lowracer1

Stumbled across this on Facebook. Just thought you guys might want to have a look and report it to facebook. Talk about purposely running over road cyclists. I reported the page, but it might take a few more reports to make facebook take notice.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/NZ-Dr...33095093641369

RoadTire 

Raiden

Huh, a page specifically about NZ cyclists. All ten of them.

To be fair, he's not wishing death on all cyclists, but his bar for annoyance is pretty low (like riding two abreast and passing a parked car).

RomansFiveEight

Looks like just a lot of ignorance. Like suggesting cyclists should use the small soft shoulder. Not realizing, of course, that that gives a dangerously small amount of room between cars and cyclists; not to mention the hazards on the shoulder.

coasting 

they should be done for hate crimes.

znomit

They should certainly go into a database in case they do actually hit someone.

ps, In before A/S

OldsCOOL

As a driver I've wanted to roll up alongside and tell some that they endanger themselves, drivers and give a bad name to the rest of us that care. I'll follow that page, thanx!

OldsCOOL

Like most other anti's they need to scrape up material for constant updates.

Dave Cutter

+1
I don't know their laws... or the traffic situation(s) with NZ. Apparently.... the publics tolerance for "men in spandex" isn't fairing any better in NZ than it is in say... Midwestern America.

Reporting the group seems somewhat non-productive as I don't see anything on their page that would violate and Facebook rules. I think we have three choices here as how to react.

We can flame and blame... and maybe over-react ourselves. Helping to promote the them-against-us mentality.

We can turn a blind eye (and deaf ear) to the prevailing attitude of motorist.

Or... we can read the writing on the wall (play on words humor) and take a detached moment to learn what is happening here (better educated... better prepared).

Funduro

Haters going to hate. Ainters going to ain't.

Dave Cutter

Very true! But IMHO there is more than that happening here (and apparently NZ as well).

Motorist no longer enjoy their travel time. Driving was once an enjoyable activity that most people looked forward to. People would slow down, turn on the radio, and relax on their way home from work. Often on weekends family's would “go for a drive” just to explore their surroundings and see the sites. People enjoyed driving and being in the automobile.

Cars were never cheap. But the cost was once a well justified expense that people selected to be a reflection of their own personally. I don't think that has completely changed or disappeared. But the general attitudes about cars, drive time, and traffic has changed.

Driving is increasingly seen as more of an annoyance than a pleasure. Any slight inconvenience while driving seems to just increase the [proper and appropriate level of] aggravation. Seeing people playing in or alongside roads and streets are no more welcome than construction barrels, giant potholes, and stray dogs.

It is a cultural change. People don't set on front porches and wave at neighbors that walk by. People set on patios in the backyard.... texting to the remainder of the family that chose to remain inside.

I can't recall the last time I heard of the fire department opening a hydrant so kids could play in the water on the street. Or when I've seen kids playing ball in the street... moving to the side to let the occasional car drive by. Motorist... AKA taxpayers and voters... don't want their streets blocked or their travel times interrupted. The general public thinks those who feel compelled to play outside should take it to the parks. Even the sounds of kids screaming and playing in backyards on sunny summer days are reported to the police.

I don't think all of this fairs well for road cyclist.

rangerdavid

well if you scroll down far enough and actually read the posts, it is hateful, and talking about and hitting cyclists with a vehicle is a hate crime, at least where I live. I reported their sorry ass.

coasting 

if you threaten to attack someone on twitter, you get arrested. there have been many cases of tweets landing their moronic twitters in hot water. why is FB not treated as seriously?

spdracr39

I think reading the comments and keeping in mind the reasonable complaints some of the posters are making will help us interact with car traffic better. You will always have idiot drivers that will complain about everything we do but you have to ignore those and look for only the legitimate complaints. Understanding ways to interact with traffic with the least impact instead of blindly sticking to our right to use the roadway will in the end make for an overall safer and more enjoyable experience.

coasting 

most cyclists are drivers too. we know how to interact with cars and vice versa.

gabedad

[TABLE="width: 100%"]

[TR]

[TD]We
reviewed your report of NZ Drivers Against Idiot Cyclists[/TD]
[/TR]

[TR]

[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Thank
you for taking the time to report something that you feel may violate our
Community Standards. Reports like yours are an important part of making Facebook
a safe and welcoming environment. We reviewed the Page you reported for
containing hate speech or symbols and found it doesn't violate our Community
Standards.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

coasting 

cyclists lives don't matter. we know this already.

Makel

NSA should put them on no fly lists.

txags92

Figure out what locality the folks posting the really aggressive stuff on it are from, and forward a link to their local PD as an FYI in case they see any hit and run accidents involving cyclists.

getFAST

Very bizarre...never understood the hate.

bicyclelove

This! I never really thought about it until you just posted this. You are right about driving being a chore to people. And the general change in society. It's really sad people can't just slow down and enjoy the ride. Maybe that's why we like bikes, it's a chance to enjoy the ride.

Dave Cutter

I agree. I love cycling. The worst, wettest, coldest, most problematic bicycle rides I take are... still a real joy.

On days (like today) when the weather is just too cold for my old bones.. I tinkered with a classic old steel bike... and watched the DVD Premium Rush. Soon I will spin on the trainer in the garage for a while... then hit the shower. But to be clear... I still enjoy driving a car, hitting a golf ball, going for a jog, and drinking hot coffee... as well.

Unfortunately not all our cycling friends even seem to enjoy bicycling ether. Over in the commuting and car free forums there seems to be as many car/motorist haters as cyclist haters at the "NZ Drivers Against Idiot Cyclists Facebook Page". I've read posts where bicycle commuters experience no joy in cycling and only relate frustration with traffic and fear for their own safety.

Motorists... and cyclists alike have all the ingredients to create... at least a very pleasant experience. I wish I knew how to bridge this ever-widening gap between cyclists and motorists. If we don't... in time... IMHO we will lose our ability to use the roads.

mtalinm

I'll bet that most of these men-in-spandex haters spend hours per week watching NFL players prance about in skintight gear below the waist

Leinster

I've bike commuted in various cities and countries whenever it's been remotely practical, and while you do regularly have "brushes with death," I find they're easily balanced out by the enjoyment of rolling past a line of cars stopped at a red light. This was especially true in Dublin, where my 20 minute bike commute would take 45 by bus and over an hour if I ever drove during the week and had to look for parking in the city centre.

cafzali

The key distinction here is a threat is really only actionable once it becomes a threat of harm against a specific person, expressing an intent to cause them harm or death. Otherwise, like it or not, it's free speech in the U.S.