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#1
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers
After seriously getting into it with a driver who decided to yell at me to
get on the sidewalk and reinforce his opinion with a close pass, I figured I thought of an alternative to shouting at each other. I would just hand them a notice: So you think you're doing society a favor by harassing a cyclist: 1. You are wrong: According to Florida state statutes, cyclists have the right to use all roads except interstate highways or similar access roads. This is because forcing cyclists to use adjacent paths is often more dangerous due to crossing traffic and poor visibility problems. 2. It is illegal. Playing vigilante (especially when you are wrong) and starting or escalating an altercation can result in assault charges. Menacing a person with your car can get you convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. If you feel like being a vigilante, I might suggest you focus your intention on drivers, who kill several thousand pedestrians and cyclists each year, not cyclists who pose no real threat to anyone else. As to the popular myth that cyclists don't pay for roads: All local roads (along with police, fire rescue, runoff control, crossing guards, and other services) are paid for by property taxes. This combined with other subsidies such as "free" parking, oil defense, and other subsidies are several times greater than the few hundred dollars drivers pay in gasoline taxes and license fees. The interesting ending to the story was the guy and I were going the same way for about a mile after the altercation - a mile of roads with zero sidewalks - a mile of me staying right behind him on the 25 MPH streets. Boy, I was sure impeding his progress. -- Robert Haston Satellite Beach, FL |
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#2
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers
Robert,
You're assuming the driver can read. But seriously, you are better off avoiding all interactions, whatsoever (IMO). Generally, when someone gets inexplicably angry with me, I simply smile, wave, mumble something like, 'dumb expletive,' to myself, and continue merrilly on my way. This leaves the drivers confused, and me in a happier mood. A consummation devoutly to be wished. I have never successfully told anyone that their driving is dangerous and inadequate. The survey that said that 80% of drivers think they are above average sums it up nicely. The few individuals who think they don't drive well are, quite possibly, the only ones who might listen to some calm, helpful advice (though the odds are that they still feel defensive about it). Rick "Robert Haston" wrote in message k.net... After seriously getting into it with a driver who decided to yell at me to get on the sidewalk and reinforce his opinion with a close pass, I figured I thought of an alternative to shouting at each other. I would just hand them a notice: So you think you're doing society a favor by harassing a cyclist: 1. You are wrong: According to Florida state statutes, cyclists have the right to use all roads except interstate highways or similar access roads. This is because forcing cyclists to use adjacent paths is often more dangerous due to crossing traffic and poor visibility problems. 2. It is illegal. Playing vigilante (especially when you are wrong) and starting or escalating an altercation can result in assault charges. Menacing a person with your car can get you convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. If you feel like being a vigilante, I might suggest you focus your intention on drivers, who kill several thousand pedestrians and cyclists each year, not cyclists who pose no real threat to anyone else. As to the popular myth that cyclists don't pay for roads: All local roads (along with police, fire rescue, runoff control, crossing guards, and other services) are paid for by property taxes. This combined with other subsidies such as "free" parking, oil defense, and other subsidies are several times greater than the few hundred dollars drivers pay in gasoline taxes and license fees. The interesting ending to the story was the guy and I were going the same way for about a mile after the altercation - a mile of roads with zero sidewalks - a mile of me staying right behind him on the 25 MPH streets. Boy, I was sure impeding his progress. -- Robert Haston Satellite Beach, FL |
#3
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers
In article t,
Robert Haston wrote: 2. It is illegal. Playing vigilante (especially when you are wrong) and starting or escalating an altercation can result in assault charges. Menacing a person with your car can get you convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. Can you find any instance of this ever happening? |
#4
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers
Robert Haston wrote:
Menacing a person with your car can get you convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. Trent Piepho wrote: Can you find any instance of this ever happening? To somebody who aimed a car at a civilian cyclist? I don't know of any. To somebody who aimed a car at a pedestrian law enforcement officer? Yes, the courts protect those people against deadly violence. Mitch. |
#5
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers
In article t, "Robert
