How would you have responded to this??

[Running Mommy]

I am a part of our neighborhood discussion forum, It's a private forum, so I can't post the link here but some woman named "AZ mom of 3" posted this:

"Saturday I witnessed some bike riders riding in the CLOSED bike lane going South on Estrella right before Elliot. The traffic had to stay behind them because there was obviously not enough room to go by them. WTH were they thinking? Why would they not just go on the sidewalk? It just seemed so dangerous!"

How would you have responded??

This is how I did:

"Ohhh I could go off on AZ mom right now.. MUST HOLD TONGUE!!!
Gee, so people actually had to SLOW DOWN and yield to bikes?? Oh what an inconvienece that must have been....
Kind of like how I have to yield to the SUV mom's who PARK in the bike lanes when they are picking up their kids from school?! Or the landscapers who PARK in the bike lane forcing me into the car lane where a speeding APS truck almost takes me out??!!
Or move as far to the right as possible to avoid the mirrors of the school busses that buzz me going up San Miguel. I have almost been hit more times than I can count.
And BTW- there is so much CRAP on the shoulder of the roads up here, that often I can't even safely RIDE in the bike lanes!!
And the sidewalk? I'm sorry but that is for pedestrains and young kids.

EMR is a popular place for cyclists, and I don't think that slowing down for that little bit of squeeze (it's really not THAT long) to yield to a cyclist should put people out.
It wouldn't be "dangerous" if people would slow down and start thinking of someone other than themselves! SHEESH!!

Ok, believe it or not that was my toned down rant...

Can you tell I'm a cyclist??

Let's all live together in peace folks.. Peace, such a novel concept..."


I wish I could post the link because all of the other responses were positive in favor of the cyclist. One guy even quoted cycling law... Tho of course there were a couple of "I have no problem with them as long as they follow the laws and don't dart out in traffic/ ride 3 a breast and block the lane/ run through stop signs etc"... To which I responded that just like idiot CAR drivers, there are idiot BIKE riders out there as well. And it's sad because they give cyclists a bad name..

I got a PM from another woman on the forum warning me that the lady that posted that was one of the bike lane parkers.. Apparently she drives a hummer that says "NYA2TD" - or New York Attitude- on the license plate and has no problem parking in the bike lane while she is waiting to pick up her kids from school. And the warning was that this lady did not like being "called out" and that I should expect an email from her.. WHATEVER!!

So again, how would you have responded??

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So again, how would you have responded??

I would have said all the very same things you said, but I would have ommitted the sarcastic tone. That way, people would read and note your points, yet not also have to react or respond to any perceived attitude- except for maybe the attitude of NY lady.

Too bad she gives the rest of us NY ladies a bad name!

Good going, getting the message across! Too bizarre...maybe you should suggest that pedestrians and children use the bike path to walk so that cyclists can all ride on the sidewalk!

[mimitabby]

did you include the "Let's all live together in peace" part?

[Running Mommy]

Yes I did mimiT...
And you are right Lisa, I was a bit sarcastic, but we have such a problem up here with people that are in a hurry and mow others down. You should see some of the road rage that I've witnessed on this stretch of road. It's like people hit that stretch of road and go nuts??!! On that forum folks have taken to "outing" people by posting pictures of the offending cars and license plate #'s. So yeah, it's bad!!

It is scary how people drive out here. I thought it was bad in CA, but it is WAY worse here!!

luckily where I ride people have mostly settled down and drive normal, but there are stretches in the valley I wouldn't think of riding.. sad but true..

[onimity]

It's hard to respond to someone that self-centered and ignorant without expressing some irritation, I think, but if you can keep emotion out of it and act as if she were asking an innocent question it's probably the better tactic. It might make her think twice about her opinions, whereas something she views as an attack will likely increase her anger. And it sounds like she drives a large weapon rather regularly!

I'd say something like, I understand that it can seem dangerous to have cars and bikes in such close proximity, but did you know... and then cite the state driver's handbook, that bikes are vehicles and have the right to use roadways just as other vehicles (ours explicitly states that bikes don't belong on sidewalks) and perhaps throw in some stats too, that sidewalks are in fact much more dangerous than roads.

Hopefully she'll e-mail you and perhaps the two of you can have a cup of coffee and a friendly discussion about why bikes might want to be on roadways in spite of the danger posed be people that (ahem) do things like park in the bike lanes. It's possible that you may be able to show her how her perspective is off, but it doesn't sound like she likes to have her opinions challenged.

Anne

[mimitabby]

yeah, meet somewhere that she has to WALK to because there's no place for her car! that'd be the day in the USA!

