tabnlu

The other day I walked in on a group of people talking about cyclist and how they see groups of them everywhere on weekends. They weren't talking poorly about us, just small talk, until one guy (I didn't know him and he didn't know me) mentioned how he would just love to ramp up his car to about 60 and just plow straight through the middle of a group of cyclist.

I looked at him with dead seriousness to let him know "That's not funny...(stare)... I've seen pictures of that (the Mexican bicycle accident) and it's pure carnage."

Needless to say, he didn't speak another word. My friend next to me said to him "Well you gotta understand that Todd (me) is one of those bicycle people."

I hope he felt like dirt.

Indie

Heh. This happens in any situation where people can't tell immediately that one of their number fits into a group that they like to make fun of. Religion and sexual orientation are biggies.

I've had stories of animal cruelty related to me by people who thought it was humorous, but apparently I'm just 'wussy' if I don't like to hear about those things, and they find it even funnier if I tell them I'm a vegetarian, so I've never had the satisfaction of being able to make someone scuff their feet and feel like dirt.

Wogster

You know, it's extremely dangerous to say things like that, because if someone does do that, or this person has an accident involving a group of cyclists, then those comments will come back and bite them ..... in court.

lil brown bat

Comments like this would probably be a lot less offhand if victim restitution was part of our criminal justice system, and was also rather personal. Like, for instance, that cyclist that you hit with your car and paralyzed? You get to be his personal care attendant for the rest of your life. And no, you don't get paid -- instead we'll seize your property to pay his expenses, since he can't work any more.

I like the thought of this, not even so much for the restitution angle, but because they'd have the consequences of their actions up in their face every day. Doing damage is easy; avoiding the results is too, unfortunately.

EasyEd

What a jerk. I doubt he felt too badly. Probably not smart enough to be ashamed of himself. Also, I doubt seriously he was planning a mass murder. But even joking like that is over the top.

himurastewie

Interesting how people act when they're trying to look 'tough'. Even if he was just posturing and waving around his 'manhood', it's still a worrying comment. Given ultimate power, I'd be very interested in rummaging through people's minds to see where this kind of crap comes from.

I also agree with brown bat on this one. Consequences are generally far too lenient (see: all the threads about people getting bottles/junk thrown at them and if the attacker DOES get caught, generally gets a small fine and a scolding). I'm generally a pretty forgiving and understanding person, but some people are just so beyond comprehension that it makes my head spin.

Fools like this guy really need a good attitude adjustment via 20lb sledge to the side of the head.

Neil_B

Suppose your hypothetical paralyzed cyclist was riding against traffic, at night, without lights - as I've seen more than once recently on my trip home from work. Is the motorist who hit him responsible for his care in your opinion?

flip18436572

I have never seen anyone ride against traffic, until I was stopped to get gas on a trip in Missouri. Then I saw a guy riding against traffic, on a busy street with no designated riding area. No helmet, but he also was wearing the other biking gear. He had on a jersey, shorts, clip-ins, half-finger gloves and didn't seem to care about the traffic coming at him.

Neil_B

Locally these wrong-way folks appear to be what some folks call "utility riders". They wear regular clothing, ride cheap BMX or K-Mart bikes (Phoenixville doesn't have a Wal-Mart), and appear to be commuting. They sometime ride on the sidewalk, but on roads with no sidewalk, they ride against traffic. There have been a lot of them out, more so than last year, IMO.

I've seen 'roadies' ride against traffic from time to time, but if they do it's usually a short distance. At the start of the Neils on Wheels tour in Pittsburgh, we were led against traffic on a one way street for a block.

Neil_B

Was he attempting to be funny, or was he sincere? I can't tell from your description.

While on the subject of jokes, the movie Airplane! has a moment where a cyclist is hit and thrown over a car.

tabnlu

It was hard to tell because I didn't know him. I assumed he was joking because I told him it wasn't funny.

lil brown bat

Uh, I was talking about the actual example that began this thread, not about your hypothetical bike ninja. FWIW.

Wogster

Guys who need to wave their manhood around, are usually compensating for something, like a very small, um, you know.....

Takabrash

So, you're saying that the man you get in accident with (that has no insurance) should become your butler?

Snapperhead

Brain?!

People are in such a hurry these days. I remember years back (maybe 20 or so) riding in the car with my dad and him making comments about those damn bikers. I was one of them at the time. I guess people were in a hurry back then too.