Advocacy & Safety - Danger, another bike hater

This guy just came out of the hills, and must have ventured too close to the city, http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080722/OPINION02/516404593#They.dont.have.any.claim.to.rights

Same old stuff from the uninformed clueless set.

He is too stupid to know that bikes are not licensed, and riders not licensed, because human powered transport is a right. Unlike operating a motor vehicle which is a privilidge.

prejudice is a nasty thing, isn't it?

...they take up the middle of the lane, they ride side by side...

In most places I've ever been, both of those are allowed. And he has the gall to claim that cyclists don't know what traffic laws are about! Not to mention all the car drivers who violate traffic laws.

He sounds like a bitter, arrogant motorist (and I don't mean to sound like a bitter arrogant cyclist, either).

I'm definitely going to start carrying a sidearm.

When gas is illegal only motorists will be criminals

Shows what a fast ride ahead of a thunderstorm followed by a gin and tonic will do.

Obviously, he -- like so many others around the country -- does not need to have any knowledge of traffic laws in order to renew that license! So why should we respect his opinion (which has no rational basis, and therefore is the definition of prejudice!)?

And didn't he say he was a public transit driver? WTF? THEY'RE supposed to be held to a HIGHER standard!!

Yikes! A transit driver with no more knowledge of the traffic laws that that! How does he get a CDL? I thought every state had some sort of test. Maybe his brain damage happened recently?

I could have sworn that letter would be signed by Ralph Cramden

and shame on this or any other paper that publishes this kind of misinformed hate mail

How do these morons even make it to adulthood?

How do these morons even make it to adulthood?

Because some ******* lawyer decided to make childhood a FisherPrice world where there are no sharp corners and idiots like these don't survive.

I apologize to any lawyers who refuse to rake these dumb cases.

We should send in some thoughtful replies!

We should send in some thoughtful replies!

That only helps if the person you're replying to is capable of thought.

So you tell me, why should I respect the rights of a bicycle rider?


Because the law says you must.

Because the law says you must.

... and other people breaking the law doesn't absolve you from following it yourself.

sent!

Suprising Mr. Eiler can maintain his job as transit driver with his faulty misunderstanding of traffic law.

Mr. Eiler asked in his July 22 letter why should he respect the rights of a bicycle rider? As a licensed motorist and transit driver, Mr. Eiler should know better.

It's simple, Mr. Eiler- because it's the law. Your license to operate a motor vehicle in Washington requires your compliance with the rules of the road. Cyclists have rights to the road. It is not play, but activity legal on ALL roads in washington state with the exception of a few miles of interstate.

Cyclists are allowed legally to operate two abreast and also to ride in the center of lanes. Motorists are required to respect those rights. Cyclists are allowed to ride up on stopped traffic at lights and also use crosswalks and sidewalks if they desire.

A motorist's responsibility to ALL slower road users, not just bicyclists, is safe overtaking and passing

Complaints about bicyclists breaking laws- despite most of those behaviors mentioned being legal?

Motorists break laws left and right all day long: They speed, fail to signal turns, fail to stop at stop signs, run red lights. With motorists representing over 98% of Washington road users, I suspect Mr. Eiler sees a lot more law breaking from drivers than bicyclists. Besides, motorists breaking laws left and right does not excuse cyclists from riding illegally, but most of the cyclist behaviors Mr. Eiler mentions are legal road behavior for cyclists.

Complanits about road funding? Taxes for roads are paid by all washingtonians, not just motorists - and most cyclists also own motor vehicles - but this also does not absolve motorists like Mr. Eiler from following the rules of the road.


I ride my bicycle thru Snohomish County quite regularily on day trips and on vacation. I expect a certain code of civility applied to me while operating a bicycle legally on roads in your county. Unfortunately, ill-informed road users like Mr. Eiler cast a dim light on your "professional" drivers.

Mr. Eiler has an uninformed knowledge of the rules of the road in Washington state, perhaps he needs a refresher on what requirements are upon HIM as a motor vehicle operator and the rights of other road users.

