General Cycling Discussion - Other cyclists, and the quest for a little respect

It is very strange for me to read posts regarding the actions / attire / attitudes / etc of other cyclists. Where I live, there simply are no other cyclists.

In my entire riding life, I've seen perhaps 2 or 3 other cyclists on the road - in TOTAL. In fact, the county in which I live had an initial meeting of a newly formed county-wide cycling club. There was an article about the meeting in the local paper. The county official in charge of this new club also visited the local civic entities in an effort to promote this initial meeting - Rotary, Lions Club, etc. I went to the meeting - discounting the 5 county officials who showed up, there were a total of 3 other cyclists in attendence.

If you think that cyclists get no respect in your area, consider how much respect I get on the road - zip. Seriously, I've NEVER had a ride in which @ least one person didn't either shout an obscenity or throw something @ me. It does get old.

So, who else is clipped into my shoes? Anyone?????

I've been there as well. People like to use cyclists as target practice late at night. Beer cans bottles, apple cores, you name it. One time a car full of teenagers threw a bottle at me, it missed, but I acted like I fell over. They stopped the car and came to see if I was hurt. Got em good with the pepper spray.

wow Bac that doesnt sound like much fun. what area of PA are you in?

Originally posted by shaharidan
wow Bac that doesnt sound like much fun. what area of PA are you in?

I'm in extreme SW PA. I'm very close to WV - perhaps that's the issue?

Okay, West Virginians - it was just a joke! :)

Originally posted by jcivic00
I've been there as well. People like to use cyclists as target practice late at night. Beer cans bottles, apple cores, you name it. One time a car full of teenagers threw a bottle at me, it missed, but I acted like I fell over. They stopped the car and came to see if I was hurt. Got em good with the pepper spray.


hahaha
AWSOME!

what was their reaction?

From this thread, and countless others, I'm sure glad I live in a more civilised society. During winter I once had kids throw snowballs at me, but by the sound of your post you are dodging beer bottles on a daily basis.

What I can't understand is that, as kids everyone of these people who throw things had bikes and loved to ride them.

Before I get hate mail I'm not saying that America is an uncivilised society, its just that if you do a search you'll find that alot of cyclists are having to dodge objects, and regularly at that.

Originally posted by Portent
From this thread, and countless others, I'm sure glad I live in a more civilised society. During winter I once had kids throw snowballs at me, but by the sound of your post you are dodging beer bottles on a daily basis.

Yup.

I'm really attempting to determine if I'm getting the short end of the stick becasue of the lack of cyclists (and understanding) in my area. I know that we all have to deal with some jerks on the road, but I have to do this on every single ride.

If I weren't addicted to cycling, I'd quit out of pure fear. However, this guy has to get his fix, and @ the end of the day it's somehow all worth it.

bac, I know its not much but I admire your resolve.

Originally posted by jcivic00
I've been there as well. People like to use cyclists as target practice late at night. Beer cans bottles, apple cores, you name it. One time a car full of teenagers threw a bottle at me, it missed, but I acted like I fell over. They stopped the car and came to see if I was hurt. Got em good with the pepper spray.

Holy Crap ! That takes balls... nice going

Jeff

Wow, where are all the cyclists?

You've only seen 2- 3 cyclists on the street in your whole life? Are there just no cyclists in your city, or is everyone on the sidewalks, or do you have this overabundance of bike paths and everyone sticks to the paths?

:confused:

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
Wow, where are all the cyclists?

You've only seen 2- 3 cyclists on the street in your whole life? Are there just no cyclists in your city, or is everyone on the sidewalks, or do you have this overabundance of bike paths and everyone sticks to the paths?

:confused:

Ther are no bikelanes, and only one very short bikepath (rail to trail deal) in the county, and I've never ridden it. Bike paths just don't excite me. Perhaps if I gave it a shot, I'd @ least see someone else on a bike?

Anywho, the unfortunate fact is that I seem to be the only person in my county that rides. That's why it seems so odd for me to read posts about rude roadies and such. I will never have that problem - unless I'm the rude roadie!

I haven't given up hope, though. I spread the word regarding the joy of cycling to anyone who will listen. However, most just get a glazed look in their eyes - they just don't get it.

Originally posted by bac
.
I'm really attempting to determine if I'm getting the short end of the stick becasue of the lack of cyclists (and understanding) in my area.

That may be the case but you also should remember that antangonism towards cyclists doesn't disappear just because more people are out riding. The Seattle area is one of the more bike-friendly portions of the nation yet it was just last year that a priest in Bellevue (suburb of Seattle) was pushed off his bike by a group of teenagers in a car while out on a training ride... in broad daylight and in front of many witnesses. Disrespect for human values is universal. Always be on guard.

What happened to those three other cyclists at the county-wide meeting? Arlo Guthrie, in his song Alice's Restaurant mentioned something to the effect that three people made a movement. You had four cyclists at that meeting; why, you had a major movement.

Seriously, though, someone has to make a start. Maybe you and a couple other cyclists can get together once a month for a ride and send a press release to the local papers before each time. You might find a few other cyclists come out of the woodwork when they believe they can hook up with like-minded folks.

Originally posted by Prosody
Seriously, though, someone has to make a start. Maybe you and a couple other cyclists can get together once a month for a ride and send a press release to the local papers before each time. You might find a few other cyclists come out of the woodwork when they believe they can hook up with like-minded folks.

You make an excellent point. We actually are meeting once/month. That is a definate start!

Originally posted by bac
It is very strange for me to read posts regarding the actions / attire / attitudes / etc of other cyclists. Where I live, there simply are no other cyclists.

So, who else is clipped into my shoes? Anyone?????

I honestly wouldn't know how much abuse I get - apart from the fact that it's enough for me to have become totally desensitised to it. If someone shouts abuse at me, I don't bother reacting and I've generally forgotten within five minutes of it happening. I simply don't care anymore. The only thing that I notice is when someone deliberately tries to kill me (like the other night).

I don't think the number of cyclists has anything to do with it. I see quite a few riders on the roads around here. I'm sure they've also got similar stories to tell.

the funny thing is I live near a couple of schools, I personally blame crappy parenting. Yes I can say that, I have kids of my own. Their current behavior reflects their home behavior. So I say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Oh, In respons to the aftermath from the pepper spray, I got up while they couldn't see(it was dark in case I didn't mention) Pulled the keys out of the ignition and tossed them across the street. Thank goodness I had gone over to a friend's ohouse that night, I lived 10 miles the other way. whew.

Originally posted by jcivic00
I've been there as well. People like to use cyclists as target practice late at night. Beer cans bottles, apple cores, you name it. One time a car full of teenagers threw a bottle at me, it missed, but I acted like I fell over. They stopped the car and came to see if I was hurt. Got em good with the pepper spray.
AAAAAAAhhhhh!!! the ultimate revenge:thumbup: