HELP: Proposal to BAN unicycles from the Golden Gate Bridge, in San Francisco, CA

General
1

Hi All,

There’s a silly addition to this proposal that will ban unicycles on the Golden Gate Bridge:

Please email them ASAP and request them to not do this. They are taking feedback into consideration. Suggested wording that you can copy and paste is below.

Thanks,

Corbin

To: bridgecomments@goldengate.org

To whom it may concern,

The proposed speed limit for bicycles also includes a ban on unicycles for no apparent reason. Unicyclists can stop faster than bicyclists and are more maneuverable. They also don’t sit up any much higher than a typical bicycle. We frequently ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, and would like you to reconsider the ban on unicycles.

Thank you,

XXX

2

You may want to also note that in the proposal itself there is no mention of unicycle related injuries.

3

I sent in my comments and suggestions. I think that they may have images of giraffes in their mind, and that is where the ban may have sparked from.

4

NeilFred made a great email to them. I’ll share it with you all:

Hello. I was alarmed to read in this article:

http://bikeportland.org/2011/04/20/s-f-mulls-speed-limits-tall-bike-ban-on-golden-gate-51749

that unicycles are likely to be banned from the cycling lane going over the Golden Gate Bridge. In particular, the article quotes Golden Gate Bridge spokeswoman Mary Currie as saying, “the control that a cyclist has is different than a unicyclist might have.”

The truth is that however precarious unicyclists might seem if you’re a non-unicyclist, they are safer and generally have more control than bicyclists, simply because they go slower.

A ban on both tall unicycles and tall bicycles makes perfect sense; a ban on normal unicycles makes exactly as much sense as a ban on normal bicycles – i.e. no sense at all.

Please don’t ban unicycles!

5

It is a bizarre situation. Their safety report suggest banning bicycles and unicycles that have seats more than 4 ft off the ground. In their recommendations this was changed to banning bicycles with seats more than 4 ft off the grand and unicycles.

They did not even read their own report when developing the recommendations.

Idiots!

Scott

6

We need lobbyists! Bring in the BUFFOONS!

7

Corbin,

Why don’t you track down Mary Currie and offer to teach her to unicycle?

A little knowledge goes a long way.

Scott

8

Done.

9

Corbin,

Somebody needs to point out to the Committee (or to whomever compiled the list of five recommendations on the Committee’s Web site) that the consultant’s report does not propose banning unicycles. The ban it proposes is for any ‘tall’ bike or unicycle with a seat higher than 4’ off the ground. The consultant’s recommendation is based on the consultant’s fear that somebody riding a bicycle or unicycle with a seat more that 4’ off the ground could possibly fall over the 4’ 6" high safety railing. From the report:

Recommendation 4: Other User Groups
The Bridge currently prohibits roller / inline skaters, skateboards, and dogs (except service animals). These prohibitions should continue as these user groups are not compatible with the high levels of pedestrian and bicycle use experienced on the Bridge sidewalks. Our research into multi-use trail regulations of unicyclists yielded no results; this user group is simply so unique and infrequent that trail and pathway management agencies do not regulate them as a special group. In terms of safety, a “tall bike” (a custom built bike where the seat is situated at a height that may be 5 or more feet off the ground) poses a safety risk to the user from toppling over safety railings. Because the safety rail stands 4’6” tall, prohibition of bicycles or unicycles whose seats are more than 4 feet off the ground might make sense so that no riders topple over the safety railing.

10

done

11

Here is the email I sent if you are curious, or want to touch on something that I forgot to mention. Sorry for the terrible grasp of the english language.

12

Here’s my letter:

Dear Goldengate.org,

People fear what they don’t understand. In this case, unicycles. A ban on unicycles is being considered, but with no reason given. That is because there is no reason. There is no evidence, no studies, no statistic, and no record of any unicycle-related accident on the bridge or its access areas. Where are your facts?

