Advocacy & Safety - They're not cagers!

They are motorists.
They are drivers.
They are truckers.
They are people.

They are not trapped in a cage. Some people actually LIKE driving. Some drivers actually ride bikes. Stop categorizing everyone who is in a vehicle as a homocidal maniac trapped in a cage.

Thank you. Have a nice day!

They are motorists.
They are drivers.
They are truckers.
They are people.

They are not trapped in a cage. Some people actually LIKE driving. Some drivers actually ride bikes. Stop categorizing everyone who is in a vehicle as a homocidal maniac trapped in a cage.

Thank you. Have a nice day!


Fair enough... now can they stop treating us as some sort of "suicidal maniac" on two wheels?

True dat yo

While we are at it, I am not white. I am color challenged. Wait....isn't white a color?
um....... I am not a cyclist. I ride a bike with two pedals. Thus, I am a bipedalist.

A car is a big metal box on wheels with locks...ontologically speaking there's nothing that should prevent it from being called a cage.

the funny thing is that its one of the few cages people willingly get into and out of.

I don't think the term imples people are trapped in vehicles they don't like driving (give me an open road with little traffic and I'll have an instant smile on my face regardless of the vehicle I'm controlling), rather the sociological trap that the automotive system represents.

whether you like driving or not, you have to admit that the road setup of most cities is not conducive to using any other method without some limitation of freedom or safety, and therein lies the reason for definining it as a cage.

They are motorists.
They are drivers.
They are truckers.
They are people.

They are not trapped in a cage. Some people actually LIKE driving. Some drivers actually ride bikes. Stop categorizing everyone who is in a vehicle as a homocidal maniac trapped in a cage.

Thank you. Have a nice day!

Its really simple. Cagers are @ssholes who drive cars like idiots, and for purposes of this board, who endanger cyclists. Not all car drivers are cagers, there are some drivers that drive very well and respect bicyclists.

And don't tell me what terms I can or cannot use.

They are motorists.
They are drivers.
They are truckers.
They are people.

They are not trapped in a cage. Some people actually LIKE driving. Some drivers actually ride bikes. Stop categorizing everyone who is in a vehicle as a homocidal maniac trapped in a cage.

Thank you. Have a nice day!

spoken like a true cager apologist ;)

maybe we'd have different names for them if it weren't for this ****ing filter.

Its really simple. Cagers are @ssholes who drive cars like idiots, and for purposes of this board, who endanger cyclists. Not all car drivers are cagers, there are some drivers that drive very well and respect bicyclists.

And don't tell me what terms I can or cannot use.The thing is, that description could fit some cyclists as well as some motorists. It's the attitude of the person, not their chosen vehicle. Some people are thoughtful and courteous regardless of the vehicle they're operating. And some people are violent, self-centered, inconsiderate *******s no matter what vehicle they're operating.











3, 2, 1.... And now the apologists chime in: "But cyclists aren't driving 3000 pound killer machines..."

Just thought I'd throw in that the automakers themselves refer to the structures as cages. http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/safety/protect_occupants/new_vehicle_features/cage.html

And don't tell me what terms I can or cannot use.


And where did I say what you can or cannot use?

I am just stating MY opinion that wide sweeping negative generalizations are overly simplistic and false. There appears to be too much 'us against them' mentality. Perhaps if we tried to understand the issues instead of chalking them up to the evil cagers, we might make some progress.

Think of the thousands of cars you interact with. What percentage actually cause you a problem? It is miniscule. But because those incidents make their mark on our memory, we tend to think EVERY driver is a maniac.

Just thought I'd throw in that the automakers themselves refer to the structures as cages.]

Good one! Though, the cage is only a part of the vehicle. They also refer to knee bolsters, air bags, and seat belts.

Chill. Car drivers are surrounded by a cage. (As contrasted with cyclists, who are surrounded by nothing but the air.)

"Cager" is perfectly descriptive. If it's gained a negative or perjorative connotation, so be it.

There appears to be too much 'us against them' mentality.And the victim mentality. Don't forget the victim mentality.

**** it, from now on they're knee bolsterers

edit: i think slowandsteady actually has a good point. i think of all motorists as perfectly nice people and behave on the road as if each one were personally trying to kill me (a survival skill in southeast washington dc). it is good for all of us to keep those two, non mutually exclusive mindsets separate.

this, however, is among other things a place to vent. so i say call em what you want, but dont let your frustration get to you to the point that you put yourself in danger of a road raging knee bolsterer.

Chill. Car drivers are surrounded by a cage. (As contrasted with cyclists, who are surrounded by nothing but the air.)

