Ain't This Guy a Treat!
10-06-02, 11:49 AM
#1
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Ain't This Guy a Treat!
Old article but... :irritated
https://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_82631.html
By the way, he was nice enough to leave his E-mail address forus...
Thoughts anyone?
https://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_82631.html
By the way, he was nice enough to leave his E-mail address forus...
Thoughts anyone?
10-06-02, 12:03 PM
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10-06-02, 12:06 PM
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10-06-02, 12:51 PM
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I couldn't resist, I had to write the gentleman and disagree with his article. Right or wrong here is what I wrote (Wish I was a better writer with a silver pen but...) :
Mr. Vassilaros,
To quote what you have written in some small state of ignorance (not meant to be derogatory) "...When those spoke-thin road hogs start paying their fair share of road costs — like motorized vehicles do — then maybe we could consider allowing them on a few isolated roads like in our city, county and state parks, where the only drivers they could threaten would be the teenagers whose parents are teaching them to drive." In your article to the good people of Pittsburgh you seem to be attempting a projection of an untrue fact that bicyclists do not pay their fair share in maintaining public highways with their tax dollars, gas tax, licensing, windshield stickers, insurance etc.
As an avid bicyclist, I own five vehicles that require "gas, licensing, insurance and repairs". I feel I am paying my "fair share of road costs". How many vehicles do you own?
While I have your attention Mr. Vassilaros, let me ask another question of you. When my wife and I are riding our tandem bicycle (bicycle built for two) along the road and a car comes up on us from behind with one person in it, and that person must slow down in order to wait for a safe time to pass the vehicle (us) in front of him/her. When that person does pass us and yells at us to get off the road because we don't pay our way and therefore have no "right" to be on the road, I ask "you", who in that situation has more right to the road...the "TWO" tax payers, multi-car licensees, multi-car insurance purchasers and multi-car fuel expending persons, who happen to be riding a bicycle at the time or the "ONE" tax payer in the car with "Road-Rage"? If you know the law, you should come up with the same answer as us...both parties have equal rights to the road. It is a good thing the government of this country has checks and balances on the term "Majority Rules" because with your help the majority might be allowed to take away some minorities rights. Most bicyclists pay as much or even more then some of the non-bicyclist majority in the maintenance of public roads.
Mr. Vassilaros, I do not write you in an attempt to belittle you or attack you in any way. But I do write you to respectfully disagree with your public statement.
Mr. Vassilaros,
To quote what you have written in some small state of ignorance (not meant to be derogatory) "...When those spoke-thin road hogs start paying their fair share of road costs — like motorized vehicles do — then maybe we could consider allowing them on a few isolated roads like in our city, county and state parks, where the only drivers they could threaten would be the teenagers whose parents are teaching them to drive." In your article to the good people of Pittsburgh you seem to be attempting a projection of an untrue fact that bicyclists do not pay their fair share in maintaining public highways with their tax dollars, gas tax, licensing, windshield stickers, insurance etc.
As an avid bicyclist, I own five vehicles that require "gas, licensing, insurance and repairs". I feel I am paying my "fair share of road costs". How many vehicles do you own?
While I have your attention Mr. Vassilaros, let me ask another question of you. When my wife and I are riding our tandem bicycle (bicycle built for two) along the road and a car comes up on us from behind with one person in it, and that person must slow down in order to wait for a safe time to pass the vehicle (us) in front of him/her. When that person does pass us and yells at us to get off the road because we don't pay our way and therefore have no "right" to be on the road, I ask "you", who in that situation has more right to the road...the "TWO" tax payers, multi-car licensees, multi-car insurance purchasers and multi-car fuel expending persons, who happen to be riding a bicycle at the time or the "ONE" tax payer in the car with "Road-Rage"? If you know the law, you should come up with the same answer as us...both parties have equal rights to the road. It is a good thing the government of this country has checks and balances on the term "Majority Rules" because with your help the majority might be allowed to take away some minorities rights. Most bicyclists pay as much or even more then some of the non-bicyclist majority in the maintenance of public roads.
