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I was nearly plowed over while on a ride this weekend. That was not a first. What makes this very, VERY aggravating is hopefully the unique circumstance.
I was at a stop light for a few minutes, sipping on water and catching my breath. The light turned green, and as I started to commit, I sensed something behind me. Sure enough, a minivan was rapidly approaching. (I should mention I was in the wide bike lane of an affluent residential area at the time.) I pulled back, and without so much as a signal, the minivan made a right turn not three feet in front of me. The real pisser (and unique circumstance) is that said minivan had racks and a "Share the road with cyclists" bumper sticker!!!!! :mad: I can only assume the driver in question was the spouse, child, neighbor, or car jacker of the car owner, and not one of the sport's greatest hypocrites.
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I do everything I can to keep my time on the road to a minimum (to the trail and back from work)...
Today - I was nearly taken out by a Honda with Yak racks and bike trays making a left turn in front of me. Luckily the light had JUST turned green and neither of us was going very fast. She was very embarassed and waved a sheepish apology.
It just doesn't matter if you're a cycling advocate or not...MANY times, people just don't/won't see cyclist on the road!
Some drivers are either supremely stupid or just completely oblivious of anything but themselves. Take for example a driver too impatient to wait for a pedestrian to finish crossing before making a right turn. A blind pedestrian, complete with the walking stick and sunglasses at 7pm. Imagine being blind and hearing a car whiz by about 4 feet in front of you while you're in the middle of the street. The awesome thing was that there was a cop directly behind this driver and he was prompty pulled over for a tongue lashing if not a ticket.
Some have suggested that riding or owning a bicycle makes you a cycling advocate. Others would maintain that because you say you are - or put a sticker on a car that says you are -- you're a cycling advocate.
Let's see if this image is one that you can relate to. Have you ever been nearly hit or yelled at to get off the road (with or without explatives) by an adult with their family in the car on their way to worship services who have religious icons on their cars? Would you be surprised to hear that they describe themselves as good (fill in the blank with your denomination of choice) who love their fellow man?
Bottom Line: Don't assume too much about cyclists. Having the equipment, wearing icons or saying you're a cycling advocate does not mean squat if your attitude and actions under all circumstances don't back it up. You either walk the talk or your don't.
Originally posted by livngood
Let's see if this image is one that you can relate to. Have you ever been nearly hit or yelled at to get off the road (with or without explatives) by an adult with their family in the car on their way to worship services who have religious icons on their cars? Would you be surprised to hear that they describe themselves as good (fill in the blank with your denomination of choice) who love their fellow man?
Bottom Line: Don't assume too much about cyclists. Having the equipment, wearing icons or saying you're a cycling advocate does not mean squat if your attitude and actions under all circumstances don't back it up. You either walk the talk or your don't.
Please excuse my ignorance, but I really don't see the connection here.
Originally posted by livngood
Let's see if this image is one that you can relate to. Have you ever been nearly hit or yelled at to get off the road (with or without explatives) by an adult with their family in the car on their way to worship services who have religious icons on their cars? Would you be surprised to hear that they describe themselves as good (fill in the blank with your denomination of choice) who love their fellow man? Never happened to me. Anyone else had this happen?
Originally posted by MediaCreations
Never happened to me. Anyone else had this happen?
As a matter of interest I have, quite a few times, particularly around christmas. Don't get me wrong, I am not attempting to generalise or criticise christians or any other religious group in any way. However, they don't seem to be any more immune to the "engage ignition/disengage brain" thing than anyone else.
Originally posted by Chris L
As a matter of interest I have, quite a few times, particularly around christmas. Don't get me wrong, I am not attempting to generalise or criticise christians or any other religious group in any way. However, they don't seem to be any more immune to the "engage ignition/disengage brain" thing than anyone else. Maybe I haven't noticed it because Sunday's usually my day off the bike - but I also haven't noticed any overtly 'religious' cars cutting me off or yelling at me through the rest of the week either. I'd better pay more attention to the stickers on the cars that try to run me down.:D
I wonder why it's more noticeable around Christmas. (Maybe they think, "Jesus is coming - we'd better look busy.")
Originally posted by Chris L
Please excuse my ignorance, but I really don't see the connection here.
We often encounter folks on their way to worship -- which is not limited to Sunday mornings, albeit perhaps the most frequent time -- and have on many occasions been nearly clipped, honked at, told to get off the road and/or been on the receiving end of less than cordial gestures. Most all forms of religion include pillars related to showing care, compassion and consideration to your fellow man. Isn't it ironic that folks who are on the way to or from worship set those tenants aside when they get behind the wheel and act in a manner that suggests we were an exempt species from the "fellow man" list.
Heresay noted he had an encounter with a motorist and what surprised him was that it had bike racks and a "share the road" decal, i.e., the icons associated with being a cyclist. The irony was that he assumed the motorist behind the wheel should act a certain way because they were a cyclist and, in fact, their behavior behind the wheel was inconsistent with what Heresay would have expected from "another cyclist". He even went to far as to suggest -- perhaps being sarcastic -- it must have been someone other than the cyclist driving the car, lest they be a hypocrite.
It's not a poke in the eye at organized religion or people who worship, it's an analogy that is intended to remind cyclists that owning or riding a bicycle doesn't necessarily make you a cycling advocate. People drive cars and ride bikes. Don't assume all people who ride bikes share common values, goals or views on cyclists rights.
