Riding home from work yesterday, I reached the intersection of Urban and North Roads at 6:30 p.m. A kitted up cyclist was headed south on North Road as I was headed north and about to make a left turn on Urban to ride up through the back roads on my way home. The guy had curly black hair, was wearing a blue jersey. Couldn't get the make or model of the bike.
So I stop for the stop sign and check traffic, and watch this guy ride up to the intersection at a good spin and just simply blow through the stop sign and intersection. Fortunately, not too much cross traffic, but people were around. Not even a modest effort to slow down. I said "next time stop at the stop sign" and he said something thatI had trouble hearing (and earlier thought was a profanity, but see the responses to this post--I was wrong) as he continued his training ride.
I've seen people in motor vehicles do a rolling stop, but rarely if ever see someone blow a stop sign at cruising speed in their car. That stuff stands out and sends the wrong message. Think about how you look to others--and how other cyclists look to non-cyclists-- next time someone gives you a hard time.
7 comments:
Your comment to him was unnecessary. His response was crude.
Recently I was out for a ride when a fully kitted up cyclist, complete with that white stuff spread across his nose and lips, came up beside me. One of the first things out of his mouth was, "you should have on a helmet". My response was civil and ended up starting a conversation that lasted several miles. I resisted the temptation to ask him who dressed him or if he was trying to be an albino Bozo the Clown.
However, his comment was perceived as arrogance, much the same way I think your's was. In my case, I have decades of riding over tens of thousands of miles. Somebody with body paint on their nose probably should Ride and Let Ride.
In your case, perhaps the guy thought it odd that a bicycle was stopped at a stop sign. I know I would. However, he didn't make any comments and nor would I. Ride and Let Ride.
All of those shouted out comments are unnecessary, unwelcome, unproductive, and a reason they disdain you. Save them for your class where people pay to hear them.
You recently posted about a guy that got beat up for shouting out for someone to get a light. I do not condone the violent response, but the incident is a pretty clear example of how those shouted out comments are perceived. In your case, the individual was merely crude.
Some of your posts and responses have given me pause to consider the other side of cycling. I now realize I am an ambassador whether I accept that role or not. You also are an ambassador. Unsolicited shouting at other cyclists does as much harm as blowing through a stop sign.
Ride and Let Ride.
We will have to disagree. Running a stop on a public road is the public's business. And I wasn't rude, I asked nicely.
I think I am the guy you are talking about. First of all you are right, everyone should stop at a stop sign, but noone was around the cross, exept you and me...
Then I assure you that I am a polite person and I told you something like "Take it easy..." and for sure no f.... or something else.
I apologize for my behaviour but I am not a vulgar or arrogant person.
Regards.
Fortunato Ferrara
It's not a question of whether you were rude or nice. It's that it wasn't necessary. That sort self appointed brother's keeper comes across more times than not as arrogant. It simply isn't welcome or helpful. In the spirit of being civil, baloney on the public's business.
Thanks, Fortunado, and I apologize for hearing something that was not said.
Anonymous and I will continue to disagree. That's fine. If we all agreed, the world would be a boring place.
Here's another opinion: I'm not sure telling people what to do is always necessary but sometimes it just might be. I was riding down the new Jemez bypass road on the shoulder, going a good clip on my road bike, and there was a guy riding up the shoulder on the wrong side (against traffic). I know this is a common misunderstanding with some people who think it's safer to ride facing traffic. But in this case, it's also very dangerous to cyclists coming down toward them on the shoulder, and he puts himself in danger as cyclists try to avoid him and cars. So I told him he was on the wrong side of the road. I hope he figured it out.
There is always the possibility that criticizing someone's driving or riding will be counterproductive, but also the possibility that it will improve their riding or at least make them think about what they are doing.
I almost collided head on with a wrong-way, lightless cyclist in Hawaii while riding home from work one night. What saved my ass (and his) was that my Nightsun was on high beam and I saw him appear out of the shadows. IMHO these are public roads and the public has a right to criticize wrong behavior.
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