Demographic that I have noticed on Cager-Rage stories here...
07-25-05, 11:27 AM
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It seems that a majority of the a$$hole motorists stories seem to come from forumites who are located in the good old "heartland" of America, the Midwest, supposedly land of "down-to-earth folk" when I see he OP's location.
I was raised in Wisconsin and it was safe conservative place to grow up but I noticed some of alot of these war stories of rager cagers calling riders "******s and fairies", and "get of the ficken sidewalk where you belong!" etc. are from fellow Big Ten states like Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and the like.
I've been riding only 4 months and I go solo all over town (Las Vegas) and so far I've only gotten thumbs up from people at stoplights and the occasion chick yelling "Nice ass, babe!"
Had a "Lance rules!" bellowed at me by some dudes in a truck yesterday, which is a good thing of course.
Maybe it has to to do with the super wide roads we have here - some of the bike lanes here are 12 ft. wide - or the laid-back west coast attitude (lot of L.A. transplants here), but locals seem to have appreciation for people who are trying to stay in shape. This is an entertainment industry town and there are a ton of 24 Hr. Fitnesses, Gold Gyms and the like - because alot of people are paid to look good from production show types to strippers and cocktail waitresses. There are not many fat ugly people here like back home, that I can say.
Guess I'm glad I left the land of the narrow-minded 20 years ago!
I was raised in Wisconsin and it was safe conservative place to grow up but I noticed some of alot of these war stories of rager cagers calling riders "******s and fairies", and "get of the ficken sidewalk where you belong!" etc. are from fellow Big Ten states like Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and the like.
I've been riding only 4 months and I go solo all over town (Las Vegas) and so far I've only gotten thumbs up from people at stoplights and the occasion chick yelling "Nice ass, babe!"
Had a "Lance rules!" bellowed at me by some dudes in a truck yesterday, which is a good thing of course.
Maybe it has to to do with the super wide roads we have here - some of the bike lanes here are 12 ft. wide - or the laid-back west coast attitude (lot of L.A. transplants here), but locals seem to have appreciation for people who are trying to stay in shape. This is an entertainment industry town and there are a ton of 24 Hr. Fitnesses, Gold Gyms and the like - because alot of people are paid to look good from production show types to strippers and cocktail waitresses. There are not many fat ugly people here like back home, that I can say.
Guess I'm glad I left the land of the narrow-minded 20 years ago!
07-25-05, 11:30 AM
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I live in the heart of Silicon Valley and have had people call me "******" and also tell me to ride on the sidewalk where I belong.
There are idiots (and nice people) wherever you go.
There are idiots (and nice people) wherever you go.
07-25-05, 11:33 AM
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Yeah, right. I guess you missed all the stories from D.C., New York, California and all the rest. You also seem to be counting Chicago and like places as part of the "heartland." Far from it.
I live in Illinois, not in Chicago. There's a difference.
I live in Illinois, not in Chicago. There's a difference.
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07-25-05, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Don Gwinn
I live in Illinois, not in Chicago. There's a difference.
07-25-05, 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Don Gwinn
Yeah, right. I guess you missed all the stories from D.C., New York, California and all the rest. You also seem to be counting Chicago and like places as part of the "heartland." Far from it.
I live in Illinois, not in Chicago. There's a difference.
I live in Illinois, not in Chicago. There's a difference.
You are right about Chi-town. They are the meanest, most livid drivers anywhere - worse than L.A. or N.Y.C . Come to think of it, there are alot of hostile people there, period.
My sister and her husband moved to the 'burbs from Evanston after being mugged in broad daylight in the parking garage of there lakeside condo- so much for being an "upscale" area..
07-25-05, 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Sincitycycler
It seems that a majority of the a$$hole motorists stories seem to come from forumites who are located in the good old "heartland" of America, the Midwest, supposedly land of "down-to-earth folk" when I see he OP's location.
Maybe I live in a particularly considerate area: Mahomet (about 10 miles northwest of Champaign) has a pretty well-educated demographic, and most people who live there are parents and are willing to pay higher local taxes because of the excellent school system (myself included), and hence may not be into hostility for its own sake. There are lots of farms out in the country, though; lots of places where ignorant, hostile, truck-drivin' rednecks could live.
Originally Posted by Sincitycycler
I've been riding only 4 months and I go solo all over town (Las Vegas) and so far I've only gotten thumbs up from people at stoplights and the occasion chick yelling "Nice ass, babe!"
