Comments on Breaking News: Did Seattle Just Forfeit Its Role as National Bike/Ped Conference Sponsor?

We'll be glad to host them in Portland, where our sheriffs don't decide to beat down bikers...

Sorry my sarcasm is getting the best of me

Why would we host a bike conference? We've even de-hilled our hills (see early 20th century landfill project), and we still have HUGE FUCKING HILLS. As Dan pointed out: hills are the mortal enemy of bicyclists, why would you want the national conference of hill-haters in such a 'hilly company?

Wait - I don't remember - according to the Stranger, is Seattle one of the best cycling/pedestrian cities or are we bad, bad, bad? Which is it? Are we a national leader or a city-created death zone?

Dan Savage:
"In fact, as a lifelong bicyclist, I had always regarded hills—any incline at all—as the enemy."

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=137417

At least for he and I: Death Zone.

It seems a little histrionic of the national org to threaten to cancel their visit after giving the city less than 48 hours to respond to its email. It may be kind of hard for them to believe, but the addressee may have other items on her plate that are more time sensitive, or, heaven forbid, have been out sick for a day.

I'm a biker, my partner bike commutes, and I support biking. But lets give it another couple of days before assuming the city hates bikes, ok?

Portland has it's own share of bicycle problems, like Judges outlawing fixies.

As to the reassignment of Lagerwey, and the new doubt from NCBW, I can only say: Aauaauuuuuuuugghh!

Um @4: Gee, i don't know. Why don't you park your car and walk around for awhile. I'm sure you'll figure out which it is pretty quick.

Wow, what a terrible loss this would be for our city ...

I'm wondering if the reason Lagerwey got replaced by a "pedestrian-safety expert" is due to the death of Tatsuo Nakata, David Della's chief of staff. As a result, the City Council has now pledged to work harder on pedestrian issues than cycling issues. The Pedestrian Master Plan is due out this year, I believe.

I'm afraid cycling issues will now be back-burnered due to the hitting-close-to-home nature of Nakata's tragic death.

Seeing as how there are hundreds of places in Seattle where it's illegal to walk (Pedestrians Cross On Other Side), and intelligent jaywalking is illegal and enforced, and no one ever stops at marked but stopless pedestrian crossings, I'd say Seattle is terrible for pedestrians.

Don't even get me started on drivers who don't stop for pedestrians when making left/right turns on the green. I've almost been hit more times than when I lived in New York.

Breaking question following fast on the tail of breaking news: Who cares?

NO DO-OVERS! Seattle is still the #1 Walking and #2 Biking city for commuters, so we deserve the conference.

Heck, I walk to work most days, and most of my colleagues bike to work or walk.

Who cares what? Who cares if Keshmeshi gets hit by a car? I'll bet he does. So do I.

Confidential to Clark and Dan Savage: Hills are only the mortal enemy of lazy bikers.

Biking hills also provides one of the greatest natural "stick and carrots" available to mankind. You work your ass off for a little while and are instantly rewarded with an exhilirating rush of momentum and gravity.

It sure beats a stupid Stairmaster.

The title of the breaking news is : "Did Seattle Just Forfeit Its Role as National Bike/Ped Conference Sponsor?" not "did keshmeshi get hit? and does fnarf care?" I still say who cares if Seattle just forfeited its role as National Bike/Ped Conference Sponsor? I don't.