prj71

Guy yells vulgarities at cyclist that asks him to move and then ties it into how cyclists hate homeless people. Tonight at 10.

What a dumb op-ed.

rydabent

Maybe instead of standing around blocking MUPs they should get a job. It seems every business is hiring these days.

unterhausen

That's the part I liked, "get out of the way" "why do you hate the homeless, you probably eat kittens for breakfast?"
"Spandex clad" is code for a lot of things, it's not appropriate language in any situation.

10 Wheels

I worked with Houstons Homeless for 4 Years.

Most have Brain Damage.

70sSanO

In the past I have always been a proponent that working solves the issue. But it really doesn’t for someone who is unskilled, aging, no place to live, and with no mode of transportation.

I’m guessing that it would take $40k-$50k to live in LA, or many urban/suburban areas in California. I don’t imagine there are a lot of businesses are willing to give those wages to someone lacking skills and possibly with any number of extenuating issues.

It is why multiple jobs, or side gigs, have become the norm. If you’re young and work for a company that offers educational programs and add a gig job, you have a chance. If you’re over 40, or 50, and on the street I would think it would be nearly impossible.

John

10 Wheels

Money will NOT Help or Cure Brain Damage.

unterhausen

Let's not let this devolve into a political discussion about homelessness, please.

mstateglfr 

A couple of the people that were standing on the path do have a job- they were working when they were talking with the homeless person who lost their significant other.
It was a waste of an article, but you should at least read it to comment.

downhillmaster

You keep making assumptions based on one side of the story.
Good and predictable stuff

mstateglfr 

I bet the cyclist wouldnt have told the group standing around to get off the path if it were an injured cyclist and 2 EMTs. That is because it is an obviously different scenario and social behavior has taught us to slow down and dont tell medical events to move aside.
When people are just standing there, that is clearly different from a visible medical event.

Also, telling the people to move is helping to keep everyone involved safe. If people dont know they are in an unsafe position, then telling them will potentially keep them and others safe(so nobody collides into them).

BobbyG

Agreed, pointing out to people that they are in harm's way is a good thing... and hopefully done politely.

70sSanO

I agree with not discussing politics.

John

indyfabz

I have done so many times. "Please move off the trail when you stop." Things like that.

Kapusta

What I find most interesting is how many people are so triggered by the authors initial description of the interaction that they completely missed the point of the rest of article…. if they even bothered to read it.

billridesbikes

The rest of the article piles on the euphemisms and platitudes about the homeless and poor that serve only as a foil to highlight the virtue of the author. Because in the authors mind he is the only one who cares about social problems, not you, you horrible uncaring spandex-clad-oat-milk-drinking-Lance-wannabe. How could a person like you, the cyclist, care about anything except yourself? This is what actually triggered me, not the interaction itself, but the sanctimonious response of the author.

Digger Goreman

Wow, the lack of humanity on the part of some has greatly populated my ignore list. Thanks!

indyfabz

You expected different responses?

And this comment strongly suggests you were making political commentary. As such, you asked for it.

shelbyfv

Understandable, given that was the only part of all this related to cycling.

rsbob 

[QUOTE=mstateglfr;22265614]3 days ago on Friday I loudly said 'MOVE' to a group of 3 women in athleisure who were standing on the right side of a MUP. I loathe MUPs and use them very sparingly, but this was with one of my kids and the MUP is the only realistic way for us to ride from where we started to halfway thru the ride. It is busy with runners, cyclists, walkers, families, etc. We had to come to a complete stop behind them due to cyclists coming the other way.
It was a very minor incident in the grand scheme of things and I didnt even think about it again until just now, but at the same time it was completely absurd and indefensible./[QUOTE]

When I read the last sentence above, I thought that you saw your action of yelling and startling the woman over something so inconsequential as indefensible. Then I read the next sentence.

The only occasion I can think of to yell at people to ‘move’ would be in a situation like people blocking a hall in a burning building or other life and death situ. We come from different worlds.

mstateglfr 

I told people who were standing obliviously on a path that is used by runners and cyclists to move.
As we approached I told my daughter to slow down instead of pass because of oncoming cyclists. I then told her to slow more. I then said stop when we were about 10' from them. We then stood there for a second before I said 'yo- move!' and they all jumped in surprise that they were in the way. Others were waiting behind us.

Would you really have sat there in silence?
If I had a different bike I would have dinged my bell, if that is somehow more acceptable to you.
​We don't come from different worlds, we just handle potentially dangerous situations differently.

mstateglfr 

It's awful that people needed to go to a homeless area by a bridge to talk to a person about how their significant other had died.

Perhaps the author is clouded in their recollection of the incident and the cyclist was actually friendly in the first interaction, but the author interpreted it negatively.
Perhaps the cyclist is already doing so much for the community because they are the founder of a non-profit which provides support to single mom teens for childcare, education, and job resources.


The op-ed is being ripped on because it isnt good. It acknowledges they were in the wrong place and then makes assumptions about the cyclist.

Outrider1

Livin' it up at the hotel California...

Lazyass

I put people on ignore when they make personal insults or smart ass comments or troll me because I got tired of drama. I don't put anyone on ignore if they don't think exactly like me. That would be abut half the people here.

downhillmaster

Why announce it?
Do you seriously think anyone cares about your ignore list darling?

10 Wheels

Medical