Mr. Vassilaros, I do not write you in an attempt to belittle you or attack you in any way. But I do write you to respectfully disagree with your public statement.
10-06-02, 01:16 PM
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10-06-02, 01:20 PM
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Originally posted by Gus Riley
I couldn't resist, I had to write the gentleman and disagree with his article. Right or wrong here is what I wrote (Wish I was a better writer with a silver pen but...) :
Mr. Vassilaros,
To quote what you have written in some small state of ignorance (not meant to be derogatory) "...When those spoke-thin road hogs start paying their fair share of road costs — like motorized vehicles do — then maybe we could consider allowing them on a few isolated roads like in our city, county and state parks, where the only drivers they could threaten would be the teenagers whose parents are teaching them to drive." In your article to the good people of Pittsburgh you seem to be attempting a projection of an untrue fact that bicyclists do not pay their fair share in maintaining public highways with their tax dollars, gas tax, licensing, windshield stickers, insurance etc.
As an avid bicyclist, I own five vehicles that require "gas, licensing, insurance and repairs". I feel I am paying my "fair share of road costs". How many vehicles do you own?
While I have your attention Mr. Vassilaros, let me ask another question of you. When my wife and I are riding our tandem bicycle (bicycle built for two) along the road and a car comes up on us from behind with one person in it, and that person must slow down in order to wait for a safe time to pass the vehicle (us) in front of him/her. When that person does pass us and yells at us to get off the road because we don't pay our way and therefore have no "right" to be on the road, I ask "you", who in that situation has more right to the road...the "TWO" tax payers, multi-car licensees, multi-car insurance purchasers and multi-car fuel expending persons, who happen to be riding a bicycle at the time or the "ONE" tax payer in the car with "Road-Rage"? If you know the law, you should come up with the same answer as us...both parties have equal rights to the road. It is a good thing the government of this country has checks and balances on the term "Majority Rules" because with your help the majority might be allowed to take away some minorities rights. Most bicyclists pay as much or even more then some of the non-bicyclist majority in the maintenance of public roads.
Mr. Vassilaros, I do not write you in an attempt to belittle you or attack you in any way. But I do write you to respectfully disagree with your public statement.
I couldn't resist, I had to write the gentleman and disagree with his article. Right or wrong here is what I wrote (Wish I was a better writer with a silver pen but...) :
Mr. Vassilaros,
To quote what you have written in some small state of ignorance (not meant to be derogatory) "...When those spoke-thin road hogs start paying their fair share of road costs — like motorized vehicles do — then maybe we could consider allowing them on a few isolated roads like in our city, county and state parks, where the only drivers they could threaten would be the teenagers whose parents are teaching them to drive." In your article to the good people of Pittsburgh you seem to be attempting a projection of an untrue fact that bicyclists do not pay their fair share in maintaining public highways with their tax dollars, gas tax, licensing, windshield stickers, insurance etc.
As an avid bicyclist, I own five vehicles that require "gas, licensing, insurance and repairs". I feel I am paying my "fair share of road costs". How many vehicles do you own?
While I have your attention Mr. Vassilaros, let me ask another question of you. When my wife and I are riding our tandem bicycle (bicycle built for two) along the road and a car comes up on us from behind with one person in it, and that person must slow down in order to wait for a safe time to pass the vehicle (us) in front of him/her. When that person does pass us and yells at us to get off the road because we don't pay our way and therefore have no "right" to be on the road, I ask "you", who in that situation has more right to the road...the "TWO" tax payers, multi-car licensees, multi-car insurance purchasers and multi-car fuel expending persons, who happen to be riding a bicycle at the time or the "ONE" tax payer in the car with "Road-Rage"? If you know the law, you should come up with the same answer as us...both parties have equal rights to the road. It is a good thing the government of this country has checks and balances on the term "Majority Rules" because with your help the majority might be allowed to take away some minorities rights. Most bicyclists pay as much or even more then some of the non-bicyclist majority in the maintenance of public roads.
Mr. Vassilaros, I do not write you in an attempt to belittle you or attack you in any way. But I do write you to respectfully disagree with your public statement.
