Micheal Gallagher is currently on a rant against bicyclists
11-13-13, 08:46 AM
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Not so strange maybe when one includes the whole quote instead of cherry-picking.
If one willfully creates an avoidable situation where one is likely to get hit, along with the awful consequences thereof, most folks would find that one bears much of the responsibility. I do.
YMMV,
Mike
If one willfully creates an avoidable situation where one is likely to get hit, along with the awful consequences thereof, most folks would find that one bears much of the responsibility. I do.
YMMV,
Mike
OK, you asked for it.
The Texas Hill Country has become a cycling mecca, and ain't unusual to see packs of spandex clad riders willfully ignoring traffic piled up behind while taking up most of the lane.
Exasperated drivers them find themelves making unsafe passes.
Whatever the technical legalities may be, it just doesn't make a good impression.
Mike
Exasperated drivers them find themelves making unsafe passes.
Whatever the technical legalities may be, it just doesn't make a good impression.
Mike
Wow. "packs of spandex clad riders"?!?! What's wrong with that? Or are you one who has no clue why cyclists wear gear like that? Clueless...
"Exasperated drivers them find themelves making unsafe passes"?!?! You have no idea how that happens? The drivers "find themselves" breaking the law and endangering lives? Wow! It's pure magic!!! Clueless....
Nothing of the sort, of course. I AM going to suggest that you find such shallow and obvious sarcasm to be "clever".
I am going to further suggest that you yourself find nothing objectional in the spectacle of packs of cyclists holding lines of traffic to speeds below thirty miles per hour along stretches where the normal flow of traffic exceeds fifty.
For my own part I find common sense and courtesy trump considerations of mere legality every time, and if one IS in such a pack, while not wishing them harm I confess little sympathy if they get run over.
JMMV.
Mike
I am going to further suggest that you yourself find nothing objectional in the spectacle of packs of cyclists holding lines of traffic to speeds below thirty miles per hour along stretches where the normal flow of traffic exceeds fifty.
For my own part I find common sense and courtesy trump considerations of mere legality every time, and if one IS in such a pack, while not wishing them harm I confess little sympathy if they get run over.
JMMV.
Mike
Just wondering - what do you think of farm equipment moving over highways at 6 mph?
You might as well argue that "where the normal flow of traffic exceeds fifty" cars should be allowed to ignore stop signs. OMG!!!! Something legally on the road is slowing the cars down when they could be going over fifty!!! The world is ending!!!!
"For my own part I find common sense and courtesy..." No you don't. Else you wouldn't state that "packs of spandex-clad riders" create a "spectacle".
Not so strange maybe when one includes the whole quote instead of cherry-picking.
If one willfully creates an avoidable situation where one is likely to get hit, along with the awful consequences thereof, most folks would find that one bears much of the responsibility. I do.
YMMV,
Mike
If one willfully creates an avoidable situation where one is likely to get hit, along with the awful consequences thereof, most folks would find that one bears much of the responsibility. I do.
YMMV,
Mike
Riding in the lane in traffic is actually a helluva lot safer than trying to hug the shoulder. Hug the shoulder in traffic and some impatient, arrogant, ignorant, CLUELESS driver will try to squeeze by.
Oh noes!!! They might have to wait a precious 10 seconds.
11-13-13, 09:51 AM
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Not so strange maybe when one includes the whole quote instead of cherry-picking.
If one willfully creates an avoidable situation where one is likely to get hit, along with the awful consequences thereof, most folks would find that one bears much of the responsibility. I do.
YMMV,
Mike
If one willfully creates an avoidable situation where one is likely to get hit, along with the awful consequences thereof, most folks would find that one bears much of the responsibility. I do.
YMMV,
Mike
In the situation you describe, most veteran cyclists including myself would take steps to avoid being struck, up to and including avoiding the road. There is an element of courtesy in the decision, but primarily it's about personal safety.
However, I think it's dangerous to think of and treat 'traffic' as some immutable force of nature that must be accepted for what it is. Grizzly bears yes, traffic no. It is normal in America for motor vehicle operators to exceed the speed limit, to follow too closely, to change lanes without signaling, to drive while distracted, to take their frustrations out on the road with aggressive behavior. All of these are illegal, and considering the destructive power of the equipment they are operating, highly irresponsible. While I may choose to avoid putting myself in front of people behaving illegally and irresponsibily, I do so just as grudgingly as I allow myself to be patted down at the airport. And yes, I will feel sympathy for someone who chooses to say 'damn the irresponsible bastards, I'm going to ride where I legally can". A touch of admiration, in fact.