"Cager" is perfectly descriptive. If it's gained a negative or perjorative connotation, so be it.It helps perpetuate the "us and them" mentality that permeates this forum.

Air baggers.

Air baggers.That's much better. Then, when in the interests of safety air bags are mandated for bicycles, we will all be one people again...

Chill. Car drivers are surrounded by a cage. (As contrasted with cyclists, who are surrounded by nothing but the air.)

"Cager" is perfectly descriptive. If it's gained a negative or perjorative connotation, so be it. Some cyclists are surrounded by an aura of self-rightousness indignation as well as paranoia when it comes to dealing with the rest of society. Wacky counterproductive ranting is perfectly descriptive of the bombastic "anti-cager" rhetoric of some BF posters. If it gives a negative or perjorative connotation to bicycling advocacy, so be it, eh?

A car is a big metal box on wheels with locks...ontologically speaking there's nothing that should prevent it from being called a cage.

I've been thinking about this subject for a while, and it seems to me that if a car is a cage, then our homes aren't much more. Many people in my part of Florida never open their windows, and now a small percentage have their hurricane shutters up (while they live inside) for the duration of hurricane season.

You'll get no argument from me about cars being potential cages, but I would say that anyone who rushes into their energy sucking, climate controlled personal prison after a bike ride ought to re-examine or expand their thinking.

They are motorists.
They are drivers.
They are truckers.
They are people.

They are not trapped in a cage. Some people actually LIKE driving. Some drivers actually ride bikes. Stop categorizing everyone who is in a vehicle as a homocidal maniac trapped in a cage.

Thank you. Have a nice day!

But I just coined my new phrase for certain cyclists who give us all a bad name - COBs - Cagers on Bikes. :eek:

Its really simple. Cagers are @ssholes who drive cars like idiots, and for purposes of this board, who endanger cyclists. Not all car drivers are cagers, there are some drivers that drive very well and respect bicyclists.

And don't tell me what terms I can or cannot use.

COBs are idiots who ride bikes like @ssholes....Thanks for defending my right to use terms of my choosing. :p

Others being your home, workplace and local bike shop.


A car is a big metal box on wheels with locks...ontologically speaking there's nothing that should prevent it from being called a cage.

the funny thing is that its one of the few cages people willingly get into and out of.

I don't think the term imples people are trapped in vehicles they don't like driving (give me an open road with little traffic and I'll have an instant smile on my face regardless of the vehicle I'm controlling), rather the sociological trap that the automotive system represents.

whether you like driving or not, you have to admit that the road setup of most cities is not conducive to using any other method without some limitation of freedom or safety, and therein lies the reason for definining it as a cage.

But I just coined my new phrase for certain cyclists who give us all a bad name - COBs - Cagers on Bikes. :eek::bow:

COBs are idiots who ride bikes like @ssholes....Thanks for defending my right to use terms of my choosing. :p

I thought this post was about cagers, who are by definition car drivers. So while you may be very amused with your own wit in coming up with COB, I fail to see the relevance to this post.

I thought this post was about cagers, who are by definition car drivers. So while you may be very amused with your own wit in coming up with COB, I fail to see the relevance to this post.Actually, the premise of the thread is that they're not cagers, they're people. If the basis for calling them cagers is their attitude while operating a motor vehicle, then a derogatory term for the same personality type on a bicycle is entirely relevant to the thread.

In any event, I prefer this definition of cager:


A car is a big metal box on wheels with locks...ontologically speaking there's nothing that should prevent it from being called a cage.

the funny thing is that its one of the few cages people willingly get into and out of.

I don't think the term imples people are trapped in vehicles they don't like driving (give me an open road with little traffic and I'll have an instant smile on my face regardless of the vehicle I'm controlling), rather the sociological trap that the automotive system represents.

whether you like driving or not, you have to admit that the road setup of most cities is not conducive to using any other method without some limitation of freedom or safety, and therein lies the reason for definining it as a cage.

wow, krazygluon and i have strikingly similar usernames, although his (or hers) is more clever. good to see another physics geek around though.

Remind me to write a letter to the newspaper's sports page editor: "They're not cagers! They're people who play basketball!"

I thought this post was about cagers, who are by definition car drivers. So while you may be very amused with your own wit in coming up with COB, I fail to see the relevance to this post.

By all means, let's keep this post on track. Eliminate all wit and all humor! ;)

You'll get no argument from me about cars being potential cages, but I would say that anyone who rushes into their energy sucking, climate controlled personal prison after a bike ride ought to re-examine or expand their thinking.

And that's why I sit on my patio when I get home from a ride. (jumping 20 degrees or more in temp can't be good for muscle recovery...it just can't be.)

