4

3/1/2011 8:45:44 AM

Half you people probably get all road ragey at other drivers every time you get in the car. I know because I do it too. Yet you still think it's ok to get your panties in a bunch over one biker who commits an infraction and harp on it for the next decade.

3/1/2011 9:25:43 AM

This probably has no relevance to any discussion in this thread but...

I live downtown in a decent sized city and ride my bike everywhere downtown as long as it's not pouring down rain. Have to go to the gym? Bike. Pick up a few groceries? Bike. Going to dinner at 4-star restaurant? Bike. Hell, I even rode my bike to a wedding in October. But once I leave downtown...it's all car. Or pretty much once the speed limit goes above 35/40mph, I'm driving.

After traveling around Europe for a couple months, I do find it sad that big cities in the US don't embrace cyclists as much as they should. It's obviously not feasible in rural areas and cities that are more sprawled out, but a lot could be done to make cities more bike friendly. It would nice if we could try and model Europe more in their ways of mass transit and how they treat/promote/protect cyclists.

3/1/2011 9:57:04 AM

Yeah, human nature and all. People probably see 1000s of cars during their commute, no one stands out regardless of the stupid things they do. Best case the incident rate of stupid things done is low worst case the incident rate of stupid things done is moderate but perceived as low.

It's probably much rarer to see a cyclist on the road, so they automatically stand out and you'll remember them. When they do stupid things you'll remember them that much more. A couple of cyclists do something stupid and pretty soon you'll form the opinion that all cyclists are like that.

Quote :

"I wanna buy a tank and just casually run over cars that are stuck in traffic. "

Feel free to do this to these guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B-Ox0ZmVIU

These guys set out to block off the highway in some misguided attempt to prove a point - kinda like the critical mass people.

3/1/2011 10:05:45 AM

THIS ONE TIME A CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST HIT ME AND I'VE BEEN ANGRY ABOUT IT EVER SINCE. THE YEAR WAS 1997 AND I WAS TURNING LEFT FROM ANDERSON ONTO SIX FORKS ROAD...WHEN I BLEW MY HORN HE SMILED AND WAVED

[Edited on March 1, 2011 at 10:14 AM. Reason : L]

3/1/2011 10:13:27 AM

Quote :

"For many cyclists, the only time they will ever feel comfortable on roads is when they are riding in a large pack"

lol, so much fro that idea

3/1/2011 4:27:50 PM

i'd like to point out i own a car and use it mostly when i need to leave the city or if i'm in a time crisis

that being said exclusive drivers need to suck a big fat cock, you are not the "default" nor should you be treated as such

3/1/2011 4:43:20 PM

I take the Metro to work too but I recognize a pack of assholes blocking the road when I see one.

3/1/2011 4:49:36 PM

Quote :

"I take the Metro to work too but I recognize a pack of assholes blocking the road when I see one."

Yeah and usually they're in cars

3/1/2011 4:52:08 PM

Quote :

"These guys set out to block off the highway in some misguided attempt to prove a point - kinda like the critical mass people."

what a bunch of smug douchebags trying to be clever

3/1/2011 4:54:15 PM

Watched an idiot bicyclist yesterday pass a bunch of cars waiting to make a left at a red light, blow through the red light to turn left, and almost get creamed by a car that had the green light. People like him are what give bicyclists a bad rep

3/1/2011 4:55:55 PM

A person did a dumb thing in traffic etc etc

3/1/2011 4:56:41 PM

Quote :

"Watched an idiot bicyclist yesterday pass a bunch of cars waiting to make a left at a red light, blow through the red light to turn left, and almost get creamed by a car that had the green light. People like him are what give bicyclists a bad rep"

Stuff like this cracks me up when 80% of automobile drivers drive like idiots and do stupid shit. But the "cyclist" always sticks out.

3/1/2011 4:59:01 PM

The difference is if a car did that, they're an idiot too but would probably live to tell the tale. If the bicyclist gets hit at that speed they're most likely dead.

