|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
(I hope you see the need for a separate thread where the focus is
strictly bikes. Well, you may occasionally launch your tirades against bad drivers like these...) This is my original post... I know, you only dare ride a stationary bike, or perhaps you are breve enough to bike to work, but do you still feel intimidated by traffic? Well, it's like asking the bullfighter if he feels intimidated by the beast, only that you are not looking for trouble and that the beast we are facing can absolutely be tamed --if only the government cared. So is the cyclist out there a bit of a bullfighter? Do you feel that black SUV charging at you like a raging bull? Ole! http://webspawner.com/users/bikeforpeace *** And this is the first response it drew... Funny, I was thinking about posting today about an encounter I had this morning with a motorist. I have nothing against motorists and in fact on the weekend when going out with the family, I am one myself. What I do have a problem with is ignorance. This morning I am on a four lane, one-way street, taking up a good portion of the right lane when a car comes behind me and honks. I don't yell, don't curse, don't flash any vulgar signs, but I do wave in a "go around me" sort of manner. Car decides to do that, but while passing me decides to slow down and tell me that I should move to the side. Keep in mind that this guy has 3 other perfectly good lanes to use, but he *really* needs to use the one that I am in. Two seconds later the guy is stuck at a red light so I pull up next to him and our little conversation went something like this. ACE: Hey buddy, by law I am allowed to use the entire lane. Motorist: You don't have a mirror though do you? A: No, I am not required to have one. M: Just b/c you are on a ten-speed does not make you as fast as a car. A: It is not a ten-speed, it is a single-speed. (I was on my fixed gear Schwinn) M: Whatever, you need to move to the side. A: I have a right to the lane by law. M: The law does not mean $H**. Get out of here, just go to your job. A: I don't have a job. M: Get the F**K OUT OF HERE. At that point, I just took off b/c the driver was getting hostile and I was starting to get a bit sarcastic which happens when the conversation turns a bit circular and facts are being ignored. For my safety and all those involved I felt moving on at that point was the right move. *** And finally my comment on the bad driver... Not to be rude, but that guy deserved to eat banana, I mean a good middle finger, even if written on the back of a t-shirt. Something like this... http:/cafepress.com/peacebanana (I do wear it all the time. Call it PREEMPTIVE STRIKE) |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
donquijote1954 wrote:
(I hope you see the need for a separate thread where the focus is strictly bikes. Well, you may occasionally launch your tirades against bad drivers like these...) This is my original post... I know, you only dare ride a stationary bike, or perhaps you are breve enough to bike to work, but do you still feel intimidated by traffic? Well, it's like asking the bullfighter if he feels intimidated by the beast, only that you are not looking for trouble and that the beast we are facing can absolutely be tamed --if only the government cared. So is the cyclist out there a bit of a bullfighter? Do you feel that black SUV charging at you like a raging bull? Ole! http://webspawner.com/users/bikeforpeace A bullfighter... yeah, that works. Few drivers have spikes driven into their groins to **** them off. Well, none do, but there are always thousands of cars on the route, and the odds are a few of them feel a bit "bullish." Other odds limit the chance that one of these will be in your lane or crossing your path when it matters. It takes a little bit of psychosis for someone to play chicken with a completely defenseless cyclist. Thankfully, very few people are psychotic, AND psychotic behind the wheel. The vast majority of motor vehicle versus cyclist (as opposed to "person on a bike") are due to errors in judgment or inattention, almost always on the part of the driver. I pick routes with an eye for ample shoulder space. A wide usable shoulder is armor for a bike rider. When the shoulder narrows or disappears, I take the lane and hammer. It's a little like sidestepping the charging bull. I actually prefer a high-traffic, medium to high speed route through town with many intersections and driveways. It's the main "cruising" route, in fact. It means to me that drivers are always alert. I'm counting on that alertness. The judgment errors are just par for the course, and that's where the bullfighting comes in. -- Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors." George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999, |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
"Raptor" wrote in message ... [newsgroups trimmed] [...] A bullfighter... yeah, that works. Few drivers have spikes driven into their groins to **** them off. Well, none do, but there are always thousands of cars on the route, and the odds are a few of them feel a bit "bullish." Other odds limit the chance that one of these will be in your lane or crossing your path when it matters. Another Russian roulette player! It takes a little bit of psychosis for someone to play chicken with a completely defenseless cyclist. Thankfully, very few people are psychotic, AND psychotic behind the wheel. The vast majority of motor vehicle versus cyclist (as opposed to "person on a bike") are due to errors in judgment or inattention, almost always on the part of the driver. There are millions of very stupid drivers on the roads of the U.S. Any idiot at all can get a driver's license. I have seen so many cyclists in really horrible accidents with motor vehicles that I am fearful of riding my bike on any number of heavily trafficked roads. You NEVER want to be on a two lane major highway with no shoulder. Damn it, I said NEVER and I meant NEVER! I pick routes with an eye for ample shoulder space. A wide usable shoulder is armor for a bike rider. When the shoulder narrows or disappears, I take the lane and hammer. It's a little like sidestepping the charging bull. Very wise of you to pick roads with shoulders upon which to ride. I actually prefer a high-traffic, medium to high speed route through town with many intersections and driveways. It's the main "cruising" route, in fact. It means to me that drivers are always alert. I'm counting on that alertness. The judgment errors are just par for the course, and that's where the bullfighting comes in. It is really quite amazing how we count on drivers to watch out for us. However, I know the world's dumbest driver. Every time he gets behind the wheel, there is an going to be an accident down the road. Believe me, you do not want to be anywhere near this dolt when he is driving his car. A cyclist should always prefer traffic free streets. Even if it means you have to go slower, you will likely live longer. A cyclist who likes to mix with traffic is not long for this world. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