Haston" wrote: After seriously getting into it with a driver who decided to yell at me to get on the sidewalk and reinforce his opinion with a close pass, I figured I thought of an alternative to shouting at each other. I would just hand them a notice: Ah, if only they weren't driving something that can go faster than me... So you think you're doing society a favor by harassing a cyclist: 1. You are wrong: According to Florida state statutes, cyclists have the right to use all roads except interstate highways or similar access roads. This is because forcing cyclists to use adjacent paths is often more dangerous due to crossing traffic and poor visibility problems. Of course, I'd change that to "New York," but... 2. It is illegal. Playing vigilante (especially when you are wrong) and starting or escalating an altercation can result in assault charges. Menacing a person with your car can get you convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. Whether or not it's ever happened with a cyclist as victim, I say there's a first time for everything. Right on! If you feel like being a vigilante, I might suggest you focus your intention on drivers, who kill several thousand pedestrians and cyclists each year, not cyclists who pose no real threat to anyone else. I wouldn't go that far--at least I wouldn't say NO cyclists pose a threat to anyone else. Some do--the ones who don't follow the rules and ride recklessly. However, I would point out that it's wrong to focus one's anger on a cyclist who is doing no wrong, but merely inconveniencing one by forcing one to share the road, which is not all thine. As to the popular myth that cyclists don't pay for roads: All local roads (along with police, fire rescue, runoff control, crossing guards, and other services) are paid for by property taxes. This combined with other subsidies such as "free" parking, oil defense, and other subsidies are several times greater than the few hundred dollars drivers pay in gasoline taxes and license fees. I'm curious: what about other taxes? I don't own property myself. Then again, I do pay rent, which can be construed as helping my landlord indirectly to pay his property tax. The interesting ending to the story was the guy and I were going the same way for about a mile after the altercation - a mile of roads with zero sidewalks - a mile of me staying right behind him on the 25 MPH streets. Boy, I was sure impeding his progress. What a dork. Typical, though. These kinds of guys don't even want to share the road with other motor vehicles--so when they see a bicycle, they really fly off the handle. They think the most they can do to get back at a fellow motorist is criticize the driving, but when they see a cyclist, they think "Get off the !@$#!@! road!" is an appropriate response. Unfortunately, I fear Rick is correct, in that engaging with these jerks one-on-one is usually a losing proposition. Kind of like trying to teach a pig to sing--all it does is prove futile and annoy the pig. What he's saying is that when it's a cyclist vs. a motorist, the pig in question is a boar with big tusks--and usually, it's the boar with the big tusks who has the advantage in that fight. -- Trudi "Boy, there sure is a lot of tension around here tonight. It's like a Joan Crawford movie." |
#6
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers
"Trudi Marrapodi" wrote in message
... In article t, "Robert Haston" wrote: After seriously getting into it with a driver who decided to yell at me to get on the sidewalk and reinforce his opinion with a close pass, I figured I thought of an alternative to shouting at each other. I would just hand them a notice: Ah, if only they weren't driving something that can go faster than me... He stopped for me after I said "THANKS A$$H0L#!" In the past, I have wound up aside the perp at the next stop. I just thought it would be nice to have something to offer. Or if they clam up and pretend I'm not there, I could stick it under thier wiper. Just to clarify, I said cyclists pose no real threat to others, not cyclists pose no threat. As to the popular myth that cyclists don't pay for roads: All local roads (along with police, fire rescue, runoff control, crossing guards, and other services) are paid for by property taxes. This combined with other subsidies such as "free" parking, oil defense, and other subsidies are several times greater than the few hundred dollars drivers pay in gasoline taxes and license fees. I'm curious: what about other taxes? I don't own property myself. Then again, I do pay rent, which can be construed as helping my landlord indirectly to pay his property tax. How about: every road, parking lot, light, traffic cop, etc. on every military, federal, state, and local government installation? Gas taxes don't pay for those. How about several dozen billion a year in health insurance covering auto accident injuries? How about pollution? How many lost days due to pollution aggravated asthma or bronchitis, or all the damage to structures, agriculture, and fisheries due to acid rain? |
#7
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers
In article . net, "Robert
Haston" wrote: "Trudi Marrapodi" wrote in message ... In article t, "Robert Haston" wrote: After seriously getting into it with a driver who decided to yell at me to get on the sidewalk and reinforce his opinion with a close pass, I figured I thought of an alternative to shouting at each other. I would just hand them a notice: Ah, if only they weren't driving something that can go faster than me... He stopped for me after I said "THANKS A$$H0L#!" In the past, I have wound up aside the perp at the next stop. I just thought it would be nice to have something to offer. Or if they clam up and pretend I'm not there, I could stick it under thier wiper. It's often true that these guys who feel that you are slowing them so terribly down are, if you get out of the way, only going to only make it to the next red light faster than you do. (Yet another reason they're being so stupid.) Just to clarify, I said cyclists pose no real threat to others, not cyclists pose no threat. OK. As to the popular myth that cyclists don't pay for roads: All local roads (along with police, fire rescue, runoff control, crossing guards, and other services) are paid for by property taxes. This combined with other subsidies such as "free" parking, oil defense, and other subsidies are several times greater than the few hundred dollars drivers pay in gasoline taxes and license fees. I'm curious: what about other taxes? I don't own property myself. Then again, I do pay rent, which can be construed as helping my landlord indirectly to pay his property tax. How about: every road, parking lot, light, traffic cop, etc. on every military, federal, state, and local government