Originally Posted by
SurferRosa
This guilt by association is a common argument that cyclists use about themselves, and I simply don't buy it. Do drivers of autos do this? I know lazy politicians do it all the time. I look to the thread title for the correct answer.
Please don't misunderstand, guilt by association is very wrong minded. In my mind it is another form of prejudice. That said, it is a reality. Inescapably so. Drivers DO ascribe the attributes of the worst few to our population as a whole and it absolutely CAN affect their behavior. We cyclists do the same grouping. Think lifted 4 wheel drive pickup here.
I am by no means a rolling diplomat for those of us that ride bicycles. I'll happily roll a stop as long as I can do so safely and doing so will not inconvenience other road users. In this case, not passing this line of traffic that was coming up to speed is an easy choice. Not only was it the most courteous option, it was a safer choice.