worker4youth

I thought this was a thoughtful, well-reasoned post:

https://blog.lib.umn.edu/thil0020/car...12.html#034128

"Moreover, it's foolish to continually blame the drivers for their own bad driving. I'd be better off to use my head to knock down a brick wall. The situation is a simple one - driving is a birthright in our society, and even the worst drivers who habitually abuse that right get a second chance. And a third... And, bad drivers aside, as long as there are cars on the road, even good drivers, the best drivers, will make mistakes. Momentary lapses of attention or judgement that end in tragedy. The news is full of stories like this. Every single day. We cyclists best get used to it."

cog_nate 

While I agree that it's not much use to engage in an after-the-fact screamfest at a car that cuts you off, the blame line does have to end somewhere. Let's be honest, a lot of times yelling is the only way to avoid getting pulped, regardless of whether a motorist is deliberately crowding the edge of the road or just unaware of his/her surroundings. I've been bike commuting for about the same amount of time that this guy has, and I've had to yell twice simply to avoid being hit. Nothing obscene, just a loud "HEY!". Nothing particularly wrong with that, I don't think.

CB HI

Don't "blame the drivers for their own bad driving" - what a load of BS!

peregrine

I don't want to just hang my head and accept my fate. I don't yell obsenities at drivers but like cog nate I've had to yell to be noticed.

"We cyclists best get used to it" I wouldn't say get used to it, but expect it. I can expect but NOT accept and excuse crappy, distracted, inconsiderate driving just because it happens.

mechBgon

Our accountant has this taped to her computer monitor, dead-center:

Never assume malice for what stupidity can explain.

Az B

I don't think he means "don't blame them" but rather it's futile to make them take responsibility.

I've been riding bicycles and motorcycles for many years and I used to try to educate drivers. First with violence and threats, and later with reason. The simple fact of the matter is that neither works... there is nothing that you can say or do that will change these people's behaviour. There's only two motivations that work... inconvenience (read monetary) and self awareness (really, really rare).

It's a shame, but it's the reality. After having lived in Europe and having been treated far better on any two wheeled transport, I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to move back. I love America, but our society is about to hit critical mass for ignorance and self righteous indignation.

Az

oboeguy

How about yelling at wrong-way cyclists?

joejack951

I disagree that all drivers can't be changed. I do agree that they won't all change at once or because of something one person says but I personally have changed the aggressive behavior of at least two drivers that I see on my commute. One just took getting used to seeing me and the other took a screaming match. But they both pass me with much more room and no horn now.

genec

About to? Didn't the last election confirm that?

chipcom 

Actually, the problem goes much deeper than just the drivers, it's our whole warped society. You can't blame a dawg for peeing on the rug when nobody ever bothered to housebreak him.

I made the mistake of riding to the shopping mall to pick up a gift certificate tonight, so I am not real thrilled with drivers or humans in general at the moment. Sometimes it's real hard to see anything remaining of the Christmas spirit.

genec

Amen. I made the mistake of striking out on Saturday... couldn't find parking. Went home, went on the net, bought what I wanted, (paid extra for speedy delivery) and then went for a bike ride... avoiding the malls.

banerjek

If you're going to have doggies, you should expect to tear out your carpets and deal with muddy footprints, holes in the back yard, chewed up stuff, and other issues. Educating motorists is a good idea, but anyone who thinks we'll ever be able to not be on constant alert for wackos and clueless people is living in a dream world.....


Burglars lurking on BF should take note of my canine welcoming committee. Someone tried to enter uninvited a couple years back. Lost a size 14 shoe before he jumped over the fence.

huhenio

I will start quoting you, and hire you for making analogies.

Dog peeing rug thing works for me ...

khuon

If I were to get angry at every amount of road stupidity then I would have to say that the amount of anger directed towards motorists would be proportionally equal to that directed at cyclists. I see the same percentage of people doing dumb things whether they're behind a steering wheel or handlebars. My conclusion is that a large amount of people simply do not know how to behave on the roads regardless of the vehicle they're operating.

vegcrow

Almost every day. A simple "Wrong way!" as I pass them.

I reserve the right to be angry at motorists. I may not yell at them or make obscene gestures, but I will certainly allow myself the right to feel angry. It gets the blood pumping.

genec

But on the flip side, if you are doing everything right (and those dogs DO look happy) you wouldn't expect to be barked at for no apparent reason.

Certainly my dogs never bark at me unless I have the chew toys and we are playing.

I don't believe motorists are "playing" with me when they yell and honk at me... in spite of my working hard to fit into their world.

chipcom 

I ain't skeered, I got Thor, Dawg of Thunder!

2manybikes

Hi Thor!

531phile 

so true. so true.

oboeguy

So who should I have gotten mad at last night? A family was double-parked in the bike lane on Clinton St. in Brooklyn Heights, unloading a car (thus sticking their arses out past the car to boot). I approached with caution as a car was flying up behind me when a wrong way cyclists flew past the car in the bike lane straight at me at high speed. Do I get pissed at the idiot double parker, the wrong way cyclist or the unaware motorist?

khuon

You have two choices in such a situation. Get pissed at all of them. Or get pissed at none of them. Be a model of equal opportunity.

Blue Order

Having driven in Brooklyn, the only way to unload your car most times is to double park. Circling around for an hour looking for parking multiple blocks away from your home isn't a realistic option for loading/unloading your car. The guy flying up the street is an annoyance, but a common one. The wrong-way cyclist, however, is the worst offender in this situation, in my opinion. The cyclist is the one who turned a random string of annoyances into a near collision.

oboeguy

Dingdingdingding!!! WINNAR!! That's what I did. I grew-up there so I know what it's like to try to park. Still, in that narrow stretch the family should have done what I do in my 'hood (Washington Heights). Pull-up to the nearest fire hydrant and use an "old lady" shopping cart to get stuff to their apartment (yes, I think it's fine to stand at a fire hyrdant).

Savas

There something about bike riding that when a car does mess up, I take it far more personally than if I were driving another car.

-=(8)=-

Ha Ha
Im a peak season Temp for UPS right now....
Thor, dawg 'o skeeriness would have me throwing smoke off of my heals
jumping back in the truck


Another reason not to yell at people is that you might realize you know them
2 seconds into your flip out, as has happened to me about 3 times in my
illustrious cycling carreer. Very embarrasing.