AndreusMaximus
Master
No, I didn't bike much, probably a couple hundred miles a year at most. But more importantly, much of it was not on roads, or at least not on very busy roads. I was blessed to be in a situation where I could reach trails in a pretty short hop from where I was living, then later on after I moved I had a truck that I could load up bicycles in and go drive to a trail. I do feel sympathy for cyclists who don't have these luxuries, and I do agree that they should have the right to ride on the road without being harassed by jerks in automobiles.I find it hard to believe one can ride much and never have a bad experience with a motorist, for reference, your cycling days consisted of how many miles ridden per year? In mine I had over 5000 per year and over 50,000 miles when I was seriously cycling. I have ridden 10-20 miles to a century then rode the same back after.
Today’s motorists are too distracted (phones, food, drugs) and are often startled by cyclists because they are so distracted (why I quit serious road cycling). They also don’t follow the laws and right of way, but oh so love to nitpick cyclists.
I just don't feel as much sympathy for those who could easily make their bike riding less disruptive to traffic, but choose not to do so because they feel like they have to assert their rights or something. Nor do I feel much sympathy for those who claim they have to do X, Y, and Z for safety, but are horrified when you suggest they would be safest of all if they just ride on dedicated trails with no vehicles. Or those who mock motorists and claim they're just jealous of cyclists' incredible fitness and athletic ability, but then act like those same cyclists will wilt like delicate flowers if they are asked to lose a bit of inertia in order to obey a stop sign.
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