The death of cyclist Jeffrey Stevenson and my ambivalence toward bike lanes

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The death of cyclist Jeffrey Stevenson and my ambivalence toward bike lanes

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Started 2 years ago by TomOver
Latest reply from JeepGirl

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TomOver
lovecause.org
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The following are not mutually exclusive: JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s private significance to his friends and family, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, his public significance to people who see his death as at least symbolic for the cause (yes I said Ã¢â‚¬ËœcauseÃ¢â‚¬â„¢) of sustainable transportation.

The symbolic value of JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s death as it pertains to cycling does not conflict with being considerate to his grieving friends and family. The symbolic value his death and life have for cycling exists irrespective of how much this particular tragedy resulted from bad transportation policy, on the one hand, and how much it resulted from the individual irresponsibility of the motorist, on the other hand.

Posted 2 years ago #
TomOver
lovecause.org
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shannalafontaine wrote >>
Jeff was hit right in front of my office, and the memorial and the white bicycle that is now on the side of the road should be a reminder to many people driving by to be safe and use caution when driving. I hope people take 2 seconds out of their day to remind themselves the responsibility that comes with getting into a car and driving. So sad.

Shanna, where on Sawmill is the memorial located ? Do you know if there is going to be something permanent at the site of the tragedy, serving as an ongoing reminder to people ? Perhaps the white bike you mentioned is a part of that.

As far as what exactly that memorial may remind people of, it varies from person to person, obviously, and it's also obviously not limited to the issue of cycling.

I never met Jeff, but as far as my own deceased loved ones are concerned, I focus on celebrating their lives, not on their deaths.

Celebrating JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s life includes, though itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s not limited to, using our emotional connection to a specific human being as a source of energy for more vigorously adapting our culture here in Columbus to cycling as a viable means of transportation.

And process of pursuing a human connection to the cold facts and other data we may have about cycling conflicts, in no way, with showing respect for his grieving friends and family.

Posted 2 years ago #
groundrules

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TomOver wrote >>

The symbolic value of JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s death

symbolic value?!?!? seriously?

is there some way you can be banned from your own thread?

you're disgusting me.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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groundrules wrote >>

TomOver wrote >>
The symbolic value of JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s death

symbolic value?!?!? seriously?
is there some way you can be banned from your own thread?
you're disgusting me.

+1

Posted 2 years ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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TomOver wrote >>
The following are not mutually exclusive: JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s private significance to his friends and family, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, his public significance to people who see his death as at least symbolic for the cause (yes I said Ã¢â‚¬ËœcauseÃ¢â‚¬â„¢) of sustainable transportation.
The symbolic value of JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s death as it pertains to cycling does not conflict with being considerate to his grieving friends and family. The symbolic value his death and life have for cycling exists irrespective of how much this particular tragedy resulted from bad transportation policy, on the one hand, and how much it resulted from the individual irresponsibility of the motorist, on the other hand.

who the FUCK do you think you are?

what the fuck is wrong with people?

Posted 2 years ago #
sarahb
clintonville
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Tigertree wrote >>

groundrules wrote >>

TomOver wrote >>
The symbolic value of JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s death

symbolic value?!?!? seriously?
is there some way you can be banned from your own thread?
you're disgusting me.

+1

+1

Posted 2 years ago #
paktinat
WP
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Speaking as an avid vehicular cyclist, you are doing me or the cause no favors here. You are only using this to further yourself. You are a greedy scum feeding off of the death of this poor man.

Please stop. for me, for cyclists, and for everyone else on this forum.

Posted 2 years ago #
rus

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sarahb wrote >>

Tigertree wrote >>

groundrules wrote >>

TomOver wrote >>
The symbolic value of JeffÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s death

symbolic value?!?!? seriously?
is there some way you can be banned from your own thread?
you're disgusting me.

+1

+1

+1

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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paktinat wrote >>
Speaking as an avid vehicular cyclist, you are doing me or the cause no favors here. You are only using this to further yourself. You are a greedy scum feeding off of the death of this poor man.
Please stop. for me, for cyclists, and for everyone else on this forum.

