Los Angeles, California.
Addendum: Check this ride out from South Bend: http://www.wsbt.com/news/sbt-procession-aims-to-show-how-bikes-cars-can-coexist-20120427,0,2181987.story
If you look closely at the above Citizen Cyclist in Los Angeles it is clear that this person is participating in an athletic event which is an extreme test of her physical and mental limits and it carries with it the potential for death, serious injury and property loss. I mean, it's bloody obvious, isn't?Turns out that Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is hosting a little bike ride today. Which is cosy. And nice. Here's the route:
- Pomona 2ns St
- Left on White
- Left on 1st
- Right on E st
- Take a Break ( perhaps 7-11) COFFEE BREAK! COOL!
- Right on Bonita
- Right on Yale
- Take a Break (Rhino Records) RECORD SHOP STOP! COOL!
- Left on 1st
- Right on College
- Right on San Jose
- Left on San Antonio
- Right on San Bernardino
- Left on Gibbs
- Left on McKinley
- Right on Palamares
- Right on 1st
- Left on Main
The ride should be less then 10 miles and we will go at a moderate pace. Please bring lights just in case it gets dark before we get back. We are meeting at 6pm and riding out at 6:20 and should be about an hour ride or less.
16 km. Group ride. For fun. Stopping at a 7-11 for a Slurpee. Stopping at a record shop. Groovy.So here's the waiver form you have to sign to take part in this little Citizen Cyclist bike-o-rama:
"I acknowledge that this athletic event is an extreme test of a person's physical and mental limits and carries with it the potential for death, serious injury and property loss.
The risks include, but are not limited to, those caused by terrain, facilities, temperature, weather, condition of athletes, equipment, vehicular traffic, actions of other people including, but not limited to, participants, volunteers, spectators, coaches, event officials, and event monitors, and/or producers of the event, and lack of hydration. These risks are not only inherent to athletics, but are also present for volunteers. I hereby assume all of the risks of participating &/or volunteering in this event. I realize that liability may arise from negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons or entities being released, from dangerous or defective equipment or property owned, maintained or controlled by them or because of their possible liability without fault. I certify that I am physically fit, have sufficiently trained for participation in the event and have not been advised otherwise by a qualified medical person."
Readers may recall our Go Green, Go Dutch, Go Die! article from awhile back, about a similar event in Chicago.
What a ridiculous message to be sending to people who wish to participate in a cosy bike ride. This is a massive marketing/advocacy FAIL. Spare me all the comments about "That's just the way our legal system is the US"... Because you know what? If advocacy groups are serious about reestablishing the bicycle on our urban landscapes, they will engage an attorney to reword documents like these. Look at how many people get off the hook in the US legal system for crimes. So there are loopholes the size of North Dakota. It must be possible to rewrite these documents in a realistic language that presents an all important positive image of urban cycling, separating it from sport/recreation and that still covers all the liability issues that need to be addressed in the American system. It can't be hard. But why isn't it being done? And why don't motorists have to sign such waivers when they purchase a car? Or pedestrians when they purchase shoes?It boggles the mind.