11-13-13, 10:57 AM
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11-13-13, 11:00 AM
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11-13-13, 11:39 AM
#30
Prefers Cicero
11-13-13, 12:47 PM
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OK, you asked for it.
"Spandex-clad riders" was merely a descriptor, and an accurate one, in this case characteristic of a certain subset of riders (and note before you go off, "characteristic" does not equate to "exclusive to"). Talk to the MANY folks who complain about 'em and mention of spandex is often included.
Just wondering - what do you think of farm equipment moving over highways at 6 mph?
Mike
Last edited by Sharpshin; 11-13-13 at 12:58 PM.
11-13-13, 12:50 PM
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In the situation you describe, most veteran cyclists including myself would take steps to avoid being struck, up to and including avoiding the road. There is an element of courtesy in the decision, but primarily it's about personal safety.
11-13-13, 12:56 PM
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I'm more concerned about cyclist-hating cyclists....
11-13-13, 01:35 PM
#34
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When forty cyclists get together and block traffic, in my opinion they're being total a**holes. But capital punishment seems like a pretty harsh penalty for being an a**hole. Discussions like this come up pretty often, and the implication always seems to be, "if cyclists are going to inconvenience me, I'm not going to go out of my way to keep from killing them." I'm sure it's usually just big talk in the heat of the moment, but it's still a little alarming to me. No matter how rude people are, I'm pretty sure you're always supposed to make every effort to avoid killing them!
And that doesn't even apply to this radio show, as far as I can tell. They weren't talking about big groups of cyclists obstructing traffic. They were talking about presumably courteous cyclists using the best paths available to get where they're going. Isn't that right, or did I miss it? As much as I'd hate people to hear people talk about killing me because I was rude, I'd REALLY hate to hear people talk about killing me because someone else was rude!
And that doesn't even apply to this radio show, as far as I can tell. They weren't talking about big groups of cyclists obstructing traffic. They were talking about presumably courteous cyclists using the best paths available to get where they're going. Isn't that right, or did I miss it? As much as I'd hate people to hear people talk about killing me because I was rude, I'd REALLY hate to hear people talk about killing me because someone else was rude!
11-13-13, 01:45 PM
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I suppose BF posters now know this alleged loud mouth radio pundit said alleged nasty things because Somebody said so, without posting any reference to where, when or what actually was said. Somehow I feel it is pretty silly to comment about those nasty words when nobody is able to provide the actual source.
11-13-13, 02:01 PM
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You are misrepresenting what is going on. People have places to be and it is extremely rude of cyclists to hinder road traffic when there are many roads in the Hill Country they could select with plenty of room and little traffic. I should know since I live and ride here.
11-13-13, 02:28 PM
#37
Prefers Cicero
I suppose BF posters now know this alleged loud mouth radio pundit said alleged nasty things because Somebody said so, without posting any reference to where, when or what actually was said. Somehow I feel it is pretty silly to comment about those nasty words when nobody is able to provide the actual source.
https://crustylogic.com/2012/07/1133/
https://crustylogic.com/2011/04/782/
https://forums.roadbikereview.com/pol...io-246338.html
https://www.runango.com/forums/topic_show.pl?tid=4334
11-13-13, 04:11 PM
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I suppose BF posters now know this alleged loud mouth radio pundit said alleged nasty things because Somebody said so, without posting any reference to where, when or what actually was said. Somehow I feel it is pretty silly to comment about those nasty words when nobody is able to provide the actual source.
I think you just summed up 90% of the content on world wide web.
The other 10% is love.......................
Ok, so I'm lying. The other 10% is porn.
11-13-13, 06:27 PM
#39
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You are misrepresenting what is going on. People have places to be and it is extremely rude of cyclists to hinder road traffic when there are many roads in the Hill Country they could select with plenty of room and little traffic. I should know since I live and ride here.
11-13-13, 08:04 PM
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But you believe you are in the right so keep your nose pointed high.
11-13-13, 08:21 PM
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Cyclists are out for recreation/exercise and can spare thirty seconds to let a few cars by. I should know, I do it all the time. Being courteous is just not that big of a deal. But, that's fine if you people want to continue inflaming drivers against us. There are more of them, they have more political influence, they cry louder, and when they get pissed off it hurts more.
But you believe you are in the right so keep your nose pointed high.
But you believe you are in the right so keep your nose pointed high.
90% of the time, I'm out for transportation, not recreation. Can the motorists along my route spare ~8 seconds it takes to pass me in a safe manner?
11-13-13, 08:30 PM
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Because the presumption is what? That if the trip is on two wheels it's Frivolous, but if it's on four it's Serious?
Unless the vehicle has lights and a siren I'm not inclined to think their destination is any more important than mine.
