Critical Mass, Motor Vehicles, Sharing the Road

Posted on | 3 years, 6 months ago, mid-afternoon | 3 Comments

So here’s some bullshit that went down in my neighborhood the other night. It happened down the street from my place, and I call “bullshit” on several fronts. First of all, I don’t care what kind of rush you’re in — you don’t use your car as a weapon (if in fact that’s what occurred). Second, I don’t believe for a moment that those cyclists were just minding their own business and the car randomly plowed through them, prompting the ridiculous riot scene that ensued.

Disclaimer: I do not own a bicycle (anymore) and I either hoof it or bus it most places around town, though I do occasionally drive. Therefore, I am approaching this issue as a car-owner. I’ve been watching the Critical Mass rides and Seattle cycling in general for a couple of years now, and I can only speak from personal experience and observation.

Let me be clear: I would be the very last person alive to say that Seattle is a city full of skilled and courteous motor vehicle operators, so this is absolutely not an invective against cyclists and an encomium for cars.

This having been established, if a cyclist is obeying traffic laws and behaving like a city vehicle on city streets, then that cyclist deserves all the patience and respect in the world.

But in my daily comings and goings I see proper cycle street behavior about one time out of every half dozen. More often, I see cyclists slashing across lanes of traffic, running stoplights, zipping between vehicles to dodge stop-signs, and swearing self-righteously at drivers who have to slam their breaks to prevent bicycle road pizza.

Now, I’m all for reducing your carbon footprint, and power to all you healthy folks who bike everywhere — especially in a geographically uneven city like this one. But when bike meets four-wheeled vehicle, the bike is going to lose almost every time. Yes, it’s up to those vehicles to look out for cyclists, absolutely … but it’s also up to cyclists to behave in such a manner that vehicles can reasonably accommodate them.

When bikes “cork” streets, deliberately impede the traffic flow, and hop from sidewalk to street level indiscriminately, those cyclists have no right to expect respectful treatment by vehicles (or pedestrians) in the correct flow of traffic. If cyclists are respecting the traffic laws, then everybody behind the wheel of a car needs to pay attention, give that bicycle some space, and be a little bit patient.

Jesus H. Christ, people. It’s not that complicated.
We all have to share the streets whether we like it or not.
Display the kind of respect you’d like to receive.

Category: misc

Comments

3 Responses to “Critical Mass, Motor Vehicles, Sharing the Road”

  1. l0k1
    July 27th, 2008 @ 5:16 pm

    i thought you put that very well. thank you.

  2. Cynthia K. Dalton
    July 27th, 2008 @ 5:33 pm

    Cyclists blocking the road is illegal and the police should have given all of them tickets.

  3. Michael
    July 27th, 2008 @ 6:24 pm

    Very well put. I agree with every one of your points.

    Back in the day, before everyone wore helmets and other protective gear, all kids in my neighborhood had to take a bicycle safety class. A big portion of the class was that cyclists have to obey the rules of the road. This meant stopping for red lights and stop signs, obeying the right of way, etc. When did all of this go by the wayside?

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