Originally posted by heresy
I can only assume the driver in question was the spouse, child, neighbor, or car jacker of the car owner, and not one of the sport's greatest hypocrites.
Cell phone perhaps? :mad:
Cyclist's Maxim - "Drivers are Morons."
If they happen to do something safe or nice, be pleasantly surprised.
I find I am safer assuming every driver is an idiot (taking precautions), and letting them prove me wrong rather than vice versa.
I find it best to assume that no one can see me. I do the same on my motorcycle because it is very easy to not see a bicycle or motorcycle in any weather conditions. Any lapse in attention (motorist or cyclist) can be bad or disasterous.
I almost rear-ended a car on my motorcycle the other day because I looked away for a second and the traffic stopped suddenly (I hate when that happens).
Originally posted by MediaCreations
I wonder why it's more noticeable around Christmas. (Maybe they think, "Jesus is coming - we'd better look busy.")
It may be just the tourist influx around here. To be honest I don't pay a lot of attention to bumper stickers either, but there are some that I see from time to time. Again, religious folks are no worse than anyone else - but they're generally no better either.
Originally posted by livingood
it's an analogy that is intended to remind cyclists that owning or riding a bicycle doesn't necessarily make you a cycling advocate. People drive cars and ride bikes. Don't assume all people who ride bikes share common values, goals or views on cyclists rights.
Point taken - now I understand.
Originally posted by montlake_mtbkr
Some drivers are either supremely stupid or just completely oblivious of anything but themselves. Take for example a driver too impatient to wait for a pedestrian to finish crossing before making a right turn..
I am with you on this one, I have encountered driverswho are really very impatient, and would drive on even if the pedestrain still in the middle of the X-ing Ped.
I particularly like the drivers that come around you, then slam on the brakes and turn in front of you causing you to take evasive action.
I also take the position that all drivers are potential idots until proved otherwise. I have found it safer to assume they will do the worst possible thing and thereby are prepared for it / have room for manoeuvre or an exit route available.
Having said that, this still does not preclude me from driver/cyclist idiocy, as I have been hit by three cars (two minor and one serious - two side-swipes and one t-bone) and a bus to date (although I must admit that the bus was sorta my fault - in the wrong place at the wrong time - long story, don't want to add to my embarrassment.:o
Originally posted by Colonel
I also take the position that all drivers are potential idots until proved otherwise. I have found it safer to assume they will do the worst possible thing and thereby are prepared for it / have room for manoeuvre or an exit route available.
This is also what I do. Sadly, in the majority of cases, the idiot assumption is pretty accurate around here. :(
I also take the position that all drivers are potential idiots until proved otherwise.
This is also what I do. Sadly, in the majority of cases, the idiot assumption is pretty accurate around here.
When I learned to drive (at age 12 - 51 years ago) and in all the defensive driving courses I have ever taken since then that was always the cardinal rule.
Also, just a couple of other thoughts among many:
1. Look for the eyes of the driver you are interacting with to see you - i.e., at an intersection. I know this sounds strange, but it is how I constantly drive (or ride my bike).
2. Watch the front wheels - they will telegraph what the car is doing before it does it. I.e., someone who is going to turn across your lane will most likely turn the wheels before the car goes forward much.
It seems to work so far.
Originally posted by DnvrFox
1. Look for the eyes of the driver you are interacting with to see you - i.e., at an intersection. I know this sounds strange, but it is how I constantly drive (or ride my bike).
2. Watch the front wheels - they will telegraph what the car is doing before it does it. I.e., someone who is going to turn across your lane will most likely turn the wheels before the car goes forward much.
Unfortunately, making eye-contact with a redneck psycho tosspot (the type of people who tend to give me problems) probably won't make a lot of difference. However, I will take the front wheel tip on board.
I certainly look for eye contact - but never take that as absolute proof that the driver is going to do the right thing. I find that it's just another help towards staying upright on the bike without having shards of metal protruding from my legs.
Nice twist on this thread!
I consider one of the most hazardous areas on my usual ride routes to be passing the neighborhood church when services are letting out. It seems like everyone is sooooooo full of piety and Christian fellowship that they cannot wait to get the h#!! out of there. I've had good family men make attempts to run me over right in front of the parish priest!
Yesterday was a club side, about 40 riders heading out of town on a 4 lane rode, then turning right onto a 2 lane road. We all stopped for the light, then turned right on the green. A pickup truck turned right out of the left lane in an attempt to come right through us! We held the lane and told him not in this life, bubba.
Someone on this board once said that he acts as if all drivers are actively trying to kill him. Works for me.
It's real simple to me--the vehicle reduces the humanity and intelligence of the DRIVER. You are dealing with a "motoring primate," not a human being.
Originally posted by livngood
Have you ever been nearly hit or yelled at to get off the road (with or without explatives) by an adult with their family in the car on their way to worship services who have religious icons on their cars?
No, but I remember working for a landscaper at a church who hired a crew which he carried in his van. After one of them stepped out of his nice, carpeted van with a muddy boot and got it on the carpet, the landscaper waited until the man was gone and said, "Stupid n***** got mud on my carpet."
Needless to say I quit. I realized then that there are people that will join a church just to get easy customers and make money. Besides, what was he doing driving a carpeted van to a landscaping job?
But thankfully, I have known so many wonderful people that dark memories such as this one don't bias my view.
:(
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