07-25-05, 01:14 PM
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i can only speak for one small part of upstate south carolina. seen the movie 'easy rider'? know how it ends? the guys in the truck? shotgun? fireball? i'm often reminded of that scene on my rides....
07-25-05, 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Sincitycycler
Maybe right, but it stands out more to me that some of these sleepy midwest towns have so many buttholes - I wouldn't have expected it. Guess there's not much to do there...
You are right about Chi-town. They are the meanest, most livid drivers anywhere - worse than L.A. or N.Y.C . Come to think of it, there are alot of hostile people there, period.
My sister and her husband moved to the 'burbs from Evanston after being mugged in broad daylight in the parking garage of there lakeside condo- so much for being an "upscale" area..
You are right about Chi-town. They are the meanest, most livid drivers anywhere - worse than L.A. or N.Y.C . Come to think of it, there are alot of hostile people there, period.
My sister and her husband moved to the 'burbs from Evanston after being mugged in broad daylight in the parking garage of there lakeside condo- so much for being an "upscale" area..
Maybe I've just been desensitized, but I don't think Chicago drivers are terrible, nor do I think the city is full of hostile people. I've got some friends living in New York and they come to Chicago and don't say that people are any friendlier or meaner then there. Maybe you're right and maybe its just that after living here my whole life 22 years I've learned how to tune out all the jerks. Oh and one last thing, Chi-town is perhaps the world's most ridiculous nickname, I don't think a single person who lives here has ever said it.
P.S. Just figured I'd end on a hostile note to feed the stereotype.
07-25-05, 01:33 PM
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Hhhhmmm ... interesting thread here. I live in the ol' Heart of America / Midwest .... the Louisville, KY Metro area across the river in Souther Indiana to be exact. I've been riding this area for nearly 16yrs now with two local clubs (Southern Indiana Wheelmen and Louisville Bicycle Club). For the most part, I've had only a small number of actual words/skirmishes with cagers and ignorant people when on my bike.
I tend to believe that when you are in geographic areas that are not major metro areas or lower socio-economic areas ... that you "may" have a higher number of ignorant folks who BELIEVE that bicycles don't belong on the roads.
However, more than not ... I seriously doubt that there is all that much difference in 80% of the U.S. in this regard. In other words, there are ignorant folks, impatient folks, and ARSEholes everywhere who could give a flying leap whether or not their 2ton vehicle could kill any one on a bicycle in a matter of a 1/2 second simply because they feel we have less of a right to be on the road. I don't necessarily believe that georgraphic area has as much to do with it overall ... as that bicycling as a form of transportation on public roads is not given equality to motorized 4wheel vehicles.
Of course ... JMO.
I tend to believe that when you are in geographic areas that are not major metro areas or lower socio-economic areas ... that you "may" have a higher number of ignorant folks who BELIEVE that bicycles don't belong on the roads.
However, more than not ... I seriously doubt that there is all that much difference in 80% of the U.S. in this regard. In other words, there are ignorant folks, impatient folks, and ARSEholes everywhere who could give a flying leap whether or not their 2ton vehicle could kill any one on a bicycle in a matter of a 1/2 second simply because they feel we have less of a right to be on the road. I don't necessarily believe that georgraphic area has as much to do with it overall ... as that bicycling as a form of transportation on public roads is not given equality to motorized 4wheel vehicles.
Of course ... JMO.
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07-25-05, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by BryE
I guess I'll have to stick up for the midwest here. I'm from downstate Illinois (in IL, "downstate" generally means "anything south of Chicago"), and I can count the encounters I've had with hostile drivers on one hand, after about 5 years of commuter riding and 2 of more serious stuff. Of course, I ride on country back roads early in the morning, and there have been days when I've been out for an hour and haven't been passed by a car once, but there have been other days when it's like riding on I-495 around Chicago at rush hour. Now, I've definitely had some close encounters with ignorant drivers, such as 16-year-olds in fast cars and people jabbering on their cell phones, but that's not the same thing.
Maybe I live in a particularly considerate area: Mahomet (about 10 miles northwest of Champaign) has a pretty well-educated demographic, and most people who live there are parents and are willing to pay higher local taxes because of the excellent school system (myself included), and hence may not be into hostility for its own sake. There are lots of farms out in the country, though; lots of places where ignorant, hostile, truck-drivin' rednecks could live.
