Well, maybe we should all blame Henry Ford for making automobiles affordable to the masses! Consider that we'd still have had paved roads in the U.S. without Ford - the "Good Roads" movement was afterall spearheaded by the League of American Wheelmen and not the early motorists. I can envision a more European-like U.S. with fewer cars, less urban sprawl, a lot more cyclists and a lower obesity rate.
Hmmm. Now WHERE did I park my time machine?
(Sorry if this got a bit off list topic.)
Steve Whitting
"The Ciocc Cat"
Prairieville, Louisiana USA
Website at http://ciocc-cat.angelfire.com/
From: Chuck <paccoastcycles@sbcglobal.net> Subject: [CR] Is this fair To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 2:28 PM
It is often heard, and just recently was said regarding fixies, that if a cyclist does something "wrong" in traffic, he/she is hurting other cyclists. The fear is that motorists will treat every cyclist worse because of the wrong action of other cyclists.
I've often felt the same way but have reservations about the whole concept. How close is the act of a motorist who has decided all cyclists are bad because of the actions of others to racial stereotyping? I think it is pretty similar. Both racial stereotyping and discrimination against cyclists happen and I'm not suggesting hiding our heads in the tarmac. (ouch!)
I expect more from my fellow man than to stoop to such low behavior as to treat me badly because they are mad at someone else. It is true that when people get behind the wheel, they change; mostly for the worse. For many, the automobile is the only place in their lives where they feel they are in control. I know that is pathetic. But I am certain it is true in many cases. The acting out of this control issue can and does have dire consequences for cyclists using the same road.
Have you been harangued by people telling you how much cyclists held them up on the roadway? They don't seem to mention how a slow moving cement truck held up their speedy progress in traffic. What is the difference? Why do they mention us and not the cement truck? I think that is because as the smallest vehicle on the road, motorists perceive us as the babies and they are the mommies and daddies and they are ever ready to teach us a lesson.
There is plenty of anger on the roadway and think that motorists in general carry their mindset with them and do not need an errant cyclist to provide an excuse to act disrespectfully toward bicycle riders.
This does not excuse any cyclist's wrong actions, but it may be useful in trying to keep the issue in focus.
Also, I've been a passenger in cars driven by other cyclists who, when they get behind the wheel of a car become the very driver I am wary of when I'm on my bicycle. Maybe irony is the force that makes the world turn.
Chuck Hoefer
Vista, California USA