Reset Your "Safety Nanny" Thermostat Here...
06-13-16, 12:34 PM
#51
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So if a cyclist behaves himself/herself, motorists get aggravated, and if the cyclist breaks the law to stay "out of the way", motorists get aggravated. It is a no-win situation from the start. THIS is what fuels the anti-cycling crowd 99% of the time. A handful of d-bags ripping through a congested city for an hour every month have very little effect IMO.
Think of it THIS way: If you watched the video, it would be very easy to realize that it is the MOTORISTS who are in EVERYBODY'S way. Cars are the problem. Bikes are one solution. Every day I bike to work and cars get in my way. Do I hate every motorist out there because of a few knuckleheads? (well...maybe
).
06-13-16, 03:50 PM
#52
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HA! The answer will surprise you and highlight the ironies of life.
A couple of years ago our house had to be completely re-done (again) due to contaminated drywall from China being installed after the H.Katrina flood. So my wife and i rented an apartment and I took 5 months off from my real job to work at the house along with the contractors and their crew. During those five months I used my wife's car nearly every day taking care of the dead house and multiple trips to hardware stores, and acting like a "house husband" getting groceries, running errands and so on so she didn't have to miss any work. Anyway...I spent a ton of time behind the wheel of a car. THIS is when I noticed how much time an individual looks at their phone behind the wheel WHILE the car is MOVING. You know, on a bike my interludes with motorists lasts a few seconds each, but behind the wheel of a car lined up with the rest of the lemmings, I had a much different viewpoint. I could observe the same motorist for literally five minutes in stop and go traffic.
So, believe it or not, driving an automobile almost daily for five months cured me of wanting to spend extra time on a bicycle exposed to those phone using IDIOTS.
A couple of years ago our house had to be completely re-done (again) due to contaminated drywall from China being installed after the H.Katrina flood. So my wife and i rented an apartment and I took 5 months off from my real job to work at the house along with the contractors and their crew. During those five months I used my wife's car nearly every day taking care of the dead house and multiple trips to hardware stores, and acting like a "house husband" getting groceries, running errands and so on so she didn't have to miss any work. Anyway...I spent a ton of time behind the wheel of a car. THIS is when I noticed how much time an individual looks at their phone behind the wheel WHILE the car is MOVING. You know, on a bike my interludes with motorists lasts a few seconds each, but behind the wheel of a car lined up with the rest of the lemmings, I had a much different viewpoint. I could observe the same motorist for literally five minutes in stop and go traffic.
So, believe it or not, driving an automobile almost daily for five months cured me of wanting to spend extra time on a bicycle exposed to those phone using IDIOTS.
06-13-16, 05:38 PM
#53
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The cycling behavior that irritates motorists on a daily basis is a schizophrenic mix between "Hey, that cyclist is making me slow down!" and "Hey, that cyclist is getting ahead of me by breaking the law!"
So if a cyclist behaves himself/herself, motorists get aggravated, and if the cyclist breaks the law to stay "out of the way", motorists get aggravated. It is a no-win situation from the start. THIS is what fuels the anti-cycling crowd 99% of the time. A handful of d-bags ripping through a congested city for an hour every month have very little effect IMO..
So if a cyclist behaves himself/herself, motorists get aggravated, and if the cyclist breaks the law to stay "out of the way", motorists get aggravated. It is a no-win situation from the start. THIS is what fuels the anti-cycling crowd 99% of the time. A handful of d-bags ripping through a congested city for an hour every month have very little effect IMO..
Like George Carlin said, everyone else is either a jerk, or idiot....the thing is we remember those who are both. Cyclists and motorist are both people who form their opinions through experience. Everyone could stand to be a better road user.
06-13-16, 09:04 PM
#54
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The only thing that really got my goat was thumping the cars. That would piss me off to no end. And I ride a lot more miles than I drive per year, just in rural settings.
Other than that, some of the spoken word...
"Traditional art is like college education and drugs. Its fed to people who have to sit on their buts for longer and longer amounts of time to get the point. The point is that there's lots of action somewhere else, which all the smart people prefer to just think about."
Yeah, the verbal monologues were more unbearable than the riding, some of which was fascinating to watch, but really in a "I'm gonna sit here and watch these rednecks hold each others beers until I see blood sort of way."
Other than that, some of the spoken word...
