Posted on Wednesday, May 05, 2004 4:13 PM
I have nothing against cycling or cyclists. Please, if it's your scene, ride hard my friend. If you've got all the gear, the tight, padded shorts and the smooth, streamlined helmet, or you're a cool downtown bike messenger, disregard the following post.
My problem is with the amateurs that think they belong on the street. My problem is with Samantha Schwinn working the right side of the road in her barely-backyard-legal banana seat cruiser with coaster brakes. The unoccupied, brand new sidewalk is 5 feet to the right, perhaps taunting her? She's oblivious to the fact that every car that approaches now has to slow down, shift their lane position to the left and be extra cautious, because at any time she could blow a tire and spill her groceries into traffic and all over my car. Sure, sometimes there's no sidewalk, and the road is all you've got, but that's not often. What's the big problem with the sidewalk? Apparently it's reserved for walking, and only walking. Maybe joggers should jog in the middle of the street, and dog walkers can use the expressways. Some streets have bike lanes, cool, get on those streets and off mine. Yeah, I noticed the new flashing light on the back of your bike, but a flashing light and a fluorescent vest aren't keeping you from ruining my day.
I don't think I'm alone here. I've never met someone who enjoys encountering Bobby BMX on their way to work. No one I know rides in the street, so where do these rejects of the right lane come from? Foreign countries?? Band Camp?? I have no idea, but it's only going to get worse as summer nears.
If anyone can provide insight to this phenomenon, please post some feedback, I'm at a loss.
-schrags