this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2023
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Fuck Cars
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I strongly believe that anyone who scoff at the idea that cyclists should be held to the same rules and standards as cars or who moan about cycle infrastructure should be forced to experience close passes themselves. See how quickly their tone changes.
I would wager that most of the “cyclists are so entitled” folks haven’t ridden a bike since they were children in large part because they know how scary it would be to bike on a stroad getting close passed by a bunch of people monitoring their phones first, their cars second, the road third, and you not at all.
For a large portion of people, it’s not a lack of understanding how harrowing the experience is—rather, they just want cyclists to suffer because of mob mentality. But I agree that every driver should have to experience the close pass as a cyclist so they can hopefully empathize a little more.
Kinda related: I think everyone should have to experience what it’s like to have an Uber driver with their hazards on parked in the middle of the road, blocking both directions of travel—but it’s okay because they’ll “only be a minute”
Just shitty parking/waiting in general really gets my goat. And I don't mean car park (parking lot) specific parking. But generally out on the roads.
Double yellows and other restrictions are there for a reason, what makes them think they don't apply to them? Parking on the pavement, like there isn't already enough infrastructure built and dedicated purely to their vehicles that they have to block that of pedestrians too?
Is there a place that belongs to drivers who realize all this, yet still get pissed off at bikes, but like, indirectly because their also angry that there isn't infrastructure in place that gets bikes the fuck out of my way?
I respect the grind, y'all, but you're right, I'm absolutely not gonna get in your stupid shoes and lycra just to experience the "pain" myself. I know it's dumb, but the "shared" roads piss me off too. I'll vote on somethin if you show me where.
You can cycle in normal clothes and shoes, many people do.
Voting for better cycling infrastructure is usually on a very local level, so it's hard to say who to vote for without knowing where you're located.
Yeah, sorry for that sounding anti bike, I had just cracked into an afterwork drink and was a bit jolly.(The lycra comment was unnecessary blanket statement based on the locals in my experience)
I would be 100% cycler if I lived in a place of fully supplied infrastructure. So your point on safety being a barrier is true. I grew up on BMX and MTX in the desert so while bikes have been a major part of my upbringing I never really had to contend with roads.
Generally I just feel we all lose. Bikers don't feel safe and car drivers have an extra obstacle.
The real truth is I don't know why I ended up in this thread. I haven't got any stakes and just got lost.
But you guys keep doin the work, carcentric infrastructure is really annoying.
As someone who uses a bicycle for commute and groceries, thank you for understanding. I just wear my usual clothing when I buy groceries or ride my bike to work. This is not a sport to me, I just like, that bicycles are faster than walking. 😊
I wasn't asking for people to get dressed up in full kit and feel 'pain' of a hard threshold level session, in fact that's not how the majority of people cycle.
If that's the only type of cyclists you see then it's likely because the infrastructure around you is so bad for cycling that only those that do ride are the serious hobbiests doing it for fitness.
Bikes and their dirivatives is the most accessible form of individual transport out there. They mobilise everyone from young kits to pensioners and everyone in between.
Yea man, car bad, bike good. I get it. It's a no brainer for a thousand reasons. My comment tone was off, for sure.
How close is a close pass, Ik the law says 1.5metres (uk) but it's hard to measure that from a car
In my part of the US, I believe it’s 3 ft (0.91 meters), so unfortunately even a legal pass feels like a close pass. I imagine the 1.5 meters still feels close too. I agree that’s super hard to measure from a car—I’m a cyclist and a driver, so I get it. In many parts of the US that aren’t as backward as mine, the minimum distance is 6ft, which seems a little more reasonable.
It's ok, the key will only be touching the car door for a second.