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THURSDAY,OCTOBER 22,2009
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VOLUME 121 ISSUE 44
SAFE CYCLING
A biker rides on the street through campus. Since 2004, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Lawrence and Shawnee as the only "Bicycle Friendly" communities in Kansas. The downtown sections of Lawrence, 23rd and Sixth streets, are high traffic areas and considered more dangerous to cyclists than other roadways, according to Mark Desettt a member of the Bicycle Advising Committee.
Locals recognize cycling issues
Lawrence is seen as biker-friendly, but there are danger areas
BY BRANDON SAYERS
bsayers@kansan.com
"I treat myself as if I'm a normal car and I think that really helps," Desetti said.
One of the ways Mark Desetti remains safe when he's riding a bicycle is to pretend as if he's a car.
Desetti, a local member of the city's Bicycle Advisory Committee, said he enjoyed cycling for recreation and he thought Lawrence was a bike-friendly community.
"I've found that Lawrence citizens are very understanding of bicyclists," Desetti said. "I myself feel very safe cycling in the city"
Follow Brandon Sayers at twitter.com/ osayers.
Although Desetti said Lawrence was generally a safe place to cycle, he recognized there were areas that needed improvement.
Deseti said bicycle safety in Lawrence wasn't perfect, however. He said the downtown areas of the city, 23rd and Sixth streets, are high traffic areas and can be more dangerous to cyclists than other roadways.
Sergeant Michael Monroe of the Lawrence Police Department said he thought every community could improve on bicycle safety issues, but thought Lawrence was very committed to bicyclist safety.
Monroe said there were 23 bicycle vs. motor vehicle accidents in Lawrence in 2008. He said Lawrence had not had a bicycle fatality accident of this type for at least five years before Rachel Leek was killed last week. A car struck Leek's bicycle in the 1000 block of Tennessee Street Friday.
Dessetti he said he lived and cycled in other cities across the map, but thought Lawrence was the most bike-friendly of them all.
Since 2004, Lawrence and Shawnee were the only Kansas communities to be recognized as a "Bicycle Friendly" city by the League of American Bicyclists. The organization promotes bicycling in America through advocacy and education.
SEE BIKES ON PAGE 3A
SAFETY TIPS FOR BICYCLISTS
- Obey all traffic signs, signals and road markings. Use hand signals to indicate stops and turns. Look over your left shoulder for traffic before you make a move.
Don't ride on downtown sidewalks
walks.
Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.
Ride in the same direction as traffic in a straight line. Don't swerve in the road or between vehicles.
- Don't ride more than two abreast.
Think ahead. Ride defensively. Anticipate drivers' actions. Establish eye contact.
- **Be predictable so that motorists will know exactly what to expect from you.**
■ Be visible to motorists. Wear brightly colored reflective clothing. Have lights and reflectors on your bicycle.
Source: City of Lawrence motorists and bicyclists safety reminders
SPEAKER
Author to discuss issues with health care costs in America
BY LAUREN HENDRICK
lhendrick@kansan.com
Journalist T.R. Reid was really looking forward to enjoying the Kansas vs. Oklahoma game this Saturday after his two-day visit to the University, but the popularity of his New York Times best selling book, "The Healing of America: A Global Quest For Better, Cheaper and Fairer Health Care," has him flying to Boston instead.
Reid will speak about health care at 7:30 tonight at Woodruff Auditorium in The Kansas Union as part of the 2009-2010 Hall Center for The Humanities lecture series. His lecture, "We're Number 371 Why Other Countries have Better,
"My lecture will answer this question: All the other industrialized democracies provide high quality medical care for everybody, but spend half as much as we do on health care. How do they do that?" Reid said.
Fairer and Cheaper Health Care than the USA," will focus on why United States health care ranks 37th in overall system performance among other countries.
Victor Bailey, director of the Hall Center, said he began planning
Follow Lauren Hendrick at twitter.com/ ibhendrick.
Reid's visit nearly a year ago when health care was a key platform in the 2008 presidential election. He said inviting Reid to speak at the University was a priority because of the relevance of the health care debate.
George Dungan, Lincoln, Neb. senior, said he was interested in attending the event because health care reform was one of his big concerns.
According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau report, more than 46 million Americans do not have health insurance.
"It pushes a lot of buttons with the American public." Bailé said.
SEE SPEAKER ON PAGE 3A
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
T. R. Feid will discuss health care costs in the U.S. at 7:30 tonight in Woodruff Auditorium.
OBITUARY
Student's friendly nature recalled
BY BRANDON SAYERS bsayers@kansan.com
"I will never forget his smile," Zac Weiss, Bobby's brother, said. "He always seemed so happy about whatever he was doing."
Anyone who knew Robert "Bobby" Weiss knew how kind and outgoing he was, say his closest friends and loved ones.
Bobby, a sophomore majoring in biology, died Oct. 11 in his off-campus home.
Jake Rasmussen, a friend of Bobby's from his hometown of Colby, said he remembered Bobby's outgoing nature.
"He always had a joke and a smile, always ready to strike up a conversation with anyone — he made people feel comfortable and included, no matter who they were," Rasmussen said.
The youngest of five brothers, friends and family members described Bobby as a family-oriented man who loved nothing more than to spend the day outdoors. He also enjoyed debating philosophy and religion.
"Bobby was very existential in his thinking," Zac said. "He was very open minded and curious. He questioned everything he heard."
"He never took anything too seriously and I never saw the kid mad," Morton said.
John Morton, a friend of the Weiss family in Colby, said Bobby loved having a good time and telling stories.
Friends and family members said there was not a person in the world who disliked Bobby, which was why they said they were so shocked when they heard Bobby had taken his own life.
After high school, Bobby spent a year at Colby Community College before transferring to the University of Kansas this semester. Despite concerns about leaving his ailing mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer three years earlier, he decided it would be best after her strong suggestions to pursue an education.
"He was definitely looking forward to chasing girls and going to parties and doing all the things that college kids do," Zac said. "I'm just not sure if he was really ready to leave home yet."
Less than a month after he moved to Lawrence, his mother passed away. In returning home to be with his family, Bobby missed about 10 days of classes at the start of the semester.
Zac said that the last time he spoke with Bobby he seemed to be doing well with his academic work and said he was nearly caught up. But less than six weeks after he returned to Lawrence, Bobby took his own life. Family members said the news came as a complete shock.
They said that in dealing with the loss of his mother, Weiss was often around to provide encouragement for others struggling with the death.
"Bobby was the last person we
SEE OBITUARY ON PAGE 3A
index
Shields...3B Opinion...7B
Crossword...6B Sports...1B
Horoscopes...6B Sudoku...6B
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