Look who's trash-talking bikes now - from the League of American Bicyclists

[zoom-zoom]

if male drivers are so ignorant about the laws regarding bicycles on the roads and allow themselves to be consumed with rage, then something is really wrong in their lives and it has nothing to do with cyclists; they probably yell at cyclists then go home and beat up on their wives.

I fear that you are correct. I agree that it likely has nothing to do with cyclists...we're just an easy target. But happy people don't feel the need to be aggressive and nasty to strangers. If they treat a stranger in public on a bike that way, imagine how they treat their family in the privacy of their own home...

[Trek420]

I fear that you are correct. I agree that it likely has nothing to do with cyclists...we're just an easy target. But happy people don't feel the need to be aggressive and nasty to strangers.

I find that people are just not happy. I'm no sociologist, just 15 years taking call after call after.... No scientific record or study of this such as: numeric increase and type of swearing, number of manager takeovers ... but it's noticable. People are generally meaner now.

Treating others as you would want to be treated is the stuff that makes the world turn better, that's been my rule. And at least if stuff does not go well it gives me "somewhere to go". If you just come on my line screaming, cursing and swearing .... where do we go from there?

Same's true in biking and driving, at least I wish.

[marni]

while riding through west texas hhill country on the cross country last year, there were several trucks that passed us shooting off over our heads. We reported it to the local police and were told "oh yeah, we know who it is, we get complalints about it all of the time" not that they were going to do anything other than acknowledge that we had made the complaint.

Later we stopped in a small town for a cold drink and were asking a local what there was to do in town and he replied" for you bikers, the only thing to do is to get out of here as soon as possible. They don't much care for bike riders around here." When I asked why he mumbled something about cominng over the brow of the hill and having to slam on brakes to avoid hitting a biker while pulling a trailer full of cattle and the danger to both truck and animals. I had the sense not to wonder aloud what he was doing driving so fast, in hilly terrain where he couldn't see what was coming down the road, that he had to slam on his brake while pulling a truck full of cattle.
I guess alll we can do is keep a right lane bail out in sight, show professional and good manners, and adhere to the rules and our mental guns.

marni

[moderncyclista]

The other day someone threw something at a friend of mine - who was riding home from work, in the snow on her mountain bike. For no reason. My personal life philosophy is "Just don't be a d**k." Why don't more people ascribe to this philosophy - the whole planet would be better to live on.

[GLC1968]

You know, I was a cyclist before I was a 'farmer' but I can see both sides to the story (this has nothing to do with a-holes who treat us like crap for no reason). TE actually hosted a ride last year where a local farmer came to talk civilly with us cyclists. He explained that hauling farm equipment or livestock is not easy. He pointed out that most times, they are going about 20 mph - same speed as many road bikes. He explained how it's sometimes impossible to pass a cyclist because of the similiar speeds. He also explained about the inherent danger in driving large, slow equipment on roadways but also explained that they have no other way of transporting the livestock, produce, equipment, etc. He asked that cyclists avoid the most heavily used farm roads during the most heavily used periods (like during harvest). Unfortunately around here, those same time frames are when our weather is the best for riding! I think everyone needs to stop and think about the other person (and god knows, how often does that happen?).

The talk really made me think. I've been yelled at for cycling on the roads. I've been yelled at for running on the roads. I've been yelled at for driving too slow while hauling goats in our truck. I've been yelled at for driving too slow while hauling compost. I mean, really...everyone needs to take a chill pill and stop to consider their neighbor. Cyclists, runners, farmers, weekend Harley riders who ought to consider mufflers ....everyone.