"Traditional art is like college education and drugs. Its fed to people who have to sit on their buts for longer and longer amounts of time to get the point. The point is that there's lots of action somewhere else, which all the smart people prefer to just think about."
Yeah, the verbal monologues were more unbearable than the riding, some of which was fascinating to watch, but really in a "I'm gonna sit here and watch these rednecks hold each others beers until I see blood sort of way."
06-14-16, 09:05 AM
#55
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Truth. But for now I need to adapt to the actual facts on the ground, not our pie-in-the-sky dreams of an impossible Utopia. Those messengers in the vid are of course WAY over the top but I would condone their activity before ever condoning a Critical Mass gathering designed to disrupt and slow traffic even worse than normal. I have a tiny measure of respect for messengers and none for Critical Mass.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 06-14-16 at 10:07 AM.
06-14-16, 09:11 AM
#56
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06-14-16, 09:19 AM
#57
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Some also enjoy the whole "messenger culture" social aspect of the job too.
^^There are enough keywords to get started with research if anyone is really curious.
Let me add that if a trial is in session and an attorney needs a document IMMEDIATELY from across town, nobody can get that done but a bike messenger. Maybe a drone one day?
06-14-16, 09:48 AM
#58
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"Chicago’s (21) bicycle messenger companies employ more than 300 bicyclists who make an estimated 1.1 million deliveries each year."
City of Chicago :: Bike Messengers
And Joey is correct... often a bike is the quickest way across town.
Chicago even has an annual Bicycle Messenger Appreciation Day!
https://www.cityofchicago.org/content...oclamation.pdf
City of Chicago :: Bike Messengers
And Joey is correct... often a bike is the quickest way across town.
Chicago even has an annual Bicycle Messenger Appreciation Day!
https://www.cityofchicago.org/content...oclamation.pdf
Last edited by AlmostTrick; 06-14-16 at 09:52 AM.
06-14-16, 10:27 AM
#59
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My wife also calls on me to deliver documents to Downtown for her occasionally. I am going that way anyhow and she knows parking is stupid easy for me down there. So I have a small taste for the delivery gig, although except for the football tickets there was no big rush to get the job done.
06-14-16, 11:27 AM
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Thanks for giving the anti-bicycling crowd yet more ammunition to use against bicyclists!
do the 36000 deaths in traffic "fuel the hate for motorists" oh....
06-14-16, 12:12 PM
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I can find YouTube videos of sports cars blowing red lights, speeding through traffic, heck probably even some buzzing cyclists, without any disastrous consequences, does that mean we accept it is a good idea?
Last edited by jefnvk; 06-14-16 at 12:16 PM.
06-14-16, 12:34 PM
#63
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Cars can't do this^^.
So if I were caught in a Zombie apocalypse and could just make myself disappear any time I wanted to, no one would make a movie out of that. It would be boring. Same with doing it on a bicycle. Nothing to it - at least in broad daylight. I wouldn't want to do that after dark. That would be a little too much invisibility for me.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 06-14-16 at 12:40 PM.
06-14-16, 01:23 PM
#64
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I am going to respectfully disagree. Motorists for the most part have an entitled attitude to the roadway. They spent $30,000 on a vehicle, a ton of taxes, license, registration, keeping a DL current, fuel, and overpriced insurance. Then I come squeaking along on a "toy" and slow them down from their important appointment at the McDonald's drive-thru. I don't feel hated by the majority of motorists in my city, but I often run across someone who TOTALLY disregards me or acts with purposeful malice. And I live in a city where NOBODY on a bike stops for red lights if the coast is clear. And I believe many motorists do appreciate it. I know I do when I am behind a steering wheel.
Truth. But for now I need to adapt to the actual facts on the ground, not our pie-in-the-sky dreams of an impossible Utopia. Those messengers in the vid are of course WAY over the top but I would condone their activity before ever condoning a Critical Mass gathering designed to disrupt and slow traffic even worse than normal. I have a tiny measure of respect for messengers and none for Critical Mass.
Truth. But for now I need to adapt to the actual facts on the ground, not our pie-in-the-sky dreams of an impossible Utopia. Those messengers in the vid are of course WAY over the top but I would condone their activity before ever condoning a Critical Mass gathering designed to disrupt and slow traffic even worse than normal. I have a tiny measure of respect for messengers and none for Critical Mass.
I don't think it's "pie in the sky" to be aware of what we do, and not use the faults of others as an excuse for our own.
Last edited by kickstart; 06-14-16 at 01:44 PM.
