baj32161

DC's Tony Kornheiser! Bashing cyclists and new lane
On cycling:

Kevin: Reading: "The center of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol soon may be reserved for just two things: the president's inauguration and people riding bicycles. A pair of bike lanes are destined to grace the middle of one of the country's most fabled boulevards, an avenue that ranks as a destination with Broadway, Fifth Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard and Bourbon Street. The two lanes will be part of an expanding network of dedicated bicycle lanes in the District, soon to include L, I and Ninth streets NW and more of 15th Street NW. "
Tony Kornheiser: When I read about this early this morning, and I just assumed this would be one of those dedicated bike lanes...
Kevin: To the right
Other Dude: Like you get at the beach, just a little strip
TK: ...on the right hand side, where bicycles are free to go - maybe two by two, but mostly one by one.
Kevin: And they never use them
TK: And I'm fine with those. Then I heard on Channel 4 that these things were going to remove an entire lane of automobiles, which last time I looked the roads were made for automobiles, and that they were going to somehow be in the middle and not on the sides and we were somehow going to be dominated, as if this was Beijing, by hundreds of thousands of bicyclists. And I don't really care what they do on Pennsylvania Avenue, if they can't ride a car on that anyway, but how are they going to get the bikes down there? They're going to have to go through other streets. I think this is a terrible, terrible idea. I don't mind those one lanes, but you get in Rock Creek Park and 3 or 4 of these people start riding abreast, and I swear to you it's all you can do to not RUN THEM DOWN, like Wile Coyote's, run them over. Just stay on the right. Stay on the right. I'm happy to share the road with you, but by share the road what I mean is you have room on the right and I have room on the road. Get the hell out of my way. Am I wrong on this?
Woman: Here's the problem I have. I'll give you bike lanes if we open up Pennsylvania Avenue on one side of the White House and the other street behind...You add this and it's going to make it even worse worse.
OD: These chesty cyclists, I mean they take that right lane and they're already moving over to the middle.
TK: And they all wear...my God...with the little water bottle in the back and their stupid hats and their shiny shorts, they are the same disgusting poseurs that come out in the middle of a snow storm with cross country skiing on your block. Run them down. I mean, let them use the right I'm OK with that.
OD: Or they can ride on the top of the curb
TK: I don't take my car and ride on the sidewalk becaue I understand that's not for my car. Why do these people think that these roads were built for bicycles?
Kevin: Because they're crunchy granola, they just want us to live in a cleaner world.
TK: I know someone's going to hate me for this, am I wrong?
Woman: I'm all for people truly sharing the road. I'm all for people getting their exercise.
Kevin: They don't share it now.
TK: They don't share the road. They dominate the road. They dare you to run them down.
Kevin: Yes they do.
TK: And then when you do, they get angry. What is that about?
Kevin: If you honk, they slow down...in front of you
TK: And so you tap them. I'm not saying you kill them. I'm saying you tap them. Tap them once.
Kevin: Just a spill, not a fatal spill, but a little spill.
TK: If you're not rubbing, you're not racing right? So you pop them a little bit and see what happens.
Kevin: They're so annoying. This is a Fenty move. He's a big cyclist.
Woman: With his security detail of course.
TK: But again, why can't they just.. what's wrong with the little lane on the right. I don't drive in the little lane on the right.
Woman: Here's the argument they would make - because the little lane on the right is often covered up by cars that are parked at the wrong time of day and buses that have pulled into the path...
OD: Tell them to take Metro
TK: Really? Then they can veer out a little bit. My objection to them is when the ride in the middle of the road. They give you the finger. They do all the time. They think they own it. Because they think that you think that you own it. I don't think I own it. I own it. I have a car. I have a large powerful car compared to your stupid little bicycle.
OD: It seems a little discriminatory to me. What about unicyclists? Why can't they have a lane
TK. They can have the same lane on the right. Anything with less than four wheels, or three wheels...
Kevin: ...can use the right lane, if there is one. If there isn't one, take the Metro.
(Group makes fun of segways)
TK: so the whole city is going to be just for bicycles? I tell you, it's Beijing. It's going to be buses and bicycles. That's all there's going to be.
Kevin: There are plenty of paths. The Capitol Crescent Trail gets you to Georgetown and then you can take the Metro from there. Get on a bus.
TK: Yes. What is their problem?

