tlc20010

P.J. O'Rourke's piece in the Wall Street Journal should generate come comments. There is a large segment of the cycling community who agree with his views on bicycle lanes, but they might take some issues with his other views on bicycling and his gratuitous slaps at cyclists.

https://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...leTabs=article

trackhub

It happens every year at this time: The columns and op-ed pieces like this one, carefully designed and worded to provoke a response from the cycling community. This one is a little early, since it is only April. Usually, this drivel appears in the May-June time frame.

It will be interesting to see the responses, and if anyone "challenges" Mr. O'Rourke. i.e. Asks him if his driving a chevy suburban is to compensate for something, etc. Stuff we've all heard before.

"O'Rourke"... Wasn't he the bumbling sergeant on F-Troop?

BikeArkansas

You must be able to laugh at yourself. Some of this article is just plain funny. Some of it is actually true. Don't be over sensitive and keep pedaling.

gtragitt

What would anybody expect from a Rupert Murdoch publication other than right wing propaganda.

O'Rourke is also spouting the idiotic mantra of tax reduction. The fools who tried reducing taxes to spur the economy sent us into a deep recession. They want to do it again because it didn't work last time.

Tax cuts are service cuts. Our infrastructure is suffering. The longer we wait to address our crumbling infrastructure the greater the cost for addressing catastrophic failures. There are 2 Minnesotans prominently in the news that didn't learn a thing about their bridge collapse.

If bike lanes save lives by increasing the cyclists' safety they are a fantastic investment.

I also suspect that bike lanes encourage people to become less sedentary and will reduce health care costs. These cost savings will be greater than the capital required for the lanes.

DnvrFox

zoste

Satire, folks, satire.

PJ O'Rourke wrote for the National Lampoon -

Banded Krait

Exactly. O'Rourke is well known as a political satirist. He would write a column condemning Mom and Apple Pie if he thought it would generate a laugh and bring him attention. He noticed the widespread interest in bicycling and bicycle lanes and wrote a tongue-in-cheek column criticizing the movement.

I bet if you look at the rear of his Suburban, you'll find a bike rack there!

Retro Grouch 

Maybe it's time for his salary review.

Columnists, hate radio jocks and the like LOVE us because we're so reliable. All they have to do is to say something irresponsible about bicycling and we can be depended upon to send in a mountain of responses. Then they trot all that stuff into their boss and say: "See how many people read what I write."

Kylerk

You know, you shouldn't be so hard on P.J. - I understand that back in the 60's he used to be a Marxist, like you, and then he got a job.

alicestrong

April fools, fellas...

gtragitt

I haven't figured out how a moderate is a Marxist. I am still gainfully employed and have been for more than 40 years. I have paid my share of taxes and have never complained about the privilege.

Tea Baggers seem to think that tax payers are Marxists.

Barrettscv 

Mr. O'Rourke's many books include "Don't Vote—It Just Encourages the Bastards."

berner

Speaking of tax cuts, I get all my withholding back this year. You know what this means? I'm in the market for a bunch of goodies for my bike (singular you greedy so-and-sos). Lets see; shifters, tubes and tires, maybe a new and improved fast frame with an awesome paint job. That ought to do it. I love America.

Phil85207

No that is really good. Took the words right out of my mouth.

oldbobcat

PJ O'Rourke became a grumpy old man the day he graduated from college. The thing about people of his ilk is they're full of criticism and ridicule for anybody who doesn't act, speak, and think exactly as they think one should act, speak, and think. In other words, there's no getting along with them without being a complete sycophant.

jaywbee3 

If we can only get rid of all the taxes and all the nanny government we can get rid of all of the bike lanes and be a tea party utopia -- just like Somalia

JanMM

Mr. O'Rourke was on Wait, Wait - Don't Tell Me on National Public Radio recently. Does that make him a liberal right wing humorist/satirist?

oldbobcat

I'm curious. I'm sure some of us on this forum hail from the more conservative side of the political spectrum. What are your feelings when a columnist or publication that you generally sympathize with takes potshots at one of your favorite pastimes?

Inquiring minds and all that. I don't want to argue politics.

ThatBritBloke

True ... but what's this?

PS: Sky belongs to the Dirty Digger ...

And of course, more Fair and Balanced stuff here ...

Garilia

too funny