A car owning bicyclist,


Beck

Yikes! A transit driver with no more knowledge of the traffic laws that that! How does he get a CDL? I thought every state had some sort of test. Maybe his brain damage happened recently?

Some sort of test is an understatement! In MD the CDL manual (http://mva.state.md.us/Resources/DL-151.pdf) says cyclists are hazards and to honk at them.

We need better driver training!!!

I could have sworn that letter would be signed by Ralph Cramden

Funny, I had the same thought.


and shame on this or any other paper that publishes this kind of misinformed hate mail

+1 :thumb:

Some sort of test is an understatement! In MD the CDL manual (http://mva.state.md.us/Resources/DL-151.pdf) says cyclists are hazards and to honk at them.

We need better driver training!!!

While I don't disagree with needing better driver training... the CDL manual doesn't say to honk at cyclists. It does list them as hazards, but it calls many things hazards from "ice cream trucks to confused drivers to talkers..." but it doesn't call for honking at them. The CDL calls for the driver to "slow down and be very careful if you see any hazards."

In fact the next section talks about steering around hazards and emergencies...

Tell this guy "you are polluting the planet & the bicyclist isn't. So you should be paying a penalty!"

and shame on this or any other paper that publishes this kind of misinformed hate mail

Best response here. Would they have published a letter outlining hatred of Jews (hold the attacks, I am a Jew)? Would they have published a letter attacking blacks?

Nice response Be(c)k

While I don't disagree with needing better driver training... the CDL manual doesn't say to honk at cyclists. It does list them as hazards, but it calls many things hazards from "ice cream trucks to confused drivers to talkers..." but it doesn't call for honking at them. The CDL calls for the driver to "slow down and be very careful if you see any hazards."

In fact the next section talks about steering around hazards and emergencies...

FWIW:

“When Passing. Whenever you are about to pass a ... bicyclist, assume they don’t see you. They could suddenly move in front of you. When it is legal, tap the horn lightly or, at night, flash your lights from low to high beam and back. ...

AZ State Law also suggests honking when passing a slower vehicle.
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/00723.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS

" 28-723. Overtaking a vehicle on the left
The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction:
1. The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left of the vehicle at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.
2. Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal or blinking of head lamps at nighttime and shall not increase the speed of the overtaken vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. "

How do these morons even make it to adulthood?

liquor

AZ State Law also suggests honking when passing a slower vehicle.
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/00723.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS

" 28-723. Overtaking a vehicle on the left
The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction:
... the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal or blinking of head lamps at nighttime and shall not increase the speed of the overtaken vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. "

You could have so much fun promoting this video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=UBwaxejP76g) in Arizona, it is after all the law. ;)

sent!



nice job. give us a heads up if they print it.

Cyclists are allowed to ride up on stopped traffic at lights and also use crosswalks and sidewalks if they desire.



We in Virginia are not aloud to use side walks or cross walks unless walking the bike. IS that what you mean?

I agree with almost everything the guy said in the last paragraph, except for the two abreast which is also legal in VA though what the law says is that you can ride two abreast until faster traffic comes up behind then you must let them round. Lets face it if cyclist obeyed the laws like not running red lights then people like this wouldn't have as much fodder for their argument. We always complain and argue when motorists don't obey the laws too right?

As an adult rider with more than thirty years of riding experience, I've come to expect to see these letters run from time to time in most major market newspapers. They all read about the same.

"Why should I respect their rights?". "They should have to PAY INSURANCE!!!" (a biggie here in Massachusetts). And all the rest of it.

Typically, these run in the letters to the editor sections in the spring of each year, when the cycling season in most parts of the country is starting. Respond if you like, but don't expect anything positive. We just seem to have a lot of bigoted, hateful people with driver's licenses. The only thing that makes this guy's hateful rant unusual is the fact that he's a "professional driver", and a transit driver at that. One can only wonder if his employers have seen this. (I'm assuming he is not self-employed)

my letter hasn't run, but a couple of responses have.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080724/OPINION02/308540760#Transit.driver.has.dangerous.attitude

and check the 'opinions - letters' section for a response from the 23rd as well.