Motorist Perception & Behavior
05-12-19, 01:03 PM
#51
Lopsided biped
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 737
Bikes: 2017 Day 6 Cyclone (the Buick); 2015 Simcoe Deluxe (the Xebec); Street Strider 3i (the not-a-bike); GreenSpeed Anura (the Black Swan)
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 316 Post(s)
Liked 160 Times
in
97 Posts
Us-es and Thems. This thread falls perfectly in line with Behave, by Robert Sapolsky.
05-12-19, 03:19 PM
#52
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
Could be... when you're on your expensive road bike in full kit, they perceive you to be a holier-than-thou with a better than average income. While on the other hand, riding the ol' Schwinn Varsity dressed in jeans and t-shirt, they think you're some Joe down on his luck that can't afford a car, and feel sorry for ya. 
Unless you're wearing black slacks and a white shirt, then you're a Mormon, and you get extra points for hitting those guys
It's not about visibility, so much as being different from 'normal.' A guy on a bike in a hi-viz vest, with a bunch of blinky lights hits a little of the 'wierd-o' factor for most people. They give you room, because their 'alligator brain' says "this is unusual! Be Wary!"
This type of rider is often a borderline VC, and may be found in traffic environments where it would be unusual to find a cyclist.
We have one around here, a beardy old dude who has a couple of different 'bents and some sort of partly-faired bakfiets. He rides in traffic i'd be wary of on a motorcycle. People give him lots of room.
Last edited by Ironfish653; 05-12-19 at 05:04 PM.
05-13-19, 10:06 AM
#53
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,529 Times
in
917 Posts
Well, yeah. But that would make one segment of the population the babysitter of the other segment. In fact, safety should be divided between the two. Being aware of your environment is not just the responsibility of the other person. Rather, something that should be everybody's duty.
05-13-19, 11:33 AM
#55
☢
05-13-19, 11:53 AM
#56
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,116
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1789 Post(s)
Liked 1,629 Times
in
933 Posts
Yeah, I know it's not true in real life. People are people & for the most part we're all equally unimportant nobodies except in our own individual world. But among drivers that have a chip on their shoulder, in their perception, it's true. Theres just nothing for them to act against. So they just go by. Maybe they'll mention a word to their 7 year-old passenger to study in school or something...If they take notice at all.
I'd like to back out of this thread now. I have enough of these conversations with people who come to me around the lunch table in real life. Sometimes it's taxing. Sometimes I change a mind. In anycase, it's fatiguing, so I'm going to let it be.
Aaron
I'd like to back out of this thread now. I have enough of these conversations with people who come to me around the lunch table in real life. Sometimes it's taxing. Sometimes I change a mind. In anycase, it's fatiguing, so I'm going to let it be.
Aaron
05-13-19, 12:06 PM
#57
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
05-13-19, 11:57 PM
#58
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,529 Times
in
917 Posts
05-14-19, 07:13 AM
#60
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
Well giving in to bullies is one way to avoid confrontation; and fear is a great motivator. Thing is, the more you give in, the more they take. I wouldn't want to live like that.
I don't have the want or need to exert my right to have the world conform to the way i think it should be to everyone I interact with.
That just takes too much energy.
I'm all about making things go as smoothly for me and those around me.
Do I take the lane? Sure, when I need to, but I will also let the cars through as soon as it's safe for me to do so, and not a meter longer.
I used to ride very assertively when i rode motos, and had the advantage of size and speed.
On the velo, not so much.
You have to be water; A Leaf on the Wind.
05-14-19, 08:53 AM
#61
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,529 Times
in
917 Posts
You know what takes the wind out of a bully? Ignoring them.
I don't have the want or need to exert my right to have the world conform to the way i think it should be to everyone I interact with.
That just takes too much energy.
I'm all about making things go as smoothly for me and those around me.
Do I take the lane? Sure, when I need to, but I will also let the cars through as soon as it's safe for me to do so, and not a meter longer.
I used to ride very assertively when i rode motos, and had the advantage of size and speed.
On the velo, not so much.
You have to be water; A Leaf on the Wind.
I don't have the want or need to exert my right to have the world conform to the way i think it should be to everyone I interact with.
That just takes too much energy.
I'm all about making things go as smoothly for me and those around me.
Do I take the lane? Sure, when I need to, but I will also let the cars through as soon as it's safe for me to do so, and not a meter longer.
I used to ride very assertively when i rode motos, and had the advantage of size and speed.
On the velo, not so much.
You have to be water; A Leaf on the Wind.
As for the rest; ride your own ride, man. Do what makes you happy.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
turbo1889
Vehicular Cycling (VC)
19
01-03-14 06:56 AM
GraysonPeddie
Advocacy & Safety
10
06-23-11 06:22 AM
