genec

Don't know if it IS just a US thing... we are quite tame compared to Chinese and Korean drivers... We tend to stay on the proper side of the road, we tend to obey signs and lights and we tend to stay somewhat close to the speed limit.

Now I did not say we were perfect at any of these, but compared to what I have seen in China for instance... we are angels. And most folks do tend to do things right... but the percent of oddballs seems to be increasing, and their habits can be downright dangerous.

Now along that line... I think too much of the odd drivers' habits have been formed watching bad ads and movies... coupled with a "get it now" society. The whole "pass you moments before a light" routine is frankly just stupid. Yet, we have loads of very powerful cars which were sold on their ability to be "the ultimate driving machine" et. al. just so folks can sit bumper to bumper. It makes no sense.

The whole auto culture ties egos to autos and kills the simple common sense of simple transportation.

Imagine if one used shoes in this same manner... (OK, I do know there are some odd quirks tied to shoes too...) You are walking down the road in your Sperry Top Siders and some guy in Nikes suddenly shoulders you out of the walkway and runs down the walk. Silly... but that is what some drivers do all the time.

I am trying to be careful in wording this as it really isn't all drivers... but that percent that really is agressive for no reason. Of course couple that with airheads on cell phones and other problems and we might be approaching 20% of the drivers out there as having some kind of real driving problem. Yup, that is a made up statistic... I have no proof of numbers... and those "odd drivers" may look like more than they are based on how much they stand out and irritate us... whether we drive or bike.

I do know though, all it takes is one "oddy" to ruin your whole day.

noisebeam

I only said US because that is what I have the most observation and experience with. I can't comment on other countries, so I didn't, it wasn't meant as a comparision.

It may not be all drivers that are the problem or are agressive, and I agree that a small percentage are dangerously agressive, but I observe that many 'normal' drivers are far more agressive than they need to be. Accelerating hard out of lights and speeding and swerving to get ahead are often done not out of agressiveness, but passively, without thought. In a way people get into these bad habits and it (agressive) becomes a mindless norma way of driving. I'd say alot of it is just keeping up with what others are doing. I was guilty of this for many years - I found I had to think and relearn to drive at speed limits and with care. It took a few months to retune my habits and my senses of normal driving perception to be able to drive slower. Now can do it (the carefullness, not the attentiveness ) without thought, but at first it seemed harder to drive slower as it was a different sensory experience.
Considering how many deaths and disabling injuries result from vehicle accidents each year it is a shame there is so little national attention given to improving driving behaviors and making roads safer.

Al

ehammarlund

I advocate bicycling more. I advocate for bicycling generally.

I advocate AGAINST idiots, of all types. Bikers can--and often are--idiots. In my personal experience, they're idiotic at about the same ratio of car drivers (though there re more cars, and numerically more idiots, the proportion is about the same).

If your point is valid and logically supported it doesn't matter who says it. Thus I can say "Critical Mass is bad for cycling because..." and that's _just_ as valid logically whether or not I actually ride in Critical Mass. Similarly, driving a car doesn't make a question "why aren't you on the bike path" less valid. [and IF the bike path is empty and safe, and you're holding up other road users, why aren't you? The fact that you don't legally 'have' to be there does not answer the question of why you choose not to be there]

In my line of work we joked about 'mental circle jerk clubs', where the point of the club is simply to hang out with a lot of "attaboys" and avoid any actual conflict with reality, or consideration of opposing viewpoints.

If you honestly think that being a 'bicycle advocate' means 'never say anything negative about bicycles', then... well, I better not say it to avoid being rude. Oh hell, i'll say it: you're an idiot.

genec

OK I can concur with the assessment that many drivers are generally somewhat agressive... this is exactly what killed my desire to commute some time ago. I don't know what causes drivers to be this way, other than a me too attitude.

I too have reduced my speed and retuned my thinking... the biggest change was simply rolling the window down. I used to find road noise rather annoying when I bike commuted... I have gotten used to it again, and found that rolling the car window down helps me stay more attuned to the road noise and the situations around me... I drive like I cycle... listening, coasting, no jackrabbit starts... etc.

But obviously this is not the case for the stereo thumping, window rolled up aggressive drivers out there. Isolation from other drivers and the environment seems to breed that agressiveness.

noisebeam

Wow, very interesting - at the same time I changed my driving habits I also started driving with my window down (which is unusual in the summer in phoenix). It all started for me with the frustration of rush hour traffic, people isolated in their A/C'ed boxes guzzling fuel and wasting resources. Sure I was part of the problem, but the driving habit change at least lowered by consumption my 20% and my health improved due to much lower stress when driving. I arrived at places still on time and feeling relaxed.

As to stopping commuting... I am on the verge. Too many close calls lately with outwardly agressive drivers. I guy in a truck actually tried to push me of the road with his vehicle Friday, he passed slowed to my speed, started screaming at me to get off the road, while merging toward me in my lane, he came within inches of me as I merged further right, no room left and I hit brakes hard, was too shaken up to remember to get plate numbers as I pulled into nearest side street.

Al

scarry

There, you said it. LOL.

I'm quite happy to critizise other cyclists when the don't drive right.
1. Wrong way cyclist. When I encounter these a$$holes, they get a big dose of lip from me.

50 cyclists driving down the road together at close to the speed limit. Way to go boys>