"Many drivers are annoyed that too many cyclists act as though the rules of the road don't apply to them. They run red lights, ride through stop signs without even slowing down and ride on the wrong side of the road. While I am sure that you aren't guilty of these things, some drivers end up blaming all cyclists for the faults of a few. Don't make the same mistake yourself."
That's such a pathetic old argument. When I'm in my car the last thing that annoys me is a cyclist running a stop sign or riding the wrong way on the street. What annoys me are the other motorists doing stupid shit, the least of my fucking worries is a bicycle unless the cyclist is carrying a bazooka or something.
The argument above is just a motorist misdirecting his anger towards cyclists away from other motorists.
toweliesbong01.8.08 - 9:30 am
reply
"Many drivers are annoyed that too many cyclists act as though the rules of the road don't apply to them."
What a completely absurd statement. More accurate is to say drivers are annoyed when cyclists act as though the rules of the road do apply to them.
I encounter far more pissed off drivers when I'm riding as if I were in a car, or motorcycle... in the flow of traffic. Drivers are pissed off when I'm not keeping myself dangerously tucked in by the gutter and drainage far out of their "right" of way.
indigis01.8.08 - 10:11 am
reply
"It's interesting to read the comments as well."
I'm afraid to look.
toweliesbong01.8.08 - 11:05 am
reply
There is a smattering of infuriating comments, of course, but I'd say it's about ten to one in favor of cyclists. Go Agent Orange!
mr rollers01.8.08 - 11:26 am
reply
Will I read your article, great by the way and something struck me.... I've ridden in Europe, mostly UK and also South America and I have to wonder why there is the magnitude of aggression toward cyclists here. Is it only LA?? I have personally not experienced it elsewhere. Anyone else??
Limeyfly01.8.08 - 12:40 pm
reply
That right there is quality readin', I tell you what.
"Cyclists' disobeying traffic laws" my ass!!
When the infrastructure doesn't quite work for us, it's fair game until shit gets fixed.
Traffic-light triggers are a good example.
bentstrider01.8.08 - 12:48 pm
reply
That's Right Bentstrider!
The problem is that those with the money and the power who don't favor cyclists will always use the "bunch of hooligans" card when it applies to us. If they see the cycling community as people who are "breaking laws", then we will never get our say in this system. How do we get them to work around it? Beats me.
Joe Borfo01.8.08 - 1:01 pm
reply
wait..........'we're not hooligans?' Damn!!
Limeyfly01.8.08 - 1:06 pm
reply
We'll, we are definitely not a bunch of squares. Or at least I hope not...
Joe Borfo01.8.08 - 1:11 pm
reply
Limey,
My experience is that it's worse outside of California. Really, we don't know how good we have it here. We also don't realize how bad we have it here, that sort of aggression is uncalled for and unnecessary.
Alex Thompson01.8.08 - 1:27 pm
reply
@Alex T,
I'm curious what your experience has been, drop me an email hmurlowski at yahoo
Limeyfly01.8.08 - 1:37 pm
reply
Is it all driver or just a hand full?
If it was that bad, none of us would be riding in the streets like we do.
This is individuals, a few bad apples per say. I don't know what is going on with each person, but I suspect that it has something to do with the fast pace life style that goes on in this city, especially with those with money.
Having to work and work to support there lifestyles house and expensive car, they probably are on "GO" always and if you slow them up, they don't wait for no one. This doesn't excuse anything, just kinda of explain maybe a few inconsiderate at best and dangerous at worse drivers.
I still <3 BMW's with that kinda of performance and power, why not do move that most would consider dangerous.
sexy01.8.08 - 1:40 pm
reply
Nearly every town has it's spandex riders, but not every town has its recreational riders. Media coverage and publicly held cycling stigma sees motorists more inclined to give a pass to spandex riders because they have, in the motorist's mind, a clear-cut agenda and a sporting outlook that most people can at least find noble, if not relatable. Recreational riders do not have this halo, which is why I think we are easily lumped into the hooligan category. Our purpose for being on the road with a bike is vague, and likely not relatable. (kinda like cars ironically)
You're right Alex, we do have it good. There's such a large population of recreational riders here, that with every newspaper article it raises questions that most motorists wouldn't think about until they've got a cyclist in their lane. I think this increases the chance that a motorist will stop and think, "do I wanna be that asshole?"
