Originally Posted by
Brian
Mindlessly? Ok then, we'll let you generalize. From some of the other threads I've seen on the forums, the interaction cyclists experience with the world around them is not always positive.
I am generalizing but I can only speak from my experience as I don't have access to studies that have looked into automobile operaters driving mindlessly.
My experience is that all the drivers I've ever been in the car with, except my parents of course
, seem to be able to do so many things while driving so there mind is somewhere else besides operating their vehicle. Perhaps they have a great ability to multi task or at least think so. I'm typically scared to death while in the passenger seat at all the close calls I see but maybe it is just these crazy texas drivers. As I ride my bike to work I get passed by hundreds of drivers and many seem to have the same distractions going on. Cell phones, ipod videos, eating, talking to someone in the back seat while facing them
, picking up stuff on the floor. All while insulated from the world expecting nothing to be in their path. I thikn they really need those autodrive cars from Demolition man. The few people I know who cycle love to do it. They want to get out there and ride their bike everywhere they can. They want to ride just because. Some people feel the same about cars but certainly not me and certainly not people who complain about driving at work all the time.
That is not a typical statement I've seen on the forums though. Mostly I see things such as I hate that you have to drive everywhere, I hate that everyone expect me to have a car what can I do about this or that?
Originally Posted by
Brian
What I'm asking is, if you don't like the current transportation infrastructure, on either the national or local level, what have you done about it? One member responded that he has gotten very involved, to which I offer much respect. Action begets change. Whining, not so much.
I live in a very small town and actively support getting enforcement of traffic laws of to all vehicles including bicycles. That means you STOP and ride in a predictable manner like a car on the right side of the road and all those other things. I guess that is sort of anti cycling but cyclists can be much more of a danger to themselves behaving erratically and ignoring traffic laws when you combine that with inattentive motorist. I tried getting bike facilities at work but no one will ride their bike around here except on weekend peletons, who aren't driver friendly at least around here. There was one guy that tried for about 6 days but quit because they didn't like crossing the highway where a cyclist was recently killed. Your statement and my response seem to be more heavily discussed in A&S.