3. Learning to drive is a rite of passage, seen as a normal and necessary step towards adulthood, whereas other forms of transport are seen as childish or impractical.

Needs modification as follows: "Any other mode of transportation, such as walking or bicycling, is to viewed as being for losers".


"When I park my motor vehicle, I have the inherent right to leave the door open, directly in the path of anyone who may need to pass. I also have the inherent right to leave the engine running,
even though there may be an actual law that makes such illegal. (In MA, it is illegal to leave a motor vehicle running while unattended. But, many do this. This may be observed in the morning,
in proximity to any Dunkin' Donuts, or convenience store.)

Nice list, but Doohickie's point is well taken.

I agree with Doohickie, and the Man from the Underground Camp.

How can you possibly state that cyclist are in the moral right? Is cycling a moral issue?

Haha, no no... link is right there in the first post!



Cheers

When there is equality for cyclists and motorists, I will quit whinin'.

When there are no 85% rules that push road speeds higher based on one form of transportation; when there are plenty of parking places for bicycles at the local mall/shopping center; and when cyclists get tickets for running red lights... then I will quit whinin'. Until then, I consider motorists as having quite the privilege.

The 85 percent issue recently came into play on one of our local roadways, which had to have it's speed limit increased, due to the possibility of legal issues if local law enforcement issued speeding tickets at the lower speed limit, and much to the dismay of the residents along that roadway.

The other issue that gets me is that laws are subtly written to encourage the use of the motor vehicle, such as the law that was used to deny San Francisco bike paths as such may cause a delay to motorists.

Oh yeah it more than attitude, there are loads of issues that lean to give motorists favor on the roadways... and anyone that doesn't see that isn't looking. Just look at transportation funding for instance.

6. a. Frequenting forums where other minorities discuss their persecutions ad nauseum reinforces and strengthens the complex; finding a place for leisure-riding away from the persecutors goes a long way to soothing the persecution paranoia

4. Tailgating is standard operating procedure for motorists, especially during peak traffic periods. And they cause much greater death and destruction when things go afoul, compared to cyclists.

5. I'd say motorists are just as flexible when it comes to their responsibilities. Speed limit anyone?

6. Only some cyclists take on a persecution complex. The good thing is their griping gives others something to gripe about!

I don't know many groups of drivers who routinely "draft" each other on their drives. But yes, tailgating in the standard sense is a problem among drivers.

Well, your parents may not have told this to you, but if little johnny does something wrong, that isn't justification for you to do something wrong. Too many of the folks here are willing to overlook cyclists illegal acts and/or provide rationalizations for it (see your response to #4).

Seems like most of those who post here do. Although that may even be all, since invariably those who dispute the persecution complex get labeled as "not real cyclists"...

I keep forgetting that it's far more important that everyone else goes just as slow as you than going faster yourself.

Apparently these cyclists are cheating in the imaginary race.

However, motorists aren't cheating when they get on the freeway and skip 50 lights that I have to deal with.

No, but cycling does provide a partial solution to the list of moral issues that B. Carfree posted (as I read it: maintaining a healthy populace, reducing environmental pollution, increasing personal financial stability, and resource conservation through reduced energy consumption). If one were to agree that these are moral issues, and that increased cycling rates and reduced driving rates would positively affect society with regard to these issues, then one could conclude that choosing cycling over driving is moral issue.

It's this mindset that keeps my fiancé riding her bike to work through the winter; once the temp falls below freezing it certainly isn't the sheer pleasure of cycling that keeps her on the bike. If it gets/keeps people on bikes, then let folks like B. Carfree keep preaching. I would say that promoting the positive effects of cycling is likely to be more effective than condemning automotive transport, though. The former encourages people try something new by showing that cycling is both good and fun, where the latter orders people to stop doing something by casting judgement and heaping guilt and gloom upon them (and even though it might be deserved, that doesn't mean that is will be accepted or considered).

The list in the OP is condemning automotive transport, legitimately, I think; but I don't think that it would gain much traction in the minds of those who aren't already convinced that addiction to the automobile is bad for society. It's useful for those who already agree to help identify the problems that define the issue, which allows them to formulate better arguments to help convince those who don't agree or, more importantly, those who are neutral. But, as far as effective advocacy goes, I like Doohickie's list better. My only gripe with it is that #1 should've been: Cycling is fun. That's the most important privilege of cycling to me, that I get to enjoy my commute.

Of course, the problem with that argument is ... well, there isn't a problem at all, more just an observation -- driving is fun too.

Not always, not for everybody -- but then again, lots of people ride bikes when it's not fun for them too, for mostly the same reasons people drive when it's not fun.

Let's also keep in mind that motoring is regularly promoted (in ads) by the use of some rather flagrant claims, such as touting how sexy it is to drive XYZ car, and how driving pleasure is enhanced by XYZ car... none of which shows the daily bumper to bumper traffic that most motorists have to endure.

Whenever I drive in a manner that I consider fun, The Man comes along and threatens to take away my driving privileges.

Even though I've met a few of them, the fact that there are people who don't enjoy the act of riding a bike boggles my mind. I wonder if maybe there's something physiologically wrong with them, like a brain defect or something.

16. I have the unalienable right to accelerate up to 10 mph over the speed limit to pass any slower moving cyclist, (even if they are traveling at the speed limit)
so I don't have to wait behind them 0.25 seconds to make a right turn. Let them slow down and wait for me.

17. I am no longer responsible for keeping up with my vehicles emissions, brake lights or directional once my car is more than 1 year old. Why should cars even have directional blinkers? No one uses them anymore.

18. I also have the unalienable right to bump cyclists out of the lane if they aren't on the right side of the white line.

:

Must be horrible going through life feeling so inferior...

Those who constantly rush in to condemn any hint of what they label persecution or inferiority complex seem just as miserable in my opinion. There’s really not much point to either behavior. But hay, at least everyones having fun, right? Rag on.

The hell? Oh wait! I forgot about the helicopter! I'm so silly. I guess I'm not such a bad parent after all. . . .

The whole list is crap piled on top of more crap. The author is, for lack of a better word, a moron.

Nice ones, #16 is particularly right... If i can go faster than you it gives me the right to pass you and cut you off with a right turn - If i don't do this i am doing you a GREAT favour to which i will be indignant and honk if you don't acknowledge my charity.

If you liked that one, then you're gonna love this one...

19. Roads are for cars, sidewalks are for toys. The sooner bicycle riders learn this, the world will be a better place!


BTW, I have no inferiority complex, just the need to relish in some friendly "turnabout".

It seems when people learn I'm a cyclist, even more so when they find out I commute to work every day like that, I become a sounding board for everyone's complaints about cyclists.

Is there anyone who's been there? Are their any hands to raise?

So I enjoy this thread. Let's me vent a little about other people's selfishness, and how foolish some of their perceptions may be...

I dunno, that may be a duplicate of #3... I don't really listen to complainers when they're clueless - run don't walk.