Why the hate for Cyclists?

[Aggar]

This.

I think its the hard core "I am entitled to use the road too. Deal with it." crew that also fails to cooperate with motorists. E.g. they want to take whatever part of the road, and as much of it as they want (including riding abreast) even though they cant maintain the speed limits.

They are no better than motorists that drive slow in the left lane, dont maintain the speed limit, etc.

I’ve actually passed about 30 cyclists in the left hand ditch because they wouldn’t get out of the middle of the road. They took up the entire road. Ditch to ditch. College campuses are the worst. I’ve seen several near hits on Purdue’s campus as well from bikes running stop signs.

 

[Timjoebillybob]

So next question.


If we built bike paths, would it be acceptable if bikes were no longer legal to use roadways, and bike paths only? That would give cyclists their own, safe path to ride on, and give motor vehicles their unadultered roadway to drive on.

Would that be fair compromise?

Per at least one bicycle rider in this thread, No. I mentioned if it should being required if a bike lane was there. Same as pedestrians and sidewalks.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

So you take joy in the pain of others?

Sometimes. You never laughed at your buddy brushing an electric fence or a nut shot at a pinata party on America's Funniest Home Videos?

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Just remember kids, if you're annoyed by cyclists playing with their toys in the road that means you're anti-farmer.

In the same logic, I can put emergency equipment in my Camaro and run red lights and speed because it's fun and I want to get to Wendy's before surge pricing. You don't mind when an ambulance does it because you had a heart attack, so why are you so selfish to not let me have my fun as well?

 

[ditcherman]

Just remember kids, if you're annoyed by cyclists playing with their toys in the road that means you're anti-farmer.

In the same logic, I can put emergency equipment in my Camaro and run red lights and speed because it's fun and I want to get to Wendy's before surge pricing. You don't mind when an ambulance does it because you had a heart attack, so why are you so selfish to not let me have my fun as well?

I just ordered lights and sirens for the tractor.
Mmmmm Wendy’s.

 

[AndreusMaximus]

A couple of points for consideration.

A big disconnect is that many motorists describe safe practical riding as “rude and or inconsiderate”. I get it, no one wants someone up in their way holding them up for even a second. So in that context many riders, since most vehicle drivers are accusing cyclists as you describe, are reflexively responding to complaints defensively.

Fair enough.

 

[foszoe]

If you want to be selfish and not share the road you can pay for the bike lanes or share…

Communism! Socialism! Definitely some -ism.

 

[chipbennett]

If you want to be selfish and not share the road you can pay for the bike lanes or share…

If your goal is to make cyclists sound like Socialists: mission accomplished.

 

[jamil]

Mike, that’s an ugly thing to say to someone else…especially considering your intended target.

Do you really think the stakes involved in this conflict warrant that level of response?

It looks to me like the thread is getting under your skin a bit too much, and emotions are starting to get the better of your responses…maybe a break from the thread would help, I know it helps me when I dig my own heels in a bit too deeply.

That's a good point. This thread was never really all that serious. Like I said, it kinda has the seriousness of pineapple on pizza. But it's a bit more than that. Sometimes dudes take sides to extreme levels and bend themselves out of shape over it. And once they do that, it's like blood in shark infested waters. Once you expose your sensitivities in front of other dudes, you're wearing one of these.

 

[jamil]

And you are making points that just are not true. They may be true in your ancedotal world but not the entire world. It is preposterous that all farmers sit in the field waiting on rush hour to end to use the state road to move their combine and other big equipment, though not saying some don’t. I have been behind them, so I have seen firsthand they exist and have personally operated such in my life.

Do you think it funny and unusual that a bicycle may crash from flat tires caused by potholes, rocks, glass, nails and other sharp debris on roads?

Mike. C'mon. You're being a Karen. Calm down. Yes, we laugh at that stuff. Doesn't mean we want people to get hurt. But whatever satisfaction people feel is because people have a sense of humor for karma. And not just karma. Tell me you don't laugh at the video of the dad coaching his little boy how to hit a whiffle bal, and then the little boy whacks his dad in the nuts with the bat. Sometimes other people's pain is funny.

 

[jamil]

You are right that is the demarcation line, cyclists have equal right to the roadway but motorists believe they have a superior right.

Please show me in the law that they “have superior rights”?

Nah. I don't think cyclists have equal rights to the road.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Mike. C'mon. You're being a Karen. Calm down. Yes, we laugh at that stuff. Doesn't mean we want people to get hurt. But whatever satisfaction people feel is because people have a sense of humor for karma. And not just karma. Tell me you don't laugh at the video of the dad coaching his little boy how to hit a whiffle bal, and then the little boy whacks his dad in the nuts with the bat. Sometimes other people's pain is funny.

There's a whole genre of comedy (slapstick) built around it.

 

[jamil]

You don't like pineapple on your pizza? What is wrong with ME? LOL

It's a thing. Not just on INGO. But it is the best debate going on the webz. It's even better than cyclists thinking they have equal rights.

 

[Ingomike]

If your goal is to make cyclists sound like Socialists: mission accomplished.

Really? Selfish people whining about sharing public resources being told they can pay to have their own roads is socialist? You know better than that…

 

[Ingomike]

Nah. I don't think cyclists have equal rights to the road.

And therein lies the truth. There can be no agreement if one party believes the other should not exist…

 

[printcraft]

 

[foszoe]

If your goal is to make cyclists sound like Socialists: mission accomplished.

I knew it was an ism!

 

[BehindBlueI's]

And therein lies the truth. There can be no agreement if one party believes the other should not exist…

More argument via aphasia.

 

[chipbennett]

Really? Selfish people whining about sharing public resources being told they can pay to have their own roads is socialist? You know better than that…

The point you're missing (or willfully ignoring): the motorists already did pay to have their own roads. The roads were paid for by taxes generated from the owning and operating of motor vehicles. The cyclists didn't pay for those roads, and yet demand equal access/rights to those roads - and then have the hubris to demand that the motorists further pay for the cyclists to have dedicated roads.

 

[chipbennett]

And therein lies the truth. There can be no agreement if one party believes the other should not exist…

And therein lies the straw man. @jamil never claimed that cyclists "should not exist."