Thank you for reading my column.
As you probably can imagine, I have been inundated with e-mail the last
few days so I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
Typically I answer each electronic missive sent to me. There are so many
in this case, the only way to acknowledge each is by this standard
response. However, I have taken the time to read your e-mail and all the
others.
You probably will not be surprised to learn most readers who have taken
the time to write disagree with my position.
Alas, that is one of the occupational hazards of being a columnist.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts and feelings
with me.
My best,
DV
Columnist
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
www.triblive.com
-----Original Message-----
From: edited
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 3:25 AM
To: dvassilaros@tribweb.com
Subject: Egomaniacal jackass
This was written by a friend of mine. I thought I might send it to you.
A parable...
I was walking down the sidewalk today, and I met a man going the other
way.
He was carrying a hunting rifle, and he was carrying it crosswise,
taking up
the whole sidewalk.
As I approached, I stayed on my side of the sidewalk, but he didn't't
move
his rifle to let me pass, so I stopped. The man with the rifle stopped
too,
and appeared angry.
"Get out of my way! Can't you see I have a firearm?!" he jeered.
I saw a bumper sticker once that had a message I really agree with,
being an
idealistic type. It said, "Just ignore your rights, and they'll go
away." I
knew quite well that I had a right to walk on the sidewalk, whether I
had my
firearm with me or not, and I told the man this, and I didn't move.
He was very irritated, blustering about how powerful the weapon was, how
it
gave him the power to kill me then and there if he pleased, and pointing
out
that the safe thing to do would be for me to stay out of the way in case
it
accidentally discharged. Couldn't anyone in their right mind see that I,
an
unarmed human being, had less right to the sidewalk than he did, by
merit of
his rifle? He finished his tirade by pointing out that HE pays taxes on
his
rifle and ammunition.
I countered by pointing out that it is the human being, not the rifle
that
they carry, which has rights, and that all people have the same rights
in
this country. In rebuttal to his nonsense about the taxes, I pointed out
that I have a hunting rifle of my own, which I pay taxes on, although I
was
not carrying it at the time, and I pay all the other taxes that every
other
citizen does, including the income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes
which the government uses to build sidewalks.
Unable to cow me into submission, the man, now red-faced with rage,
stalked
around me and continued on his way, still confident that his rifle
somehow
made him a superior citizen.
Can anyone identify with the man carrying the rifle in my parable?
Probably
not. But Dimitri Vassilaros evidently feels this way about getting into
an
automobile and encountering bicyclists, judging by the opinion he posted
at
https://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tri...s/s_82631.html. Sad.
I've read your article and I have found it to be the single most foolish
piece of pseudo journalism I have ever had the displeasure to read. What
gives? Are you trying to get picked up by the National Enquirer?
I suggest you read the following articles about a man who felt the same
as
you do, had that same attitude as you seem to flaunt and is now serving
45
years for murder. All because he didn't feel he should have to share
the
road.
https://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/mcbride_trib1.html
https://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/m...ly_herald.html
https://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/m...un_times1.html
"But during the trial, witnesses said he sped up to hit McBride, and
after
the bicyclist fell on the side of the street, he quickly drove off with
the
mangled 10-speed bike dragging underneath and sending sparks flying."
Is this the kind of reaction you intended when you, in essence, declared
open season on cyclists?
To you sir "May you live in interesting times."
As you probably can imagine, I have been inundated with e-mail the last
few days so I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
Typically I answer each electronic missive sent to me. There are so many
in this case, the only way to acknowledge each is by this standard
response. However, I have taken the time to read your e-mail and all the
others.
You probably will not be surprised to learn most readers who have taken
the time to write disagree with my position.
Alas, that is one of the occupational hazards of being a columnist.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts and feelings
with me.
My best,
DV
Columnist
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
www.triblive.com
-----Original Message-----
From: edited
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 3:25 AM
To: dvassilaros@tribweb.com
Subject: Egomaniacal jackass
This was written by a friend of mine. I thought I might send it to you.
