|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
Ben Pfaff wrote:
writes: Ben Pfaff wrote: I enjoyed finally seeing someone get what he deserved (in a way that didn't involve permanent injury or death). Jesus, what a self-righteous douche. I understand how it could seem that way. But I get tired of seeing idiots on bikes doing stupid things that make the rest of us look bad. If a few of them hurt themselves in small ways, maybe it'll encourage them to learn how to ride their bikes properly. I probably should have added that this street's lanes are plenty wide enough for a bike and a car to occupy safely. Some of the street's length is marked with a bike line, some of it is not, but it is all plenty safe for biking. Part of the problem, though, is that most motorists (IMHO) hold the cyclist on the road in greater disregard than the cyclist on the sidewalk (at least where I live, which has relatively congested roads and relatively uncongested sidewalks in most places). So, from the pure average-joe motorist perspective, it's the cyclist lawfully occupying the road that they perceived to be "doing stupid things" and "making cyclists look bad." And so, again, around here, you're more likely to hear "get off the f'ing road" when you're on the road, than "get off the f'ing sidewalk" if you're on the sidewalk. Doesn't make it right, but those are the prevailing attitude. Hence, average joe cyclist (ignorant of the actual safety risks involved) may very easily conclude that it's better to be on the sidewalk where s/he doesn't get yelled at all the time, than on the road where s/he does. So, to wrap things up--I'd much rather see those drivers yelling "get off the f'ing road" wrap their cars around a light pole, than a cyclist doing their best to get from here to there in a hostile environment. |
Ads |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
Ben Pfaff wrote: I understand how it could seem that way. But I get tired of seeing idiots on bikes doing stupid things that make the rest of us look bad. Then you're going to be very frustrated, all of the time. Best to just worry about yourself, doubtless have enough work to do there that obsessing about other riders is not going to be justified. Anyway, one dude standing in the ocean is not going to change the tide. If a few of them hurt themselves in small ways, maybe it'll encourage them to learn how to ride their bikes properly. Your own definition of proper riding is probably not the same held by other very experienced riders. And your definition of what is proper and what is not is probably going to evolve as you gain more experience. It would be a shame if you were so certain of your own righteous ways that you could not allow for learning and growing over time. You may come to realize some day that a cyclist may be able to ride sidewalks safely, courteously and effectively. Using pedestrian space is one of the great advantages to riding a bike, so I bristle when I sense folks damning all sidewalk riding and sidewalk riding cyclists to the purgatory of 'improper cycling.' Folks seem incredibly quick to do that on this forum, even as they admit that yes, they too ride sidewalks on occasion. Mote, eye, all that. When they do it, it's fine, when someone else does it, they're an idiot who deserves their 'just desserts.' Furthermore, if you are really concerned about the general public being ****ed off at all cyclists because of the actions of a few, you should consider that the thing that really, really, REALLY ****es people off more than anything is a cyclist following the letter of the law, especially when it comes to 'lane-taking' in front of faster traffic. If more people practiced this 'proper' form of cycling, we would all be legally relegated to the sidewalks in no time. Think on it. If you get hit some day while riding lawfully, half the world will jump on usenet and write a happy post about how they saw some asshole cyclist get his comeuppance for riding in the street and blocking traffic. Obviously there is a right way and a wrong way to ride a sidewalk. Your friend hitting the pole, clearly, wrong way. But it's just not cool to gloat over the suffering of others, especially other bike riders. Robert 'Physician, heal thyself!' |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
|
#24
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
Rich wrote:
All most all your posts are critical. You're kind of a jerk. Gotta agree with you there. Great post! R |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
In article ,
Tom Keats wrote: In article , Ben Pfaff writes: But I get tired of seeing idiots on bikes doing stupid things that make the rest of us look bad. But they don't. If they make anybody look bad, it's only themselves. It's less of an issue of making cyclists look bad or not, but the fact that wrong way cyclists and sidewalk cyclists who unpredictably pop in and out of the road are a danger to other cyclists. Especially at night, when the wrong way and unpredictable cyclists are the least likely to be using lights. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Timothy J. Lee Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome. No warranty of any kind is provided with this message. |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
Tom Keats wrote:
In article , Ben Pfaff writes: But I get tired of seeing idiots on bikes doing stupid things that make the rest of us look bad. But they don't. If they make anybody look bad, it's only themselves. Same goes for idiots in cars doing stupid things. If all drivers were rated by their actions, nobody would be allowed to drive. Come on, Tom! *Of course* the actions of some cyclists reflect on all cyclists just as the actions of some drivers reflect on all drivers. Witness the casual condemnation of "fat ass SUV idiots" and "scud jockeys" here. It's not right, it's not accurate, and it's not fair but life isn't fair. Regards, Bob Hunt |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
5 Oct 2005 21:28:40 -0700,
. com, "Bob" wrote: Tom Keats wrote: In article , Ben Pfaff writes: But I get tired of seeing idiots on bikes doing stupid things that make the rest of us look bad. But they don't. If they make anybody look bad, it's only themselves. Same goes for idiots in cars doing stupid things. If all drivers were rated by their actions, nobody would be allowed to drive. Come on, Tom! *Of course* the actions of some cyclists reflect on all cyclists just as the actions of some drivers reflect on all drivers. Witness the casual condemnation of "fat ass SUV idiots" and "scud jockeys" here. It's not right, it's not accurate, and it's not fair but life isn't fair. Bob, if you're not knotting drivers' knickers, they don't remember you. When they do see you, they aren't going to attack you because of the way I ride. If drivers are anxious around cyclists because of the way others ride, it makes them more apt to exercise caution around you. That's a good thing. Let the Darwin contestants keep the cagers on their toes. Then, if they notice you or I riding in a safe courteous vehicular manner, they're doubly confused. That's a good thing too. It's fair to say that any stunned scud jockey can kill me, regardless of whether or not they'd intended to. So, they all rate the same threat level on the road. Whereas, a WWC hood ornament might spoil your lunch or scratch your paint. -- zk |
#28
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
|
#30
|
|||
|
|||
wrong-way sidewalk rider gets comeuppance
wrote: The only way a guy like Wayne Pein can keep doing what he does is because he is 'subsidized' essentially by the greater number of riders out there who are more courteous to their fellow citizens. I don't get uptight about sidewalk/wrong-way/redlight-running cyclists, but the number one complaint I hear from my motorist friends is all the cyclists who dart out at intersections, across crosswalks, and from the wrong way. There's the occasional bemused comment about the odd cyclist they see who takes the lane, but around here they seem to understand why it's done. RFM |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
if you wanted maximum braking, where would you sit? | wle | Techniques | 133 | November 18th 15 02:10 AM |
Ghent Six Day Excursion | Ilan Vardi | Racing | 8 | November 30th 03 08:03 PM |
Coker and Flywheel effect | Klaas Bil | Unicycling | 53 | October 31st 03 11:40 PM |
Letter in my local paper about sidewalk cycling | Trudi Marrapodi | Social Issues | 1 | July 30th 03 11:45 AM |
Tires better than the rider | bruce edge | Mountain Biking | 5 | July 9th 03 11:59 AM |