Howdy,

I often utilize the "stealth riding' strategy, and I am not a loon.

When I pedal through North Minneapolis or the Phillips Neighborhood
where muggings, random shootings, and attacks on bicyclists are
relativly common it is the safest way to go. Go fast, go dark, listen
for cars or pedestrians, and whatever you do, don't stop.

As evidence: about three weeks ago a good friend (and noted
transportation / bicycle researcher from the U of M Dr. Kevin Krizek)
was pedaling down a street in these hoods at night with his 'safety'
lights blinking and ~5 toughs saw him, stepped out into the road to
block his passage, and when he stopped, kicked him repeatedly in the
head. Prior to going stealth I personally have had cars pace me and
pull what appeared to be a gun (could have been a toy...). I avoided
trouble by turning the wrong way on a one way street.

Ed, perhaps you live and bike soley on more gentrified streets. But
please dont knock others who refuse to surrender our inner ciites to
thugs for adopting strategies which they judge the most rational way to
stay alive. Or, if you have a better system in mind, please come visit
my fair city and I will happily take you for a midnight ride and observe
your survival method.

Cheers,

Andrew Koebrick
Minneapolis (a city with the best / worst of urban living)

--
Andrew Koebrick
Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, President

www.bikeped.org
651-222-2080 --Sibley Bike Depot
612-276-0641 --Home

The MBPA is a 501(c)3 member supported non-profit dedicated to facilitating
biking and walking as a healthy form of transportation. In addition to advocacy
and education, we also run the Sibley Bike Depot, a community bicycle education
facility in downtown St. Paul.