Advocacy & Safety - Bullies

How many of us who drive cars know the stupid, foolish, irresponsible antics of other motorists?

Everyone does.

So, why is it so suprising that as cyclists, with almost complete vulnerability to the whim of bullies-on-wheels, fear motorists?

Uh, maybe it has something to do with the huge size and power of their vehicles?

Let's make them accountable. Let's make them respect us.

How do you propose that we do that (make them accountable)? I've thought about mounting a laser on the front of my bike (we work with lasers at work) to melt the tires off that hunk of metal, but haven't gotten around the need of a power supply.

Originally posted by John C. Ratliff
How do you propose that we do that (make them accountable)?

I've suggested this before.

Perhaps an occasional rotation to duty on a bicycle in traffic for patrol officers would serve to bring some balance to enforcement and attitudes about both motorists and cyclists.

Cops won't tolerate another officer being abused even if on a bicycle.

Carl

I hate bullies, in what ever form that they may comes, I just hate them:crash: :crash: :crash:

Originally posted by LittleBigMan
So, why is it so suprising that as cyclists, with almost complete vulnerability to the whim of bullies-on-wheels, fear motorists?

see.. that's the thing. i don't fear them.

maybe it's just because i'm young (thus stupid), but being surrounded by cars doesn't bother me a bit.

the weekend before last i went out on an event ride that took us through farmland. i rode for miles without seeing a single car. it was nice, and i did enjoy it, but a part of me really missed riding around the metro-milwaukee/downtown area.

Originally posted by John C. Ratliff
How do you propose that we do that (make them accountable)?

There was a suggestion over here earlier this year about a scheme that might just have achieved this. It involved setting up a phone # where cyclists could report overly abusive drivers, and the reports being maintained on a database. Those drivers whose # continually turned up on this database would be sent a nice little warning letter by the cops, with further action following if they continued turning up.

Unfortunately, it seems to have been forgotten about. Maybe I'll write a few people a 'reminder' letter in the near future.

Originally posted by Chris L


There was a suggestion over here earlier this year about a scheme that might just have achieved this. It involved setting up a phone # where cyclists could report overly abusive drivers, and the reports being maintained on a database. Those drivers whose # continually turned up on this database would be sent a nice little warning letter by the cops, with further action following if they continued turning up.

Unfortunately, it seems to have been forgotten about. Maybe I'll write a few people a 'reminder' letter in the near future.

That is a fantastic idea! :D