Eric Hair01.8.08 - 2:02 pm
reply
The flipside Eric is that we have it bad. Really bad. It's like when Clinton was president . . . the left was all like "Stop giving it away to big business asshole" and we're all like "Well that would be ok so long as we can have something to eat and don't get our limbs blown off."
We have it good enough to organize, and that's enough for me. Let's break it wide open!
(Limey, I'd love to have a long discussion about this, but I'm swamped. Another time brother.)
Alex Thompson01.8.08 - 2:10 pm
reply
"We have it good enough to organize"
For sure, and history is proof; that's all we need.
Eric Hair01.8.08 - 2:18 pm
reply
Car driving mentality - "Goddammit you're slowing me down. I have more important things to do than you do on a bicycle!"
Joe Borfo01.8.08 - 2:20 pm
reply
benstrider sez:
"When the infrastructure doesn't quite work for us, it's fair game until shit gets fixed. "
WORD!
Some people get pissed because we beat them in traffic. Think of how much you hate those fuckers whizzing by in the carpool lane when you're stuck in gridlock with every other single-occupant vehicle.
sexy, I appreciate your explanation of a few inconsiderate drivers. But I think everyone is more interested in an explanation as to why you have the grammar skillz of a 2nd grader in ESL.
City Hobgoblin01.8.08 - 2:32 pm
reply
Look. Just pull out a fucking hammer when a motorist is giving you some shit and problem squelched. It works for the hells angels and it will work for you.
boogalooSHRIMP01.8.08 - 3:00 pm
reply
Eyah...
"I think what happens in L.A. is that in our cars we become our cars. We are no longer people."
Who wrote that? I like that.
Joe Borfo01.8.08 - 3:03 pm
reply
it is peculiar that CH has decided to take such an angry tone towards me. Why the anger, why me? Do I represent a father figure who was not available for you in your formative years? Does some bad grammar really get you all riled up? Do you have a spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, maybe you need some relationship training, or some anger management classes. Either way I hope for the best for you CH.
I do really think you may need to seek professional help.
sexy01.8.08 - 3:10 pm
reply
"sexy" sez:
"it is peculiar that CH has decided to take such an angry tone towards me. Why the anger, why me? Do I represent a father figure who was not available for you in your formative years? Does some bad grammar really get you all riled up? Do you have a spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, maybe you need some relationship training, or some anger management classes. Either way I hope for the best for you CH.
I do really think you may need to seek professional help."
Clearly cyper did not write this. Not a single misplaced comma or misspelling. Jane must be over there typing for him while he speaks. Or maybe he got one of the neighborhood kids to do it. Either way, FRAUD.
City Hobgoblin01.8.08 - 3:25 pm
reply
-------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~END OF THREAD~~~~~~~~~~
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Borfo01.8.08 - 3:31 pm
reply
Gee CH,
What is going on here, do you have a spy cam in my house?
that would be kind of creepy.
Jane is at work and nobody helped me write that last thread
I will tell her, that you are thinking of her.
did you ever think I might of gotten lucky
You know, the sun shines on the hair of a dogs ass every now and then.
sexy01.8.08 - 3:41 pm
reply
Ch sounds as if you need a cyper hug.
Can we all give CH some love.............................
sexy01.8.08 - 3:42 pm
reply
sexy sez:
"Jane is at work and nobody helped me write that last thread"
Now if that's true it's just insulting to everybody on here. It shows that you are capable of expressing your thoughts in a coherent manner, but 99.99% of the time you opt to haphazardly slam your keyboard, possibly with your thick skull, carelessly shitting out incomprehensible and lengthy posts at random.