Houses and workplaces are in many ways cages for some people (agoraphobics,workaholics,the unbelievably paranoid,etc.) Trains are cages too when you get down to it, but I'd rather see train cagers than car cagers. :)

Several people have suggested that everyone in the world riding a bike might not be a good thing either; afterall there seems to be worldwide consensus that some people do indeed need to be caged for the greater good.

I didn't say that because cars were cages they were bad (I have other reasons for that,) I was just qualifying that there's no reason not to call them cages.

NASCAR drivers sit in a cage. Of course they get paid a lot of money to do that. My dog likes his cage.

Actually, the premise of the thread is that they're not cagers, they're people. If the basis for calling them cagers is their attitude while operating a motor vehicle, then a derogatory term for the same personality type on a bicycle is entirely relevant to the thread.

In any event, I prefer this definition of cager:

I believe the premise of Slowandsteady's original post is to chastise those who use the term cager, because he believes that the term cager is used as a derogatory term to apply to all car drivers, universally, all the time, and therefore stereotype all drivers as bad.

I say that from my experience, most people here on the board use the word cager to refer to a car driver who endangers cyclists, not just to refer to all drivers as a group.

So while it is true that all cagers are car drivers, not all car drivers are cagers.

Then cager is a very appropriate term, because it is shorthand for a type of behavior that is bad, and it does not just stereotype all car drivers as bad people or as people who all behave badly.

I didn't say that because cars were cages they were bad (I have other reasons for that,) I was just qualifying that there's no reason not to call them cages.


Krazy, I think we would agree on most things (although you might not enjoy my house sans A/C).

I chose your quote from many only to make my point, which is that we are all caged or cagebound in some way (although for a few blessed days here and there in my life I haven't been). In fact, we should all know by now that our cages are not limited to the physical realm.

Personally I think "idiot" is descriptive enough when we are talking about idiots. For some reason I cannot recall, "cager" seems grammatically impossible.

I believe the premise of Slowandsteady's original post is to chastise those who use the term cager, because he believes that the term cager is used as a derogatory term to apply to all car drivers, universally, all the time, and therefore stereotype all drivers as bad.

I say that from my experience, most people here on the board use the word cager to refer to a car driver who endangers cyclists, not just to refer to all drivers as a group.

So while it is true that all cagers are car drivers, not all car drivers are cagers.

Then cager is a very appropriate term, because it is shorthand for a type of behavior that is bad, and it does not just stereotype all car drivers as bad people or as people who all behave badly.Right, it's the mentality, not the vehicle of choice. Which means that we also have Cagers On Bikes, or COBs as Chipcom prefers to call them.

They are motorists.
They are drivers.
They are truckers.
They are people.

They are not trapped in a cage. Some people actually LIKE driving. Some drivers actually ride bikes. Stop categorizing everyone who is in a vehicle as a homocidal maniac trapped in a cage.

Thank you. Have a nice day!

Dear OP, you are wasting your time. It is much more convenient to catagorize all motorists as something negative when you are being self righteous or are angry and upset about almost being clipped by a dangerous motorist.

It helps perpetuate the "us and them" mentality that permeates this forum.


*applaud*

+10

It helps perpetuate the "us and them" mentality that permeates this forum.

Yeah, good point. I'd much prefer a shine on you crazy diamond mentality.

Krazy, I think we would agree on most things (although you might not enjoy my house sans A/C).

I chose your quote from many only to make my point, which is that we are all caged or cagebound in some way (although for a few blessed days here and there in my life I haven't been). In fact, we should all know by now that our cages are not limited to the physical realm.

Personally I think "idiot" is descriptive enough when we are talking about idiots. For some reason I cannot recall, "cager" seems grammatically impossible.


I think you are dead on with this one. A person is an idiot when they are an idiot. People who allow themselves to fall into the trap of stereotyping, using negative catch phrases, judging things before thinking about why they really happen - in otherwords, most of us, a lot of the time - have fallen into the saddest of cages, a mental one that is so comfortable that it is hard to escape especially when you cannot even see it is there. That is the real cager.


PS: oh yes, in the interest of perpetuating annoying terms for people, cyclists being an idiot are "airers".... in more ways than one.

I love the term "cager". I don't see it negatively. It pokes fun at motorists. I'm a cager too. I like it.

And where did I say what you can or cannot use?

I am just stating MY opinion that wide sweeping negative generalizations are overly simplistic and false. There appears to be too much 'us against them' mentality. Perhaps if we tried to understand the issues instead of chalking them up to the evil cagers, we might make some progress.

Think of the thousands of cars you interact with. What percentage actually cause you a problem? It is miniscule. But because those incidents make their mark on our memory, we tend to think EVERY driver is a maniac.