A parable...
I was walking down the sidewalk today, and I met a man going the other
way.
He was carrying a hunting rifle, and he was carrying it crosswise,
taking up
the whole sidewalk.
As I approached, I stayed on my side of the sidewalk, but he didn't't
move
his rifle to let me pass, so I stopped. The man with the rifle stopped
too,
and appeared angry.
"Get out of my way! Can't you see I have a firearm?!" he jeered.
I saw a bumper sticker once that had a message I really agree with,
being an
idealistic type. It said, "Just ignore your rights, and they'll go
away." I
knew quite well that I had a right to walk on the sidewalk, whether I
had my
firearm with me or not, and I told the man this, and I didn't move.
He was very irritated, blustering about how powerful the weapon was, how
it
gave him the power to kill me then and there if he pleased, and pointing
out
that the safe thing to do would be for me to stay out of the way in case
it
accidentally discharged. Couldn't anyone in their right mind see that I,
an
unarmed human being, had less right to the sidewalk than he did, by
merit of
his rifle? He finished his tirade by pointing out that HE pays taxes on
his
rifle and ammunition.
I countered by pointing out that it is the human being, not the rifle
that
they carry, which has rights, and that all people have the same rights
in
this country. In rebuttal to his nonsense about the taxes, I pointed out
that I have a hunting rifle of my own, which I pay taxes on, although I
was
not carrying it at the time, and I pay all the other taxes that every
other
citizen does, including the income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes
which the government uses to build sidewalks.
Unable to cow me into submission, the man, now red-faced with rage,
stalked
around me and continued on his way, still confident that his rifle
somehow
made him a superior citizen.
Can anyone identify with the man carrying the rifle in my parable?
Probably
not. But Dimitri Vassilaros evidently feels this way about getting into
an
automobile and encountering bicyclists, judging by the opinion he posted
at
https://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tri...s/s_82631.html. Sad.
I've read your article and I have found it to be the single most foolish
piece of pseudo journalism I have ever had the displeasure to read. What
gives? Are you trying to get picked up by the National Enquirer?
I suggest you read the following articles about a man who felt the same
as
you do, had that same attitude as you seem to flaunt and is now serving
45
years for murder. All because he didn't feel he should have to share
the
road.
https://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/mcbride_trib1.html
https://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/m...ly_herald.html
https://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/m...un_times1.html
"But during the trial, witnesses said he sped up to hit McBride, and
after
the bicyclist fell on the side of the street, he quickly drove off with
the
mangled 10-speed bike dragging underneath and sending sparks flying."
Is this the kind of reaction you intended when you, in essence, declared
open season on cyclists?
To you sir "May you live in interesting times."
__________________
10-06-02, 01:31 PM
#7
sandcruiser
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Gus, while I appreciate the time and restraint you used in your letter to the author, I have to say that I find the reasoning unsavory. Basically the author is saying that cyclists don't belong because they aren't paying taxes to ride on the road. Your reply is that you are paying more than your share due to the ownership of several motor vehicles. What if you didn't own a car? Wouldn't you still have a right to the road? Wouldn't you still be paying for the road system? The idea that motorists pay for the roads with gas taxes and registration fees is a joke. The majority of the cost is paid by all tax payers, even those that don't have motor vehicles.
__________________
"only on a BIKE"
"only on a BIKE"
10-06-02, 02:51 PM
#8
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Originally posted by thbirks
Gus, while I appreciate the time and restraint you used in your letter to the author, I have to say that I find the reasoning unsavory. Basically the author is saying that cyclists don't belong because they aren't paying taxes to ride on the road. Your reply is that you are paying more than your share due to the ownership of several motor vehicles. What if you didn't own a car? Wouldn't you still have a right to the road? Wouldn't you still be paying for the road system? The idea that motorists pay for the roads with gas taxes and registration fees is a joke. The majority of the cost is paid by all tax payers, even those that don't have motor vehicles.