Raptor wrote:
:: It takes a little bit of psychosis for someone to play chicken with a :: completely defenseless cyclist. Thankfully, very few people are :: psychotic, AND psychotic behind the wheel. The vast majority of motor :: vehicle versus cyclist (as opposed to "person on a bike") are due to :: errors in judgment or inattention, almost always on the part of the :: driver. I wonder about the veracity of that last statement. What precentage of the time is the error due to errors in judgment or inattention on the part of the cyclist? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
Roger Zoul wrote: Raptor wrote: :: It takes a little bit of psychosis for someone to play chicken with a :: completely defenseless cyclist. Thankfully, very few people are :: psychotic, AND psychotic behind the wheel. The vast majority of motor :: vehicle versus cyclist (as opposed to "person on a bike") are due to :: errors in judgment or inattention, almost always on the part of the :: driver. Yes, I generally try to ride traffic free roads. It's preferrable, but it isn't always possible. For me that means a 45 mile one way trip to do this. My honest thoughts are it will be a quick death. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
Raptor wrote: donquijote1954 wrote: (I hope you see the need for a separate thread where the focus is strictly bikes. Well, you may occasionally launch your tirades against bad drivers like these...) This is my original post... I know, you only dare ride a stationary bike, or perhaps you are breve enough to bike to work, but do you still feel intimidated by traffic? Well, it's like asking the bullfighter if he feels intimidated by the beast, only that you are not looking for trouble and that the beast we are facing can absolutely be tamed --if only the government cared. So is the cyclist out there a bit of a bullfighter? Do you feel that black SUV charging at you like a raging bull? Ole! http://webspawner.com/users/bikeforpeace A bullfighter... yeah, that works. Few drivers have spikes driven into their groins to **** them off. Well, none do, but there are always thousands of cars on the route, and the odds are a few of them feel a bit "bullish." Other odds limit the chance that one of these will be in your lane or crossing your path when it matters. Drivers are bullish when they don't have any sword hanging over them for intimidating others. In that sense, the system allows that happen by not taming the beast. If it was given the same priority as DUIs, we would probably be much safer. At least we wouldn't have the bull roaming free. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
"Roger Zoul" wrote in message ... I wonder about the veracity of that last statement. What precentage of the time is the error due to errors in judgment or inattention on the part of the cyclist? You didn't know that cyclist are perfect human beings with no faults and make no mistakes as they always loudly proclaim :-) That is why cyclist are inherently allowed to violate all traffic laws and blame any problems on those evil other vehicles that are required to follow the laws, just because they are evil. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
Edward Dolan wrote:
"Raptor" wrote in message ... [newsgroups trimmed] Not sufficiently! Who are all you monkeys with keyboards? [...] Read the rec.bicycles FAQ, do what it says, and pick the ONE newsgroup your "discussion" belongs in. -- ***************************** Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO http://www.CycleTourist.com ***************************** |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Do you get nauseated every time you see a stupid troll post from that **** for brains donkey hotay 1954? Ole!
donquijote1954 said in rec.autos.driving:
bitch slap |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole!
Edward Dolan wrote:
"Raptor" wrote in message ... [newsgroups trimmed] [...] A bullfighter... yeah, that works. Few drivers have spikes driven into their groins to **** them off. Well, none do, but there are always thousands of cars on the route, and the odds are a few of them feel a bit "bullish." Other odds limit the chance that one of these will be in your lane or crossing your path when it matters. Another Russian roulette player! http://www.lalatimes.com/weird/index...ec26b32b631c78 http://makeashorterlink.com/?X53023B8D (Sinkhole swallows man relaxing in his living room, killing him.) It takes a little bit of psychosis for someone to play chicken with a completely defenseless cyclist. Thankfully, very few people are psychotic, AND psychotic behind the wheel. The vast majority of motor vehicle versus cyclist (as opposed to "person on a bike") are due to errors in judgment or inattention, almost always on the part of the driver. There are millions of very stupid drivers on the roads of the U.S. Any idiot at all can get a driver's license. I have seen so many cyclists in really horrible accidents with motor vehicles that I am fearful of riding my bike on any number of heavily trafficked roads. You NEVER want to be on a two lane major highway with no shoulder. Damn it, I said NEVER and I meant NEVER! In a race with traffic control, such roads are lovely. I pick routes with an eye for ample shoulder space. A wide usable shoulder is armor for a bike rider. When the shoulder narrows or disappears, I take the lane and hammer. It's a little like sidestepping the charging bull. Very wise of you to pick roads with shoulders upon which to ride. I actually prefer a high-traffic, medium to high speed route through town with many intersections and driveways. It's the main "cruising" route, in fact. It means to me that drivers are always alert. I'm counting on that alertness. The judgment errors are just par for the course, and that's where the bullfighting comes in. It is really quite amazing how we count on drivers to watch out for us. However, I know the world's dumbest driver. Every time he gets behind the wheel, there is an going to be an accident down the road. Believe me, you do not want to be anywhere near this dolt when he is driving his car. A cyclist should always prefer traffic free streets. Even if it means you have to go slower, you will likely live longer. A cyclist who likes to mix with traffic is not long for this world. That's the theory, at least. I've been mixing it up with traffic in a few locales for two decades without a major incident. -- Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors." George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999, |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Do you feel intimidated by Traffic? Ole! | donquijote1954 | General | 23 | August 16th 06 03:50 PM |
a traffic dilemma | recycled-one | General | 19 | June 5th 06 04:15 AM |
This is What You Might Read If American Society Wasn't Sick | Raphae | Social Issues | 0 | July 4th 05 02:16 AM |
Reports from Sweden | Garry Jones | General | 17 | October 14th 03 05:23 PM |
Hasty generalizations of the day | Kerry Nikolaisen | General | 16 | October 6th 03 12:39 PM |