Maybe, as Chris Core explained to me in an email, he was simply making an "observation."I hope it really was that innocent, but I'm not naive. Chris Core has been around a long time, and he knows that a talk radio jock can quickly gain attention with a commentary that opens the floodgates of hatred. Core's "observation" has done just that, as evidenced by the spew left on WTOP's message boards. Here's a sample:
JohnS: I hate bikers. Really, i hate bikers. Stay off the road. Roads are made for cars, not weenies on ten speeds.
AndreaB: i like the bikers... wanna swap recipes?
JeffreyP: ... After church, she told the preacher that my friend had been talking mean about the bicyclists on the road. The preacher said, "Oh?", then turned to my friend and said, "How many did you get?"
Meanwhile, WTOP has demonstrated what kind of news organization it is by posting a story that mistakes my little blog for a "bike group." I have no idea why anyone with a working radio dial would tune into WTOP instead of WAMU.
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11 comments:
They'd have no jobs if there were no drivers. And what a job -- entertaining the frustrated, fat masses!
According to the CTC, the UK's national cycling organization, "Regular cyclists suffer far less from obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer then those who live a sedentary car bound lifestyle. They even are less prone to psychological problems such as depression! The health benefits of cycling outweigh the risk from accidents by a factor of at least 20 to 1."
I pity the WTOP's commenters and hope they have good health insurance.
You should post on that board under "Bike Group" and see if anyone gets it.
In other news, for some reason I was wondering earlier what it would take to convince the Obama family to participate in the next BikeDC, or at least put in a well-secured appearance at the starting point to say a few encouraging words.
Marissa - Any time I'm stuck in a car, I'm cranky. I feel lucky that I don't have to do that everyday. Some day, I hope, the U.S. will catch up with the UK and Europe when it comes to attitudes about bicycling as a form a transportation.
Jennifer - The secret service and the police here were so uptight after 9/11 that BikeDC went away for 6 years. I'm betting that Obama's bike rides will be the same as Bush's - lonely rides in closed off parkland.
Kinda sucks when you bicyclists are judged by the actions of your most immature and arrogant fraternity members, doesn't it? Maybe you ought to focus on cleaning up yout own house and getting your peers to stary obeying the traffic laws and being respectful of others for a change. You may be surprised at the amount of courtesy that you get in return.
Strange how you never hear calls for drivers to do exactly the same thing.
I should clarify: What I find strange is this prevalent idea that cyclists are somehow responsible for the behavior of other cyclists, even though drivers aren't ever presumed to be responsible for the behavior of other drivers. No one ever says, for example, "Hey, all you careful, law-abiding drivers really ought to be policing your own, because the few bad apples in your bunch make you all look bad and that's why you're all treated accordingly."
No, I don't think I've ever encountered such a sentiment, even from the most rabidly anti-car people that I know. And yet it's somehow presumed that my main duty as a responsible cyclist should be to tell every single person I see pedaling through a stop sign "Hey, don't do that! It's disrespectful to drivers!" Why?
Or "Hey walking community---I know most of you stay in the crosswalk and obey the 'don't walk' signs, but you really need to do something about all those arrogant jaywalkers among you."
Jennifer - good points. For some reason, because I bike, I'm supposed to defend the actions of all other cyclists.
In fairness to "Me," however, I don't think he really thought out his comment before posting here. In fact, what may have happened was that I may have baited him with a provocative comment on his blog, and he may have came over here to return fire, so to speak... Without taking care to properly aim.... or protect himself from the recoil...
The common cycling behavior of taking a flexible approach to traffic laws is a red herring and a convenient scapegoat for those who don't like cyclists for other reasons. I've been insulted or threatened by drivers MANY times when I was riding in accordance with all applicable traffic laws.
As a person who has gotten around in an urban environment almost entirely by bicycle for 5 years, I heartily advocate that experienced cyclists make up their own rules of the road (inexperienced cyclists should follow laws until they know enough to improvise). Yes, ride through stop signs when the intersection is obviously clear, but also be on-guard and ready to stop at intersections even when you have the right-of-way. Also: be polite, be willing to yield, put away the ego, and don't take anything personally. I advocate this strategy because I feel that my safety calls for a ready-for-anything flexible approach. Pardon me, "Me" and others who agree with "Me", if I don't take bicycle safety advice from people who have far less cycling experience than I do.
"I advocate this strategy because I feel that my safety calls for a ready-for-anything flexible approach.
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That is exactly right! As in most things in life, if you have been in the other person's shoes, your reaction will likely be more appropriate than otherwise.
I have been driving for over two decades, have loved cars my whole life and have been in several car clubs (still am). I have a good idea what drivers may do next and how they will perceive my actions while I am on my bicycle (if they perceive anything while texting, drinking coffee and applying make up).
WTOP called you a "local blog of bike riders". That's not exactly off the mark when you honestly think about it.
As for why people would listen to WTOP instead of WAMU, I for one listen to WTOP because they have consistent traffic reports all day and I find amusement in listening to the weather people they have on right after traffic (I'm a Navy Aerographer's Mate).
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