Conn. vs. NY bicycle acceptance difference on tour
#1
The Drive Side is Within
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Conn. vs. NY bicycle acceptance difference on tour
We just toured the North Shore of Long Island and the Connecticut Shoreline. Though separated by a few miles of water or highway, the driving culture was completely different. Narrow, heavily traveled “country” roads on the north shore and north fork saw universal competent passing even with fast driving.
Connecticut was terrifying. Horns, screaming, cutting off me or my kids to run us off the road — tailgating inches off my back wheel and leaning on the horn... and it really seemed like every other driver had an angry, enraged look on their face, even when we were just resting with our tour bikes on the side of the road. Restaurants and state parks had a similar difference in vibe.
Why are these states so different?
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
#2
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We just toured the North Shore of Long Island and the Connecticut Shoreline. Though separated by a few miles of water or highway, the driving culture was completely different. Narrow, heavily traveled “country” roads on the north shore and north fork saw universal competent passing even with fast driving.
Connecticut was terrifying. Horns, screaming, cutting off me or my kids to run us off the road — tailgating inches off my back wheel and leaning on the horn... and it really seemed like every other driver had an angry, enraged look on their face, even when we were just resting with our tour bikes on the side of the road. Restaurants and state parks had a similar difference in vibe.
Why are these states so different?
Let's just focus on the other 99% of drivers who are not like that..
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#3
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It really was 99% plus who were nice and courteous on the NY State streets. I’m trying to figure out what is wrong with my home state.
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#4
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Connecticut was terrifying. Horns, screaming, cutting off me or my kids to run us off the road — tailgating inches off my back wheel and leaning on the horn... and it really seemed like every other driver had an angry, enraged look on their face, even when we were just resting with our tour bikes on the side of the road. Restaurants and state parks had a similar difference in vibe.
Why are these states so different?
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#5
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Who knows? I see this within the same metro region. For me it's the difference between urban and suburban. And with suburban, I'm not even talking about getting on the major arteries, people just generally seem more intolerant of anything that causes them to deviate from their current speed and track. I know there are people that perceive the city to be unsafe. Honestly, maybe it's familiarity, but I don't feel unsafe in areas life long suburban dwellers would feel uncomfortable due to crime rate or perceived crime rate. It varies quite a bit by neighborhood. I would say threatened by bad actors or motorists in the city: 0 in recent memory, I don't recall anything blatant ever, but 40+ yrs is a long time for making an accurate absolute statement. Threatened by motorists in suburbs: lost count of minor infractions years ago (multiple per year), 3 significant infractions, 1 I would consider attempted assault. I'm only counting things I believe to be intentional. There's certainly some incidental things, very few relatively, that have happened in urban setting; but last summer two folks, two separate incidences actually went out of their way to apologize for a 'near miss' they perceived to be their fault. I'm not talking about a sheepish wave, I mean along the lines of 'I'm so sorry I really didn't see you there.' or 'Dude, I didn't realize you coming so fast my bad.'
I cycle in Bridgeport and New Haven often for pleasure and for commuting. And it is the suburban towns where I feel — with reasons and experiences
like yours — much less safe.
I did have one bad experience in New Haven when a driver rolled his window down, pointed at me, and said “sidewalk.” I pointed at him and said two words back about where he belonged. My assumption about his homophobia was correct. The ensuing curb jumping chase was a bit scary. Luckily we turned a corner to a taped off police investigation of a shooting. So I was safe lol
Last edited by Standalone; 07-18-20 at 12:53 PM.
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#6
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I lived in CT for a couple of years. Made many good bicycling friends. But in general, I find the folks in CT to be the least friendly folks of the 5 states I have lived. I also found the motorists to be the most aggressive and many of the roads having short site lines and many curves.
The only other State I felt the same way is S. Carolina. I do find the people there to be very friendly but not when they get behind the wheel.
One last comment. In all of my touring, which is nearly every state, when I do talk to a local, they almost always say 'our drivers are rude and dangerous, be careful' I think it really says we need to move to protected bike lanes.
The only other State I felt the same way is S. Carolina. I do find the people there to be very friendly but not when they get behind the wheel.
One last comment. In all of my touring, which is nearly every state, when I do talk to a local, they almost always say 'our drivers are rude and dangerous, be careful' I think it really says we need to move to protected bike lanes.
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#7
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I lived in CT for a couple of years. Made many good bicycling friends. But in general, I find the folks in CT to be the least friendly folks of the 5 states I have lived. I also found the motorists to be the most aggressive and many of the roads having short site lines and many curves.
The only other State I felt the same way is S. Carolina. I do find the people there to be very friendly but not when they get behind the wheel.
One last comment. In all of my touring, which is nearly every state, when I do talk to a local, they almost always say 'our drivers are rude and dangerous, be careful' I think it really says we need to move to protected bike lanes.
The only other State I felt the same way is S. Carolina. I do find the people there to be very friendly but not when they get behind the wheel.
One last comment. In all of my touring, which is nearly every state, when I do talk to a local, they almost always say 'our drivers are rude and dangerous, be careful' I think it really says we need to move to protected bike lanes.
Connecticut’s unfriendliness has to do with its segregation I think. It is the most racially and economically segregated place I’ve ever lived or traveled to.