installation? Gas taxes don't pay for those. How about several dozen billion a year in health insurance covering auto accident injuries? How about pollution? How many lost days due to pollution aggravated asthma or bronchitis, or all the damage to structures, agriculture, and fisheries due to acid rain? Very good points. I will remember them the next time someone tries to imply, in off-road coversation, that cyclists don't really subsidize the roadways unless they also drive and pay gasoline taxes or drivers' license fees. As for me, I'd gladly apply for and buy a bike license...if it would: a) get these idiots who act as if I don't belong on the road to shut up, and b) force those who want to ride a bicycle to obtain one, hence forcing them to subject themselves to "cyclist ed" training that would teach them about riding on the correct side of the road, signaling, stopping for lights, using the left turn lanes, lighting themselves up at night, not weaving onto and off the sidewalk from the road just to skip the parked cars alongside parts of it, not weaving in and out of traffic, not riding on the sidewalk and buzzing me when I'm walking on it, etc. -- Trudi "Boy, there sure is a lot of tension around here tonight. It's like a Joan Crawford movie." |
#8
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers / bike licenses / subsidies
I agree about buying a bike license for education purposes, and because it
would be cheap and a good symbolic gesture. But the real problem is thousands a year per auto in subsidies. These are definitely punitive to cyclists as they directly threaten our lives by raising the amount of heavy machinery we must operate amongst. Removing subsidies would save most drivers, as once the true costs were up front, they would seek alternatives to reduce driving. For example, a driver figures he can save $1000 a year in subsidies if he carpools. He then saves $2000 a year in auto costs. This would apply across the board. With more people using mass transit, transit subsidies can be reduced. With more and more people using fewer vehicles (especially during rush hour) the demand for more road space stops. Money going towards more roads goes towards stopping our growing "roads and bridges debt" - trillions in maintenance delayed. Imagine combining cycling, car pooling, telecommuting, car sharing (neighborhood rental) and transit hubs. You ride your bike to the transit hub (convenience store, coffee house, newspaper stand, gym, day care, etc.) then four of your co-workers pull up in a mini van. You log into your job and start making money while commuting. You once spent 8 hours a week driving to work, plus 8 hours working to drive. Now the money you once paid in subsidies pays for the few thousand miles a year you now drive. After coming home, you want to go out. The same vehicles people used for carpooling are at the transit hub and other neighborhood locations. For 40 cents a mile and a dollar an hour, you can rent whatever you want. "Trudi Marrapodi" wrote in message ... In article . net, "Robert Haston" wrote: I'm curious: what about other taxes? I don't own property myself. Then again, I do pay rent, which can be construed as helping my landlord indirectly to pay his property tax. How about: every road, parking lot, light, traffic cop, etc. on every military, federal, state, and local government installation? Gas taxes don't pay for those. How about several dozen billion a year in health insurance covering auto accident injuries? How about pollution? How many lost days due to pollution aggravated asthma or bronchitis, or all the damage to structures, agriculture, and fisheries due to acid rain? Very good points. I will remember them the next time someone tries to imply, in off-road coversation, that cyclists don't really subsidize the roadways unless they also drive and pay gasoline taxes or drivers' license fees. As for me, I'd gladly apply for and buy a bike license...if it would: a) get these idiots who act as if I don't belong on the road to shut up, and b) force those who want to ride a bicycle to obtain one, hence forcing them to subject themselves to "cyclist ed" training that would teach them about riding on the correct side of the road, signaling, stopping for lights, using the left turn lanes, lighting themselves up at night, not weaving onto and off the sidewalk from the road just to skip the parked cars alongside parts of it, not weaving in and out of traffic, not riding on the sidewalk and buzzing me when I'm walking on it, etc. -- Trudi "Boy, there sure is a lot of tension around here tonight. It's like a Joan Crawford movie." |
#9
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"Ticket" to give to harrasing drivers / bike licenses / subsidies
In article et, "Robert
Haston" wrote: I agree about buying a bike license for education purposes, and because it would be cheap and a good symbolic gesture. But the real problem is thousands a year per auto in subsidies. These are definitely punitive to cyclists as they directly threaten our lives by raising the amount of heavy machinery we must operate amongst. Removing subsidies would save most drivers, as once the true costs were up front, they would seek alternatives to reduce driving. For example, a driver figures he can save $1000 a year in subsidies if he carpools. He then saves $2000 a year in auto costs. This would apply across the board. With more people using mass transit, transit subsidies can be reduced. How do you figure that? Because they can make more money from passengers than in subsidies? I would hope so, but... With more and more people using fewer vehicles (especially during rush hour) the demand for more road space stops. Money going towards more roads goes towards stopping our growing "roads and bridges debt" - trillions in maintenance delayed. It'd be nice...if it turned out to be true. Imagine combining cycling, car pooling, telecommuting, car sharing (neighborhood rental) and transit hubs. You ride your bike to the transit hub (convenience store, coffee house, newspaper stand, gym, day care, etc.) then