Don’t be hatin’.
So it’s a mere 3(ish) miles between my front door and my office (nordeast to downtown) and I’ve been killing a few proverbial birds at once by biking to work as of late.
a) it’s a better way to start my morning. Honestly, have you ever started your commute with the wind in your face and the sun lighting up downtown like a postcard as you make your way over the stone arch bridge? It’s very nearly magical.
b) it’s way more green than the car, and even the bus, actually. No carbon footprint for my morning commute.
c) I actually get to work fastest on the bike. 15 minutes, baby.
d) I don’t feel as guilty if I get busy and don’t make it to the gym over the course of the day. I mean, I know I SHOULD still get there… but if I can’t (or don’t), I know I’ve at least spent 6 miles on the 10-speed that day.
e) It’s fun.
f) I look adorable pedaling around in a skirt and a messenger bag with a u-lock hanging out the back. Admit it.
However, this morning, some random stranger (in a GIANT vehicle which nearly took up two lanes as it was) had the audacity to stick his thick skull out his window and scream at me as I was biking into work on 4th Ave S:
Use the sidewalk, [insert expletive here].
Waitasecond.
I didn’t actually think bikers were supposed to use the sidewalk… especially downtown.
So now I’m a little irked.
Why is it so hard for bikes and cars to share the road? Am I in the wrong to be pedaling down the street, like all the other bike traffic? (DISCLAIMER: I wasn’t riding down a street with a precribed bike lane. Now, I know there specially designated bike lanes on Hennepin and Marquette, but none of them are conducive to getting to my office in the southwest corner of downtown.) Come on. I obey traffic laws. I use my arms to signal. I try to not be a biking jerk. Why do you have to be an, I’ve-driven-40-miles-from-Exurban-LaLaLand-Getting-Eight-Miles-Per-Gallon, jerk?
Don’t be hatin’, random angry motorist driving the giant car. I’m just trying to chase my happy down on my 10-speed.
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Part of the issue is the number of bicyclists who don’t obey the traffic laws.
Take for example the Critical Mass rides- they ride more than 2 abreast and blow through traffic signals including stop signs and red lights.
Many bicyclists forget that they too must follow the rules of the road that apply to cars plus some others (such as when riding on the sidewalk, one must dismount and walk their bike across a crosswalk).
I normally get to yell at the bicyclists doing illegal crap like running red lights etc because they nearly hit me as I’m a pedestrian.
don’t get me wrong: I’ve been both pedestrian and motorist downtown (having worked off and on down here since 1999)… and I’m not saying all cyclists are beyond reproach. And I definitely ride differently downtown during the workday than I do, say, to the farmer’s market on a lazy Saturday morning.
So at the risk of being labelled MinnesotaNice, what does a cyclist do when they get run down by an Escalade for no good reason? What about when I’m walking over my lunch and almost get plowed over by some jackass delivering Jimmy John’s on his bike?
How do we all get along?
I think in this particular case, the guy was just being a dick. Or compensating for his lack thereof.
I see the problem, and the problem is assholes. It makes me want to personally apologize to every biker downtown for having to put up with the asshattery that is committed by the driving folk.
My solution is just to wave cheerily at them as they have a horrible rest of the day, being stuck in gridlock, having stress from their unpleasant life, and paying at the pump. I’ve recently stopped riding the scooter even, and taken to biking to and from work, and I’m feeling much better about it. So rock on, and enjoy yourself and let the assholes be assholes. The universe will get back at them in turn.
Assuming you own and carry a heavy metal U-lock, keep it within easy reach. Then, when verbally assaulted by a passing motorist who’s bitter because gas is $17/gallon and he’s overweight from too much McDonald’s and lack of exercise, just reach for your lock and throw it at his side or rear window, which will crack. Distracted, he will lose control of his car and plow into the median barrier or go careening off the road or bridge. Be sure to slam on your brakes so you don’t get caught up in the carnage and instead have an impressive view of the fireball that all that fuel and leather and cellulite will inevitably produce.
The one downside to this strategy, of course, is that you might have to purchase a new U-lock.
Can’t we all just get along?
I love biking and wish I was near enough work to do so (stupid office in the suburbs!). Since others took a moment to vent, i’m going to also;-)
I live by Lake Nokomis, which has a very nice bike trail along the parkway. Why do the Lance Armstrong wannabees insist on riding in the street when there is a bike trail next to the road? Why so many during rush hour! The road is so narrow we can’t pass so traffic is held up for miles, releasing more pollution and hitting my pocket book!
Also, to the guy who was riding his bike while talking on his cell phone and ran a red light in front of my car on 34th and Minnehaha Parkway - thank god my car has anti-lock brakes. A 4600 pound caddy going 30 miles an hour doesn’t stop quickly and would have killed you or at least seriously maimed. Next time pay attention!
I just posted about the exact opposite….some lame-oh fixie hardcore yelled at me because he blew threw a stop sign while I was pulling out.
What an asshat….I am all for bikers on the road but if you want the respect of sharing the road…you gotta play by the same rules.