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
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And hostile behaviours are seemingly enhanced during this Covid-19 thing.
Cheers
Cheers
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#10
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I caught up to her (on my fully loaded touring bike 140 miles into my tour) at the red light to speak to her at the intersection.
“Those are my kids! They are children!”
”GETOUTOFTHEROAAAD! GETOUTOFTGEROAAAD!!!” Is all she said.
Adviseable? Maybe not, but I’m among those who will speak up and speak out. Some choose not to.
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
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#11
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
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I am from the center of the country. When I was working I was sent off to one of our training sites two or three times of the year. I pretty much found that the people in the crescent from Mass to south of Washington to be very rude. Must have something to do with them being all jammed together.
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We just toured the North Shore of Long Island and the Connecticut Shoreline. Though separated by a few miles of water or highway, the driving culture was completely different. Narrow, heavily traveled “country” roads on the north shore and north fork saw universal competent passing even with fast driving.
Connecticut was terrifying. Horns, screaming, cutting off me or my kids to run us off the road — tailgating inches off my back wheel and leaning on the horn... and it really seemed like every other driver had an angry, enraged look on their face, even when we were just resting with our tour bikes on the side of the road. Restaurants and state parks had a similar difference in vibe.
Why are these states so different?
I wish I could say they are a rare sighting.
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She was honking at my sons who were a block or half a block behind me or so coming off the causeway section of the bridge. No shoulder — she became enraged and started honking at the kids who then moved more clearly into the lane since there was some oncoming traffic and no safe way to pass. She lost it and still dangerously passed them, swerving at their front wheels in doing so. You know the rage pass thing. She then zoomed past me, yelling Get out of the road. I caught up to her to photo her license plate, and her. And to let her know that those were my children.
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That lady seems nice - at first I thought she was cheering you on....but then I saw Connecticut.
CT is known as "The Nutmeg State" - regardless of other historical explanation, I suspect it's because the inhabitants act like they have nutmeg seeds stuck up their arses.
CT is known as "The Nutmeg State" - regardless of other historical explanation, I suspect it's because the inhabitants act like they have nutmeg seeds stuck up their arses.
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I am from the center of the country. When I was working I was sent off to one of our training sites two or three times of the year. I pretty much found that the people in the crescent from Mass to south of Washington to be very rude. Must have something to do with them being all jammed together.
.
.
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One LI woman wrote an editorial on "patch.com" complaining about cyclists. I commented that she wasn't a good driver if she couldn't deal with cyclists. She got mad.
We'd need more than your experience to make a determination of one being actually worse than the other.
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If you want to throw around trite generalizations about millions of people, then be prepared for others to do the same. Would you like us to offer up some stereotypes about rural life and flyover states?
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#21
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I grew up in Chicago, IL area and moved here to where my folks grew up — my family roots are all here. The more I ride there the more I get that sense, people here are very friendly. I recently lived in CT for a couple of months and made many good bicycling friends.
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I am from the center of the country. When I was working I was sent off to one of our training sites two or three times of the year. I pretty much found that the people in the crescent from Mass to south of Washington to be very rude. Must have something to do with them being all jammed together.
.
.
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Many people in CT are miserable. Why? Because their lives are miserable - aspirant, meaning little-to-no control over what they do, and always trying to please some Type A boss. I know CT well, and the sad treadmill of desperate striving on which many find themselves. People making 250K, riding the Metro North, and with some of the most horrible relationships and psyches I've ever encountered.
One summer when I was young (the early 80's) I drove an ice cream truck in Bridgeport.
I took a lot of acid in those days, and drank like a fish. The stories from that experience are epic, and awful.
One summer when I was young (the early 80's) I drove an ice cream truck in Bridgeport.
I took a lot of acid in those days, and drank like a fish. The stories from that experience are epic, and awful.
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#24
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Long Island has a reputation of being dangerous for riding.
One LI woman wrote an editorial on "patch.com" complaining about cyclists. I commented that she wasn't a good driver if she couldn't deal with cyclists. She got mad.
We'd need more than your experience to make a determination of one being actually worse than the other.
One LI woman wrote an editorial on "patch.com" complaining about cyclists. I commented that she wasn't a good driver if she couldn't deal with cyclists. She got mad.
We'd need more than your experience to make a determination of one being actually worse than the other.
My wife was unintentionally hit by a drunk on her bike in our Queens neighborhood. He intentionally ran, but that is not what we are talking about here
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
#25
The Drive Side is Within
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Many people in CT are miserable. Why? Because their lives are miserable - aspirant, meaning little-to-no control over what they do, and always trying to please some Type A boss. I know CT well, and the sad treadmill of desperate striving on which many find themselves. People making 250K, riding the Metro North, and with some of the most horrible relationships and psyches I've ever encountered.
One summer when I was young (the early 80's) I drove an ice cream truck in Bridgeport.
I took a lot of acid in those days, and drank like a fish. The stories from that experience are epic, and awful.
One summer when I was young (the early 80's) I drove an ice cream truck in Bridgeport.
I took a lot of acid in those days, and drank like a fish. The stories from that experience are epic, and awful.
You are right about the misery. CT is such a divided and angry place.
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
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