And a few crazy cyclists ...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

BSG:

I could not have described the Mental Time Warp as eloquently as you have been. Perfect description. Absolutely perfect!

Hey thanks!

Here's another Hazardous Clueless Cyclist report:

A couple days ago my husband and I are riding down one of the beautiful tree lined streets in our little rural town. It's a two lane, two way street with parking allowed on one side and beautiful wide sidewalks and curbs on both sides. Here's an antique 1930's postcard of that very street, and it has not changed all that much:


So, we are riding single file down the right side of the street (the side that allows parking) and of course we have to ride 3 feet out from the "door zone" for safety's sake. No problem so far, still room for cars to pass in both directions.

Up ahead, we see 3 people all going in the same direction as we are: a lady around 55 is actively jogging on the left hand sidewalk, a younger woman (35?) bike riding parallel to her in the street on the LEFT side of the street (going against traffic), and finally a preteen on a bike accompanying them again on the left side of the road but swerving in huge S curves in the left lane, apparently for fun.
I am like freaking out at how careless and irresponsible this whole trio is, and I tell my husband as we approach that I am going to say something.
As we pass them (and at this moment I can only imagine the risk if a passing car or two cars were in the mix as well, going in both directions)...I say politely to them "You should be riding your bikes on the right side of the road, with the traffic".
As we pass, the 35-something woman on her bike calls out after me: "I know! It's ok, I'm riding with my mother who's jogging!"



I was simply speechless as we continued on our way.
Would she do the same thing if she were driving her car instead of her bike??
Doesn't it occur to her that she is creating a dangerous traffic situation for all the rest of us as well??
Why can't the mother just cross the street to jog on the other sidewalk??
And what is all of this teaching the young bike rider, presumably her child??

Egads. People are hopeless.