September 13, 2012 Page 3 Student’s Perspective Hawthorne Happenings Proposed Bill Would Require Three Feet News for the City of Good Neighbors before Overtaking Cyclists From City Clerk Norb Huber By Glen Abalayan, Torrance High to move away from road hazards. Instead, Tennis Greats Have Roots in Hawthorne School Student what beginner cyclists need to do is to assert As a daily bicycle commuter, only a few themselves to drivers and take up the entire Bob and Mike Bryan, the twins who There is a rumor that two or three of the things irk me more than having cars come lane if it is a wide street. Asserting their make up the greatest tennis doubles team city council members will have a dance off dangerously close to my bicycle as they presence to drivers prevents the intimidating in the world, won a gold medal in London during the festivities. attempt to overtake me. As stated in an earlier “squeezing out” that happens when a cyclist last month and just last week, they set the Historical Society Open Meeting article, these actions put cyclists’ lives at is riding timidly. But even if the rider is record for most major slam doubles titles Changed to Thursday, Sept. 20 risk and intimidate would-be cyclists from effectively asserting himself on the road, he by winning the U.S. Open Championships An Open Meeting of the Historical Society riding on the streets. These acts also harm is still at the mercy of an aggressive driver. in New York City. The Bryan twins are the will take place on Thursday, September 20 the already low relations between cyclists To counteract this, the State Legislature’s sons of Wayne Bryan who is a Hawthorne starting at 7 p.m. at the Hawthorne Museum. and drivers on the road. The increase in the website stated that the proposed bill would High School graduate. The Bryan family The public is invited to attend. The museum amount of cyclists on the road should not require a fine of $220 if the driver collides lived in Hollyglen and Wayne and his brother is open from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday. translate to an increase in the number of with the cyclist, causes bodily harm, and is honed their tennis skills at the Hollyglen Park Museum to Open on Tuesdays, Thursdays preventable bicycle-related accidents. But a found in violation with the act. If SB1464 tennis courts. Wayne became a professional Beginning Tuesday, September 25, new bill moving up the Senate and gaining is signed into law by the Governor, it would teaching pro and for many years taught the Hawthorne Museum will be open from 10 popularity would require drivers to give at give cyclists the legal protection they need tennis in Ventura County. The twins played a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. least three feet of space between cyclists to defend them in court in the case of an tennis at Stanford University before turning We are looking for volunteers to help staff before overtaking them. If this bill is signed accident. pro. Bob has an infant daughter and Mike the Museum through the winter months. If into law, it would give cyclists the assurance Currently, today’s bike laws require only has an upcoming wedding planned. At age you wish to help out, please contact Tom of their presence on the road and the legal drivers to pass cyclists at a safe distance. 34, they don’t seem to be slowing down in Quintana at 310-349-2906. protection they deserve in case of an accident. The problem with this is that the actual safe their training and their drive to win more James Swain finally has a “W” after six A brief article in the San Francisco distance required for overtaking fluctuates championships. Some Hollyglen residents long years Chronicle reveals a short summary about between drivers and their current schedules. and Hawthorne graduates still remember the Hawthorne High School football the bill. The story summarized the bill’s The definition of a safe distance can be Bryan family and their love for the game of coach James Swain won his first football journey from it gaining the State Assembly’s an entire lane to some, or a few inches to tennis. These two champions can trace their contest last Friday with a victory over Animo approval and working its way up to the others. Some drivers even rudely justify their roots to the City of Good Neighbors. South High School. It was the coach’s first Senate in which in won by a majority vote risky actions as “safe” because it “didn’t hit Cuban Festival – Sunday, Sept. 23 victory after 42 losses. He said it felt really of 29-4. Dubbed SB1464, it would require anything.” If the new bill is passed, it would A great time is had by all when the good to finally get a “W”. drivers to give at least three feet of space give an actual measurement, three feet, of Hawthorne Cuban community invites us all Upcoming Events between cyclists before overtaking them. A how much space is needed before overtaking. to be its guests at the annual Cuban Festival Historical Society Meeting – Thursday, more thorough summary of the bill can be This may sound excessive to drivers, but three that will take place this year on Sunday, Sept. 20 – 7 p.m. found in the California State Legislature’s feet is only a third of the entire width of a September 23. The Sociedad Jose Marti Cuban Festival – Sunday, Sept. 23 website, where the full bill, along with its regular urban lane, which according to the festival will take place from noon until 7 p.m. City Council Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 25 • history, is available for viewing. The proposed Federal Highway Administration, has widths at 12141 South Prairie Ave. in Hawthorne. bill would also allow drivers to cross the of nine to 12 feet. double parallel white or yellow lines in order The introduction of SB1464, if signed into to safely overtake a cyclist and include a law, would give cyclists the legal protection “The Effects of requirement to reduce to a reasonable pace they need from the aggressive and distracted if the driver cannot give three feet of space drivers who endanger their lives every day. Reading Between also provide a first offense penalty of $35 to overtake a cyclist, it would prevent the the Lines”By adding a specific measurement necessary while overtaking a cyclist. The bill would to any driver caught disobeying. fluctuating definition of what a safe distance There is nothing more intimidating for the is to drivers. The bill also brings forth just It’s difficult to notice the lines, first-time bike commuter to only be a few feet punishments to people caught violating the Since we read between them instead. away from a two-ton automobile. An average act or injuring a bicyclist. But this bright I suppose somehow in our minds, rookie mistake to react to such a situation is future protecting the safety of thousands of We’re reading words that aren’t meant to to ride on the far right side of the road and cyclists will not be realized if California’s be read. riskily let cars squeeze them out. But next Governor, Jerry Brown, does not sign the to riding on the sidewalk, the far right side bill into law. But with the bill’s surge in Now this may sound absurd, of the road is the most dangerous place for popularity and landslide victories in both But the words that were not said - any cyclist to be in because it allows cars the State Assembly and Senate, the day may We did not see, yet we heard - to ride dangerously close to cyclists and soon come when more cyclists in California Somehow stay inside our head. restricts their movement. This can prove to be are properly respected on the road. • extremely dangerous to cyclists if they have We ponder, and we ponder; therefore, The words soon become a tease. Each time the mind plays an encore, It craves to be at ease. “What separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our Had the words actually been spoken, ability to mourn people we’ve never met.” Then they could possibly be erased. -David Levithan, Love Is the Higher Law So then the torment is a token Of how our peace has been displaced. —Elaine Christine Simon • Diabetes Care •Women’s Health • Prenatal Care Building Healthy Lives in medically • Pediatrics underserved communities throughout Los Angeles County for over 40 years • Dental Care Appointments: •General Adult (310) 802-6170 Medicine www.sbfhc.org • And more
Lawndale 09.13.12
To see the actual publication please follow the link above