chipcom 

Don't lay your guilt on me, woman.

Ed Holland

Through the looking glass - do we consider a "Person in a car" or just an inexperienced or inattentive driver? or just a driver?

I really believe it is disingenuous to continue this idea of the "proper cyclist" or whatever label one might choose. We've divided ourselves before with all that thinly disguised elitism in the VC arena, and I for one would be happy to avoid a repeat performance.

alhedges

+1

Although I am just a person on the Internet, so my +1 is only worth half the rating given by an Internetist.

genec

If the person in a car has a valid license, (meaning that they passed a minimum test) then the state considers them to be a valid driver.

Since no such standard exists for anybody riding a bike... then you, a cyclist with experience, is considered the same as the DUI guy that just jumped on a bike for the first time.... and the same as a 6 year old just learning to ride.

What do you think?

Ed Holland

The point is in neither case can we tell unless there is a reason to investigate. Anyone is a valid cyclist.

genec

So in essence, you want motorists to treat you as a wobbly 6 year old?

Ed Holland

Ha ha very funny

You know what I'm trying to stress, though. One cannot always judge a book by it's cover.

Perhaps I should treat all drivers as it they were unlicenced and uninsured?

Ed

genec

OK I am going to extremes... but I am doing it to make a point. Motorists tend to lump us into the same pot... "cyclists are lawless goofs that run stoplights/signs and ride on sidewalks... etc."

A long while back I posted a question about how to get cyclists off the sidewalk... in my neighborhood there are no bike lanes and the only thru road is a 35MPH two lane, with parked cars on either side.

I ride in the right tire track outside of the door zone. I frequently have to deal with motorists that want me to "get on the sidewalk" like all the POBs, so in effect I am lumped in with the wobbly 6 year olds.

Thus I see the points of the author of the blog that I posted. I also note the wrong way riders out there that make it more difficult for me to ride safely... where do these folks fit? They are cyclists in that they are indeed on bikes, but they are hardly cyclists for all the skills they don't have... such as the basic ability to ride a straight, predictable, path.

randya

sure. I've actually started wobbling and riding erratically on purpose on the MUP, when I see the racer boys approaching from behind in my mirror; they always pass me with more clearance when I wobble. I would guess that a bit of wobbling has the same effect on motorists.

Ed Holland

Fair point Gene

I-Like-To-Bike

That's not all a Columbia 3 speed is good for; this $5 garage sale buy was bought for my wife for this specific purpose.

Ed Holland

Ha! POB!

(Plants on a Bike)

cudak888 

Condition of that Tourist is too nice to let it rot outside - lots of things can be done with that Sturmey AW hub too.

-Kurt

randya

genec

I noticed a a profusion of wrong way cyclists yesterday... not sure what is bringing them out... but there they were.

People talk about the dangers of unpredictable cyclists on MUPs... How about on the streets and bike lanes where you have unpredictable cyclists and motorists... YIKES.

Ed Holland

You too Gene?

I encountered a roadie heading the wrong way yesterday. I'm pretty sure he was just "in transition" waiting to cross the road, or heading to a meeting point, rather than a serious wrong way effort, but it's still frustrating.
My favourite was a couple of years ago. Middle aged man on an "ATB" riding towards me in the bike lane with the biggest grin on his face. I pointed to the other side of the road, and called out wrong way, but the grin never cracked....

genec

Several were very obviously newbies... And if I weren't driving** I might have discussed it with them... They were doing all the classic newbie stuff... going from sidewalks to bike lanes in the wrong direction.

The other looked like an experience cyclist, but going the wrong way on a one way, and then had the audacity to give me the come back that I was in a fire lane... he was too... so doubly ironic, wrong way on a one way, and in a fire lane. The latter guy really bothered me as he popped out of nowhere from behind a car to face me directly... if I had been moving with any speed at all I would have hit him head on. But unlike some motorists, I don't drive blind... If I cannot see, I go slower than walking speed.


**dealing with some bone spur issues in the right foot right now... surgery next week.

randya

erratic riding forces people to slow down. I think that's a good thing.