6 ms·

Happens to pedestrians where cyclists are the majority too. It's dehumanizing turtles all the way down.

• mywittyname 8y ago
  It happens anytime people are afraid of another group for any reason.
  • x220 8y ago
    Hell, I'd say humanization is outside the norm. I don't have enough brainpower to really imagine the feelings and needs of the thousands of people I come into close proximity with every day. I just follow rules of the road like everyone else (except, apparently, cyclists).
  • antisthenes 8y ago
    I'm not afraid of cyclists as a pedestrian nearly as much as I'm afraid of drivers when I'm a cyclist. Conversely, whenever I'm on a bike, if pedestrians are present, I always slow down to walking speed, make sure they are aware of my presence and pass them safely and slowly. I am awarded no such courtesy from drivers.
    • kelnos 8y ago
      I think the issue with that different treatment is that, aside from the inconsistent availability of dedicated (and hopefully buffered) bike lanes, there aren't spaces "made for" bicycles. I hear arguments along the lines of "roads are made for cars", and I think people would nearly equally argue that "sidewalks are made for pedestrians", so cyclists can't really win: they're the unwelcome interloper wherever they are, and need to yield and watch out for the "intended" users of the space.
      • antisthenes 8y ago
        Pretty much this, yes. No amount of courtesy and rule-following can compensate for a complete lack of biking infrastructure on like 95% of all commutes.