3/1/2011 4:59:59 PM

I don't see how your intelligence in traffic should correlate with your choice of vehicle, except perhaps the fairly obvious conclusion that enough people drive cars such that if you drive one, you're probably dumb (frequency claim)

3/1/2011 5:03:16 PM

Quote :

"The difference is if a car did that, they're an idiot too but would probably live to tell the tale. If the bicyclist gets hit at that speed they're most likely dead."

No difference to you...apparently you dislike the cyclist.

3/1/2011 5:04:44 PM

intentionally obtuse troll versus hyperbole troll

TROLL WARS

EVERY 10TH POST ON TWW MENTIONS THE WORD TROLL

TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL

3/1/2011 5:07:12 PM

Every tenth post?

But Captain it has to be higher.

3/1/2011 5:12:06 PM

I had no idea there was so much animosity between cyclists and drivers.

I have never cared about cyclists, and when I ride a rental bike on vacation, I have never cared about drivers.

But you people, you people are insane.

[Edited on March 1, 2011 at 6:05 PM. Reason : Also, that wasn't critical mass. It was like 50 people.]

3/1/2011 6:04:11 PM

What if you just hate people on roads in general?

3/1/2011 6:06:19 PM

Quote :

"that being said exclusive drivers need to suck a big fat cock"

dude...there is a gas station/convenience store 1 mile from my house. There is a grocery store and a few other little things in a strip mall about 5 miles away. For most places I'd need to go, I'm looking at >10 miles. I think work is nearly 25 miles away.

Most people don't live and work in a downtown area where it's really feasible to use a bicycle for much of anything other than recreation/exercise. More power to the handful of you in a position to ride a bicycle for transportation, but we're talking about a small percentage of people, here.

Quote :

"you are not the "default""

Umm, yeah...you pretty much are.

3/1/2011 6:13:27 PM

Quote :

"PACIFIC BYCICLE MANIFESTATION"

3/1/2011 6:21:29 PM

To be clear, I think I can safely say that I wouldn't have plowed through the riders.

But, given the right set of circumstances, I would have exited my vehicle and attempted a physical altercation. I would have gotten my butt whipped, of course.

I mean, many of you talk about how you do use your cars to drive out of the city on a long distance trip. Well, let's say you get an emergency call--your mother who lives a couple hours outside the city was rushed to the hospital. And you hop in your car to go see her, and then run into these critical mass people. Or your child is sick, and you're trying to get her to the hospital. Or suppose there's no emergency--it's just you and your bros driving out the city to go up to the mountain and do some mountain biking (HA!), and you run into these guys. Would you not be extremely angry?

I'm an overly empathetic person. And I can't image how enraged I would be if a few dozen people decided to block the path to my dying mother. On the other hand, I'm trying to grasp the perspectives of the riders, and I'm having trouble...they seem to be utterly obsessed, self-righteous individuals with some possible persecutory delusions. I love the environment, and I'm a big fan of healthy/sustainable living initiatives (not a big fan of the current conditions in many places), but these critical mass folks are precisely what I hate--the self-righteous, uncompromising, myopic pricks who are willing to inconvenience hundreds of innocent strangers just to show everybody, as in "Oh, we'll show you!"

Also, whenever anybody starts talking about "moral superiority," it's game over for me. I'd love to hear about my moral obligation to the environment but not so much about how I'm inferior. Plus, I think it's wrong to rely on "moral superiority" as a justification for harming others. That's what crazy people do, and it's also an excellent way to kick off some actual persecution. Anyway, I want my abortion clinics, my violent video games, and the ability to get wherever the road will take me without having my path needlessly and purposefully blocked by some cycling enthusiasts.

3/1/2011 8:52:25 PM

You wanna know another name for critical mass? Traffic.


If it were a bunch of motorists blocking the roads because of an accident, or because of roadwork, or because of the police/ambulance, people wouldn't care. But when it's a bunch of bicyclists? Fuck 'em, they should die, right?