Now that's something I'd like to hear.
Maybe I live in a particularly considerate area: Mahomet (about 10 miles northwest of Champaign) has a pretty well-educated demographic, and most people who live there are parents and are willing to pay higher local taxes because of the excellent school system (myself included), and hence may not be into hostility for its own sake. There are lots of farms out in the country, though; lots of places where ignorant, hostile, truck-drivin' rednecks could live.
Now that's something I'd like to hear.
I notice you said you live near champaign. I'm going to be starting law school at UofI in August, do you have any recomendations for bike routes? Roads I should go on or areas I should stay away from? Thanks.
07-25-05, 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Sincitycycler
I've been riding only 4 months and I go solo all over town (Las Vegas) and so far I've only gotten thumbs up from people at stoplights and the occasion chick yelling "Nice ass, babe!"
07-25-05, 01:53 PM
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I can't imagine anything being worse then GA. I get at least one honk every mile and someone yelling at me every ten. And thats when I'm on a road clearly marked as a bike route it gets worse if I ride elsewhere. Maybe I was spoiled growing up in OR though I can't remember ever having a motorist yell at me there.
07-25-05, 02:02 PM
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I live in a small town in southern Wisconsin and have NEVER had a problem with anyone! This is a great place to ride a bike!
07-25-05, 02:29 PM
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I ride around DC mostly and rarely have problems from a-hole motorists... however, this past weekend during a ride across the Delmarva Penninsula (Maryland/Delaware) I was yelled at and harassed approx 10x. I think it comes down to understanding. Many people in the farming/rural areas aren't cyclists, partially due to the fact that they weren't raised around it, don't have the financial means, etc. People mock what they don't understand. That's my theory at least.
I try my best to blow it off... but man, it really starts to make your blood boil after a few times. Especially the "GIT OFF DA ROAD ******!". Oh, yeah. I get it. I'm wearing spandex so therefore I'm gay. Very original. I just rode 100 miles today. What have you done jackarse?
I try my best to blow it off... but man, it really starts to make your blood boil after a few times. Especially the "GIT OFF DA ROAD ******!". Oh, yeah. I get it. I'm wearing spandex so therefore I'm gay. Very original. I just rode 100 miles today. What have you done jackarse?
07-25-05, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by ckleps
I notice you said you live near champaign. I'm going to be starting law school at UofI in August, do you have any recomendations for bike routes? Roads I should go on or areas I should stay away from? Thanks.
I don't really know of any bike routes - I just roll out the bottom of my driveway and I'm on country backroads in 1/4 of a mile, which is what I prefer. I'm sure you'll have no trouble meeting up with some roadies on campus, though; there's a club for just about anything. I know the University has a racing club if you're into that; I'm sure you can find something else if racing isn't your style. If you have a mountain bike, make sure you get over to Kickapoo state park - it's about 30 miles or so east of Champaign, and has some of the best MTB trails in the state. I live half a mile from Lake of the Woods state park, which has a nice bicycle trail, although it's very short - I like to start from there and use the trail as a warm-up.
You may also want to check out the Prairie Cycle Club. They have cyclists at pretty much all levels; I've been planning on joining myself all summer, just haven't got around to it yet.
As far as places to say away from, I don't think there is really a bad area. The scenery on the backroads is pretty boring, though, if that bothers you; my rides usually go something like corn, corn, corn, tree, corn, corn, beans, corn, corn, roadkill, corn, corn, corn.
As far as shops in the area go, I prefer Champaign Cycle to the others. It's a bit far from campus, but I think the staff is more friendly and helpful than the other shops in town.
Hope this helps,
Bryan
07-25-05, 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by ckleps
I notice you said you live near champaign. I'm going to be starting law school at UofI in August, do you have any recomendations for bike routes? Roads I should go on or areas I should stay away from? Thanks.
07-25-05, 03:13 PM
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Big Ten states like Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and the like.
The people I see as I ride between the wheat, soybean, and cornfields out in the country sometimes even wave........even ones in......*gasp* pickup trucks.....
The other day I was taking a break in one of those "used to be" towns that dot Indiana....(the towns that have couple of houses and a name...big on farming....not much else)...I was laying down in the grass trying to cool off in my Lycra (It was HOT)...and most people who passed actually asked if I was OK...."Fine, just resting...."
Maybe my little slice of the rural midwest is unique.......
