calling me names you buffoon!!