Open Letter to a Jacksonville Florida rider
 

I sincerely hope that whoever you are you had a good long ride up
San Jose Blvd without having to bother with minor annoyances like traffic lights, cross
traffic and being passed by other vehicles.
I'm sure that you had a good draft on the 7 odd miles you joined my mother's funeral
procession the Sunday before last (January 31st).
The police escort could do nothing as you weren't technically breaking any laws.
Needless to say there were quite a few people in the procession who found your
lack of respect a little more than disturbing.
We as cyclists have a difficult enough time with non riders' perceptions without you adding something
as thoughtless of this to those perceptions.
Some of the comments I heard in response to your ride ranged from 'dooring' you, to one person who thought
physical violence was a good option.

Based on what I saw (specialized bike, helmet, lights etc.) I would venture to say
you're a fairly serious rider. I'm just saddened that you thought your training
was more important than common courtesy and respect.

Lotek.

Very disrespectful and sorry for your loss. Though most cities have abandoned the disruption of funeral processions, that's no excuse for the cyclist's behavior.

This doesn't surprise me; I've been to Jacksonville.

Sorry for your loss, Lotek...

I wish this post was a joke. Hitching a free ride on a funeral procession is just poor taste on every level.

Not really the same thing, but I always get annoyed when I see cars (usually SUVs) following directly behind an ambulance when traffic has moved aside to let it through.

Sad situation. Sorry for your loss.

Should've turned on strava and see if they showed up in the fly-by.

:wtf:

Very sorry to hear about this. I hope it wasn't too distracting.

That could be family members heading to the hospital, you never know.

Sorry for the loss lotek.

Also, they may not know. Some people follow cars without looking ahead of said car.

With that said, I find it hard to believe someone wouldn't realize they're following a funeral procession.

We had similar incidents in the last procession I was in. People didn't want to stop for us and kept cutting us off. Very annoying.

lotek, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.

I was born and raised in Duval County, and the disrespect shown by that cyclist would never have happened there in the 40s and 50s when I was growing up.

He was a first class jerk.

I haven't witnessed a funeral procession in a long time, but doesnt all sorts of general car traffic also build up behind these processions too?

That's first class jackassery

Not really, generally, that's what the police escort manages, minimizing the impact by getting the procession through smoothly. I don't think I've ever seen a procession, aside for odd occasions like for public figures, not travelling continuously at the posted speed limit. It's actually pretty impressive how a good police escort can move even a modest sized (40-50 car) procession to the cemetery.

Rude and disrespectful.

Wait, was he mixed in with all the cars from the procession or was he behind it?

I guess I don't understand what he did wrong if he was behind it. Not trying to be an ass here, but someone has to be behind it.

Out of 6000+ funerals in Jax yearly I'm sure there are quite a few processions, and no offense taken.
The police escort was outstanding and we did move smoothly the seven miles. I noticed a lot of the oncoming traffic pulling to the side out of respect, and although I don't know any of those people it was very much appreciated.
And the rider would have been the third car out of perhaps 25? So 2 car lengths behind the hearse, there's no way he didn't know
He was in a funeral procession.

Marty

I'm genuinely curious: was the cyclist directly behind one of the cars in the procession, or was he riding alongside?

Edit: Oh, re-reading the first post I see he was directly behind one of the cars. Yeah, that's tacky.

Yeah, that's definitely a dick move. I'd also call obvious drafting of the last car kind of dickish as well.

what he said..

Well, that's terrible, and I hope this doesn't come off as a joke, but it may have been a kind of "temporary insanity" on the part of the cyclist. When exerting ourselves hard, we are generally not as thoughtful as we are otherwise; it might have been enough for someone to roll down a window to say "would you mind giving way?" to wake the cyclist out of his exercise trance and back to polite society. But, given the occasion, I wouldn't expect that to have occurred to anyone but a hired driver.

Sorry for your loss lotek and even sorrier the cyclist didn't show the proper respect. He could have simply changed his route if he was in such a hurry or taken a parallel road.
Prayers for your family

That sucks, this country has no respect for elderly so it is not to surprising some clown would do this. Of all the things to find an inconvenience, a funeral precession is not one of them. Pretty small gesture to give to a group of people grieving. Sorry for the loss.

I live south of Jacksonville, work in Jacksonville. I am so sorry this happened to you and your family here. Unfortunately, there are jerks in every sport, religion, and walk of life; and this scum is one of them.

Making even small gestures of consideration and respect is going out of style around here, and selfishness rules the day in most affairs, in most circles, to the extent a leading presidential candidate can basically trumpet he doesn't give a **** about anyone, yet be applauded and rewarded for it.


Sorry for your loss, lotek.

Sorry for you loss, Lotek, I cannot imagine how badly this idiot must have made you feel. Losing your mother must be really tough, I hope that you are at peace, or finding some means of solace. I have absolutely no doubt that he realized exactly what he was doing, there is no excuse for that kind of disrespect and rudeness. Hopefully, Karma will quickly find this low life, I do not care if he is a cyclist, he deserves what ever comes his way.

In Escambia County, the police or sheriff's escort, would have taken him out of the procession, they make any motorist remain in the procession, and sit in their vehicle during the graveside, or columbarium, service. They may, or may not, receive a ticket for violating a county ordinance, depending on their attitude. I have seen them put cyclist to the side of the road and have them wait until the procession passes. It can be a release to watch them stew about getting caught, I watched them hold a motorcyclist for trying to cross an intersection, cutting between the vehicles in the procession. Truly a screwed up person that would do this type of thing.

Bill