[PinkBike]

Saturday I witnessed some bike riders riding in the CLOSED bike lane going South on Estrella right before Elliot.

i wish people would realize that "bike lane closed" does not mean bikes are not allowed - it is to tell the drivers that bicyclists will not be using the bike lane, as it is closed, thus they will be using the street.

cant we all just get along.

well, i guess not the yay-hoos but that is another thread.

runningmommy you done good with your reply.

[singletrackmind]

The gist is right, perhaps a little civility would make the message more palatable....honey/vinegar. I also post a link to our state's driver's manual, which has an entire chapter on sharing the road with cyclists, including the part where we aren't supposed to ride on sidewalks, with a blurb for those too lazy to click.

People simply don't get it. They don't have the experience of riding amongst themselves so they don't understand. Like you said, they get behind the wheel and it's all about them them them them. Then there are people like my dad too. He was driving up a hill with no shoulder, coming up to a cyclist and he complained that it was too dangerous to pass because you couldn't see oncoming traffic due to the hill. I suggested he wait until it was safe. You could see the light bulb brighten, it just didn't occur to him that you could wait. It was only for several seconds and then we carefully passed. This is one of the, no, the gentlest guy I know who does think of the others on the road and is careful but hadn't realized.

Since we can't get them to bike a bunch of miles in our shoes we have to rely on education, sweet and gentle and lots of it. It shouldn't be us/them, we aren't sides, we're people. On the same note, if any of y'all are the sort that bike with a me me me attitude (saw a lot of that at the last group ride), zipping through stops, taking up lanes unnecessarily, etc, well.....

[Mr. Bloom]

I would have said all the very same things you said, but I would have ommitted the sarcastic tone.

I agree. I might have said:

"as a cyclist, I thank you for your concern over safety. Unless you ride, you might not be aware that:

• - the bike lanes are often blocked by other vehicles making them unusable
  - sidewalks are designed for walkers and children and actually are more dangerous for cyclist to use
  - the road shoulders are so full of sand and rocks as to be unusable (if you'd like to petition the city for better street sweeping, your activism would be appreciated
  

In addition, were you aware that cyclists in Arizona have rights as set forth in Title 28 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, as follows:

28-815. Riding on roadway and bicycle path; bicycle path usage
A. A person riding a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, except under any of the following situations:
1. If overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. If preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. If reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals or surface hazards.
4. If the lane in which the person is operating the bicycle is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
B. Persons riding bicycles on a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
C. A path or lane that is designated as a bicycle path or lane by state or local authorities is for the exclusive use of bicycles even though other uses are permitted pursuant to subsection D or are otherwise permitted by state or local authorities.
D. A person shall not operate, stop, park or leave standing a vehicle in a path or lane designated as a bicycle path or lane by a state or local authority except in the case of emergency or for crossing the path or lane to gain access to a public or private road or driveway.
E. Subsection D does not prohibit the use of the path or lane by the appropriate local authority.

In addition, were you aware that Arizona Revised Statutes REQUIRES that you as a driver:
' When overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, a person driving a motor vehicle shall exercise due care by leaving a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet until the motor vehicle is safely past the overtaken bicycle.'


So, in the future, we would appreciate your vocal support of our great state's laws by respecting the right of respectful cyclists."


There, that's what I would say.:rolleyes:

[Running Mommy]

You are GOOD!!!!!
Kill em with kindness, but kill em nonetheless!!

BTW- did you have any luck yet on that wabbit hunt??

[Mr. Bloom]

BTW- did you have any luck yet on that wabbit hunt??

12 pounds of Tims Tams are arriving tomorrow...how 'bout that!

Shipping to the office so I won't be tempted to consume them myself!

[crazycanuck]

Mr silver that's a bit overboard on the tim tam front don't ya think? Tim Tams are in good supply last time i checked

*shakes head*

C

[Crankin]

RM, I probably would have been as sarcastic, but the honey attitude probably would be more effective.

I am trying to picture where this is; where is Estrella? I used to live s/o Elliot between McClintock and Rural. I remember Estrella as in Estrella Mountains... has the valley grown that much?

Robyn

[Jo-n-NY]

I also think what you said was perfect and too the point. Since I have a habit of jumping the gun I probably would have been sarcastic also, but then after the fact, would have thought I should have toned it down.

Mr. Silver's post was GREAT!!! except I would have to get the NY laws. I will always keep that post in the back of my mind.

I recently got in a slightly heated "discussion" recently with dh cousin. He thinks cyclists should ride on the opposite side of the road so they can see the cars coming. geeeezes Needless to say, the discussion just had to be dropped. Sometimes a person can talk until they are blue in the face.

~ JoAnn

[7rider]

Mr. Silver! You're a regulatory wonk! SWOOON!!!!
A man after my own heart.


Ayuh....mom always said..."You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
Of course, I would be tempted to key any Hummer with a bad-attitude license plate parked on a bike lane. I wouldn't....but I'd be tempted!