I've avoided saying this for the record, but I f---ing hate bicyclists.
GIVE US OUR LANE
On Saturday, Nov. 10, I was innocently biking on Willamette (going south between 24th and 29th) when I was accosted by a woman in a huge black SUV telling me to "get the fuck out of the road." I am so sick of this behavior. Before you verbally attack an innocent cyclist, why don't you educate yourself on the rules that you and your hideous gas-guzzling SUV are breaking.
When there is not a bike lane in Eugene, bikers are allowed a full lane. Not half of a lane. Not a third of a lane. Not a teeny portion all the way to the right of a lane filled with potholes, twigs and rocks. A full lane. So give us our lane.
It's your fault I am stubbornly biking, anyway. I am trying to counteract the detrimental effects your vehicle has on my environment.
So how about you "get the fuck" out of your car and start making a difference.
Christelle Munnelly, Eugene
5 comments:
quick message from a cyclist:
get the fuck out of your bio-diesel-burning, conspicuous-conservation marking, VW bug and start making a difference, asshole.
Uh, having just had an experience a couple weeks ago where a woman in a huge black SUV suddenly tried to occupy the same space I was (in the bike lane) I want to be sympathetic to Christelle, but it's not easy.
I don't know if the law in Eugene goes further than the rest of the state (certainly plausible), but the state law says that a cyclist can take the lane if they are traveling at the normal speed of traffic, or in some other enumerated exceptions, none of which is "because I'm making a statement." People that do stupid shit on their bikes piss other people off, rightly or wrongly, and make the road less safe for everyone else on a bike.
Kevin -- moving to Alaska, always the conservationist's choice. :)
Chad -- All I am saying is that there were several other, less disruptive, ways for this woman to get where she was going. She may have legally had the right to the lane, but she didn't actually need it.
I have other, more general objections to bicyclists, but that can wait until I actually hit one riding the wrong way down a one-way.
To save myself just a little, as always not making an logical sense, I support critical mass -- I love seeing people take action.
dave: i hear what you're saying. it should not be so hard for bicyclists and motorists to coexist. the big SUV "get a car!" set don't have to be such assholes...but all those cyclists who disregard traffic rules or otherwise make nuisances of themselves just make it harder for those of us who try to use bikes to get around safely. if it makes you feel any better, the cyclists i have encountered in NY and NC are much, much worse than those in eugene.
woowhee! It's Christelle... I somehow stumbled upon your blog and thought what a great way for me to clarify (It also remined me of the holier than now, righteous attitudes those are ignorant possess). Before you get on my case, why don't you listen to the facts: I was NOT taking a full lane. I was all the way to the right trying to be out of the way as much as possible. I was on the sidewalk previously but got yelled at TWICE by pedestrians. I HAD to take Willamette. Side roads were not an option. I had to go to the Spectacle Shop and then True Value, if you must know. So I was stuck on Willamette. So what, oh mighty one, do you suggest I do in that siguation? Hitchhike?
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