Originally Posted by
ianbrettcooper
The problem here is with the word 'incompetent'. It's an unfortunate 'catch-all' word that allows some folks to define everyone else as incompetent, and also allows anti-VCers to claim that all VCers include everyone but themselves as incompetent. I think we need to come up with a better word, or a more accurate description of what it means to be an incompetent cyclist. After all, I've been defined by my local DOT official as one of the "Strong and Fearless", yet I can't even perform a quick turn to save my life. I know the LAB's Smart Cycling course like I know the back of my hand, yet I doubt I've ever cycled faster than 30mph. I've cycled 10,000 miles through 15 countries, yet the Tour de France leaves me cold. So am I elite or incompetent?
The word is surely meaningless, when it can only create division. A better word would surely be 'unsafe'. All of the behaviours that we decry are surely unsafe. That is what incompetent cycling is, at it's root - and that is, I think, a far better way to approach this issue.
The concept of a competent cyclist has been defined many times in the course of these discussions as applying to cyclists who obey the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles. The concept of incompetent cyclist is, therefore, one who does not obey the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles, either because he doesn't know how or because he refuses to do so. It's that simple.