http://illuminatela.com/sharon-mcnary-from-kpcc-has-it-all-wrong/#comment-15067

Browne

/jk!

Danceralamode, I don’t believe people change positions that quickly. I’d be open to a piece like that in a few months, if McNary made a documented effort to go out and ride the streets dressed to kill, but as for right now, I think a time out is in order. Remember, this is a professional journalist, and it’s her job to say and write intelligent things. When a journalist says or writes absurdly dumb things, a break is in order.

I think the thing Enci was also irritated with was the amount of unsolicited advice women cyclists get. I also get a LOT of unsolicited advice, and while most of it is harmless, it feels like I’m being talked down to or talked to like I’m a child.

The thing is, (and I spent part of last night studying the CVC that addresses this), in daylight, we have no responsibility to wear reflective clothing in daylight or at night-time beyond ankle bracelets if you do not have reflectors on your pedals. (CVC21202d3) Our bikes are required, should we ride in darkness, to have front and rear lights and side reflectors (and pedal,foot,or ankle reflectors), but we are not required to all wear orange safety vests or anything (although I have an orange sweater that I think is trey chic). Sharon’s comment, if it was published, would re-enforce the ignorance of the general public, and their are a lot of drivers out there who try to punish us for violating some code in their heads by cutting us off, driving too closely, etc. Furthering the misinformation only furthers the harrassment that you all are trying to prevent.

I don’t know if I’d ask for another reporter, rather, I’d ask Sharon to do a piece that acknowledges how she wrongly assumed something, just like a lot of people do, and how she learned from it.

On another note, by studying the CVC last night I realized that I don’t have side reflectors on my tires, and need to get some. Uh oh, here comes LAPD…

BTW – I had a positive experience with McNary on a story way back in ’08. However, I still feel that this comment is sort of like the Mowery & race comment – I don’t think if you say things like this you can be trusted to write a balanced story on cycling.