Bicycle laws life and death
Jeremy Gordon’s article (“Understanding in a bike crash,” The Weekly, May 21) emphasizes the dangers of biking in Evanston. As a student who lives off campus and drives a car around this area, my greatest fear is hitting a biker.
I have no desire to hurt anyone, and much less of one to spend years in accident litigation. However, this situation seems all too likely, because bikers routinely violate traffic laws. I’ve never seen a bicyclist stop for a stop sign or red light – although sometimes they ‘yield’ and then go through them. Very few bikers wear helmets. People at Northwestern don’t seem to realize that the rules of the road are the same for bikes and cars, according to Illinois law Sec 11-1502.
Other laws people don’t seem to know or follow: One can’t carry anything on a bike which prevents using both hands on the handlebars, or bikes ridden at night must have a headlight visible from at least 500 feet away.
These rules may seem silly to some NU students, but any Evanston driver will tell you they are a matter of life and death. When bikers don’t follow the rules of the road, they put themselves in grave danger. But more likely than not, the person who hit you while you were running the red light, at night, with no light on, while talking on your cell phone, will have to suffer the consequences.
Cars and bikes can coexist, but only if everyone follows a common set of rules. I think the administration and NUPD need to do more to enforce traffic laws for bicycles to keep everyone in Evanston safe.
– NIC HOLTHAUS
McCormick senior
War on drugs should end
If health outcomes, not cultural norms, determined drug laws, marijuana would be legal.
Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.
The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican immigration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. White Americans did not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched federal bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda.
Marijuana prohibition has failed miserably as a deterrent. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available to adults over 18.
Students who want to help end the intergenerational culture war, otherwise known as the war on some drugs, should contact Students for Sensible Drug Policy at www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com. – ROBERT SHARPE
Policy Analyst
Common Sense for Drug Policy
Get out and see the sights
All too often I found myself looking forward to being done with school, no more class or papers. With graduation in sight, I’m trying to find everything I can do to stay involved at Northwestern.
As I look back at my senior year, I remember all the fun things that I’d never tried before, starting in fall with marching band spirit sessions. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but before long I was eagerly anticipating Thursday nights after “The Office.” As a student-athlete, I try to support my counterparts by watching them in their own arenas.
Although I don’t belong to a fraternity, I’ve tried to get involved with Greek events. I’ve recently participated in events such as the Black and Gold Bowl and Mud Olympics.
My most recent new adventure led me to the Waa-Mu show. It was my first time attending and I was amazed, not only by the level of talent of the cast but also the crew, musicians, writers and choreographers. I want to congratulate everyone involved with the Waa-Mu show on a fantastic production. Everyone on campus who missed it should check it out next year.
The level of talent at this school across so many disciplines is outstanding. We love it when students come out to support us on Saturdays in the fall, and I’ve had just as much fun watching and supporting my classmates where they excel. I encourage everyone on campus to get out and experience these events as much as possible!
– MARK WOODSUM
Weinberg senior
NU football no. 44
