There are many many reasons why people hate others. Many reasons why folks get upset at cyclists.
We have ourselves to blame for some of it for sure. Not being predictable, not too visible, not courteous, not following the rules.
Also I think, is that most of the riding that folks see is "recreational" riding, in that they're not doing it to get to work, to go to the grocers, to pick up the kids, to go to the movies, to go to dinner. So it is seen as more frivolous. Where as the folks in cars are "doing" something. Driving home from work, driving to pick up the kids, driving to see some sporting event, driving to get provisions. Driving, driving, driving, yes, but for a "reason".
And I see that Mary Smith is from Mt. Morris. Which is not unexpected as they probably see more bicycle traffic than any other place around here. EVERYONE goes up 100 and Big/Little Shannon.
Sure we as cyclists have rights, but at least imagine all that bicycle traffic was going by your little neighborhood, tying up your roads for a bit of the day, being folks not from your 'hood, seemingly not really helping out your 'hood either.
Which is why I try to stop at the grocers there in Mt. Morris, try to be courteous and at least understand their slight irk, and probably only go up that way once a week.
It ain't perfect but it's a start.
On Sun, Jun 27, 2010 at 4:37 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:
Bicycle Board Members, I've gathered together for your reading entertainment the article Same Roads, Same Right, Same Rules and the letters to the editor that it spawned. (See attached.) You should also be able to get to them by the links below.
- The article, Same Roads, Same Rights, Same
Rules: http://ee.dominionpost.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RFBvc3QvMjAxMC8wNS8yMCNBcjA... 2. Dennis Bolyard's 5/26 letter saying that cyclists can't have rights unless we pay property tax, license tax and buy mandatory insurance: http://ee.dominionpost.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RFBvc3QvMjAxMC8wNS8yNiNBcjA... 3. My response (that DP didn't publish) to Bolyard's 5/26 letter. See 20100527FGRespnseToBolyard in attached. I say the law, not Bolyard gives us rights and that the cost of collecting property tax, license fee and mandatory insurance would probably exceed revenue. 4. Ballard's excellent 6/7 response to Bolyard's 5/26 letter. Ballard says that following Bolyard's logic, people who spend more should have more rights than people who spend less. http://ee.dominionpost.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RFBvc3QvMjAxMC8wNi8wNiNBcjA... 5. Today's (6/27) letter by Mary Smith says bikes should only ride on the rail trail: http://ee.dominionpost.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RFBvc3QvMjAxMC8wNi8yNyNBcjA... How about we meet at a local rathskeller some evening and discuss why non-cyclists have such hostility toward cyclists and what we, the BB can do about it? I'll buy the first round. Enjoy!
Frank
Begin forwarded message:
From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Date: June 27, 2010 10:37:00 AM EDT To: editor@dominionpost.com Bcc: bikeboard@cheat.org, Bill Austin baustin@moncpc.org, Ryan Post rpostwvu@gmail.com Subject: Fwd: Anti-bicycling policy?
Geri, Just after hitting the Send button, I realized an error in my message below. When I saw this morning's letter to the editor, I thought it was in response to Dennis Bolyard's May 26 letter. Then, after sending my message below, I noticed that today's letter was responding to a June 6 letter from Jeff Ballard (Bolyard, Ballard:( . I did not see Jeff Ballard's June 6 letter. Could you please send me a link to it? (I am a 30+ year subscriber. I do not have an electronic version subscription.) Now I'm wondering if perhaps you published my May 27 letter? Sorry for my confusion!
Frank D. Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board LCI #1703 491 WilsonAvenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
Begin forwarded message:
From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Date: June 27, 2010 10:25:02 AM EDT To: editor@dominionpost.com Bcc: bikeboard@cheat.org, Bill Austin baustin@moncpc.org, Ryan Post rpostwvu@gmail.com Subject: Anti-bicycling policy?
Geri, Did you receive the May 27 message below and its attachment? The attachment is a response to Dennnis Bolyard's May 26 letter to the editor. I do not know your policy for deciding which letters to publish and which letters not to publish. Since my response wasn't published, I assumed you didn't want to publish it. Today, Sunday June 27, I see a letter to the editor (Sharing the road starts with paying your share by Mary Smith) that supports Mr. Bolyard's position so I wonder: did you even receive my May 27 letter? If so, why are you publishing anti-bicycling letters and stifling pro-bicycling letters? Both Mr. Bolyard's and Ms. Smith's letters suggest taking away from cyclists rights that law explicitly gives them. Worse, they may tend to increase the already alarming hostility that many cyclists endure. Frank D. Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board LCI #1703 491 WilsonAvenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
Begin forwarded message:
From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Date: May 27, 2010 5:12:16 PM EDT To: editor@dominionpost.com Subject: Letter
Geri, Please consider publishing the attached letter. Please contact me at frank.gmeindl@comcast.net or at the contact info below if you need to.
Frank D. Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board LCI #1703 491 WilsonAvenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
Frank Gmeindl Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
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