KD5NRH

Missed one this morning on the way to work.

Popped out from behind a street-parked truck. Thought it had the full idiot suit; big fluffy coat, short shorts and earmuffs, but then I realized the "earmuffs" were full over-the-ear headphones. I know it's a college town, but you'd think eventually the idiot college kids on bikes would develop some sense of self preservation around all the idiot college kids with giant 4WD trucks.

Then again, maybe it just wasn't scared of my little Saturn. Might have to glue some old bike parts to the bumper and hang a ripped, bloody jersey on the crunched fender.

I-Like-To-Bike

Is your point that you are a svelte motorist ranting about a cyclist that you choose to call names for not being as Bicycling Correct as yourself; at least when you choose to ride a bicycle?

KD5NRH

My point is that idiots like that are the ones ruining it for the rest of us.

Jaywalk3r

How?

spare_wheel

By making you pay attention and slow down while driving your ~3000 lb vehicle?

Quelle horreur!

chewa

I suspect because drivers tar us all with the same brush (like all cyclist jump red lights).

spare_wheel

link please.

Don in Austin

More that the guy was riding like an idiot. Now the clothing I don't consider relevant, headphones don't do much for his safety.

Don in Austin

Rollfast

Your point has little to do with promotion of bicycle safety and more about I almost hit a bike and he was wearing headphones.

How is this person ruining it for the rest of us? Did you call the police to report his behavior? We are all expecting you to uphold our name by policing cyclists that you are one of...

We aren't going to object to you obeying the law. Stop worrying about 'our reputation' and react.

You are making a complaint.

Rollfast

I really expect a casserole when I read a title like 'Fat salmon' as well.

chewa

"Link please?".

How about 40 years of cycling including commuting in London and Edinburgh and being told at EVERY dinner party, and social event I attend, when I mention I am a cyclist that "All cyclists ride 3 or 4 abreast, move out without looking, run red lights and don't obey the rules of the road". That generally comes up just before the road tax commen.

Cyclists are not ;looked on as individuals but as a group.

Just do a search for "Lycra clad louts " on any UK newspaper site.

Digital_Cowboy

+100,000,000,000

Digital_Cowboy

+100,000,000,000

Digital_Cowboy

Chewa,

+100,000,000,000

As I said in another thread I too have (over)heard people *****ing and moaning about the “elitist attitudes” of many of the cyclists on the road. Just the other week when I was grocery shopping I overheard one such conversation; I believe that it took place between either a husband and wife, or a boyfriend and girlfriend. I didn’t catch the whole conversation, but I did overhear the man complaining about cyclists not staying in the bike lane.

I agree with you in that we should be judged by our actions and not the actions of other cyclists, but sadly, that just isn’t the case.

Sadly, given the comments I’ve (over)heard I don’t have to. I know all too well that the “average” motorist “lumps all cyclists” together.

chewa

Its depressing isn't it?

My neighbour was saying the other day that he'd been held up by a group of cyclists riding 3 or 4 abreast. I asked "How often does that happen?" He said it had happened a couple of times.

I then told him I get passed too close EVERY time I do my 25 mile loop. What does that tell us?

spare_wheel

so anecdotal dinner party conversations and anecdotal opinions of a few "journalists".

bravo!

chewa

I'm not aware of any studies of driver attitudes to cyclists, but, unfortunately "anecdotal" opinions of "journalists" (though I can't see how opinions which are printed can be "anecdotal" since they are their opinions) are what get in the news.

Anecdotal dinner party conversations? If I have taken part in them, they aren't anecdotal - they are what people have said to me.

I suspect you've not had a lot of access to the UK press, even the previously much respected BBC is happy giving vent to anti cyclist rhetoric.

If you have given up riding on the road, thanks for giving in. Makes it harder for the rest of us.

Digital_Cowboy

Chewa,

Yes, yes it is. As we’ve said it would be nice if we were judged as individuals.

It is sad when motorists don’t understand that if a lane is not safe to pass a single cyclist that cyclists riding three or four cyclists ride abreast isn’t really going to slow them down.

It tells me what I’ve already have said, that motorists just don’t get the true impact that their driving has on other road users.

jgadamski

I don't expect the one black or gay or Muslim I do know to speak for all blacks/gays/Muslims. Yet once cyclist carries that burden. Some earmuff wearing salmon in flipflops speaks for ALL of us.
My spiritual teacher constantly reminds me ' we are all at different stages of development. Let people develop at their own speed'. and someone elses spiritual teacher admonishes 'judge not lest you be judge'.
an easy lesson to lose.

KD5NRH

And yet many claim to.

Digital_Cowboy

So true, and it’s not just the black/gay/muslins where a few think that they speak for the rest.

jgadamski

anyone on a bike is a cyclist. Good or bad, a CYCLIST did this or THAT. A practiced and conscientious cyclist is painted with the same brush as a fool.

Jaywalk3r

I'm not so sure. I hear horror stories from local riders who don't put in nearly as many miles as I do, yet I've have no such experiences. Clearly some people see a reason to differentiate between people riding bikes.

Henry14896

link please

I-Like-To-Bike