i don't get it

[lauralh]

Can someone explain to me why people on bicycles feel the need, for example, to flip you off if you come within three yards of them? Or take up an entire line while not wearing a helmet and wearing headphones? Myself, I'm completely terrified when I ride a bike in the city and am very respectful of people in three-ton killing machines. Especially after Reg's Accident.

Comments

[skipbreakfast.livejournal.com]

This morning there was a cyclist coasting in the middle of the right lane on 99 in Queen Anne...at rush hour.

[spencert.livejournal.com]

Nope, that shit baffles me. I know they are legally considered a vehicle and are supposed to stay off the sidewalks and on the roads, but when it's 5 PM and people are trying to get home from work, you don't ride your bike in the middle of the lane at 15 MPH when there's too much traffic in the other lane for any cars to get around you.

[zorbathut.livejournal.com]

It's because they're more important than you are. You can tell because they ride a bike, and not a car, and cars burn oil and are therefore evil.

QED.

(I joke, but I've met people like this. :( )

[almosttruth.livejournal.com]

Because bicyclists are badass, and you are just a dumb car driving jerk.

[llarian.livejournal.com]

Three words: Critial Mass Asshats

[langston.livejournal.com]

fair weather riders, students and hipster scum (applicable only to Cap Hill & Belltown)constitute probably 90% of the cycling pop. you mention. I hate them too, second only to those that wear full Tour outfits to commute 5 miles downtown to an office job.

Getting buzzed can be anus clenching white-knuckle scary, as I'm sure you're aware. I get mad when people scare me too.

[kamakhai.livejournal.com]

Cyclists are aggressive towards drivers because our lives are constantly being threatened by people who don't seem to realize the potential deadliness of their cars. I doubt that you're one of those people, but it's not hard to get oversensitive about this, especially when you've just come within inches been killed by some frazzled commuter or a stoned kid talking on their phone. Personally, I tend not to antagonize people in cars because it's unlikely to accomplish much.

And as for biking on the sidewalk, apart from often being illegal (I know it was in Portland, don't know about SF), it's actually more dangerous for both the cyclist and pedestrians. Sidewalks aren't maintained very well and people walking around are even more oblivious than drivers.

[duckierose.livejournal.com]

I only flip people off when I'm about a foot into an intersection and some guy tries to make a right hand turn, without even looking, so I end up hitting my brakes and trying not to eat shit because said asshat didn't bother to look both ways.

But, we have bike lanes, which is nice. I only get near-hit in intersections.

[almosttruth.livejournal.com]

I was being sarcastic.

[joblessmusician.livejournal.com]

I usually yell at them, "you're not a car!"

Still, I've never acted on my threats to run them over (I've known two people killed by cars, while on bikes).

Remember when I tried to learn to ride a bike? Ha ha ha ha....