Assuming that "stupid" doesn't discriminate, and the % of stupid drivers and bikers is equal, there are indeed more stupid drivers because there are more drivers.
I continue to be impressed by the pure brass of cyclers. I mean, in an accident with a car, you lose. Period. Doesn't matter whose fault it was. Sometimes it seems they dare the driver to test them. I see the same attitude in some pedestrians. Some kids getting on/off a school bus are a good example. The driver(s) is stopped, the kids know the drivers have to wait for them, and they hesitate and shuffle as slowly as possible to intentionally make the driver(s) wait while they cross the road. They seem to exercise their temporary power just because they can. Why?
Other times it is obvious the kids are simply distracted and not paying attention. They assume everyone will stop for them and they walk into the road without looking. We've had a couple kids here that were tragically hit by cars who didn't stop for the school bus, so they started putting cameras on the bus crossing arms. The news shows close calls where somebody blows by the bus. In a number of these videos, you can see the kid emerging from in front of the bus to cross the street, head down, often w/ their cell phone, never looking at the road as a car blows past.
I believe somebody who blows by a stopped school bus should feel the full weight of the law. But once again, what has happened to personal responsibility? Like a cyclist, a pedestrian will lose an encounter with a car every time. How is it their parents don't jerk a knot in them for stepping into the road without looking? My mother or father would have worn me out if they ever saw me step into the road without looking. The law is one thing... common sense is another. For both cyclists and pedestrians, is exercising their rights under the law more important than their survival? I don't get it.
Only part of that post that is relevant. You don't get it, because you don't do it. The rest is more of a "once in my life someone didn't act as I would" story. Until you actually start riding seriously, and near traffic, pedestrians, trains etc etc, you won't get why we do it. Like I said earlier, I ride 46kms a day to and from work, rain or shine (unless I NEED to drive to carry/move something/pick up something on the way home - but I can only drive 6 days a month per my insurance). You'll understand why it's hard for me to swallow the reasoning behind why bikers bike, when it's coming from someone that doesn't ride.
Now I'm not saying that every cyclist is a saint, and you should all follow and lick my golden skid marks. I've seen more then enough stupid riders on their phones (no hands) or on the wrong side of the road, or blowing through stop signs and lights. They are giving cycling a bad name, and you need to direct to anger to those SPECIFIC people. You can't group everyone even though it's in favor with popular opinion. Pedestrians are my most hated group at the moment. Headphones on, head down, wandering all over the bike paths (Vancouver has very good cycling lanes and paths - I rarely have to share any lanes in my 46kms). I've had people walking in front of me, whom were perfectly situated to the right, that all of sudden want to cut out all the way to the left. The sidewalk is straight, they are not exiting, they just cut over. I should make them pay for my tires and brake pads.
The way to make cycling better is to provide the infrastructure for riders. If there is no bike lanes/paths, where do you want riders to go? They haven't made a flying bike yet, and water ways are slightly inconvenient for everyone else. Build it, and they will ride.
I've also seen a speeding biker crash into an open car door in the city. That did give a chuckle. I hope the biker paid for the damage to the car door.
Where I live I don't believe you can claim against cycling damage, so jokes on him. Shut your door if there is cars/bikes/anything coming past you. If you were driving down a narrow street and someone had their door open, you'd be pissed, and probably ram it because you drive a big truck and everyone should bow to you. Yesterday morning I was crossing an intersection where I had the right of way (green light) and someone was turning right on to my lane, when they had a red (this is a shared cycle road too, paths and everything). They didn't stop, or notice my lights, and cut out 1 or 2 feet in front of me. Slammed on my brakes and swerved managing to not go into oncoming traffic. I got up beside them and did the only thing I could after having a near death experience at their hands, yelled. I'm not trying to bully them, I'm not trying to push them off the road. I'm trying to make them remember how they nearly hit me. When a car and a car have a close call, you can honk your horn, flash lights, or simply just ram them. I have none of that. I don't want this person to keep driving like that, cause I'll probably see them again the next day. We're not trying to bully you, we want to be seen. Motorcyclists have been complaining about this for a long time, the lack of awareness drivers seem to have for people operating machines with 2 wheels. I know a lot of motorcyclists who have gone through the same situations.
SheepStar
