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I think he was raging at the cyclists that don't obey the rules of the road, not cyclists in general. I know I can separate the two out in my mind. For example

I think he was raging at the cyclists that don't obey the rules of the road, not cyclists in general. I know I can separate the two out in my mind. For example: when a bike is curb-hopping and ignoring stoplights, I become frustrated at their wanton disregard for their own safety. When I see a bike riding on the side of the road in their lane, focused and stopping at lights, I don't complain and comfortably wait until there's space for me to pass him with a wide berth and then do so. It's the same with pedestrians. I don't get upset if they're walking on the road. I get angry because I'm scared for their safety when they think it's okay to j-walk across 6 lanes of traffic in rush hour at night while wearing black because "I'm a pedestrian and if you hit me, I'll sue." No. If I hit you, you'll probably die because I'm a ton and a half of metal and you're 150 pounds of water and carbon. Cars are big and they are very dangerous. I may love my car and I love driving it. I love biking and I love walking as well and in some places in the world, we've designed it so that all of these activities can be done in close proximity with relatively high safety and everyone needs to do their part to keep it a safe environment. When cars don't respect bikers, people get hurt. When bikes don't respect cars and predictability (by staying in their lane, going WITH traffic, stopping at traffic lights, or staying on the sidewalk, etc), people get hurt. When pedestrians think they're God and don't pay attention to cars OR bikes, people get hurt. I have no idea what happened in this single instance that the article itself is talking about; but frustration with a certain kind of biker does not automatically result in believing "it's okay to not treat cyclists who are killed in traffic accidents as human beings".

ASpring 13y ago
Thank you for the well thought out reply and I'll admit and apologize that the previous reply was snarky with a bit of anger. However, it suffices to say that using a thread lamenting the death of a cyclist for venting about improper cyclist behavior isn't a considerate thing to do. Let alone quoting a line that correctly suggests that motorists who kill cyclists are not treated similarly to motorists who are at fault in other fatal accidents. Accidents between vehicles and cyclists are not often the cyclist's fault (in <10% of accidents is the cyclist at fault)[1]. Bicycling organizations "do not know of a single case of a cyclist fatality in which the driver was prosecuted, except for D.U.I. or hit-and-run,”[2]. [1] http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-cycling-safety--p128277 http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-... [2]http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-cycling-safety--p128277 http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-...
- sukuriant 13y ago
  Bikers and drivers alike have a lot of frustration on the matter and it tends to crop up whenever there's an accident -- since people don't want to, don't think to, don't care to, don't something about this situation until something like this happens. That said, yes, it was perhaps a poor time to bring it up; but, during these bad times, people are more likely to bring it up, since it's how they deal with the issues at hand.

ASpring 13y ago

Thank you for the well thought out reply and I'll admit and apologize that the previous reply was snarky with a bit of anger. However, it suffices to say that using a thread lamenting the death of a cyclist for venting about improper cyclist behavior isn't a considerate thing to do. Let alone quoting a line that correctly suggests that motorists who kill cyclists are not treated similarly to motorists who are at fault in other fatal accidents. Accidents between vehicles and cyclists are not often the cyclist's fault (in <10% of accidents is the cyclist at fault)[1]. Bicycling organizations "do not know of a single case of a cyclist fatality in which the driver was prosecuted, except for D.U.I. or hit-and-run,”[2]. [1] http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-cycling-safety--p128277 http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-... [2]http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-cycling-safety--p128277 http://www.sharetheroad.ca/what-are-the-dangers-in-terms-of-...

sukuriant 13y ago
Bikers and drivers alike have a lot of frustration on the matter and it tends to crop up whenever there's an accident -- since people don't want to, don't think to, don't care to, don't something about this situation until something like this happens. That said, yes, it was perhaps a poor time to bring it up; but, during these bad times, people are more likely to bring it up, since it's how they deal with the issues at hand.