For shame, sexy. Surely Borfo, fluffer, and the rest of the gang deserve better.
City Hobgoblin01.8.08 - 3:54 pm
reply
-------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~END OF THREAD~~~~~~~~~~
---------------------------------------------------------------------
sexy01.8.08 - 4:06 pm
reply
"but 99.99% of the time you opt to haphazardly slam your keyboard, possibly with your thick skull,"
Something like this?
(I hope this works...)
stevo401.8.08 - 4:26 pm
reply
steve do this:
img src="http://blahblah.com/image.gif"
but with carrots on the ends "<"
don't worry sexy will never figure it out.
Joe Borfo01.8.08 - 4:39 pm
reply
"but with carrots on the ends "<" "
Carrots are these: "^".
"<" That's a turnip.
City Hobgoblin01.8.08 - 4:45 pm
reply
ok Joe. I was gonna try a different approach but will try your way first.
stevo401.8.08 - 4:47 pm
reply
Harry is correct, there's more of a sharing of the road that happens in many other countries. Personally I think it has to do with the size of cars in most other countries. In other countries the cars are about the size of what we consider sub-compact. Driving these small, by American's standards cars doesn't isolate us as much from bicyclist and pedestrians as does a car that most likely to be encountered on our streets. Driving a large car isolates the driver from the outside, which includes other drivers, bicyclist, and hazards of the road. You see this alot in car commercials too. The isolation makes encounters on the road impersonal. This isolation has alot to do with car vs car encounters too.
This article raised the question who is reponsible in car vs bicyclist road rage. Ask yourself, will these drviers that are pissed off at bicylist were somehow able to remove this bicyclist on the road, will they still be pissed off? Hell yeah they will! They aren't only getting pissed off at bicyclist, their getting pissed at other things they encounter in their drive. But what if the bicyclist were to magically get rid of all the cars on the road? Do they get pissed at other bicyclist? Only if their late for the ride!
Bottomline is the drivers were more than likely pissed off BEFORE they even encountered a bicyclist. The bicyclist are just an easy target for them to focus their pissed offness on.
User101.8.08 - 5:00 pm
reply
@ user1: Yeaahhhhhhhhwaaahhww!!!!!!!!!! Right on. That makes me wanna replace my handlebars with a steering wheel and ride around experiencing bike rage.........
BiKE RAGE
Eric Hair01.8.08 - 5:21 pm
reply
kldngskln kln/ab;klijn: KML kln kln/ ,/:MLWGEDBFWT4KLNwgeliln ,.klin KWLNGABKLINA KBLI;KWLOE:RQJOP: MIOPBVOPNhg'po;noabn ab klnawe dabKLN?s90
thats what it looks like when I haphazardly slammed my keyboard. I try my beautiful forehead,and it didn't produce many characters.
Nice try Mr. Hot and Huffy CH, but thats not what happened. You are foiled again.
Really though, what happen, Did Mama not love you?
I love you, you Urban Troll
sexy01.8.08 - 7:07 pm
reply
will the two of you please just have sex already? i can't stand the suspense. btw, should you end up at our place, both of you probably have clothes left here so you'll have something to change into after you're done slinging sweat during your man love riot.
yo delicious01.8.08 - 7:25 pm
reply
Yo Erin, holla!!
sexy is being silly. I call him on his reprehensible grammar and he interprets that as anger. The dude isn't even trying, it's pathetic.
And then he comes up with these half-cocked theories about me having a screwed up upbringing, when he's the one acting like a cagey animal that's been kicked around. "Hobgoblin wants me to improve my grammar... he's angry at me!" Can we say "projection"? Who would want to have sex with THAT??
City Hobgoblin01.9.08 - 11:11 am
reply
IM IN THE LA TIME'Snow back to work lates...
skano01.9.08 - 11:39 am
reply
So any news on the next rebuttal for the article.....?
Joe Borfo01.9.08 - 11:41 am
reply
I guess what is going on here is the City Hobgoblin is the Sheriff of Grammar on the site. Your tough love is really working on me dickhead.
oooppps I dropped off my new years resolution.