Cagers are cagers. Idiots are idiots. Good people are good people.

I tend to refer to people by how the interact with me and with others. I don't think every driver is a maniac...only the maniacal ones. I do give genuine smiles and waves to motorists who respect me on the road.

I guess that's what it comes down to. Respect. Respect motorists, and give respect to those that share it. Ignore the cagers.

Nope, they're cagers. As am I when I take the car, as are most cyclists.

So I refer to them as cagers and some of them refer to us (cyclists) as "road roaches".

Whoopee. Doesn't matter. :rolleyes:

They are motorists.
They are drivers.
They are truckers.
They are people.

They are not trapped in a cage. Some people actually LIKE driving. Some drivers actually ride bikes. Stop categorizing everyone who is in a vehicle as a homocidal maniac trapped in a cage.

Thank you. Have a nice day!



Actually, I have very few problems with cagers...here in the land where all the children are above average. Still, give us a break. Can't we have a WORD for those who are lesser than ourselves...those who are beholden to the Saudi oil cartel... those lazy butts who pay dearly for the privilege of making their butts and right feet numb while travelling the mere 2 miles to the 7-11 store? I think calling them cagers is being magnanimous. Worthless drivel of society that they represent. They don't deserve such a noble a moniker as "cagers".

Well, while we're at it, I'm not a biker! A biker rides a big motorcycle and usually wears a leather or denim jacket (with the arms cut off of course), has a shaggy ponytail and a tiny helmet painted flat black.

I "share" the roadways whether driving my SUV or riding my bike. In general, my concept of sharing does not involve my enemies. Sometimes when I share, I am taken advantage of and am injured, economically, psychologically or physically. Nevertheless, I continue to share. One is not my enemy (or a cager) until I am taken advantage of and injured, economically, psychologically or physically. If killed, you'll hear no more from me on this topic.

The average person is usually wrong about everything that has to do with cycling. They usually drive in these motorized cages with a gasoline engine and four wheels. They're cagers. That doesn't mean they can't be civilized people or the vilage idiots. I don't even know how the latter live with themselves.

I'm a cyclist, they're cagers. My work here is done.

Its really simple. Cagers are @ssholes who drive cars like idiots, and for purposes of this board, who endanger cyclists. Not all car drivers are cagers, there are some drivers that drive very well and respect bicyclists.

And don't tell me what terms I can or cannot use.

Wanna know something, Motorcyclists call those who drive cars like idiots, cagers. Gee, I actually have something in common with the guy with the big beard, bigger beer belly and copious tattoos on the Harley:eek:

Wanna know something, Motorcyclists call those who drive cars like idiots, cagers. Gee, I actually have something in common with the guy with the big beard, bigger beer belly and copious tattoos on the Harley:eek:

Haa Haaaa Haaaaaa. Thanks for the insight. I love it.

So, there. They are cagers...By common usage of several afflicted peoples in the society.

THEY ARE CAGERS. THEY ARE CAGERS. THEY ARE CAGERS.

What's so hard about that? You want a constitutional ammendment for rights of cagers or something?

Some cyclists are surrounded by an aura of self-rightousness indignation as well as paranoia when it comes to dealing with the rest of society. Wacky counterproductive ranting is perfectly descriptive of the bombastic "anti-cager" rhetoric of some BF posters. If it gives a negative or perjorative connotation to bicycling advocacy, so be it, eh?

Why are you dragging the VC zealots into this? ;)

Why are you dragging the VC zealots into this? ;)

BA-ZING

Wanna know something, Motorcyclists call those who drive cars like idiots, cagers. Gee, I actually have something in common with the guy with the big beard, bigger beer belly and copious tattoos on the Harley:eek:

First time I was exposed to the term was while reading a motorcycle magazine, most likely either "Easy Rider" or "Iron Horse", over 30 years ago.:)

It fit then and it fits now.

Wanna know something, Motorcyclists call those who drive cars like idiots, cagers. Gee, I actually have something in common with the guy with the big beard, bigger beer belly and copious tattoos on the Harley:eek:

I love this stereotype. I also love the stereotype of the lesbians on motorcycles...mostly because my girlfriend's mom is one of those stereotypes (minus the flannel).

Not only to motorcyclists also call those in the four-wheeled mobile cages "cagers", but runners do, too.

First time I was exposed to the term was while reading a motorcycle magazine, most likely either "Easy Rider" or "Iron Horse", over 30 years ago.:)

It fit then and it fits now.


I've often seen the term "BDC" (Braindead Cager) bandied about on various motorcycle forums and email lists.