Another useless thread: how to respond in the face of massive stupidity?
#51
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
This thread reminds me of when I nearly got killed in Barcelona. It was my first time in a European country and I was trying to find my hotel. I aimlessly crossed what I thought was a bike lane with my eyes upwards looking for any sign of the hotel. Before I knew what was going on there is a large scooter two feet from me schreeching to a halt. What I thought was a bike lane was a narrow street with traffic doing 30 mph. The woman on the scooter shouted some Catalan curses at me and sped off.
#52
This thread reminds me of when I nearly got killed in Barcelona. It was my first time in a European country and I was trying to find my hotel. I aimlessly crossed what I thought was a bike lane with my eyes upwards looking for any sign of the hotel. Before I knew what was going on there is a large scooter two feet from me schreeching to a halt. What I thought was a bike lane was a narrow street with traffic doing 30 mph. The woman on the scooter shouted some Catalan curses at me and sped off.
Adam
#55
Acts 2:38
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Bikes: '10 Marin Lucas Valley, '13 Scott Speedster 20
The pedestrians are one thing since they think because there's empty space that they can just occupy it, but do you ever say anything to the dum dum fishies? I would be able to tolerate very little of that before yelling at someone.
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
Actually, I think that cell phone guy represents 99% of Americans out there. It's us cyclists who are the <1% anomaly.
Seriously - less than 1% of America bike commutes. So the notion of actually seeing a bike commuter using a bike lane is completely outlandish and fantastical to 99% of Americans. Hence, they assume they can do as they please in the bike lanes, even without a bike.
Even here in Norcal where there are an abundance of the loveliest, safest, and most useful bike lanes and cooperative weather to be found in the entire world, I'm usually the only commuting cyclist to be seen in a sea of cars at rush hour. (After rush hour there are a lot of recreatioanl cyclists, but there are very few bike commuters outside a 2-mile radius of Stanford university.) I'm sure all those cagers look at the bike lanes and think "what a friggin' waste of space."
Not trying to stick up for them - just noting the reality of our lives as the vast minority and the weird problems that come up with it.
Seriously - less than 1% of America bike commutes. So the notion of actually seeing a bike commuter using a bike lane is completely outlandish and fantastical to 99% of Americans. Hence, they assume they can do as they please in the bike lanes, even without a bike.
Even here in Norcal where there are an abundance of the loveliest, safest, and most useful bike lanes and cooperative weather to be found in the entire world, I'm usually the only commuting cyclist to be seen in a sea of cars at rush hour. (After rush hour there are a lot of recreatioanl cyclists, but there are very few bike commuters outside a 2-mile radius of Stanford university.) I'm sure all those cagers look at the bike lanes and think "what a friggin' waste of space."
Not trying to stick up for them - just noting the reality of our lives as the vast minority and the weird problems that come up with it.
#57
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,180
Likes: 6,418
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
"Geez... I just got here!"
That is SUCH a non sequitur! I think I'll use it whenever I use a mistake. It's priceless.
That is SUCH a non sequitur! I think I'll use it whenever I use a mistake. It's priceless.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#58
#59
You mean salmons? Yeah, I used to. But I'm getting slowly to the point that just don't give a damn. I would have ignored even this guy if it wasn't for the stroller with a little kid.
#60
#61
Acts 2:38
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Bikes: '10 Marin Lucas Valley, '13 Scott Speedster 20
Not a huge annoyance since it doesn't happen too often, but I was going through my ride vids when I came across this one from yesterday:
So much for bells. And it's always Indian people who disregard the clearly marked lanes. Usually they'll just walk against traffic and not move over while other Asians do the rolling roadblock thing.
So much for bells. And it's always Indian people who disregard the clearly marked lanes. Usually they'll just walk against traffic and not move over while other Asians do the rolling roadblock thing.
#62
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,741
Likes: 12
From: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
I just lower my shoulder and take them out.I'm tired of warning people that can't read or don't care too.
I also level the person on the end of the 5 wide family line in the aisles at the stores that won't move.
Everything now is ME,ME,ME.....screw you,get out of my way or your next.
I also level the person on the end of the 5 wide family line in the aisles at the stores that won't move.
Everything now is ME,ME,ME.....screw you,get out of my way or your next.
Last edited by Booger1; 07-30-10 at 11:09 AM.
#63
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
I agree. They should have stenciled some bikes in on the lanes too, there doesn't seem to be anything to identify them as bike lanes at all.
#66
Not a huge annoyance since it doesn't happen too often, but I was going through my ride vids when I came across this one from yesterday:
So much for bells. And it's always Indian people who disregard the clearly marked lanes. Usually they'll just walk against traffic and not move over while other Asians do the rolling roadblock thing.
So much for bells. And it's always Indian people who disregard the clearly marked lanes. Usually they'll just walk against traffic and not move over while other Asians do the rolling roadblock thing.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
spare_wheel
Advocacy & Safety
19
06-19-14 10:31 AM




The seller name from eBay is marktech101.
I think he meant "Geez... I just woke up!".