Well, the dogs do chase me. Maybe it's just those backward midwestern dogs!
07-25-05, 03:36 PM
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The demographic on obnoxious and dangerous drivers I notice the most -- having commuted in Philadelphia, Boston, central North Carolina, and now Columbus, Ohio -- is suburban/exurban versus urban. The suburbanites are the worst; no shortage of close passes, horns, hollering, threats, etc. That's been true in every place I've lived. Urban drivers are far more accepting of bikes on the road, in my experience. Perhaps it's because they encounter a lot more cyclists (commuters, messengers). Perhaps it's because in an urban environment, any cyclist worth his or her salt can move faster than traffic (ah, the joys of educating the idiot driver when you catch him at the stop light or in the snarled traffic!) so they don't bother hassling with you. Perhaps it's because urbanites have lives that are interesting enough that they don't need to entertain themselves by harassing cyclists. I can ride through the supposedly "worst" sections of Philly, Boston, or Columbus and consistently be treated better by the drivers than I am in the high-falutin' suburbs (including in my own neighborhood 
).
All that said, cycling in the country here is heavenly. Nowhere else I'd rather ride. Very, very rare that you get any slack from a driver.
).All that said, cycling in the country here is heavenly. Nowhere else I'd rather ride. Very, very rare that you get any slack from a driver.
07-25-05, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by BryE
U of I - good choice! I'm an alum myself (physics). Make sure you bring a good lock if you're planning on leaving your bike anywhere but inside your apartment.
I don't really know of any bike routes - I just roll out the bottom of my driveway and I'm on country backroads in 1/4 of a mile, which is what I prefer. I'm sure you'll have no trouble meeting up with some roadies on campus, though; there's a club for just about anything. I know the University has a racing club if you're into that; I'm sure you can find something else if racing isn't your style. If you have a mountain bike, make sure you get over to Kickapoo state park - it's about 30 miles or so east of Champaign, and has some of the best MTB trails in the state. I live half a mile from Lake of the Woods state park, which has a nice bicycle trail, although it's very short - I like to start from there and use the trail as a warm-up.
You may also want to check out the Prairie Cycle Club. They have cyclists at pretty much all levels; I've been planning on joining myself all summer, just haven't got around to it yet.
Thanks for the tips. Someone else recomended champaign cycle so I think I'll check it out. I have a mtb to i'll also make sure to try and get to kickapoo.
As far as places to say away from, I don't think there is really a bad area. The scenery on the backroads is pretty boring, though, if that bothers you; my rides usually go something like corn, corn, corn, tree, corn, corn, beans, corn, corn, roadkill, corn, corn, corn.
As far as shops in the area go, I prefer Champaign Cycle to the others. It's a bit far from campus, but I think the staff is more friendly and helpful than the other shops in town.
Hope this helps,
Bryan
I don't really know of any bike routes - I just roll out the bottom of my driveway and I'm on country backroads in 1/4 of a mile, which is what I prefer. I'm sure you'll have no trouble meeting up with some roadies on campus, though; there's a club for just about anything. I know the University has a racing club if you're into that; I'm sure you can find something else if racing isn't your style. If you have a mountain bike, make sure you get over to Kickapoo state park - it's about 30 miles or so east of Champaign, and has some of the best MTB trails in the state. I live half a mile from Lake of the Woods state park, which has a nice bicycle trail, although it's very short - I like to start from there and use the trail as a warm-up.
You may also want to check out the Prairie Cycle Club. They have cyclists at pretty much all levels; I've been planning on joining myself all summer, just haven't got around to it yet.
Thanks for the tips. Someone else recomended champaign cycle so I think I'll check it out. I have a mtb to i'll also make sure to try and get to kickapoo.
As far as places to say away from, I don't think there is really a bad area. The scenery on the backroads is pretty boring, though, if that bothers you; my rides usually go something like corn, corn, corn, tree, corn, corn, beans, corn, corn, roadkill, corn, corn, corn.
As far as shops in the area go, I prefer Champaign Cycle to the others. It's a bit far from campus, but I think the staff is more friendly and helpful than the other shops in town.
Hope this helps,
Bryan
07-25-05, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 'nother
I live in the heart of Silicon Valley and have had people call me "******" and also tell me to ride on the sidewalk where I belong.
There are idiots (and nice people) wherever you go.
There are idiots (and nice people) wherever you go.