four of your co-workers pull up in a mini van. You log into your job and start making money while commuting. You once spent 8 hours a week driving to work, plus 8 hours working to drive. Now the money you once paid in subsidies pays for the few thousand miles a year you now drive. After coming home, you want to go out. The same vehicles people used for carpooling are at the transit hub and other neighborhood locations. For 40 cents a mile and a dollar an hour, you can rent whatever you want. Some of this sounds great, but some of it will never happen. For example, not everyone can, or wants to, telecommute. It would be nice if more people who wanted to could, though. But the biggest mental block you are going to have is in persuading America, a country of individualists, to give up driving to work in its own private car and taking a minivan with three coworkers it may not even like. In a big city where a lot of people do it more or less by necessity and culture, yes. In smaller cities and towns, no way. You will take away their right to drive their own cars to work when you pry their cold dead hands off the wheel. -- Trudi "Boy, there sure is a lot of tension around here tonight. It's like a Joan Crawford movie." |
#10
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car subsidies
"Trudi Marrapodi" wrote in message ... In article et, "Robert Haston" wrote: I agree about buying a bike license for education purposes, and because it would be cheap and a good symbolic gesture. But the real problem is thousands a year per auto in subsidies. These are definitely punitive to cyclists as they directly threaten our lives by raising the amount of heavy machinery we must operate amongst. Removing subsidies would save most drivers, as once the true costs were up front, they would seek alternatives to reduce driving. For example, a driver figures he can save $1000 a year in subsidies if he carpools. He then saves $2000 a year in auto costs. This would apply across the board. With more people using mass transit, transit subsidies can be reduced. How do you figure that? Because they can make more money from passengers than in subsidies? I would hope so, but... First because most busses run at way under capacity. Add more people, and you can cut subsidies. Also because once you charge drivers the true cost, you can raise bus fairs to closer to the true cost. Imagine (due to elimiantion of massive urban auto subsidies) someone who takes advantage of a car pool / rental club and sells off her car. She wants to go shopping. She can pay a dollar an hour and 40 cents a mile for a rental, and 20-40 cents a mile to rent a share of the road, and another buck or two for parking. She can say screw it and shop later or on line, she can take the bus for about 3 bucks each way (taking her bike to get around at her destination) or she (like many people in such a society) can plan to have a "day out" with a friend or two, saving her 50 or 66% and making it nearly as cheap as the bus. Imagine combining cycling, car pooling, telecommuting, car sharing (neighborhood rental) and transit hubs. You ride your bike to the transit hub (convenience store, coffee house, newspaper stand, gym, day care, etc.) then four of your co-workers pull up in a mini van. You log into your job and start making money while commuting. You once spent 8 hours a week driving to work, plus 8 hours working to drive. Now the money you once paid in subsidies pays for the few thousand miles a year you now drive. After coming home, you want to go out. The same vehicles people used for carpooling are at the transit hub and other neighborhood locations. For 40 cents a mile and a dollar an hour, you can rent whatever you want. Some of this sounds great, but some of it will never happen. For example, not everyone can, or wants to, telecommute. It would be nice if more people who wanted to could, though. Sure, manual laborers won't benefit by tele-commuting. But consider how much of their (and everyone's) free time is sedentary. Even the simple act of reading the paper on a bus is a good example. Imagine someone riding a stationary bike on a train - weird - but better sense than driving to work, then the gym. But the biggest mental block you are going to have is in persuading America, a country of individualists, to give up driving to work in its own private car and taking a minivan with three coworkers it may not even like. In a big city where a lot of people do it more or less by necessity and culture, yes. In smaller cities and towns, no way. You will take away their right to drive their own cars to work when you pry their cold dead hands off the wheel. The point isn't trying to persuade anyone. The real first step is giving people the opportunity to avoid all persuading going on on TV by auto advertisers (who really decide what the news media says about things liek tele-commuting or the farsical "hydrogen future") All pay television would stop the brainwashing going on. The big joke is the world's largest socialist program is covered by the guise of "American Individualism" How psychotic. We like to act like individualists, so we socialize the costs of driving to the tune of 10% of our GNP to keep it expanding. This is Stalinist reshaping of our society under the guise of individualism, complete with dozens of billions in auto-propaganda a year, de-facto ownership of the news media (and the choice of TV programs) by the advertisers, our capitol controlled by the lobbyists who run it all. They have achieved near total hegemony, with peopel across the land right now voting to increase sales taxes to build roads - in other words trying to solve congestion by jacking up driving subsidies another notch. I'm about 80 pages along on a book about why and how we need to switch to ad-free TV. I did this because I realized it was pointless to write a book about transportation inside a brainwashed society. Not that the first book will change the world, but you first have to see how screwed up America's world view is. |
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