[Carfreeliving] Pedestrian Dragged 40 feet in Sunset

[Mike Sallaberry]

I was on a motorcycle, actually...coming to a stop at a red light.  She 
rear-ended me and sent me into the intersection.  She was cited for DUI, 
hit and run (she was stopped by another driver who blocked her from 
leaving the scene), speeding, and perhaps running a red.  The DA's office 
called me the next morning to see if I could identify her.  I'll be sure 
to follow up and make sure they prosecute her as appropriate.

I agree that misuse has become standard practice...many individuals do not 
seem to understand that they are steering thousands of pounds through the 
world at a pretty high rate of speed.  The sort of "oblivious to the 
world/reality" mindset seems to be becoming more and more common in many 
facets of American life, but it's obviously a serious problem when 
operating a car.  It doesn't help that modern cars are quiet, climate 
controlled, smooth riding, comfortable, and with entertainment systems.

Sometimes I wonder if some people ever feel wind in their face...and I'm 
not talking about simply opening the window of their car, or by being 
outside on a windy day

Anyways, cars are like anything...they can be misused and over-used.  A 
transportation system that gives people real choices, what a professor of 
mine called "flexible mobility," and appropriately applies costs/rewards 
to the various choices, would do wonders in making cities more livable.


Michael Sallaberry, P.E.
Associate Transportation Engineer
San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 345
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 554 2351
(415) 554 2352 (fax)
Bicycle Hotline (415) 585-BIKE
http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org



"Brinkman, Cheryl" <Cheryl.Brinkman at McKesson.com> 
Sent by: Carfreeliving-bounces at livablecity.org
03/15/2005 02:34 PM

To
carfreeliving at livablecity.org
cc

Subject
RE: [Carfreeliving] Pedestrian Dragged 40 feet in Sunset






I'm not against cars, I'm against their mis-use.
 
But, the mis-use seems to have become standard practice.
 
Mike, I'm glad you're ok - were you on foot or on bike?
 

From: Mike Sallaberry [mailto:Mike.Sallaberry at sfgov.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 2:27 PM
To: carfreeliving at livablecity.org; Wes Kirkman; sfbcstaff at sfbike.org
Subject: Re: [Carfreeliving] Pedestrian Dragged 40 feet in Sunset


The utility of a car (or any object) has nothing to do with its potential 
to kill or maim someone because of how someone misuses it.  Trains run by 
negligent operators have killed more than a few folks - perhaps we should 
start a train-free living list. 

I know this is a list where we all get to freely preach to the choir, but 
I hope our arguments to the public are a little more reasoned. 

Mike 
- car-free my entire life 
- struck and sent flying by one 10 days ago (I blame the driver, not the 
car) 
- may one day own one
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