JBar

I had an interesting conversation with a relative this morning. He's a very good guy, an avowed Republican, and in business with his father -in-law, who fits the same description. We were talking about my riding and he said,
" You know, there are some people who just really don't like people who ride bikes. I didn't realized it until I moved to an area where there are a lot of cyclists on the streets. I was talking to my father-in-law about it and he told me it was because the drivers assume the cyclists are all Democrats."

That might explain it all!! The riding Republicans might consider little "W" stickers for their bikes to differentiate themselves from the rest of us and protect themselves from their fellow believers.

Roody

If they hate somebody because of their political party, I don't even want them to like me.

Artkansas 

You mean that George Bush and Lance Armstrong are Democrats? I'm shocked.

Keith99

While I think the original post was tongue in cheek (at least partly) it has a bit of truth in it. I seem to have a much better experience with drivers than many. I think two things play a big part in it. One I am mainly a recreational rider, meaning I'm not on the roads during rush hour. A time when competition for road space is at it's peak and also a time when many of us are at our worst as drivers.

But then there is the second thing. I'm on a nice road bike with a team jersey and basic black shorts. In short I look like a middle class rider, not a poor guy who has to ride a bike or a rich has everything guy.

Only once since I started back riding have I had problems with 2 different drivers on one ride. That was the one club ride that went East into a working class area. And it was noticable that my problems were with guys in junker cars.

When you look like you are in a different social class it seems you are more prone to have problems. At least that is how it has worked out for me.

Bikepacker67

Bahhhh!
I ride in the Socialist Republic of Massachusetts, and the auto traffic is still full of azzholes.

Slow Train

Well I think Sheryl is working on Lance!

trackhub

Any particular reason that motorists should assume that cyclists are Democrats?

jakub.ner

Don't all cyclist vote Green?

Az B

This is a dangerous assumption. Drivers often do not see you at all, and certainly don't care what you're wearing.

Az

Az B

To the original poster:

Thanks to ******** talk show radio "entertainers" who try to create an us against them attitude in our country, this may be true. If only they spent 1/10th of the energy used to divide our country into offering and working on solutions to problems, we might have a better quality of life for everyone.

For those that like to listen to these goofballs, please stop. They are poison. Learn to think for yourself, try to look at both sides of every debate, and stop treating our country's politics like a football game. We're all in this together, and we need to win for everyone. One side against the other is shortsighted, lazy, generally ignorant, and certainly not productive.

Az

Artkansas 

I know Lance wants to go into politics, which can only translate as he want's to be President. The Democrats need a candidate..... Hmmm.

CB HI

+1 for Hawaii - the only all blue state in the country

spandexwarrior

Do you think George Bush is a cyclist? He can't even ride his bike without falling off! Imagine if this was a common problem for bike commuters. Then the bike haters would say, "Those damned cyclists- they keep falling off their bikes and getting in my way!

Artkansas 

The impressive thing about George is not that he has so many accidents, far more than the average commuter does in traffic, but that Georgie does it in controlled conditions while surrounded by people whose only job is to make sure of his safety.

ItsJustMe

I thought of myself as republican at one point, then realized I wasn't, thought maybe I was a democrat, but at this point I can't find ANY political party that I like.
The only advantage to a political party that I can see at this point is if you are too lazy to actually find out what the candidate positions are, and want to just vote straight party. My votes are all over the map these days, since I vote by issue rather than party.

I voted in the republican primary, but that's because I wanted the democrat to win, so I voted for the less electable republican, so the democrat would have an easier election. Many people do the same thing.

trackhub

Give "the people's republic of cambridge" a try sometime. Some of the worst drivers in the state, and some of the most mentally challenged pedestrians, are in Cambridge.

Actually, I think the pedestrians are worse. Cambridge pedestrians will simply j-walk in front of anything, be it a bicycle, car, 18-wheeler, you name it. They somehow seem to think that their five-dollar domed cups of coffee protects them, or something.

If you say anything to these nimrods, be ready for a screamfest about "my civil rights!!"

I find a shrill whistle to be most effective.

boozergut

Does the term Mas$ h0les apply?

iamtim

I'm from SoCal, so traffic is nothing new to me. But I took a trip to Washington DC a few years back, and was driven around the beltway. I nearly pissed myself; I have never ever seen such ****ty drivers.

My friend said it was because of all the diplomatic drivers licenses that are given out pretty much freely to diplomats from other countries and such.

gboy

NDP here!

chemcycle

I'm going to go out on a limb here.........you don't ride off-road.......

budster

Well said.

Dchiefransom

I always wondered what the heck happened in 20000..............................

Daily Commute

I haven't done a statistical study, but I've noticed both Kerry and W stickers on the cars/trucks/SUV's of both obnoxious and polite drivers.

Keith99

Bull. Drivers rarely do not see a rider who is riding where he should be. If they did not see riders often there would be dozens dead every day in just Los Angeles. They do see and react to how a rider is dressed and what he is riding. They don't notice or even know the difference between a Moltani jersey, a local team jersey or fancy graphic, but they sure notice the difference between any jersey and someone who is dressed like a gan banger or a bum. They may have no idea of hte difference between a racing bike, a hybrid and a comfort bike, but they can tell the difference between a decent bike and a beater.

And once social class is established drivers treat bike riders as the member of a social class.

Keith99

You found nice drivers with stickers on the car? Oh I guess they must exist. It is just I've noticed that in general a sticker, any sticker means a below average driver.