pueblonative

https://www.projo.com/opinion/letters...8.1a52010.html

And one without much merit either.

markhr

Isn't that a letter from a "concerned citizen" not an editorial? Either way it's the usual "git orf ma ruds" guff.

pueblonative

Actually, I noticed that just after I initially posted this. I found the piece through a secondary source (A Technorati blog linking to it). Still you're right. Typically "Get off the road" bull.

genec

Well there is a certain amount of truth in this bit: Of course the same pertains particularly for motorists...

Now since most adult cyclists are also licensed drivers, it seems to me that this lack of education is partially due to the darn easy license procedures here in the US of A.

pueblonative

I will take one slight quibble with that.

I am a licensed motorist, but I have driven constantly for only two of my fourteen licensed years. And I'm sure that there are cyclists who have never taken the driver's license out of choice.

Szczuldo

what a joke, it's the complete opposite for the most part, motorists do not know the rules of the road and this one just proved it. Taking a written exam does nothing since a 5 year old can do it, and the 30 hour course does nothing about teaching drivers about the rules relating to bicycles

wrong as well, the cyclist never walks the driver always walks. Chances are the cyclist is dead.

This article is full of fail. The person clearly was stuck behind a cyclist taking the lane keeping himself safe and wouldn't let him pass until it was safe. Chances are cyclists know the rules of the road better than drivers do. Like stated in many many previous posts, Driver-ed courses should require students to ride bikes on the streets first before they drive a car. Liability would be a ***** but it will help prevent future accidents.

genec

I said "most." Of course there are some exceptions.

ckeizer77

I wrote a pretty lengthy retort on my blog. It'll publish tonight.

dprayvd

...

CommuterRun

Opinions like this always strike me as coming from someone who is afraid of hitting a cyclist due to a lack of confidence in their own driving abilities.

Allister

I wish these people would change the record occasionally. Ignorant opinions don't become truth merely through repetition.

Allister

When I get idiot drivers offering me riding advice, I just say 'I know what I'm doing, don't you?'

Cyclaholic

And for those that are smart enough to not waste precious life reading that rubbish (smart choice IMO) here's the condensed version...

"To whom it may concern,

I am a loser with issues. Due to my inferiority complex I am scared and intimidated by everyone, so I take it out on those that I opportunistically have power over due to circumstances, such as cyclists when I'm in my car. Of course, I keep it passive-agressive so as to avoid having to face up to my issues and can always justify my antisocial tendencies to myself. In summary, I'm a failure at life.... and cyclists suck just because I said so.

Regards,
A. Cager."

Hickeydog

cpeters

You can say that again. I'm 19 now but when i got my licence when i was 16 I thought it was a absolute joke. I could have passed with a blindfold on. I'm not kind either. And with the written exam. Unless you've been living under a rock your entire life and never ridden in a car with your parents and have seen that they stop at the big red signs that say STOP, you would most likely pass the driving test.

Also, the person who wrote this letter mentioned that mainly bicyclist are unaware of the rules. I would just like to point out that a great majority of bicyclist have a drivers licence.

Pezzle

Yup... I never took Drivers Ed in my life. And my mom, who taught me, had a suspended license so I really only got 10 days of solid practice in before my test.

nivekdodge

Most drivers are clueless and I don't even have to use bike anecdotes... Just be there at a stoplight when the electric is out. EVERYONE MUST STOP. No one does.

At a Township meeting one person complained that they can't back out of their driveway. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BACK INTO THE LESSER STREET. Which way is your car facing right now?

And what's with parking inside the lines.... Is this the result of less structure in education or something?

So if you think someone is going to make a correct choice that doesn't directly benefit themselves you're wrong!

unterhausen

When I'm 80, I'm going to be looking for signs that I'm no longer a safe driver. My dad stopped driving when he was 82 or so, and that was after he caused an accident for no good reason. Sure, it will be a pain to stop driving, but the alternative might be something I couldn't live with.

slagjumper

Looks like it is just some 78 year old dude who's nearing the end of his driving career. He has the time to sound off on teacher unions, and Bill Clinton in other letters to the editor. There is even an article mentioning his induction into The Warren Athletic Hall of Fame, for his role in the 1946 Warren High Baseball Team!

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...te%3Aprojo.com

Makes me wonder how many accidents are caused by the slow reflexes, clouded perceptions and ineffective reactions of the overly confident old guys. They dont mean to kill you, its just that it can be hard getting the pedals and steering wheel to make the car do what you want.

crhilton

I've been wrong before, but I'm pretty sure that sentence doesn't make sense. He's trying so hard to sound eloquent. I think he should get an A for effort!

crhilton

It sounds like his argument goes like this:

1. Cars are dangerous.
2. Cars are really dangerous. They're even dangerous to other cars!
3. You shouldn't drive cars!
4. So you definitely shouldn't bike!

I played with the order a bit and reworded it, but that's a pretty accurate summary of his reasoning.

Allister

Demanding bikes are removed from the road because cars are dangerous is like telling all the non-smokers in the room to leave so you can light up.

crhilton

I think a better analogy would be telling people it's dangerous to not smoke in a bar because of the people who do smoke (danger of second hand smoke). So non-smokers don't belong in bars.

ckeizer77

I agree, the article is aimed at cyclists, yet the bulk of his writing shows that he is really just intimidated by the conditions of the roads today.

Elkhound

I have talked to many cyclists who seem to think that the rules of the road do not apply to them--that 'stop' is a suggestion, that they can ride on the left of a two-way street or the wrong way on a one-way street, etc.

Even if motorists violate the rules, they know (I think), at least in a general way what the rules are. Many cyclists do not.

There is more to being a cyclist than being able to balance on two wheels and steer the machine. Being able to ride a bicycle is not the same thing as knowing how to drive one.