Advocacy & Safety - Hostile Comments about two bicyclists hit by car

People bragging about teaching bicyclists a lesson. I guess they feel justified since a women ran down two guys minding their own business on a straight road in broad daylight.

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/indianapolis-star/TH0LIDI17DUCRPBS8

Alot of people have that attitude. That is why you have to TAKE your rights and use them to the fullest extent. In the wild kingdom most of the little animals have spines,bad tastes, or poisons, that's what we have to be: the nasty, aggressive little animals of the road that nobody wants to fool with.

It seemed to me that the majority of the posters were advocating the rights of bicyclists, not attacking them. Yes there were a few bike-hating idiots, but not nearly as many as we've all seen elsewhere. I got the impression that most (though not all) people in that area are actually thoughtful, reasonable and decent. (Compare those posts with those of that radio station in Portland last year where the announcers were encouraging listeners to run cyclists down...)

what the heck? read the last 5 or so comments. they posted disparaging comments about cyclists the whole time, then at the end quote and take potshots at themselves. I think their server was hacked.

Alot of people have that attitude. That is why you have to TAKE your rights and use them to the fullest extent. In the wild kingdom most of the little animals have spines,bad tastes, or poisons, that's what we have to be: the nasty, aggressive little animals of the road that nobody wants to fool with.

Yeah, fight fire with fire. Escalation. Battle!

You're gonna find pricks in every group, cyclists included.

Alot of people have that attitude. That is why you have to TAKE your rights and use them to the fullest extent. In the wild kingdom most of the little animals have spines,bad tastes, or poisons, that's what we have to be: the nasty, aggressive little animals of the road that nobody wants to fool with.

Yeah, I'm sure that will deter all the people in 3000 lb vehicles. Somehow I don't think they'll be impressed. *rolls eyes.*

You're gonna find pricks in every group, cyclists included.

That's really the bottom line. Ride, and have fun riding. If you can at all help it, don't let the jag-offs ruin your day.

... Brad

I don't know why, but it seems to me newspaper website forums are always loaded with trolls. Doesn't seem to matter what paper it is, or where it covers.

I don't know why, but it seems to me newspaper website forums are always loaded with trolls. Doesn't seem to matter what paper it is, or where it covers.

Agreed. I saw the same thing with the "Dog da bounty hunter " arrest. As the threads got longer the BS got deeper. Intelligent conversation goes out the door around page 3.

My IQ dropped 20 points after reading that midwestern idiot-fest.

My IQ dropped 20 points after reading that midwestern idiot-fest.:lol:

Hey, it's typical. Didn't stop me from posting the following:

We're here. We wear lycra, sometimes, not spandex! We pay taxes like you. Share the road. Get used to it!

Cyclists post, create critical mass.


http://www.topix.net/forum/source/in...LIDI17DUCRPBS8 (http://www.topix.net/forum/source/indianapolis-star/TH0LIDI17DUCRPBS8)

what the heck? read the last 5 or so comments. they posted disparaging comments about cyclists the whole time, then at the end quote and take potshots at themselves. I think their server was hacked.

sorry, I didn't read to the end. The first page or so seemed like reasonable people, so I stopped, because, as been mentioned here already, newspaper message boards can get idiotic in a hurry; it makes BF look like a Mensa rally.

239 posts. Good lord.

When I got to the post about how motorcycles always obey the speed limit and bicycles break it, I stopped skimming.

Yeah, I'm sure that will deter all the people in 3000 lb vehicles. Somehow I don't think they'll be impressed. *rolls eyes.*

The idea is not to impress people. Most drivers, even the ones who are doing the "lesson teaching" do not want to be involved in a collision. If you are position yourself visibly and assertively, it will be tougher for any driver to misjudge the situation.

The idea is not to impress people. Most drivers, even the ones who are doing the "lesson teaching" do not want to be involved in a collision. If you are position yourself visibly and assertively, it will be tougher for any driver to misjudge the situation.

I agree with this but I also see a problem with it. Yes I a auto wants to avoid a collision but even more then that so do I. If they play chicken with squeezing me off or cutting me off and slowing they may see me but what is to stop them from saying then didn't? Add to that most every story I've read, and I'd assume drivers have seen, seem to say that unless it was a drunken driver even if the cyclist dies they don't get charged.
Being visible and assertive will make it harder for a driver to misjudge the situation but sometimes when I have asserted myself it made it easier for the driver to assert his 3000lb or 6000lb butt in my path after they skim past my handlebars to make a pass. A hostile driver may be in only one of 1000 cars or maybe rarer unfortunately on a bicycle you get passed alot more often then a car would that can keep up with traffic.
When traffic is high and cars have to pay too much attention to merge into lanes and avoid me and the cars they are merging with I have at times pulled off. Sure I could take the lane and force them to slow down traffic and merge, if they see me, but I have been cut off and sqeezed enough that I'd really rather avoid altercations. If the car behind me merged left at 45mph the car riding his bumper steps on the gas to pass him only to find me in their path? If they are swearing at the other driver and giving them the number one they may not find me until i'm under their front bumper.

I agree with this but I also see a problem with it. Yes I a auto wants to avoid a collision but even more then that so do I. If they play chicken with squeezing me off or cutting me off and slowing they may see me but what is to stop them from saying then didn't? Add to that most every story I've read, and I'd assume drivers have seen, seem to say that unless it was a drunken driver even if the cyclist dies they don't get charged.
Being visible and assertive will make it harder for a driver to misjudge the situation but sometimes when I have asserted myself it made it easier for the driver to assert his 3000lb or 6000lb butt in my path after they skim past my handlebars to make a pass. A hostile driver may be in only one of 1000 cars or maybe rarer unfortunately on a bicycle you get passed alot more often then a car would that can keep up with traffic.
When traffic is high and cars have to pay too much attention to merge into lanes and avoid me and the cars they are merging with I have at times pulled off. Sure I could take the lane and force them to slow down traffic and merge, if they see me, but I have been cut off and sqeezed enough that I'd really rather avoid altercations. If the car behind me merged left at 45mph the car riding his bumper steps on the gas to pass him only to find me in their path? If they are swearing at the other driver and giving them the number one they may not find me until i'm under their front bumper.

Tend to agree... I had a incident the other day where I was driving and slowed down for a cyclist moving left in front of me... the reaction of the motorist behind me was to give a long honk, move left suddenly and then move in front of me... he obviously did not see nor apparently cared about the cyclist... the latter who upon hearing the long horn honk, scurried back to the curb and quit. So the aggressive motorist essentially "won" by their arrogant attitude. I had words with the motorist, but the cyclist was no doubt very spooked by the idiot motorist. And yes they were driving a huge black SUV... no doubt for intimidation factor... :rolleyes: