Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
If you have a loved one who bicycles or is getting a bicycle and helmet for Christmas, can you get one more Christmas present for your loved one, please? That would be bicycle lights.
In Florida, bicycles are classified as vehicles and as traffic, so they must obey vehicular laws such as using lights at night. Bicyclists can get tickets just like motorists if they don't use the lights. In addition, bicycle lights increase your loved one's safety and reduce the chance of crashing with a car. Compared to other transportation, bicycling is safer than people think. About 33,000 motor vehicle occupants get killed each year in the United States, while fewer than 800 bicyclists get killed each year. In Florida, bicycling in the dark without lights is a factor in 60 percent of adult bicyclist deaths. So using lights is important for improving bicyclists' safety.
Here are some tips to bicycle lights:
The white lights go on the front, and the red lights go on the back just like on cars. That shows motorists which direction you are going.
The minimum legal requirement is one white headlight on the front that can be seen from 500 feet. Also, you must have one red reflector and one red taillight on the back that can be seen from 600 feet. The law allows you to have more than the minimum. If you are a commuter bicyclist, I highly recommend you put on more than one taillight and carry spare batteries.
Put the taillights at the point farthest back on your bicycle so the lights won't get covered by bundles on your rack or by your coat hanging down.
If you buy your lights from bicycle shops, the mechanics will usually attach the lights for free. They can attach more lights on your bicycle, too, by adding plates and rubber strips to your rack.
Research shows motorists notice bicyclists' flashing red taillights 100 to 500 feet sooner than steady lights. Flashing bicycle lights help motorists know you're not a motorcyclist, too. Recently, flashing white headlights have been created, too. Some motorists need steady white bicycle lights to help them track the bicyclist. But flashing white headlights help motorists notice bicyclists sooner. I use two headlights, one steady and one flashing.
You can get free literature about other safe bicycling necessities by calling the Pinellas County Planning Department at 464-8200 or by contacting the Florida Department of Transportation's Pedestrian and Bicycle Program at http://www11.myflorida.com/safety/ped_bike/ped_bike.htm.
Also, the Florida Bicycle Association and DOT worked together to produce the "Florida Bicycling Street Smarts" booklet. It's like a driver manual for Florida bicyclists. You an get a free copy at www.floridabicycle.org by calling 407 327-3941, by faxing 407 327-7007 or by e-mailing laura@floridabicycle.org
Re: Guest column by Lorre L. Gifford on low teacher pay.
Wow! What emotional and frank writing!
While I can understand why this guest columnist is upset with the pittance she earns as a teacher, I did not understand why she claimed "you get what you pay for." She certainly didn't mean that poor pay results in poor teaching. Never happens. The truth is the state and the parents are getting more than they paid for. And the shame is the state has been given more than enough money to pay teachers what they deserve and finance schools with what they need. The giving has been going on for 17 years and, we like to think, put in the cookie jar known as the Florida Lottery.
In 1986, Florida voters authorized the state to operate a lottery to generate significant additional money for education. When you consider that for the past few years, the sale of tickets has resulted in annual revenues of approximately $1.95-billion, you have to wonder why a teacher such as this talented author is making a lousy living. To get the answer to that question, you need to investigate how that money is spent. Space and time prevent me from explaining the results of my research. Suffice it to say that, in my judgment, better fiscal management could solve this problem.
Teachers are special people. Everyone agrees they are grossly underpaid. But in my four years as a substitute, I have never met one teacher who allowed pay to dictate performance. Never.
Every one of them seemed motivated by an unconditional love for teaching. In fact, I have told many of them that their profession borders on religious vocation. (Yeah. Maybe that's why they are paid what amounts to a stipend!)
All of us should be on our feet, applauding this teacher, then on our knees, begging her to stay.
As a retired Pinellas County teacher, I have a word of advice for Lorre Gifford and all the other teachers who are relatively new to the profession: Get out while you can, because it will only get worse later.
Since most educators never make it to full retirement and years of teaching in other states are not realistically portable, most pensions are generally small. Worse yet is the fact that the School Board stops covering its share of health insurance costs the minute a teacher retires.
In a best-case scenario, a 30-year teaching veteran can expect to net approximately $18,600 after taxes and health insurance. This amount does not include vision or dental care, nor does it take into account any copays, the cost of which can be significant for anybody with health problems. Income drops significantly for early, young or low-year retirees.
Even if a teacher makes it to year 30, he will probably be too young for Social Security, so he will have to make do or get a second job in order to make ends meet. Thus, someone who has given the best years of his life, who has worked for demeaning salaries and who has had immense and very stressful responsibilities is not even allowed to retire with any dignity or peace of mind.
This is a travesty and represents a real slap in the face to every teacher. This is what our community thinks of us, and this is the way it probably will always be. The system uses us up then dumps us in the garbage, wipes its hands and goes on to recruit young people with promises of a brighter tomorrow.
There is no brighter tomorrow for most teachers, and I think it's about time the young ones found out up front what they'll be facing on the other end. Next year, our health costs will top $10,000. Do the math, people!
Re: PSTA chief returns self-granted bonus, Dec. 5.
The article says it has been a very successful year for the Pinellas County Suncoast Transit Authority. Does that mean it is now self-supporting and won't show up on my ad valorem tax bill? Before a bonus to anyone is earned, the public should not have to subsidize the Suncoast Transity Authority!
And to the 11 members on the board, shame on you all. Executive director Roger Sweeney's not asking your permission is not the problem. The problem is his character and your generosity in using taxpayers' money.