Beware, iPod zombie cyclists are on the rise
#201
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For example, my dad tailgates - CONSTANTLY. At 60mph, he's less than 10 feet from the front car more often than not. In over 40 years of driving, he's never been in a major accident before - none involving injury or death - so his confidence level is obviously high. He believes as long as he can tell the traffic conditions ahead, there is no danger of an accident. Of course, that ignores the low chance a stray animal might jump out of the bushes and cause the front car to slam their brakes.
#202
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My driving record is definitely not spotless, but apparently, you are not bright enough to realize that my driving record has nothing to do with this. I do know his driving is better than mine, but at those speeds and distances, reaction time means zero. Your logic seems to point out that you believe he could still avoid a crash if the car in front jams his brake unexpectedly, which is humanly impossible.
My entire family agrees he drives far too dangerously close to others - not for some personal thrill, but as habit.
#203
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Then you're a moron. Simple as that.
My driving record is definitely not spotless, but apparently, you are not bright enough to realize that my driving record has nothing to do with this. I do know his driving is better than mine, but at those speeds and distances, reaction time means zero. Your logic seems to point out that you believe he could still avoid a crash if the car in front jams his brake unexpectedly, which is humanly impossible.
My entire family agrees he drives far too dangerously close to others - not for some personal thrill, but as habit.
My driving record is definitely not spotless, but apparently, you are not bright enough to realize that my driving record has nothing to do with this. I do know his driving is better than mine, but at those speeds and distances, reaction time means zero. Your logic seems to point out that you believe he could still avoid a crash if the car in front jams his brake unexpectedly, which is humanly impossible.
My entire family agrees he drives far too dangerously close to others - not for some personal thrill, but as habit.
Speaks for itself.
#204
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#205
Most folks believe that of themselves, but several years ago I did a professional drivers safety course and some of the simulator exercises were to demonstrate how much seemingly benign distractions can diminish ones perceptions.
Its an eye opener when demonstrated in an empirical way.
Its an eye opener when demonstrated in an empirical way.
as well as all cagers
everyones impaired!
being impaired is thus the norm, thus noone is impaired overal
#206
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I think that someone really would have to be a "moron" to be unable to realize that he's distracted by something. Most people aren't morons, obviously, so their actions are deliberate.
#207
theyre not morons, theyre just ignorant
#208
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nah, its worse; its takes "normal behavior" for that to happen; walk out of the house, get in the car, drive off. driving a car isnt something that requires normal behavior/attention, it required at least 3x as much, the risk is too big
theyre not morons, theyre just ignorant
theyre not morons, theyre just ignorant
The thing about driving, for most people, particularly a commuter, is that after so many hours on the same route he tends to believe he can drive by reflex without needing particular attention. The issue there is how much attention they devote to it, not whether they have a radio or music on.
#209
true. but I was still on about the I-pod zombies on bikes or walking. If their behavior isn't completely random I don't care what they're doing.
The thing about driving, for most people, particularly a commuter, is that after so many hours on the same route he tends to believe he can drive by reflex without needing particular attention. The issue there is how much attention they devote to it, not whether they have a radio or music on.
The thing about driving, for most people, particularly a commuter, is that after so many hours on the same route he tends to believe he can drive by reflex without needing particular attention. The issue there is how much attention they devote to it, not whether they have a radio or music on.
if one doesnt care about their responsibilty, theyre gonna act like that all the time anyway
#211
#212
#213
FWIW I ride sometimes with an earbud, sometimes with two, usually without, and there is no impairment whatsoever. My awareness is not impacted. On those occasions where I am passed, I am aware of them before they alert me, and it makes no difference whether they do or do not alert me.
I ding my bell at pedestrians and other cyclists prior to passing them. I see it as a courtesy however, and it doesn't seem to have an appreciable impact on my safety either way. I don't really care if the guy with his head wired hears me or not - if it doesn't bother him, I'm fine with it.
It just seems like everything goes more smoothly when we stop worrying about how other people do things.
I ding my bell at pedestrians and other cyclists prior to passing them. I see it as a courtesy however, and it doesn't seem to have an appreciable impact on my safety either way. I don't really care if the guy with his head wired hears me or not - if it doesn't bother him, I'm fine with it.
It just seems like everything goes more smoothly when we stop worrying about how other people do things.
Also, my wife was hit whilst riding by some idiot wearing headphones who flew out of a blind driveway and smacked right into her. She yelled and braked, but he had no idea she was there until he hit her. As she was laying on the ground he took off his headphones and asked 'what?' If he would have been able to hear her screaming at him he could have braked. Hit her hard enough to crack her frame.
#214
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Problem is is that it does effect me. When need to communicate that I'm passing someone, and they can't hear me and veer into me it's dangerous. Not to mention the idiots that ride on the sidewalk (it's legal here) at 25kph, unable to hear doors open and people walking out. I and many people I know, have almost been hit by these idiots, and they don't even know you are there as they are so immersed in their own little world.
Also, my wife was hit whilst riding by some idiot wearing headphones who flew out of a blind driveway and smacked right into her. She yelled and braked, but he had no idea she was there until he hit her. As she was laying on the ground he took off his headphones and asked 'what?' If he would have been able to hear her screaming at him he could have braked. Hit her hard enough to crack her frame.
Also, my wife was hit whilst riding by some idiot wearing headphones who flew out of a blind driveway and smacked right into her. She yelled and braked, but he had no idea she was there until he hit her. As she was laying on the ground he took off his headphones and asked 'what?' If he would have been able to hear her screaming at him he could have braked. Hit her hard enough to crack her frame.
#215
I never said that everyone with headphones is an idiot rider, but the majority of idiot riders I, and others I've spoken with here in Riga, are wearing headphones. Hell, I was almost hit by one the other day. Good thing I have fast reactions and anticipated that it might happen. He flew around a blind corner. Had he not had headphones on he would have heard my bell before I went around said corner. To his credit he did apologize for riding like an idiot.
#216
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I never said that everyone with headphones is an idiot rider, but the majority of idiot riders I, and others I've spoken with here in Riga, are wearing headphones. Hell, I was almost hit by one the other day. Good thing I have fast reactions and anticipated that it might happen. He flew around a blind corner. Had he not had headphones on he would have heard my bell before I went around said corner. To his credit he did apologize for riding like an idiot.
I have a 5" scar on my arm from a cyclist who flew around a corner like that and target-fixated on me. He wasn't wearing headphones, but had he been I might have seized onto that to reinforce a prejudice. Most of the idiotic riding that I observe does not involve headphones.
#219
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I'm not directing it at you specifically, but that's what I'm seeing here.
#221
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"For all we know his skills may be excellent, allowing him to ride like an idiot without actually being one." - FBinNY
#224
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Would it be safe to say that you identify people who fit your own cycling profile as "serious cyclists," and they obviously must know better than those cycling duds who don't resemble you and your cycling pals?
#225
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Let's see here, it appears that Ziemas and his buds got together and decided that cyclists who wear headphones are idiots, so it must be fact. Why does this sound familiar to those of us who lived through the civil rights ear in the US?