2cyl
From this morning's St Petersburg Times, www.tampabay.com
Rant: On the road, the crazies come from all sides
By Kyle Kreiger
Published October 9, 2007
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ADVERTISEMENT
[Charlos Gary | Times illustration]
In 2005, 10 cyclists were killed in Hillsborough County, tying for the most in the state. In 2004 Pinellas was No. 1 with 13 deaths. Hillsborough was runner-up.
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Offbeat News Video
I've had it.
I've become a militant cyclist.
You, behind the wheel of your car, you literally drove me to it. It's your fault.
Years back I gave up jogging and inline skating and returned to biking for exercise. I love it.
My wife is nervous.
We've all heard of cars plowing into cyclists, maiming or killing them. In 2005, 10 cyclists were killed in Hillsborough County, tying for the most in the state. In 2004 Pinellas was No. 1 with 13 deaths. Hillsborough was runner-up.
Friends in Colorado say biking is a way of life there. For bikers here the message is "get out of my way."
Most cyclists just want to get their exercise without bothering anyone. But as a motorist I admit I've marveled (steamed) at TRUE bikers. You know them. They ride in packs, usually two or three wide, bottling up traffic, inflaming tempers. I've watched a club in my area ride FOUR wide on a road that has bike lanes.
I despise their hubris. But I've come to understand it. Again, drivers, it's your fault.
I'm 6 feet4, 250 pounds. I wear bright clothes when I ride. My road bike is bright yellow. I'm hard to miss. When I'm on the road, I'm in the bike lane or hugging the curb.
I've encountered the usual idiots who try to get as close as possible, sound their horns, throw things. But the real dangers are much worse.
When on my hybrid (a road/mountain bike combo) I use the sidewalk to get to my favorite paved trail. At intersections I often encounter NASCAR wannabes making an illegal right turn on red while I'm in the crosswalk. I guess if they can't see me it's pretty silly to expect them to see the two "No Turn on Red" signs.
Closely related are the dolts who turn right on red without stopping, never looking to the right. I see this daily. The worst offender: a school bus full of children that barely slowed as it turned, its driver simply looking to the left.
But the truly dangerous drivers are usually invisible until the critical moment, when they come from behind to cut you off as they turn. I wonder if they are arrogant, self-absorbed, or just plain ignorant.
I'm just glad I'm not 10, heading to school with my iPod blaring, oblivious to my surroundings.
So, after too many near-misses to count, I turned militant, ready to do battle with motorists over my right to be on the road.
Then the TRUE bikers pedaled into the picture. On the trail, a cycling club approached a bridge I was crossing. There was a cyclist stopped on the left.
As the two-wide pack reached the bridge, three riders moved out to pass, making the group three-wide - and leaving me nowhere to go. I slammed on my brakes and yelled for them to look out. A few yelled at ME to get out of THEIR way. As a militant biker, I wished I'd been in my car.
They taught me a valuable lesson: It's not the mode, it's the moron.
The difficult part is recognizing in a split second which ones are self-aggrandizing, simple-minded or just plain dangerous.
Rant: On the road, the crazies come from all sides
By Kyle Kreiger
Published October 9, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT
[Charlos Gary | Times illustration]
In 2005, 10 cyclists were killed in Hillsborough County, tying for the most in the state. In 2004 Pinellas was No. 1 with 13 deaths. Hillsborough was runner-up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offbeat News Video
I've had it.
I've become a militant cyclist.
You, behind the wheel of your car, you literally drove me to it. It's your fault.
Years back I gave up jogging and inline skating and returned to biking for exercise. I love it.
My wife is nervous.
We've all heard of cars plowing into cyclists, maiming or killing them. In 2005, 10 cyclists were killed in Hillsborough County, tying for the most in the state. In 2004 Pinellas was No. 1 with 13 deaths. Hillsborough was runner-up.
Friends in Colorado say biking is a way of life there. For bikers here the message is "get out of my way."
Most cyclists just want to get their exercise without bothering anyone. But as a motorist I admit I've marveled (steamed) at TRUE bikers. You know them. They ride in packs, usually two or three wide, bottling up traffic, inflaming tempers. I've watched a club in my area ride FOUR wide on a road that has bike lanes.
I despise their hubris. But I've come to understand it. Again, drivers, it's your fault.
I'm 6 feet4, 250 pounds. I wear bright clothes when I ride. My road bike is bright yellow. I'm hard to miss. When I'm on the road, I'm in the bike lane or hugging the curb.
I've encountered the usual idiots who try to get as close as possible, sound their horns, throw things. But the real dangers are much worse.
When on my hybrid (a road/mountain bike combo) I use the sidewalk to get to my favorite paved trail. At intersections I often encounter NASCAR wannabes making an illegal right turn on red while I'm in the crosswalk. I guess if they can't see me it's pretty silly to expect them to see the two "No Turn on Red" signs.
Closely related are the dolts who turn right on red without stopping, never looking to the right. I see this daily. The worst offender: a school bus full of children that barely slowed as it turned, its driver simply looking to the left.
But the truly dangerous drivers are usually invisible until the critical moment, when they come from behind to cut you off as they turn. I wonder if they are arrogant, self-absorbed, or just plain ignorant.
I'm just glad I'm not 10, heading to school with my iPod blaring, oblivious to my surroundings.
So, after too many near-misses to count, I turned militant, ready to do battle with motorists over my right to be on the road.
Then the TRUE bikers pedaled into the picture. On the trail, a cycling club approached a bridge I was crossing. There was a cyclist stopped on the left.
As the two-wide pack reached the bridge, three riders moved out to pass, making the group three-wide - and leaving me nowhere to go. I slammed on my brakes and yelled for them to look out. A few yelled at ME to get out of THEIR way. As a militant biker, I wished I'd been in my car.
They taught me a valuable lesson: It's not the mode, it's the moron.
The difficult part is recognizing in a split second which ones are self-aggrandizing, simple-minded or just plain dangerous.