Unicycle facts:

  • Unicycles don’t go fast. According to the published background information provided on your website, speed was a factor in the majority of accidents cited.
  • Unicycles are more maneuverable than bikes. A unicyclist can make a u-turn in even the narrowest sections of the bridge sidewalks.
  • Unicycles can stop more quickly than bikes. Brakes are not needed, as the gear ratio is 1:1 in a fixed-gear drive system. But the main reason they can stop faster is that they’re not going very fast in the first place.
  • Unicycles don’t coast. You have to pedal all the time, and can’t just roll the downhill side of the bridge.
  • Unicyclists pay more attention than bicyclists. They have to. It takes a higher attention level to keep the thing balanced.
  • Unicycle riders on the GG Bridge are not rarely beginners, they are experienced riders looking to ride in exceptional places (like most of the non-commuting bicyclists on the bridge).
  • Number of unicycle accidents reported in the reports available on your site: 0
I found only one area in your related documents that speaks of unicycles, in bikesafetystudy_april2011:

“Our research into multi-use trail regulations of unicyclists yielded no results; this user group is simply so unique and infrequent that trail and pathway management agencies do not regulate them as a special group. In terms of safety, a “tall bike” (a custom built bike where the seat is situated at a height that may be 5 or more feet off the ground) poses a safety risk to the user from toppling over safety railings. Because the safety rail stands 4’6” tall, prohibition of bicycles or unicycles whose seats are more than 4 feet off the ground might make sense so that no riders topple over the safety railing.”

The above does not recommend a ban on unicycles. Instead it is honest and objective, noting the lack evidence or statistics for unicycles; none. It does recommend a seat height of no more than 4’ for bikes or unicycles, which sounds reasonable.

Source of my facts:
I’m not making this stuff up. I learned to ride a unicycle in 1976 and still ride regularly. I have ridden in unicycle competitions since 1980 and won many, at the national and world level. Did you know the North American Unicycle Convention and Championships was held in Berkeley last summer? It is hosted annually by the Unicycling Society of America since 1973. A highlight of many attendees’ trip to the Bay area was a unicycle ride across the famous GG Bridge. I am a past president of the Unicycling Society of America. I am also a co-founder and past president of the International Unicycling Federation. I am an advocate for cyclists’ rights, through the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA), and the Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC). We do real things to promote clean transportation, safety and access for cyclists.

There exists very little legislation regarding unicycles specifically. Unicycles make up a tiny fraction of 1 percent of the cycling population. Regulating them is silly, unless there is evidence suggesting a need for it. There isn’t. As a cycling advocate, I promote the idea of unicyclists adhering to rules for bicycles. We are, after all, cyclists. That’s where we belong.

Tall unicycles (aka giraffes) are not a good idea on the GG Bridge, or anywhere else with a narrow riding area and low rail. Therefore I support the 4’ seat height idea. Also the recommended speed limits on the bridge. This is the most obvious danger area I’ve noticed in my annual visits there for our San Francisco Unicycle Tour. Slowing down around the towers and other areas of low visibility would probably eliminate the majority of accidents, at least on the West side.

Don’t ban us for no reason. If you would like more information about unicycles, feel free to contact me, or one of these organizations, which are run by volunteers:
Unicyclingusa.org – Unicycling Society of America
Iufinc.org – International Unicycling Federation

Stay on top,
John Foss
the Uni-Cyclone
jfoss at unicycling dot com

13

I don’t know if I will ever be anywhere near the bridge but I might like the option one day

Borrowed some text from above and sent this:

[I]Hello. I was alarmed to read that unicycles are likely to be banned from the cycling lane going over the Golden Gate Bridge. In particular, the article quotes Golden Gate Bridge spokeswoman Mary Currie as saying, “the control that a cyclist has is different than a unicyclist might have.” The truth is that however precarious unicyclists might seem if you’re a non-unicyclist, they are safer and generally have more control than bicyclists, simply because they go slower and require skill, practice and concentration to ride.

The consultant’s report does not propose banning unicycles. The ban it proposes is for any ‘tall’ bike or unicycle with a seat higher than 4’ off the ground. The consultant’s recommendation is based on the consultant’s fear that somebody riding a bicycle or unicycle with a seat more that 4’ off the ground could possibly fall over the 4’ 6" high safety railing. A ban on both tall unicycles and tall bicycles makes sense, but not a ban on all unicycles.

