Trapped in a room with bike haters . . .

[Reesha]

I was not confrontational about it (at least I don't think, I sure tried not to be). I was really just trying to make a logical point. See, if you look at this way, it really makes sense for cyclists to be on the road . . .

Most people have their opinions and you really can't change them which is why I usually just keep my mouth shut. But I felt really hypocritical sitting there and not saying something. Especially if they all see me showing up at court tomorrow on my bike taking the LANE at the intersection. The horror!

Good for you though. I'm glad you said something, I would do the same in that situation

[zoom-zoom]

I had a guy ask yesterday (in a very non-confrontational tone) why road cyclists don't use the "bike path" when it's right next to the road. I explained to him that it's because it's less safe to be rolling at 15mph+ on a path that crosses driveways and is shared by slower bikes, pedestrians with headphones, and little kids weaving on bikes...and that we can't stop fast like a car going the same speed.

He actually got it. I think there's a lack of perception of just how fast we can go on road bikes and how difficult it is to stop fast and safely. I really wish there were a nation-wide media campaign to spell these things out. I'd bet that a lot of people simply haven't thought about the safety ramifications for cyclists.

[Veronica]

Most people don't think about anything that doesn't directly concern them. It's not that they're evil; they're just oblivious.

Veronica