06-14-16, 01:30 PM
#65
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It's far easier to recognize those who obviously have over estimated their skills through observation than it is for one to admit they're not as skilled as they think through personal reflection.
06-14-16, 01:36 PM
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06-14-16, 04:15 PM
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Rude idiot behavior.
If you want to do bike stunts, go to an abandoned factory or ghost town or mountaintop like Danny MacAskill. Don't do it where you're in everybody else's way.
06-14-16, 04:17 PM
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Think of it THIS way: If you watched the video, it would be very easy to realize that it is the MOTORISTS who are in EVERYBODY'S way. Cars are the problem. Bikes are one solution. Every day I bike to work and cars get in my way. Do I hate every motorist out there because of a few knuckleheads? (well...maybe ).
).
06-14-16, 10:09 PM
#69
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Well no. But on a bicycle if I screw up royally I can literally "disappear" from travel lanes by turning 90* left or right and splitting lanes. Kind of like looking at a sheet of paper from the edge - it virtually disappears. And the default for this maneuver is to split lanes FACING traffic so you can plainly see the next gap between cars coming up AND maintain some rolling momentum. This looks incredibly dangerous to a bystander but it is truly nothing. It is sometimes even safer than splitting lanes with cars overtaking from behind.
Cars can't do this^^.
So if I were caught in a Zombie apocalypse and could just make myself disappear any time I wanted to, no one would make a movie out of that. It would be boring. Same with doing it on a bicycle. Nothing to it - at least in broad daylight. I wouldn't want to do that after dark. That would be a little too much invisibility for me.
Cars can't do this^^.
So if I were caught in a Zombie apocalypse and could just make myself disappear any time I wanted to, no one would make a movie out of that. It would be boring. Same with doing it on a bicycle. Nothing to it - at least in broad daylight. I wouldn't want to do that after dark. That would be a little too much invisibility for me.
The laws of the road exist for a reason, and that reason is generally that sensible people have come up with what is realistically safe, because when you leave the judgement to individuals, that judgement goes south in a hurry. I don't particularly like the fact that most red lights near me are on their normal cycle at 2am, some of which leave me sitting there for minutes, I can safely ignore them at that time, but I don't, because the second the traffic laws become about what a person feels they can do safely, is the second we start to have serious issues on the roads.
06-15-16, 05:14 AM
#70
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I dont make anyone in a vehicle react to me. I run lights when the coast is clear. Just like most cyclists would if they had to do it. Its so simple.
06-15-16, 06:45 AM
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06-15-16, 06:49 AM
#72
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Agree; some of their survival is because of pedestrians and/or drivers' reflexes and ability to adjust, not their own.
Rude idiot behavior.
If you want to do bike stunts, go to an abandoned factory or ghost town or mountaintop like Danny MacAskill. Don't do it where you're in everybody else's way.
Rude idiot behavior.
If you want to do bike stunts, go to an abandoned factory or ghost town or mountaintop like Danny MacAskill. Don't do it where you're in everybody else's way.
06-15-16, 07:15 AM
#73
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Given the choice between hitting a cyclist who feels the rules of the road don't apply who forces me to take evasive action, and hitting another vehicle taking that action, I'll take the latter. Maybe I need to reconsider that, and use the advice given for deer: hit the brakes but keep going, even if it means running them over.
I guess if you think that people should not hold a drivers license unless they can guarantee they will make the wrong action taking evasive action to avoid hitting someone who feels the rules don't apply to them, there is probably no more conversation on the topic needed.
I guess if you think that people should not hold a drivers license unless they can guarantee they will make the wrong action taking evasive action to avoid hitting someone who feels the rules don't apply to them, there is probably no more conversation on the topic needed.
06-15-16, 07:19 AM
#75
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If I keep my moral and ethical and all things right jackets aside, the video was in fact quite enjoyable!
It reminded me of how I used to ride my bike to school back home, with my buddies. Of course we were not this fast. I remember once I latched onto a bus and the bus picked up speed. The bike could not handle that much speed and sort of buckled up, making me slide down the road for a good distance! Oh those were the days
Of being stupid and proud of it.
It reminded me of how I used to ride my bike to school back home, with my buddies. Of course we were not this fast. I remember once I latched onto a bus and the bus picked up speed. The bike could not handle that much speed and sort of buckled up, making me slide down the road for a good distance! Oh those were the days
Of being stupid and proud of it.