Comments on: Seattle Cyclists

By: I Have A Confession | Seattle Metblogs

I Have A Confession | Seattle Metblogs — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:46:47 +0000

[...] post about cyclists prompted a lot of discussion recently. As a cyclist and pedestrian, I try to be fully aware of my [...]

By: alejo699

alejo699 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:07:12 +0000

It’s amazing how these discussions almost always devolve into "us" and "them," even though almost nobody is only a driver or only a cyclist. And of course there’s the tendency to speak in angry generalities. But the bottom line is that everybody needs to be more aware, more respectful, and more law-abiding. This means, seandr, that cyclists need to obey the laws too, and for the same reason drivers do. Because cyclists are NOT pedestrians, they’re vehicle operators. (And by "they" I mean "we," because I’m a cyclist too. And I stop for stop signs.)
Back to the original question, is the cyclist a douchebag? Yep. But Chaya’s comment that it’s "unfair" doesn’t make a lot of sense, since she’s just as free to break the law and blow those stops as the cyclist is — but I wouldn’t recommend it to her any more than I would him. Accidents suck.

By: mik

mik — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:51:33 +0000

Personally, I’d just like cyclists to yell "on your left" when passing me.

By: hollyd

hollyd — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:06:33 +0000

Last week on Dexter near the Swedish Cultural Center, I saw a new silver Jeep or Mercedes ride way to close to a biker, who then pounded his fist on the hood of the car which in turn "forced" the driver to swerve into the biker in an attempt to either run him over, or knock him off his bike. That driver then pulled his car overish taking up the bike lane and half of the road, got out and got in the biker guys face raising his fist like he was ready to blast this guy in the face. The biker guy yelled back gaining the attention of fellow bikers who slowed down to see what was happening.

The confrontation ended not in violence; the driver yelled some "fuck you"’s and swerved away squealing his tires and making his masculinity known leaving the biker shaking his head before riding away and leaving me relieved that I had not witnessed a violent act at 7:30am in the morning, but wondering who’s the asshole, the biker or the driver?

Ok, biker, you didn’t need to pound on this guys brand new car hood, but driver, what the hell were you thinking? You swerved hard to the right almost running the guy over. Had you done anything to hurt him I was the only witness who observed the entire conflict. I had your lisence plate number, your description, and a plain view of the incident. This is a big city. Think before you take your road rage out on a guy on a bike. Ugh. Get used to it people, bikers are here to stay. Douchebags or not.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:08:39 +0000

No one driving a car comes to a 3 second stop at an empty intersection.

I do. In fact, I have never blown through a stop sign in my life on purpose.

Ever.

This either means you’re wrong, or I’m no one. Which is it?

By: thesoze

thesoze — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:15:27 +0000

what is this Digg? let’s try to obey the rules and hope no one gets hurt…but if you do hit a cyclist, just try to make it look like an accident!! :)

{sarcasm}

stop this madness!

By: tonyb

tonyb — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:04:28 +0000

I can’t believe cyclists are condoning unsafe behavior. What you’ve basically just told me as a driver is that because cyclists are stupid enough to practice unsafe riding habits that it’s OK if I hit them. Fine, looks like it’s open season on cyclists that can’t come to a complete stop.

By: seandr

seandr — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:38:18 +0000

Chaya,

Have you ever pissed someone off on the road? Been pulled over by a cop? Gotten a moving violation or warning? Gotten into an accident? Driven while on the cellphone? Parked illegally? Opened your door and dinged the side of the car parked next to you? Exceeded the speed limit? Missed a stop sign or red light? Failed to yield? Went out of turn? Driven too slow because you’re looking for a parking space? Forgot to signal? Nudged a car while parallel parking in a tight space? Changed lanes without realizing there was another car there? Run out of gas?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, don’t be too hard on yourself, you’re only human. If you answered no to all of them, then I’m afraid you’re the douchebag.

P.S. Still not clear from your vague reporting if the cyclist in question actually cut you off or just passed you up.

By: The_Tim

The_Tim — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:26:03 +0000

rjl20, perhaps a better link would have been to the RCW definition of "stop".

While I do not subscribe to the belief that "everybody breaks the law, so that makes it okay," I do agree with seandr to the extent that car drivers violate just as many laws as cyclists, and it is pretty hypocritical for a car driver (like myself) to get all righteous about a cyclist running a stop sign.

I hope nobody is seriously trying to argue that car drivers actually break fewer traffic laws than bicycles. Different ones maybe, but not fewer.

By: Chaya

Chaya — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:24:40 +0000

Thank you, rjl20, that’s just what I was coming here to say. If I was there to see it in my car then it was NOT a deserted intersection. I was waiting patiently to go on my turn and a cyclist just blew past me.