Please don’t ban unicycles!

Regards[/I]

14

There is a lot of discussion going on at Bikeportland about this with some unicyclists offering their opinions too.

I think it is not surprising at all that they have mistakenly lumped unicycles in with rollerblades and skateboards as runaway-death traps on wheels, but only from ignorance and inexperience. I think we need to focus on the differences between skateboards/rollerblades and unicycles, and also decide whether we want to be classed as cyclists or pedestrians or a mix of both. Nobody can vouch for the control of all cyclists, unicyclists or pedestrians or drivers- they will all have a diverse range of skills and attentions. You can however vouch for the compatibility of unicycles with high levels of pedestrian and bike use areas. To exclude unicyclists based on the assumption they might be out of control is discrimination.

I think the 4’ is a strange cut off point- my Coker seat is about 4’1" high- and that makes it too unsafe for bridge riding, but a slightly shorter rider with a 3’11" seat is safe? How is 4’ the magic safe number for a 4’6" railing?

Can the shared path rules be avoided by riding on the railing?

Not fast? Maybe you are not fast… The proposed speed limit is 10 Miles per hour. I’m sure I’ve seen figures higher than that in the Fastest speed on a unicycle thread. It’s true unicycles are relatively slow compared to Motor traffic. Slow enough for safety but fast enough for transport.

This is true for a skilled rider. Not all riders are created equal- yet most unskilled riders will not attempt the bridge. Also unicycles have a narrower profile than bikes which tend to have wider handlebars.

Brakes are not needed? You should tell Unicycle.com to stop stocking unicycles with brakes. No gears no brakes no handlebars, no problems right? :stuck_out_tongue:

My unicycle coasts. It is great fun! It is not especially practical since falling to the ground is inevitable. Coasting downhill is fun too. It seems strange that Unicon would host a unicycle coasting event if it was not possible to coast one.

That is true but sometimes we get a false sense of security that takes a gravity induced impact to snap us out of. Unicyclists are human and capable of mistakes sometimes just like other path users. Tiny bumps can bring us down if we do not perceive them in time.

They are rarely beginners or are not rarely? I guess you made a typo. You can’t judge all users based on what you assume they will be.

Good point. Nice letter John I hope they listen to your biased but experienced point of view.

15

Ban

Been reading this thread with interest.

I am participating in the London to Brighton ride on the 16th July. We are having to do this as a seperate unicycle event as the British Heart Foundation who organise the main 2 wheel event have refused to allow unicyclists as they would represent a danger to other participants!!! :astonished:

16

Rowan, whose side are you on? Expect the folks from Goldengate.org to find this thread and read it. My text was written for non-unicyclists, to explain to them what makes a unicycle different from a bike because they do not know. Everything I said is absolutely true. You’re not helping. Got that, everyone else?

17

Why must I be on a side? I’m on the bridges side and I want all people to be able to use it. I’m on honesty’s side.
Not everything you said was true and you posted it on a Unicyclist forum so we know you were bending the truth. If everything you said was absolutely true then I could not have argued what I think is the facts. Don’t be afraid of people reading the real truth- just don’t be like the Media and publish what you think people should hear (convenient truth), regardless of the truth.

The fact that no unicycle accidents have been reported (most unicyclists only hurt themselves in accidents and are unlikely to report it to an authority unless hospitalised) is enough reason not to punish unicyclists for their out of control transport. If you go making up extra reasons that don’t exist like “Unicyclists are all little old ladies who only ride across the bridge on Sundays to go to church” then the Goldengate people will know you are blowing smoke in their face.

Your lies are not helping your honest cause John- got that? I am helping by letting you know you are only kidding yourself and have not fooled me. You need to seperate general statements from fact. Calling your opinions facts lessens their value.

18

You’re absolutely correct, we should teach them everything and everything about unicycling so that they can understand every irrelevant detail that has nothing to do with unicyclists on the bridge. Let’s start writing the dictionary John, we’ve got some work to do.

19

Hi Rowan,

I thought you were the rider who kept getting arrested for flipping off cops while you were riding your unicycle?

:slight_smile:

Scott

20

also recommends not wearing helmets