Originally Posted by
nemo
my wife works with self described conservationist?? however She got into a VERY heated discussion with me when i dropped by for lunch w/ wife. She railed on about how it is illegal to ride a bike anywhere but on a bike trail, and how i am harming society in general because people may get into accidents watching out for me. She drives a mid 80's blazer a grand total of 6 blocks to work evey day.. does not own even one energy star certified appliance because they are to expensive. She was really serious about how i was so in the wrong even had the municiple code about how it is illegal for kids to ride their bmx bikes or skate boards downtown all ready like she was waiting for me or something LOL. I was really taken aback i have NEVER gotten this reaction from anyone. what is up with that? any idea? Like i said I have had a lot of reactions before, but never this one.
Hopefully she one of those whako conservationists that believe in human extinction and won't breed and pass on her stupidity for the rest of us to contend with. The alternative is to use her as a "Tackling Dummy", turn the the tables on her, and practice your debate skills for when you have a truly worthy adversary. How? Start with bringing a copy of your state's "Driver's Handbook" with all the sections relating to Vehicular Bicycle operation. Pull the same code she pulled out and point out the obvious flaws in her logic:
1. The code was written with the spirit and intent of preventing
CHILDREN from riding downtown. Not adults. Second if you happen to know that there are bike couriers functioning in you area point this out to her. For if it was against code then these businesses could not offer the services legally. Also, if you have time to kill, pull any relevant case law that is based on the ordinance for it will show how it has been interpreted. (And I'm willing to bet it will show almost all the Defendants prosecuted under the ordinance were skateboard and biking children, not adults) Plus, it might be entertaining to watch the stupid woman's eyes glaze over when presented with all this data..
2. Really pull the dirty pool. Point out how wasteful it is to the environment to drive a SUV 6 blocks. Six blocks is
WALKING DISTANCE!! Secondly, the engine and catalytic converter is just starting to warm up are perform optimally by the time she shuts it down at her destination.