+1,000

Posted 2 years ago #
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
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paktinat wrote >>
Speaking as an avid vehicular cyclist, you are doing me or the cause no favors here. You are only using this to further yourself. You are a greedy scum feeding off of the death of this poor man.
Please stop. for me, for cyclists, and for everyone else on this forum.

I'm not an avid cyclist and I'd like to still add a big +1 for him to STFU...for what it's worth.

Posted 2 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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I think that the simple fact that some of the most avid cyclists on CU have such a low opinion of the OP speaks volumes.

Posted 2 years ago #
Cookie
Flyntonville
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michaelcoyote wrote >>
I think that the simple fact that some of the most avid cyclists on CU have such a low opinion of the OP speaks volumes.

Honestly, the fact that Snarf got offended by something is what impressed me.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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michaelcoyote wrote >>
I think that the simple fact that some of the most avid cyclists on CU have such a low opinion of the OP speaks volumes.

I've never been keen on politicizing death or tragedy to push an agenda.

Posted 2 years ago #
lilbit
GV
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Yeah. Like Matthew Shepard? The Laramie Project? Completely out of line.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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lilbit wrote >>
Yeah. Like Matthew Shepard? The Laramie Project? Completely out of line.

There is a difference when we cross into actual hate crimes, though.

I'm speaking specifically in regards to cycling advocacy and how much we tend to focus on death and injury. In the big picture, what does that really accomplish?

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
shoe-mocker
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This is all too fresh to take it here, Tom0ver. If this is really your passion, you need to wait it out. Like, for a couple years. In the meantime, do your deeds without attaching them to his name.

This just happened; his friends and family are still struggling to get through the day. Allow them that space before you start connecting Google hits with this thread to his name. Allow them time to wrestle with what his name means, what his death means, and how their live will shift to accommodate a new emptiness, or the presence of a new loss. Right now, though, all that is relevant to him -- including his name and his death -- belongs to them; you just can't lay hands on it.

As for your intentions, just refocus them a bit; they'll work all the same.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
HCMC, Vietnam ✈
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>

paktinat wrote >>
Speaking as an avid vehicular cyclist, you are doing me or the cause no favors here. You are only using this to further yourself. You are a greedy scum feeding off of the death of this poor man.
Please stop. for me, for cyclists, and for everyone else on this forum.

+1,000

+1001 - WTF is wrong with you Tom?

Posted 2 years ago #
deraj1013
Merion Village
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From the Dispatch...

Despite accidents, bicycling getting safer
Increase in riders may heighten awareness

By Bill Bush

Last summer, Greg Yoakum was riding his bike about 25 mph through Hilliard when a car traveling the opposite direction turned left across his path, sending him crashing into the windshield and then onto the road.

He was one of the 269 bicycle-vehicle crash victims in Franklin County in 2009.

Read more

Posted 2 years ago #
kessler
Georgian Heights
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JonMyers wrote >>

lifeontwowheels wrote >>

paktinat wrote >>
Speaking as an avid vehicular cyclist, you are doing me or the cause no favors here. You are only using this to further yourself. You are a greedy scum feeding off of the death of this poor man.
Please stop. for me, for cyclists, and for everyone else on this forum.

+1,000

+1001 - WTF is wrong with you Tom?

^^^^Agreed,
Btw some people on here knew him or of him prior to this crash.

Reminder to others a fund is set up at Huntington to help his mother out with funeral expenses etc..
you can find it on a facebook page his friends set up. You can also find it through his own facebook page. If anyone has problems or can't find it PM me and I can send your info to his family for them to get you the correct info.

Posted 2 years ago #
artbomb112
The Heights
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I knew Jeff quite well. And I can tell you he didn't give a shit about your bike agenda. He lived free. At his funeral.. his skate friends made video of him endlessly crashing into things on a his board. Cut hands and legs. His best friend told a story about a conversation they had that night about Jeff not caring about the rules.... but caring about living life without having to fear and fight everything.

Perhaps testaments like this are exactly what get people killed on bikes. I don't know. I lost a friend. But he was damn good a living when he was here. I'd hate to see someone who lived so free turned into a poster for some shit he didn't care about.

Posted 2 years ago #