Gus, while I appreciate the time and restraint you used in your letter to the author, I have to say that I find the reasoning unsavory. Basically the author is saying that cyclists don't belong because they aren't paying taxes to ride on the road. Your reply is that you are paying more than your share due to the ownership of several motor vehicles. What if you didn't own a car? Wouldn't you still have a right to the road? Wouldn't you still be paying for the road system? The idea that motorists pay for the roads with gas taxes and registration fees is a joke. The majority of the cost is paid by all tax payers, even those that don't have motor vehicles.
10-06-02, 03:00 PM
#9
HomeBrew Master!
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Originally posted by Raiyn
To which you will recieve this reply:
To which you will recieve this reply:
10-11-02, 05:57 PM
#11
It's in my blood
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P.S.--Did anyone else get this exact response by e-mail?
Dear Peter,
Thank you for reading my column and taking the time to write.
Please consider sending your thoughts as a letter to the editor at the Trib.
My best,
DV
Letters to the Editor
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
D.L. Clark Bldg.,
503 Martindale St., 3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
To send a letter via electronic mail, click on the address below.
Our E-Mail address is:
opinion@tribweb.com
Our fax number is:
(412) 320-7965
Dimitri Vassilaros
Columnist
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
www.triblive.com
Here is my original message:
"Motorists kill more teenagers than anything else. Almost as many Americans die yearly on our roads in cars as were killed during the entire span of the Vietnam War.
Certainly, this tragic loss of life is more important than an article about a few harmless cyclists in the road.
Peter Hylan Clark
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A"
Dear Peter,
Thank you for reading my column and taking the time to write.
Please consider sending your thoughts as a letter to the editor at the Trib.
My best,
DV
Letters to the Editor
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
D.L. Clark Bldg.,
503 Martindale St., 3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
To send a letter via electronic mail, click on the address below.
Our E-Mail address is:
opinion@tribweb.com
Our fax number is:
(412) 320-7965
Dimitri Vassilaros
Columnist
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
www.triblive.com
Here is my original message:
"Motorists kill more teenagers than anything else. Almost as many Americans die yearly on our roads in cars as were killed during the entire span of the Vietnam War.
Certainly, this tragic loss of life is more important than an article about a few harmless cyclists in the road.
Peter Hylan Clark
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A"
10-11-02, 06:50 PM
#12
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Pete, Just today while I was riding got to thinking about the number of annual auto related deaths and how the general population seems to accept this as "the cost of doing business" so to speak.
Last edited by Paige; 10-12-02 at 12:05 PM.
for being a stud and responding to the dorkwad.
10-11-02, 09:02 PM
#14
Just ride.
In his article, Mr. Vassilaros said:
'Scuse me, but that's just wrong. I can't tell you where the money to buy property, build roads, and maintain them comes from, but it's a whole lot more that what they get from gas tax, stickers, and license plates. Around here, they used to put up a large sign on each road construction project indicating the cost. Folks, even a minor project cost enough to buy not just a few bass boats, but probably the company that made them. And that gas tax he refers to is just a drop in the barrel. In fact, that's the complaint voiced by a lot of people who would like to reduce traffic... the people who use the roads the most aren't carrying their share of the cost! Here in the US, we all pay for the roads.
Cars, trucks and motorcycles pay for our roads.
'Scuse me, but that's just wrong. I can't tell you where the money to buy property, build roads, and maintain them comes from, but it's a whole lot more that what they get from gas tax, stickers, and license plates. Around here, they used to put up a large sign on each road construction project indicating the cost. Folks, even a minor project cost enough to buy not just a few bass boats, but probably the company that made them. And that gas tax he refers to is just a drop in the barrel. In fact, that's the complaint voiced by a lot of people who would like to reduce traffic... the people who use the roads the most aren't carrying their share of the cost! Here in the US, we all pay for the roads.
10-12-02, 03:11 AM
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Dimitri Vassilaros is a stick-ass dick. He's selfish, one of those guys who has to be better than others. I feel guilty any time I step on a gas pedal that will puff out orange skies; I'd rather be on a bike any time. It's fun, fast, good for you, diciplinary, and much more. He doesn't realize that.