Unless the vehicle has lights and a siren I'm not inclined to think their destination is any more important than mine.
11-13-13, 11:13 PM
#43
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Apparently spewing against cyclists is a long-running theme for Mr Gallagher
https://crustylogic.com/2012/07/1133/
https://crustylogic.com/2011/04/782/
https://forums.roadbikereview.com/pol...io-246338.html
https://www.runango.com/forums/topic_show.pl?tid=4334
https://crustylogic.com/2012/07/1133/
https://crustylogic.com/2011/04/782/
https://forums.roadbikereview.com/pol...io-246338.html
https://www.runango.com/forums/topic_show.pl?tid=4334
Anybody on this list actually hear the offending words or read a transcript before commenting about this allegedly misguided fellow? Surprise me!
11-14-13, 12:48 AM
#45
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Cyclists are out for recreation/exercise and can spare thirty seconds to let a few cars by. I should know, I do it all the time. Being courteous is just not that big of a deal. But, that's fine if you people want to continue inflaming drivers against us. There are more of them, they have more political influence, they cry louder, and when they get pissed off it hurts more.
But you believe you are in the right so keep your nose pointed high.
But you believe you are in the right so keep your nose pointed high.
I have the the right as a free person to go from A to B, without the impatient behavior of bullies.
Do you do the same thing in the grocery store to the little old ladies who are just there to get cat food? Do you expect them to yield to your superior mission to acquire lottery tickets?
Sorry for the rant... this just seems so obvious to me...
11-14-13, 07:13 AM
#46
Prefers Cicero
Got it. People on blogs report what they heard or more likely what they read about that somebody else heard second hand from somewhere. Just like this thread.
Anybody on this list actually hear the offending words or read a transcript before commenting about this allegedly misguided fellow? Surprise me!
Anybody on this list actually hear the offending words or read a transcript before commenting about this allegedly misguided fellow? Surprise me!
11-14-13, 08:24 AM
#47
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Is there an eye-roll icon here?
"Spandex-clad riders" was merely a descriptor, and an accurate one, in this case characteristic of a certain subset of riders (and note before you go off, "characteristic" does not equate to "exclusive to"). Talk to the MANY folks who complain about 'em and mention of spandex is often included.
"Spandex-clad riders" was merely a descriptor, and an accurate one, in this case characteristic of a certain subset of riders (and note before you go off, "characteristic" does not equate to "exclusive to"). Talk to the MANY folks who complain about 'em and mention of spandex is often included.
You didn't answer the question as to why you use spandex as a pejorative, nor why you used the term "spectacle".
Nor did you address why cyclists would wear such gear, now did you?
Glad you brought it up. Since a pack of riders occupying a lane at speed well below normal driving speeds constitutes a hazard to most road users
Cyclists are HAZARD?!?!?! To WHO?!?!?!
And you said you needed an eye-roll emoticon to respond to ME?!?! What color is the sky on your planet?
at least equivalent to slow moving farm/mowing/contruction equipment (probably more so, as cyclists in a group are less predictable), it would seem reasonable that similar warning devices (dependent upon local laws) in the form of large safety triangles, warning lights and/or chase vehicles should be required.
Mike
Mike
Totally ignored the rest of my points, didn't you? Too clueless?
11-14-13, 08:26 AM
#48
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Cyclists are out for recreation/exercise and can spare thirty seconds to let a few cars by. I should know, I do it all the time. Being courteous is just not that big of a deal. But, that's fine if you people want to continue inflaming drivers against us. There are more of them, they have more political influence, they cry louder, and when they get pissed off it hurts more.
But you believe you are in the right so keep your nose pointed high.
11-14-13, 08:32 AM
#49
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Spoken like a true motorist with mind-reading x-ray vision (including some silly belief about hierarchy). How could my test ride of a new carbon seatpost be any less important than the guy who thinks he's going to get fired for being late to work one last time? Do I really have to yield to him?
I have the the right as a free person to go from A to B, without the impatient behavior of bullies.
Do you do the same thing in the grocery store to the little old ladies who are just there to get cat food? Do you expect them to yield to your superior mission to acquire lottery tickets?
Sorry for the rant... this just seems so obvious to me...
I have the the right as a free person to go from A to B, without the impatient behavior of bullies.
Do you do the same thing in the grocery store to the little old ladies who are just there to get cat food? Do you expect them to yield to your superior mission to acquire lottery tickets?
Sorry for the rant... this just seems so obvious to me...
11-14-13, 08:36 AM
#50
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But, by all means, keep riding with your nose pointed high and a line of angry cars behind you. There won't be any unintended consequences. No sir, you'll be just fiiiiiiine.