How would you have responded to this??

[Tri Girl]

I would've responded like you did Denise, but I probably wouldn't have been as nice. I get very defensive when it comes to cars complaining about cyclists (well, the ones who aren't riding like idiots). The 10-30 seconds that is taken out of their drive seems so incredible to them that it'll ruin their whole day. Sheesh... not like a car almost broadsiding me yesterday didn't ruin my day- but in my defense.. my 150 lbs would've been much more hurt than their 2000+ (see, I'm ranting- sorry ).

I LOVE Mr. Silver's response!!!! You go guy!!!! Gonna copy that one and save it in my brain file for later... Nice response. Now if only I could think that quickly on my feet- I'm too impulsive...

My DH and I talked yesterday, and we decided that even if gas gets up to $5-$10 a gallon nobody will change the way they live. I'd love to see more bicycles, but sadly I just think that aint' gonna happen- cars are like crack and people will b*tch about their addiction, but will never break away from them... makes me want to move to Amsterdam. There were bicycles EVERYWHERE!!!!!

[Lise]

RM--righteous indignation, my favorite. I'm not great at toning it down, myself.

Mr. Silver--very nice!

and finally--a HUMMER? I really, really don't get those. Aren't they Army vehicles? I wonder how many bikes you could make out of the metal in a Hummer....Lise wanders off to ponder that lovely scenario...

[missymaya]

You go RM for standing up to stuffy Hummer. For me, I would have cut down on the sarcastic tone a little and planted some personal situations in her way, i.e, "what if you were on the sidewalk with your kid and you saw a cyclist coming your way, would you walk on the street to get out of the way or just gotten hit?" and other scenarios.
But, the argument that you stated still got the point across very clearly.

[Running Mommy]

Yes I am in the Estrella Mountains. Estrella Mtn ranch to be exact. We are in Goodyear in the FAR west valley. The road she is talking about is the Estrella Parkway which is currently under construction for about a half mile. They are extending cotton lane to come up our way, and they are putting in a traffic circle. Normally the parkway is a four lane affair with an landscaped median. In the little portion they are working on they have closed one side completely and made about a half mile section on the other side two way with one lane each direction.
The woman is a self absorbed moron from what I've been told. My neighbors all know my screen name on the forum and they told me exactly who she is. She is also the one that parks in a parking spot at the school that has a reserved sign in it.
Every year to raise money for the PTA they auction off a parking spot that is yours for the year. It has a sign that says "reserved parking for the XXXX family ONLY"... Well apparently she doesn't care and parks there anyway. Her reasoning is that it's a public lot, and you can't legally do that. The only spaces that can be legally restricted are handicapped spots...
So yeah, She is a PEACH!!

Now Mr. Silver.... May I ask which flavor tim tams are coming your way?? I noticed on that website some minty ones, and some mini's that looked absolutely YUMMY!! I'm trying to hold back! I need to get 25 more lbs off of me!! And tim tams are not helping!! ha ha ha

[7rider]

I wonder how many bikes you could make out of the metal in a Hummer

Wow.
Now THERE'S something I hadn't pondered before........
Way cool.
What a lovely image.

[spokewench]

I can really understand Running Mommy's concerns about the attitude towards cyclists/pedestrians and other cars in the Phoenix area. I have NEVER heard about more hit and runs than in that town! People mow down children in the cross walks and they never stop and try to help those people. It is incredible the number of hit and runs down there! Even the Bishop of the Catholic Church down there ran over a pedestrian and kept going! It is an epidemic of I am omnipotent, totally not to be held acountable, and if I am in my car, I can do anything I want, including murder even if it was because I was on my cell phone, in a hurry, ran a red light or whatever. It is really an incredible mess down there with this attitude!

I know this sounds like I am being prejudiced, but it really is prevelant in the attitude of Phoenicians that they have certain rights behind the wheel of a car!

[Tri Girl]

it really is prevelant in the attitude of Phoenicians that they have certain rights behind the wheel of a car!

That's really sad to hear. I always thought it was just Yumans that drove insanely crazy (I was in 3 car wrecks- none were my fault- by the time I graduated high school). We always blamed everything on the snowbirds... I guess the insanity has migrated further north. Watch out Spokewench- it's moving your way...

[Crankin]

RM,

Wow, I guess the valley has grown... to me Goodyear is half way to LA. I can't really comment on the above comments since I haven't lived in Phx since 1990. But it seems that any place that is so dependent on cars for transportation is just going to have more cars to be angry at cyclists. I can't think of any area around where I used to live in S. Tempe where I could ride the distances I ride now, without stopping every mile for a stop light. So I guess, you must have a lot of riders out near you, where it's maybe less developed?
It sounds like this woman is crazy. I'd like to put her on a bike and see how far she could go.

[Running Mommy]

Yeah we really do have some great new pavement to ride on. Thats why I stay up here. It's the safer option. Tho that stretch she was talking about is one that I rarely use. It leads in/out of the hood, and I never leave the hood! ha ha
We have a new 3 mile stretch that is technically still closed that I ride on. Soon it will be filled with homes, but for now it's my little piece of paved paradise! Lot's of other cyclists have discovered it as well.

As for the hit and runs, yeah it is BAD! I can't tell you how many times I hear "car vs. bicycle or car vs. pedestrian" reports on the traffic report. I just cringe when I hear it too! UGH!
Not long ago a high school girl was hit and nearly killed in a cross walk by the high school. The guy kept going. He abandoned the car at a nearby dairy and they were eventually able to track him down. I think he may have been here illegally as well. That is one of the reasons why we have so many hit and runs.

[trekin']

Gee, I feel pretty safe riding up here in Massachusetts, where they say a red light is just a suggestion...

[Jiffer]

Until I started riding tandem with DH last Fall, I wasn't really aware of the cycling laws. I knew a cyclist was technically not allowed on the sidewalk and that it was legal for a cyclist to turn left in a left hand turn lane, but I didn't really know they had all the same rights as motorists. I didn't know the "bike lane" was often less safe than the "car lane" because of gravel, glass, etc. I never got irritated at a cyclist, though, if they were in the regular lane. Most people seem to give cyclists a break around here.

However, one of the first times out on a tandem, we were going down hill on a street with virtually no one around except the car coming up behind us. We were pretty far into the lane since we were going fairly fast and there was a whole entire other lane to the left of us wide open.

This lady goes by in her convertible and yells, "Get in the bike lane!" To which DH responds, "We are! Read your DMV manual!" There wasn't a bike lane and, even if there was, it would have been the least safe place to be at the down hill speed we were going. Especially if some lady like HER decided to go by us all close, giving us less room to maneuver.

That's the only time I've ever heard verbal abuse (in my short riding career). But it does make me aware that many motorists are simply not aware of the laws. It is our duty, when possible, to inform them in an effective, kind way. However, if you only have a second, yelling out, "Read your DMV manual!" might be of use. I doubt she read it, though. Probably went home and vented to her husband who was equally ignorant and, therefore, made her feel justified!

[Meg McKilty]

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

/damn hippies.