Article: Slow Down! And Four Other Ways to Make People Love Cyclists

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tania 118655 wrote:

Comments on this thread and likely the ArlNow post seem to indicate that most didn’t bother to read this part:

“Cyclists have to do their part as well – not just advocating for better policies, but thinking about the role they play in the public perception of cyclists.”

Actually, that’s one of my biggest issues with the article and others like it. As a group of particularly interested enthusiasts, we on this forum or in #bikedc think of cycling as a “community,” but we have to keep in mind that we’re probably the minority, and lots of people out there ride bikes for all sorts of reasons, but have no involvement in the “community” aspects of cycling that we tend to take for granted. So is it right to expect these people to “do their part,” simply because they ride a bike? I’d argue that is not the case. Simply put, cyclists should not be judged as a group, and the actions of one or some should not reflect on anyone else.

Think about a group of Corvette enthusiasts…these people may advocate for better roads, more race tracks, higher speed limits, lower gas guzzler taxes, etc…all issues that affect their “community.” Now let’s say you decided to buy a Corvette because it fulfilled whatever car-buying needs you had, and not because you had some particular affinity for Corvettes. Would you find it reasonable if the Corvette community expected you to adhere to their code of conduct in order to make all Corvette owners look good? Probably not…you just want to drive your car like everyone else. If I’m riding in a group, of course I abide by the rules of group riding for etiquette and safety, but when I’m out riding on my own, I’m concerned with a) preserving my safety; and b) not contributing to the injury or insecurity of others…same goes when I drive, or walk my dog, or conduct any other activity in public.

Of course, it’s not an entirely accurate comparison, because for some reason cyclists do get treated and judged more as a community than other road users…but I think the best way to approach that problem is get people thinking more broadly about building our communities around people, not cars. As people begin to change their attitudes about transportation in general, then people on bikes will no longer be “Cyclists.” If we think about advocacy in this way, we don’t need to worry about the behavior of individuals, nor do we need to get everyone on board with cycling in order to make them advocates for better cycling infrastructure…and I think we cycling enthusiasts do ourselves a disservice if we only concern ourselves with cycling infrastructure and cyclist behavior. Maybe we shouldn’t say “we need to be more like Copenhagen because it’s a great place for cyclists; rather we should say “we need to be more like Copenhagen because it’s great place for people.”

[Crickey7]

I suppose I don’t have to wear garish lycra. But then I remember the words of my beloved late grandmother, who told me to do something childish every day. Mind you, I think she meant “child-like”–English was not her first language–but I do one of each, just to keep my bases covered.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Tania 118662 wrote:

No one looks good in lycra.

Well now you’re just talking crazy.

[baiskeli]

@Tania 118662 wrote:

No one looks good in lycra.

Ohhhhhh, yes they do.

[Tania]

@Tania 118662 wrote:

No one looks good in lycra.

@ShawnoftheDread 118670 wrote:

Well now you’re just talking crazy.

@baiskeli 118672 wrote:

Ohhhhhh, yes they do.

Now THIS is an internet forum-worthy argument. Not the article that was the original topic of this post.

[PotomacCyclist]

@Tania 118662 wrote:

No one looks good in lycra.

Argument lost

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8940[/ATTACH]

[Note: This is not me. Nor do I know any of these people. I do know that they are rockin’ the Lycra.]

[GovernorSilver]

@PotomacCyclist 118682 wrote:

Argument lost

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8940[/ATTACH]

[Note: This is not me. Nor do I know any of these people. I do know that they are rockin’ the Lycra.]

This forum needs a popcorn-eating smiley

[Tania]

@PotomacCyclist 118682 wrote:

Argument lost

[Note: This is not me. Nor do I know any of these people. I do know that they are rockin’ the Lycra.]

Wow, only 24 words. I didn’t think that was possible.

[PotomacCyclist]

Was that a dig at me? My post was supposed to be a light-hearted joke, not an attack on you.

[PotomacCyclist]

@Tania 118687 wrote:

Wow, only 24 words. I didn’t think that was possible.

Was that a dig at me? My post was supposed to be a light-hearted joke, not an attack on you.

After your other post (“Now THIS is an internet forum-worthy argument. Not the article that was the original topic of this post”), I thought you were joking about the Lycra issue too. I guess not.

[baiskeli]

@Tania 118687 wrote:

Wow, only 24 words. I didn’t think that was possible.

From Whitehouse.gov about Calvin Coolidge:

“Both his dry Yankee wit and his frugality with words became legendary. His wife, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, recounted that a young woman sitting next to Coolidge at a dinner party confided to him she had bet she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her he quietly retorted, “You lose.” “

[rcannon100]

@GovernorSilver 118685 wrote:

This forum needs a popcorn-eating smiley

[PotomacCyclist]

@GovernorSilver 118685 wrote:

This forum needs a popcorn-eating smiley

Well, my post wasn’t intended to be a confrontational attack. I thought she was joking about the Lycra, based on her earlier post.

[baiskeli]

@PotomacCyclist 118693 wrote:

Well, my post wasn’t intended to be a confrontational attack. I thought she was joking about the Lycra, based on her earlier post.

I don’t think she took it that way, but only she can say.

[PotomacCyclist]

Obviously. But what is your take on it, after her previous post? I thought she was viewing the Lycra issue as something to joke about. If it’s a misunderstanding, fine. These things happen. But I could do without the personal jab. I’ve tried to answer some of her questions on the forum. I don’t know if I always help, but I try. Anyway, I’ll just add again that my post was not intended to be confrontational in any manner at all. I was hopping on what I thought was a joke about Lycra.

That’s all.

[Author]

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