Promoting Violence Against Cyclists

[telegirl]

So I posted and went on vacation.....

I can't even find the seller on CafePress now! And the products are gone, as far as I can find.

Good job to all those who stood up and were counted. I thought if anyone could promote change, it would be you guys! And thanks for putting it out on other sites!

YOU GUYS ROCK!

[lph]

I've been chewing this over in my mind a bit today, I've been following the discussion (somewhat) both here and on bikejournal. A lot of people would consider T-shirts like this (and anti-cyclist groups on Facebook or similar) harmless fun. Edgy and provocative, but still harmless fun.

And to some extent I agree. We all get irrationally pissed off at things sometimes, and I prefer when people visibly show it rather than pretending that everything's fine. I don't mind when people get really riled up about everyday things, as long as they can laugh a bit at themselves too.

But "harmless fun" means jabbing at someone who's your equal. It might be fun to threaten to run a cycling buddy off the track and into the undergrowth when you're riding a bike, not so fun to do so when you're in a motorized vehicle capable of crushing his skull. I don't think drivers get how vulnerable cyclists feel out there, at all. And how we EVERY SINGLE DAY have to consider how to NOT get hit by a car. What looks like a "harmless" violent fantasy for them is stark reality for us, and just not fun.

[Zen]

I've been chewing this over in my mind a bit today, I've been following the discussion (somewhat) both here and on bikejournal. A lot of people would consider T-shirts like this (and anti-cyclist groups on Facebook or similar) harmless fun. Edgy and provocative, but still harmless fun.

And to some extent I agree. We all get irrationally pissed off at things sometimes, and I prefer when people visibly show it rather than pretending that everything's fine. I don't mind when people get really riled up about everyday things, as long as they can laugh a bit at themselves too.

But "harmless fun" means jabbing at someone who's your equal. It might be fun to threaten to run a cycling buddy off the track and into the undergrowth when you're riding a bike, not so fun to do so when you're in a motorized vehicle capable of crushing his skull. I don't think drivers get how vulnerable cyclists feel out there, at all. And how we EVERY SINGLE DAY have to consider how to NOT get hit by a car. What looks like a "harmless" violent fantasy for them is stark reality for us, and just not fun.

WELL SAID, THANK YOU!

[mimitabby]

So I posted and went on vacation.....

I can't even find the seller on CafePress now! And the products are gone, as far as I can find.

Good job to all those who stood up and were counted. I thought if anyone could promote change, it would be you guys! And thanks for putting it out on other sites!

YOU GUYS ROCK!

Yeah, see what you started? thanks, by the way!