3/1/2011 9:30:52 PM

I want everyone to know I am hitting every single key on my keyboard with incredible force so that I can successfully come across as angry.

I also typed this at 493 wpm I am so worked up.

3/1/2011 9:32:41 PM

^^They are very clearly not the same thing at all.

Traffic is not on purpose. Traffic is not slow on purpose. Traffic doesn't have its other traffic buddies cork the road so it can block access, cause more traffic, and creep through red lights. Traffic doesn't consider itself morally superior. And, in the moment, traffic is not needless.

And no, cyclists should not die!!!! Nobody is saying they should be killed!!! I can't believe I'm saying this, but, JesusHChrist, you need to step off the cross.

3/1/2011 9:52:40 PM

a biker hit my car today

dude passed me on the right, in my lane, and clipped my mirror and folded it forward. i rolled down my window and told him to get his smug, hipster, fuck face off of the road until he learns how to obey the laws. dude got off his bike and walked to my drivers side door and kinda leaned in (window was cracked). I opened it, got out, got in his face, and told him to do something about it. I said I was happy to wait for the cops. He road away on his bike.

Stupid hippie hipster fuck faces

3/1/2011 10:00:20 PM

^^The point is, people don't lose their shit when they get stuck behind an 18 wheeler, or a farmer carrying crates of chickens, or behind a school bus, or a DUI checkpoint, or whatever. But they get behind some bicyclists, and all of a sudden they are assholes who don't deserve to be on the rode. I'd agree that bicyclists on the whole should be in the right lane to help with the flow of traffic, but let's be real. Most people don't want them on the road, period, which is stupid.

Nobody owes you a timely commute. Traffic is traffic, and it's hardly anticipated.

[Edited on March 1, 2011 at 10:19 PM. Reason : ]

3/1/2011 10:18:05 PM

That is fucking awesome

3/1/2011 10:18:26 PM

if i got behind a group of cars going slow as shit to make a point about their right to use the road, i would get pretty pissed at them

3/1/2011 10:19:41 PM

Exactly.

These fucking dipshits do everything in their power to piss people off, then act like they're being persecuted when people get mad at them.

describing Critical Mass riders as "traffic" is like describing them getting run over by that VW as an "unfortunate accident."

[Edited on March 1, 2011 at 11:05 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on March 1, 2011 at 11:06 PM. Reason : ]

3/1/2011 11:03:15 PM

Quote :

"a biker hit my car today dude passed me on the right, in my lane, and clipped my mirror and folded it forward. i rolled down my window and told him to get his smug, hipster, fuck face off of the road until he learns how to obey the laws. dude got off his bike and walked to my drivers side door and kinda leaned in (window was cracked). I opened it, got out, got in his face, and told him to do something about it. I said I was happy to wait for the cops. He road away on his bike. Stupid hippie hipster fuck faces"

this definitely happened

3/1/2011 11:06:48 PM

I love to ride my bike

I love to drive my car

I also use both in their proper places



Does this mean I can drive on greenways.

3/1/2011 11:10:43 PM

Cars are not allowed on greenways just as bikes are not allowed on freeways.

Both are, however, legally allowed to use most other roads.

3/1/2011 11:13:34 PM

Quote :

"I'd agree that bicyclists on the whole should be in the right lane to help with the flow of traffic, but let's be real. Most people don't want them on the road, period, which is stupid."

3/1/2011 11:22:49 PM

The only statement they were making was how many of us can get plowed over on one street

3/1/2011 11:26:23 PM

Quote :

"A paid registration for biking should be required on any road where the speed limit is greater than 15 mph"

3/1/2011 11:38:23 PM

Quote :

"people wouldn't care"

bull fucking shit
i drive almost 700 miles a week for work and believe you me
on 85 and 95 i get fucking irritated at people not obeying slower traffic keep right. most of the time the far right lane is the fastest b/c people dont get over and just keep shit backed up

3/1/2011 11:38:36 PM

Quote :

"JesusHChrist: Most people don't want them on the road, period, which is stupid."

