Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site varian.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!hoxna!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!zehntel!varian!fred From: fred@varian.UUCP (Fred Klink) Newsgroups: net.bicycle,net.politics Subject: Re: Bicycles, Violence and Hatred Message-ID: <313@varian.UUCP> Date: Mon, 6-May-85 13:15:51 EDT Article-I.D.: varian.313 Posted: Mon May 6 13:15:51 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 10-May-85 00:56:10 EDT References: <1370@reed.UUCP> <983@vax1.fluke.UUCP> <1385@vax3.fluke.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA Lines: 43 Xref: watmath net.bicycle:1132 net.politics:8915 I've been reading these postings with some interest and, having purchased my asbestos suit, am ready to post my own experiences and feelings. First, I am what I and most of my acquaintences consider a very accomplished cyclist. I was a somewhat successful racer and I still train alot of miles. I also live in California so you can interpret my comments with whatever bias that imposes. Well, here goes. In a typical ride I am passed by an average of 50 cars an hour. 49 pass without incident, the other one doing no more than blowing the horn-- please note that that is not always a sign of aggression; they may be friends, other bikies or members of the opposite sex that like your lycra shorts :-). In 13 years of riding I've had a total of one unprovoked "assault" which I turned aside by (a) looking like I was ready to kill and (b) calmly pointing out to the assaultor that none of the other cars on the road had a problem like his. As far as provoked assaults go, I've had two, one with the vehicle (a half-hearted attempt, reported to and handled by the police) and one with a lead pipe (he missed and gave up). These were "provoked" because I was violating a traffic rule and made a rude gesture at at the motorist to boot! Conclusion: most drivers are OK-- not great-- but OK and really don't want to run anyone down. Its the responsibility of the cyclist to anticipate and not expect that his "rights" will be honored by motorists with any greater frequency when he's on the bike than when driving his car. Bike defensively! Now for the other bike riders on the road. Incidents with other "cyclists"-- and I use the term loosely-- are too numerous to recount. I *never* use bike trails for this reason. My estimate is that approximately 50% of the riders on the roads at any time are an extreme hazard to themselves and others. Running stop signs, riding the wrong way, weaving across the bike and car lanes, plugged into Prince on the Walkman, and so on. If the percentage of bad drivers was equal to the percentage of bad cyclists we all would have been killed years ago! Unfortunately, these cyclists don't read this net, or probably any other cycling publication and are probably blissfully unaware of the effect they have on the serious riding population both in the attitudes of drivers and in the acts of legislators. The only solution I know is to inform these people in person, on the road of my attitude towards them. I can't help but believe it makes them think a little bit the next time they ride. At least none of them has come at me with a lead pipe yet! Fred Klink Varian