Comments on: My Tone-Downed Rant

By: Malachi

Malachi — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:01:00 +0000

I have a bunch of colored shirts to ride in but anymore I’ll only wear red. I feel safer in it because even distracted drivers seem to find the color of stop signs preferially. Yellow signs can be ignored but red ones will get you in trouble so my anticadotal trials mave proven to me that motorists here can’t tell the difference between a human and a stop sign. The cell phone abuse has only gotten worse here with the gas drilling in the area. Companies like Chesapeake energy expect employees to use them 24/7. God save our broken little bodies.

By: TT

TT — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:51:00 +0000

I don’t feel you went overboard on your rant at all. This is a scary thing for cyclists and when people try pointing the finger at us as the cause of all the problems it is enough to make anyone angry. Just like you I hope these issues get solved one day in the future.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Thanks Jeremy. Battling it out is not the answer. Having all drivers, cyclists, and anyone else on the roads paying full attention to what they are doing….is the answer in my opinion.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:44:00 +0000

Thanks Charles….I appreciate your comments on this. Let’s keep on working together and move towards safe streets for everyone.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:42:00 +0000

I’ve heard several stories of things being thrown at cyclists……can’t seem to figure that one out and hope this kind of thing stops soon. It’s good to hear that people are focusing more attention (in a good way) on cyclists over there. Let’s keep it going.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:41:00 +0000

Thanks for your great comments on this, Keith…and being from Austin you are also exposed to what’s been going on since Verter got hit. I’m glad you’re a supporter of Please Be Kind to Cyclists…they continue to do great things for all of us.

I don’t know what the solution is, but I’ve decided to focus on promoting drivers (and cyclists) to be focused and pay full attention while out on the road. I think this is the basis of creating better conditions for everyone. More to come on this one soon.

By: Keith Edmiston

Keith Edmiston — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:02:00 +0000

Oh man. I too have been very troubled by the direction this has been going. I attended the Pedal for Safer Streets (Please Be Kind to Cyclists) ride here in Austin last week and am finding myself more and more drawn to cycling advocacy…even though I really don’t consider myself the best at advocacy. I want to scream when I see newscasts such as the one you embedded here. And that first guy? What an idiot. He’s the type, in my mind, that also believes it’s “ok to hit women when they get outta line” just because that’s the way his daddy did it (can you see what I mean about not being good at advocacy/political way of thinking?).

Anyway, I have for years had two bumper stickers on the back window of my S-10 pickup truck…one is in honor of my two Eagle Scout sons and the other is one of Al’s “Please Be Kind to Cyclists”. Since Verter’s passing I’ve added a third meant to remind folks not to text and drive (not that I’m suggesting that happened in Verter’s case).

I’m perplexed at how best to help balance these issues. There are certainly many “rogue riders” out there. I chose not to associate myself with them. No helmet, not my buddy. Blow through stop signs, I just might say something. However, the MUCH bigger issue is the genuine lack of concern that most non-cyclists seem have for our plight. We really need to figure out how to make this message “receivable” by those folks…just like the way it is no longer cool to judge people by the color of their skin, or to kick a dog, or to pour gasoline out in the street once you’re done cleaning old car parts off in the grass. Times can change…we’ve seen that happen in our lifetimes already. We just need to find the right way to help them along.

By: Ann Wilson Brennan

Ann Wilson Brennan — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:58:00 +0000

I think this is very toned down. I can’t stand it when people use the “roads were built for cars” excuse. That part drives me crazy. But I do have some good news. I have noticed in Annapolis, where I live, that people are paying closer attention to cyclists these days. It is probably a combination of the fact that we have had an absurd number of cycling accidents in the past year AND the fact that we have so many cyclists hitting the road now. That’s the best part. I can’t believe how many of us are out there now. I bet I passed over 100 riders on Saturday on my ride in South County. It helps that we now have a triathlon club, three cycling race teams, and at least three cycling clubs in the area right now. It is awesome. Still, not every one is perfect. Someone threw a handful of pennies out there car window at me a few weeks back. Luckily their aim was as bad as their common sense and they missed me.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:52:00 +0000

First it is what you would expect from Fox news they want to make everybody angry and bikes on roads make everybody angry. They make me angry and I ride a bike. I am trying to find the wording for someone would swerve to miss a dead cat hit a cyclist and feel they did the right thing. The passenger would yell “O my God didn’t you see that!” and the driver would say “Yes Poor cat was already dead but at least I hit the cyclist.” What is the difference between the new Dyson vacuum and a bicycle? The dirt bag on the vacuum does not wear spandex.
With all the hate towards bike on roads I do not think the accidents we have are road rage. It is like you said cars are unaware of bikes when they hit them. I like the flashing red light even during the day. It gets a drivers attention and makes them think safety. I think waving hi is the best thing and only thing you can do with cars. It makes everyone happy. Give a big smile to the lady in the car. Give Thumbs up to the old guy in a new car. Wave go ahead to the first car next to you at the light. My favorite is the “call me” sign (but it has never worked). Then they all think what a nice boy on that bicycle. He sure does piss me off being on the road but he smiled at me. Maybe the next one is nice too and I will call. I get cut off or crowed out all the time. That is not the same as being hit. They can hit me anytime they want. You can not demand courtesy you can only extend it.

Local bike clubs here have been able to have a bike memorial set up where a cyclist has been killed. A bike painted white on a signpost. It helps make people feel for cyclists. Local clubs are always lobbying local government for road improvements and bike days. Ask for bike safety signs and you will get them.
Be safe.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:52:00 +0000