What are you talking about?!?!?! I've noticed that people from all walks of life ride bikes for a variety of reasons. Can you describe this sizable ("most") demographic of people who want bike riders off the road? I mean, yes, almost everybody complains a bit on the very, very rare occasion that there are fives guys all decked out for a recreational trip in their performance cycling outfits, riding side-by-side down Western during rush hour. But I don't believe that there's some considerable contingent of people who want bike commuters off the road.

[Edited on March 2, 2011 at 12:06 AM. Reason : Nobody wants to hurt you.]

3/2/2011 12:06:10 AM

http://www.hulu.com/watch/210889/portlandia-bike-rider

3/2/2011 10:02:08 AM

haha I've wanted to see that show since I heard about it on Ron&Fez, but that clip just settled it. I wish they had whole episodes online available for streaming

3/2/2011 10:12:01 AM

Quote :

" What are you talking about?!?!?! I've noticed that people from all walks of life ride bikes for a variety of reasons. Can you describe this sizable ("most") demographic of people who want bike riders off the road? I mean, yes, almost everybody complains a bit on the very, very rare occasion that there are fives guys all decked out for a recreational trip in their performance cycling outfits, riding side-by-side down Western during rush hour. "

Do you ride bikes on roads often? Bikers are harassed constantly. Have you ever had someone throw a bottle at your car, or try to run your car off the road?

Quote :

"But I don't believe that there's some considerable contingent of people who want bike commuters off the road."

Did you even read this thread??

Just so we're clear, I don't know anything about Critical Mass, and I don't have an opinion on it either way. Seems like it differs a lot from city to city.

3/2/2011 10:12:14 AM

Quote :

"if i got behind a group of cars going slow as shit to make a point about their right to use the road, i would get pretty pissed at them"

3/2/2011 10:16:23 AM

^Yeah I posted that earlier in the thread. I still hope karma catches up to those jerks.

[Edited on March 2, 2011 at 10:25 AM. Reason : -]

3/2/2011 10:24:41 AM

oh, sorry i didnt see you posted that earlier.

the only difference between this and critical mass is that they aren't doing it in a lot of different cities. I'm sure if these people started doing this more places they would start to see some violence just like critical mass does

3/2/2011 10:29:41 AM

Quote :

"^^The point is, people don't lose their shit when they get stuck behind an 18 wheeler, or a farmer carrying crates of chickens, or behind a school bus, or a DUI checkpoint, or whatever. But they get behind some bicyclists, and all of a sudden they are assholes who don't deserve to be on the rode."

Gotta disagree. I can't speak for "most people" (nor can you) but when I'm driving I get equally annoyed by a school bus, a tractor, or a group of cyclists (since those things seem to be equivalent in speed/annoyance).

Difference is school buses generally don't spend that long on any one road, and tractors usually realize they are being annoying and pull off occasionally if they have to go a long way.

3/2/2011 10:32:26 AM

^^^^I like how at the end of the video he said it is dangerous because they are obeying the law- just because they were going the speed limit does not make what they did legal, or responsible. bunch of douchenozzles, I say

[Edited on March 2, 2011 at 10:33 AM. Reason : ^]

3/2/2011 10:33:09 AM

I think the government should employ pace cars to drive the speed limit on major highways.

3/2/2011 10:38:12 AM

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/02/new_york_bike_l.php

if cyclists want to use the road just like cars, they should register their vehicles and get bike licenses and follow the laws. NY is considering making some of that a reality.

3/2/2011 10:41:07 AM

well if you ride on the road, you are supposed to obey the laws of the road, and can get ticketed (I posted an experience I had with an unknowing biker earlier in this thread). I just wish cops would give tickets to inconsiderate bikers

3/2/2011 10:43:06 AM