s
mJlTUK
Erin Gibson
OPINION
EDITOR
Cliff Hicks
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Nancy Christensen
Brad Davis
Sam McKewon
Jeff Randall
Bret Schulte
Quotes
OF THE WEEK
"We’re football freaks, but I don’t
think we’re going to win. I’ll be
shocked if we score one or two
points.”
Elaine Adolofo, of the Center for
Democratic Education at University of
Califomicrat Berkley, on CaVschances
against Nebraska
"Instead of one screen running a
horrible movie, we are going to have
two or three screens running a horri
ble movie.”
Gwen Foster, UNL film instructor,
on the prospects of a new film
megaplex in Lincoln
"In order to continue to grow in
the community, Ballet Omaha had to
be a part of the community. It forgot
that.”
Derrick Wilder, former Ballet
Omaha official, on the end of the pro
gram
"To restrict areas of the union to
students is not a way to discriminate
(against) the homeless.”
Bil Roby, executive director of
Daywatch, on the motion to remove the
homeless from the union
“Sisterhood is more than brick
and mortar, it’s long-term friend
ships, so I guess it doesn’t matter
where it happens.”
Barbara Robbie Elliot, former pres
ident of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, on
the plans to move the sorority
“I would place this among the
most spectacular events in sports
history.”
Benjamin Rader, UNL history pro
fessor; on Mark McGwire’s breaking of '
Roger Maris’ record for most home
runs in a season
“The neighbors are noticing when
the music is so loud they can’t think
or someone is urinating in their front
yard. That’s when they call us.”
Capt. Joy Citta, regarding Lincoln
police’s targeting of house parties
“If students don’t feel comfort
able in the union at all times, I have a
prior obligation to them over mem
bers of the public.”
- Daryl Swanson, Nebraska Unions
Director, regarding the measure that
would extricate the homeless from the
union
“It will be continued light, fol
lowed by darkness. We hope everyone
in the Flatlands will enjoy the game
as much as we will.”
Marc Gantz, representative of the
Legion of Tightwad Hill, on the upcom
ing Califomia-Nebraska game
“It’s part of show biz.”
Musician Frank Black on why he
records under a pseudonym, rather
than his real name, Charles Thompson
mortal Policy
* " .|
University of htebraska-Uncoln, its
employees, its student body or the
Unwereity of Nebraska Board of Regents.
A column is solely the opinion of Its author.
The Board of Regents serves as pubfisher
of Ihe Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by
the Daily Nebraskan Edtorial Board. The
UNL Publcattons Board, established by
the regents, supervises the production
of the paper. According to policy set by
the regents, responsibly for the editorial
content of the newspaper Kes solely in
the hands of its student employees.
totter Policy
The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief
letters to the editor and guest columns,
but does not guarantee thekpubiaiion.
The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to
edit or reject any material submitted.
Submitted material becomes property of
the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be
returned. Anonymous submissions will
not be published. Those who submit
letters must identify themselves by name,
.year in school, mjgor and/or group
affiliation, if any.
Submit malarial to: Daily Nebraskan, 34
Nebraska Union, 1400R St Lincoln,
NE. 68588-0448. E-mail:
letter8@uninfo.unl.edu.
Mook’s
VIEW
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LETTERS
Mass isn’t critical here
As a commuter student who
lives a mile south of City Campus, I
know what it is like to regularly
bike through the streets of down
town Lincoln.
I’ve repeatedly been on the
receiving end of the middle finger,
had my rear tire touched by the
grille of a shiny, red sports car, and
come closer to the side mirror of a
StarTran bus than I ever cared to.
» However, I continue to dp it, and I
do it right. I ride down die left: side
of the lanes and use hand signals
whenever I intend to turn or change
lanes. I stop for red lights and stop
signs, even pay attention to yield
signs. I also wear a helmet just to
save the clean-up crews some time
if I ever am in a serious accident.
In other words, I go out of my
way to ride safe.
However, I have to agree with
the recent Daily Nebraskan editori
al that “bike lanes would wreak
havoc downtown.” (Wednesday,
Sept. 9th) The best immediate rem
edy to the bicycle/automobile rela
tionship isn’t in new legislation, but
as Rick Dockhom advises, in being
“a better cyclist.” The Critical Mass
movement has its place, but not
here and not now.
Critical Mass is a legitimate
step toward raising awareness of
our concerns, as Olivia Brown and
Elizabeth Goodbrake point out, but
not the first step. It will only piss
people off and make the situation
worse.
The Lincoln biking community
needs to come together and educate
its members, because until cyclists
start learning the rules of the road
and abiding by them, we are just
shooting ourselves in die “pedal.”
Whether you want to be or not,
when you hop on your bike you
become a representative of the bik
ing community. So every time you
zoom through that red light with a
half-dozen witnesses, or when you
almost knock over a pedestrian,
stop and ask yourself why people in
cars should give you equal treat
ment, much less special treatment.
Once we are doing our part, then
we can begin to engage in a proac
tive discussion with those who
drive. If that fails, then Critical
Mass may be the best way to make
some changes.
As to why I bike: It’s because it
is the smart thing to do, the right
thing. I get a little exercise each
morning and afternoon, I save a
bunch of money on parking fees
(and tickets), I get to class a whole
lot faster than if I drove, and I’m not
contributing to the congestidl! and
pollution of downtown Lincoln. In
the winter, I just catch a bus (it’s
free for students).
I challenge the students, staff,
and faculty of the UNL community
to stand up and be heard on these
issues.
Tony White
junior
environmental sociology
Mass misinterpreted
The “ragtag mob of cyclists” the
Daily Nebraskan’s September 9th
editorial refers to is called Critical
Mass. The issue of establishing
bicycle lanes in Lincoln is often
discussed by cyclists of this com
munity, including many who rode in
Friday’s Critical Mass. However,
the purpose of staging such an
event is not necessarily to advocate
bicycle lanes. Critical Mass is an
organized coincidence, dependent
upon the will and whim of the
cyclists who participate.
Never is there any collective
agenda behind CM, except maybe
to have fun. ’
Obviously, the editorial board
member who penned Wednesday’s
Our View does not rely on a bicycle
to get to school or work everyday.
What I mean is this piece was writ
ten from a car-centered perspective.
If you had ever tried to ride a bicy
cle on Lincoln streets behaving like
a car (as you advocate and I do
when I ride a bicycle), you would
realize that drivers are much slower
than cyclists to act as responsible
road users. In fact, a cyclist who *
acts like a driver is likely to be sub
ject to threats, insults, being forced
off the road or possibly assault from
rage-filled motorists.
Critical Mass can and (I believe)
should advocate bicycle awareness
and responsibility to both motorists
and cyclists. Critical Mass shows
that bicycles are not impediments to
traffic, contrary to common percep
tions. Bicycles are traffic. What is
rush hour but traffic? What is
Critical Mass but cyclists (traffic)
during rush hour?
L am not suggesting that the
Daily Nebraskan advocate bike
lanes once again.
I would, however, suggest that it
is a mistake to place all the respon
sibility for the bicycle-car dichoto
my on cyclists. I would also suggest
that the editorial staff recognize the
responsibility motorists have to be
courteous and safe while using the
streets. Bicyclists deserve all the
rights and responsibilities drivers
assume.
In Iowa City, Iowa, there are
these great road signs. They are yel
low diamonds with two icons: a car
and a bicycle. Below are three
words both cyclists and motorists
should take to heart: SHARE THE
ROAD.
Andrew Ascherl
freshman
women’s studies
