Friday, July 23, 2010

Observer Throws Gas on the Bikes vs Cars Fire

In an effort to gain clicks the Charlotte Observer throws the first punch and then steps back to enjoy the show as bicyclists and motorists battle it out in a war of words.

You to can watch the show here.

Cedar loves to ride. Twice I've trekked the Blue Ridge Parkway end to end, years ago the Outer Banks from North to South. But I've passed on such great rides as the Charlotte to the Beach and others because I wasn't ready to die.

I have a very simple theory about riding bikes on road where people drive 65 or better. The only people who do that want to die.

I know there is a huge draw and a passion to ride the open road. But as I've said before when your passion becomes an obsession you start making poor choices.

In other words in the car vs bike collision the bikes always lose.

Riding on Providence Road or Park Road or Highway 51 or 49 or 321 or 74 is nuts.

I thoroughly believe and support the cyclist right to ride. But the cold hard and deadly fact is drivers don't see cyclists. They are too consumed in texting, talking, working the GPS, the iPod, or finding their way around town to notice the bike in front of their 6000 pound SUV.

There is no discussion needed, the bikes need to stay off road where the posted speed limit is more that 35 and the cars need to slow the hell down when they see bikes on the road.

Cedar Posts took on the cyclists two years ago after South Carolina passed a wide ranging "Share The Road" law. You can read the prior post here.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cedar what you aren't one of those gay ass biker riders in the spandex tights? Come on you know you like lime green and to flip off drivers who pass you too close.

Admit it your a gay ass cyclist!

Anonymous said...

Just keep on bitching about bike riders, one day you will accept that we can't keep burning gas and killing trees.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:26, you are an idiot, and I would hazard a guess that you are emotionally still in High School.

And it is YOU'RE, not YOUR....you're is a contraction for YOU ARE.

Anon 10:51, one day all will be FORCED to ride bicycles, when there is no more gas and alternative sources haven't been figured out.

I do agree, Cedar, to ride on certain roads you have to have a death wish.

I have been nearly clipped, on purpose, yelled at, had things thrown at me, and all while I was minding my own business. It was just done for "sport". (Yes, even on the Blue Ridge Parkway.)

And I DON'T ride two abreast, ALWAYS single file, always motion when it's safe for cars to pass me, always have blinking lights, bright clothing, etc. It doesn't matter.

And no, I don't get it. I have many theories, but I don't get it.

And yes, I myself have gotten irritated at bikers that are riding along 4 or 5 abreast, and seem oblivious to any kind of safety or road rules.

Billy Fehr said...

hear, hear!