RacerOne

I don't really care for bike lanes either.

ElJamoquio

Trolls live on the radio, too.

kindablue

I just came back from DC and I was surprised on how aggressive the drivers were over there. Its gotta take a cyclist with balls (can I say that here?) to ride on some of busier roads.

As for the commentary, some people just respond to conflict with aggression (both radio announcers and cyclists, lol). I suppose that TK and OD were pushing the envelope b/c it helps with ratings, or at least publicity.

However, I can imagine back to the days before I rode and put myself in the driver's shoes - it is quite annoying to have someone slow traffic down on the road. Plus if you don't understand why cyclists ride on the road, it just fuels the frustration. Just the other week I had to explain to one of my classmates why I ride on the roads and not the sidewalks - she didn't realize how dangerous a bike on the sidewalk could be.

Personally, I'd like to see bike lanes everywhere - sure it would cost some money, but everyone would be happy.

As for shutting down Penn Ave., wouldn't that just add to more DC traffic congestion? Anyone from DC care to comment on that one?

Yaniel

so this guy is advising people to hit cyclists? and he still has a job?

Quel

It's DC. Everyone is self-important and in a gigantic hurry all the time. I see as many cyclists riding like jerks as not. I see as many people driving like jerks as not. All to get into the office 5 minutes faster. I could live here another 20 years and not understand it.

tuxbailey

I am ashamed. I used to be a TK fan because he writes pretty good columns.

Did you know that TK is afraid of flying in airplanes?

baj32161

I was kind of torn by this, as I like TK as well. He has quite a wit and him and Michael Wilbon on ESPN's "Pardon The Interruption" feed off of each other very well. I have to say, however, that I was a bit angry at this though. I seem to remember a thread a couple of years back about a California raido jock doing something similar...am I correct?

Cheers,

Brian J.

AEO

who is TK?
why did this spill into road?

mzeffex 

Well, uhhh, I don't know who that is, but I don't like him.

BarracksSi

Not really, no. That part doesn't really go anywhere, just between the White House and the Capitol. Constitution and Independence are basically arterials in and out of that part of downtown and can get stupidly busy. I've never seen bumper-to-bumper traffic on Penn Ave. I can't even think of a great reason to drive on it other than to drive a tour bus, get to a precious few parking garages or to just go across.

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...33.68,,0,-1.69

It would be nice to close it to pedestrian/bike traffic. BUT, it's no Times Square. There are a couple memorials, a small handful of restaurants, and one or two museums. As it is now, there just isn't anything that makes a walking visit worthwhile.

Now -- is it that desolate because of all the space being used for vehicle traffic, or is it simply almost useless?

What's not even known by every DC resident is that it already gets closed now and then for various gatherings. Traffic in that area doesn't get any worse when those festivals are held.

ElJamoquio

Thought it was Minnesota, but yes.

RacerOne

This thread is going places, should have stayed in A&S, ****x2.

UmneyDurak

Exactly. I wonder if TK (who ever that idiot is) would like it if I punch him in a face. I mean not hard, I won't use brass knuckles or anything, but you know just a tap. lol

alpha_bravo

Kornheiser's been in rare form recently. He just got suspended by ESPN for 2 weeks for some comments he made about Sports Center anchor Hannah Storm.

Do any of you guys watch Pardon the Interruption? Kornheiser routinely goes out of his way to offend people although not to Skip Bayless extent, dedicated viewers might remember his rant on Canadians a few years back. While hosting Monday Night football he insulted Hispanics. TK takes his PTI persona way over the top on his radio show. If anyone's dumb enough to take what he says seriously and begin implementing it in their real lives, it won't just be cyclists who are in a lot of trouble.

kudude

1) If it was posted in A&S, why double post it here?
2) I honk at the ****ing entitled cyclists here when they blow their right of way..... and get the finger. I then want to run them over and explain I ride more than them and they are ****ing everything up for me.

Jasper Storm

+1

scotch

Kornheiser is a d-bag. Who cares what he thinks.

merlinextraligh

We have still haven't gotten over the "Waffle House" column down here. Kornheiser is dead to us.