Comments on: Can’t Motorists & Cyclists Just Get Along? http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/ We cover innovation, travel and the environment through interviews and sketches. Wed, 12 May 2010 21:01:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Petee http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-2014 Petee Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:34:50 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-2014 It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber. It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber.

]]> By: Petee http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-2013 Petee Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:34:38 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-2013 It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber. It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber.

]]> By: Carl Weaver http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-2012 Carl Weaver Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:02:45 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-2012 Henry: Ah, to be back in Bangkok. No, I work in Washington, DC - the Bangkok of the West. But yeah, lots of bicyclists here, few of them obeying traffic laws, which doesn't bother me so much as long as they are safe about it, which they are not. These are typically commuters, not messengers, and like in Bangkok, the scooter and motorcycle crowd has take to the same dangerous behavior.<br><br>This may sound heartless, but people with a death wish don't bother me so much. I just resent them putting me in the position of helping them carry out their wishes! Henry: Ah, to be back in Bangkok. No, I work in Washington, DC – the Bangkok of the West. But yeah, lots of bicyclists here, few of them obeying traffic laws, which doesn't bother me so much as long as they are safe about it, which they are not. These are typically commuters, not messengers, and like in Bangkok, the scooter and motorcycle crowd has take to the same dangerous behavior.

This may sound heartless, but people with a death wish don't bother me so much. I just resent them putting me in the position of helping them carry out their wishes!

]]> By: Henry http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-2011 Henry Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:52:53 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-2011 Wow, @carl must live either on the Tour de France route or in Bangkok having to avoid that many cyclist each day.<br><br>@carl, Are you talking about bike messengers perhaps? Because it's not really the same. Bike messengers are crazed one-geared psychopaths with a death wish ;) Wow, @carl must live either on the Tour de France route or in Bangkok having to avoid that many cyclist each day.

@carl, Are you talking about bike messengers perhaps? Because it's not really the same. Bike messengers are crazed one-geared psychopaths with a death wish ;)

]]> By: Petee http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-1847 Petee Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:34:50 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-1847 It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber. It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber.

]]> By: Petee http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-1846 Petee Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:34:38 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-1846 It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber. It would be nice to have bike lanes on every road, but the fact is that the LAW is the consideration given to cyclists. Cyclists have every right to be on the road: it is not the canyon that is dangerous, it is not cyclists putting themselves at risk, it is drivers who are not obeying the law. Just because everyone does it and there is little enforcement doesn't mean it's right, or that your 'side' is always right. Slow down if it's a blind curve. I really can't believe you gave this short-sighted NIMBY a platform to spew from. I think you just lost a subscriber.

]]> By: Carl Weaver http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-1838 Carl Weaver Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:02:45 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-1838 Henry: Ah, to be back in Bangkok. No, I work in Washington, DC - the Bangkok of the West. But yeah, lots of bicyclists here, few of them obeying traffic laws, which doesn't bother me so much as long as they are safe about it, which they are not. These are typically commuters, not messengers, and like in Bangkok, the scooter and motorcycle crowd has take to the same dangerous behavior.<br><br>This may sound heartless, but people with a death wish don't bother me so much. I just resent them putting me in the position of helping them carry out their wishes! Henry: Ah, to be back in Bangkok. No, I work in Washington, DC – the Bangkok of the West. But yeah, lots of bicyclists here, few of them obeying traffic laws, which doesn't bother me so much as long as they are safe about it, which they are not. These are typically commuters, not messengers, and like in Bangkok, the scooter and motorcycle crowd has take to the same dangerous behavior.

This may sound heartless, but people with a death wish don't bother me so much. I just resent them putting me in the position of helping them carry out their wishes!

]]> By: Henry http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-1837 Henry Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:52:53 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-1837 Wow, @carl must live either on the Tour de France route or in Bangkok having to avoid that many cyclist each day.<br><br>@carl, Are you talking about bike messengers perhaps? Because it's not really the same. Bike messengers are crazed one-geared psychopaths with a death wish ;) Wow, @carl must live either on the Tour de France route or in Bangkok having to avoid that many cyclist each day.

@carl, Are you talking about bike messengers perhaps? Because it's not really the same. Bike messengers are crazed one-geared psychopaths with a death wish ;)

]]> By: David http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-1836 David Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:24:58 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-1836 The key to cycling after over 34 years of doing it is to be brave, keep your eyes and ears open and don't do anything too stupid. Other than that it comes down to being at the mercy of a lot of sadists behind the wheel. The key to cycling after over 34 years of doing it is to be brave, keep your eyes and ears open and don't do anything too stupid. Other than that it comes down to being at the mercy of a lot of sadists behind the wheel.

]]> By: Anderson http://sometimesdaily.com/2009/11/cant-motorists-cyclists-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-1835 Anderson Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:49:12 +0000 http://sometimesdaily.com/?p=1924#comment-1835 I think it's great that you are addressing this issue. I live in the town of Wilmington, NC in New Hanover County; which, if you include the surrounding Brunswick and Pender counties has a total population of almost 350,000 people.<br><br> From reading the papers recently I find that "road rage" incidents are on the rise in Southeastern North Carolina. One situation we have here that contributes to "road rage" is that the traffic light system is in need of a major overhaul which in fact I understand the city is presently working on a solution. The other problem here and elsewhere is that motorists throw their weight around in the following ways: driving too aggressively and following too close.<br><br>Slowing down for a bicyclist in and of itself is not such an impossible task UNLESS the law-abiding motorist has become exasperated by facing a 30 minute obstacle course of 18 wheeler trucks, motorcycles, buses, ambulances, construction vehicles, taxis and inevitably police cars beforehand in the course of an everyday commute. At that point if the bicyclist is flaunting his right of way then an accident might occur because in order to pass a cyclist on a two-way highway one has to sometimes cross over the lane of oncoming traffic to do so. I think it's great that you are addressing this issue. I live in the town of Wilmington, NC in New Hanover County; which, if you include the surrounding Brunswick and Pender counties has a total population of almost 350,000 people.

From reading the papers recently I find that “road rage” incidents are on the rise in Southeastern North Carolina. One situation we have here that contributes to “road rage” is that the traffic light system is in need of a major overhaul which in fact I understand the city is presently working on a solution. The other problem here and elsewhere is that motorists throw their weight around in the following ways: driving too aggressively and following too close.

Slowing down for a bicyclist in and of itself is not such an impossible task UNLESS the law-abiding motorist has become exasperated by facing a 30 minute obstacle course of 18 wheeler trucks, motorcycles, buses, ambulances, construction vehicles, taxis and inevitably police cars beforehand in the course of an everyday commute. At that point if the bicyclist is flaunting his right of way then an accident might occur because in order to pass a cyclist on a two-way highway one has to sometimes cross over the lane of oncoming traffic to do so.

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