07-25-05, 05:53 PM
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Come for a ride in NYC! You won't hear them yell anything, because they will run you over first! Or, for added entertainment try fighting for some road space with a cabbie who believes in reincarnation, 6Ave in the 40's, for instance.....
07-25-05, 06:10 PM
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Maybe it has to to do with the super wide roads we have here - some of the bike lanes here are 12 ft. wide - or the laid-back west coast attitude (lot of L.A. transplants here), but locals seem to have appreciation for people who are trying to stay in shape. This is an entertainment industry town and there are a ton of 24 Hr. Fitnesses, Gold Gyms and the like - because alot of people are paid to look good from production show types to strippers and cocktail waitresses. There are not many fat ugly people here like back home, that I can say.
07-25-05, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Sincitycycler
It seems that a majority of the a$$hole motorists stories seem to come from forumites who are located in the good old "heartland" of America, the Midwest, supposedly land of "down-to-earth folk" when I see he OP's location.
I was raised in Wisconsin and it was safe conservative place to grow up but I noticed some of alot of these war stories of rager cagers calling riders "******s and fairies", and "get of the ficken sidewalk where you belong!" etc. are from fellow Big Ten states like Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and the like.
There are not many fat ugly people here like back home, that I can say.
Guess I'm glad I left the land of the narrow-minded 20 years ago!
I was raised in Wisconsin and it was safe conservative place to grow up but I noticed some of alot of these war stories of rager cagers calling riders "******s and fairies", and "get of the ficken sidewalk where you belong!" etc. are from fellow Big Ten states like Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and the like.
There are not many fat ugly people here like back home, that I can say.
Guess I'm glad I left the land of the narrow-minded 20 years ago!
Yeah, that's why I never go to the midwest, all the fat ugly people clogging up the streets. Raelly is tough to ride around them. You're really lucky that you got out when you did. 20 years of solid family values, workin a job where you actually build or grow somethin, heck, can you imagine? What a life! No wonder these people have it in for bicyclist.
07-25-05, 08:05 PM
#24
Royal Grand Exalted Pooba
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Eight Miles High
Posts: 1,361
Bikes: Time VXR ProTeam, Look 695, Pinarello Paris Carbon, Ridley Dean, Time ZXRS
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i couldn't agree more with the original poster. and i couldn't disagree more with 'the octopus'. i've never found a more biker-unfriendly place than central ohio. and it's always from pickup trucks. always. it's almost like it's a law. and while the comment about fat people is pretty invalid, it's absolutely true about this place. i travel for a living. and i've always said that if the airport i'm in loses power, and all the gate signs showing their destinations go out, i'll always get back home with no problem; all i have to do is go to the gate with the fattest people in the airport, and that plane is going to columbus.
07-25-05, 08:42 PM
#25
Giant-Riding Ogre
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Virden, IL
Posts: 469
Bikes: 2005 Giant OCR2
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Chicago is for sure a mean place to drive a car. I haven't tried riding a bike there, but my wife is from the suburbs (Maple Park, Aurora, Batavia, Sugar Grove, etc.) and when we go up there and she drives, she turns into a different person. Last time we were there we were in Oswego/15 other towns with no borders and were trying to find our hotel. She's getting cut off left and right, and getting faster and jumping into smaller spaces all the time. Finally a truck whips past her and then right across our nose into the exit for no apparent reason, and she looks back and yet another car is doing the same thing, so she does what any self-respecting Chicago driver would do--she yells "SON OF A *****!" at the top of her lungs right in front of her kids. It was something to see. I hadn't seen her like that since . . . well, since the last time we were in the Chicago area.
When we're actually in Chicago or St. Louis. . . . . I drive.
I haven't been riding long, but here in sleepy little Virden (three coal mines, maybe a dozen churches, maybe half a dozen bars, and a bowling alley) I haven't had anybody do more than wave and smile. We all wave at each other here. My wife thought I knew every person we met for miles when she first moved here. Of course, to her, this is basically Mayberry.
When we're actually in Chicago or St. Louis. . . . . I drive.
I haven't been riding long, but here in sleepy little Virden (three coal mines, maybe a dozen churches, maybe half a dozen bars, and a bowling alley) I haven't had anybody do more than wave and smile. We all wave at each other here. My wife thought I knew every person we met for miles when she first moved here. Of course, to her, this is basically Mayberry.
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