SUE ME!
sexy01.10.08 - 4:32 pm
reply
Just try a little harder, OK sexy? When you write a post, call up Borfo and read it to him verbatim. If he understands it, post it. If he's like "what the hell?" or "that's really fucking boring, Dave", then back to the drawing board.
City Hobgoblin01.10.08 - 7:21 pm
reply
first off grammer on a forum is not important and nither is spelling come on look at the sight name "midnightridazz" i'm no spelling expert but there should not be two "z's" at the end of that word...in any case spelling and grammer is for novles, short hand and incohirancy is for forums.
sproket_injury?01.10.08 - 7:33 pm
reply
hahah, could that guy have any worse pics of his bike?
toweliesbong01.10.08 - 11:23 pm
reply
that picture of nick is fucking BRILLIANT haha!
Roadblock01.10.08 - 11:29 pm
reply
That's an airsoft gun Marino... You'll shoot your eye out!
Joe Borfo01.11.08 - 1:50 am
reply
Poker Chips, Bikes and Guns. That sounds like a future ride
sexy01.11.08 - 2:32 am
reply
Not to be a snob or anything, but the copy editor who wrote that headline seemed more concerned with alliteration than reality. A Huffy?
The only kind of "Huffy" I'd want to ride is Greg LeMond's, made by Roland Della Santa.
cabhauler01.11.08 - 3:00 am
reply
I certainly agree, cabhauler.
kyber01.11.08 - 3:03 am
reply
Hi CityHobo...
Get yourself a copy of the AP Styleguide.
Learn it.
Thankums.
Ciao.
boogalooSHRIMP01.11.08 - 8:04 am
reply
Have you all been keeping up?
It's
Day Four and our Agent Orange is still pluggin' away. Go Will!
Joe Borfo01.11.08 - 8:27 am
reply
^^ Is it just me or are they saying the same thing?
$100M bike infrastructure = no.
Improve existing infrastructure to better accomodate cyclists = yes.
It's supposed to be a "debate" so they're just trying to make it sound like they're arguing, when they pretty much agree. They both sound pretty level headed about the issue.
City Hobgoblin01.11.08 - 10:09 am
reply
I dont know who the other guy is but AGENT ORANGE A.K. mutha fuggin A. Will Campbell is HANDLING IT.
Roadblock01.11.08 - 10:27 am
reply
"Randal, I'm 98% certain that your percentages are wearing me out."
LO fucking L!!!
Roadblock01.11.08 - 10:29 am
reply
"I dont know who the other guy is but AGENT ORANGE A.K. mutha fuggin A. Will Campbell is HANDLING IT."
Dude, roadblock, they're agreeing. They both make good points that seem to support the same conclusion. The other guy is down with the bike too:
other guy sez:
"Still, there are many low-cost things cities can do to enable bicycle commuting as an alternative. The most important is to provide safe bike routes along or parallel to all major corridors in the city."
City Hobgoblin01.11.08 - 10:43 am
reply
boogalooSHRIMP:
"Get yourself a copy of the AP Styleguide."
from website:
"You must know Associated Press style if you intend to get a job in print journalism."
mmm... no thanks, I'm not looking for a job. Roadblock is paying me the big bux as a lead contributor of nonsense to the MR forums.
City Hobgoblin01.11.08 - 11:40 am
reply
I agree with CH.
Both of them like bikes. Both of them want to expand cycling opportunities. They both seem like reasonable, likeable people. I'm surprised cause Cato institute people can be pretty nutty.
It's not Huffy vs Hummer.
It's Trek vs Canondale.
marino01.11.08 - 12:12 pm
reply
More like:
Agent Orange: I want a taco
O'Tool Cato guy: I want a beer
It's OK to have:
taco with your beer or
beer with your taco or
just beer or
just taco.
marino01.11.08 - 4:42 pm
reply
many of you have a little too much time on your hands.
Luis01.11.08 - 7:22 pm
reply
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
