Submitted by bikewonder on Thu, 11/08/2007 - 4:06pm.
As a cyclists I am tired of people (specifically drivers) lumping us cyclists all together. I follow the laws as do most cyclists. But what the drivers tend to remember are the cyclists that don't - yes we know they are out there.
But can you honestly tell me that ALL or a MAJORITY of drivers also follow the ALL the laws? Do you go 5 miles over the posted speed? Do you yield for pedestrians at a corner whether there is a marked crosswalk or not? Do you stop at the corner of the street instead of the actual stop sign? Most people speed (because you won't get a ticket if you are going 5-10 miles above the limit). Some won't stop for pedestrians at a corner - most don't even know it is the law. And I can't tell you how many times I come to an intersection where the other person has a stop sign and I am not sure they are even going to stop.
Why do I bring these things up? Because it has become the social norm and accepted by society that these behaviors are okay. But drivers don't notice because they aren't looking, as cyclists we have to notice because our lives depend on it.
So why is it okay for the majority (drivers) to be mad at the minority (cyclists) when we actually ask the laws to be upheld? Instead we are told to give up our right to the road so we can be safer. How about if the drivers follow the laws which would then make the roads safer.
Education is the key. No matter what we do to the roads people need education.
Entitlement
As a cyclists I am tired of people (specifically drivers) lumping us cyclists all together. I follow the laws as do most cyclists. But what the drivers tend to remember are the cyclists that don't - yes we know they are out there.
But can you honestly tell me that ALL or a MAJORITY of drivers also follow the ALL the laws? Do you go 5 miles over the posted speed? Do you yield for pedestrians at a corner whether there is a marked crosswalk or not? Do you stop at the corner of the street instead of the actual stop sign? Most people speed (because you won't get a ticket if you are going 5-10 miles above the limit). Some won't stop for pedestrians at a corner - most don't even know it is the law. And I can't tell you how many times I come to an intersection where the other person has a stop sign and I am not sure they are even going to stop.
Why do I bring these things up? Because it has become the social norm and accepted by society that these behaviors are okay. But drivers don't notice because they aren't looking, as cyclists we have to notice because our lives depend on it.
So why is it okay for the majority (drivers) to be mad at the minority (cyclists) when we actually ask the laws to be upheld? Instead we are told to give up our right to the road so we can be safer. How about if the drivers follow the laws which would then make the roads safer.
Education is the key. No matter what we do to the roads people need education.