ELF pedal electric car on W&OD

[Erin Potter]

Okay, that took some interesting turns, but it’s time to shut it down. Thanks to forum folks for attempting to engage thoughtfully, but we’re calling it for OneLessCar.
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[baiskeli]

@SolarBikeCar 128553 wrote:

I thought this conversation was over. I was enjoying work and driving the trail in the cold and wind and left this thread so others could bicker about politics and play Poe troll games.

However there is one canard that keeps popping up that needs to be addressed before I go: The falsehood that park management has banned the ELF from the W&OD trail.

In July Park maintenance did stop me to say that motorized vehicles were not allowed. I appealed to the Park Manager to correct his false assumption that the ELF is a moped instead of an electric-assist bicycle. Since then many times I have pedaled slowly past the same Park Maintenance guys in defiance and each time they declined to again remind me of the “no motorized vehicle” rule. A month later a safety patrol cyclist did stop me to tell me that I was the subject of debate about my use of a MUP but the conclusion was that I was a legal user. His “friendly” suggestion was that I slow down in the more crowded portions of the trail but otherwise enjoy it and I could “open it up” on the empty sections between Vienna and Reston because the 15 mph speed limit of years ago was repealed (for better or worse).

You didn’t receive a written response to your appeal?

[hozn]

Are the safety patrol cyclists representatives of NVRPA? I think the lawyers (kcb203) on the thread have demonstrated the invalidity of your claims from a legal perspective. And plenty of folks have given you an indication that your abuse is unwelcome from a social perspective. Do what you want, obviously, but don’t pretend the authorities or fellow trail users see your behavior as acceptable.

[PotomacCyclist]

@americancyclo 128534 wrote:

Same lime green one that parks on independence near long worth and Rayburn in the afternoons?
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Now that I see the photo, I remember seeing that near the Washington Monument a few times. I vaguely remember the political signs. Some religious ones in there too. But I don’t remember the specifics.

[PotomacCyclist]

@Erin Potter 128556 wrote:

Okay, that took some interesting turns, but it’s time to shut it down. Thanks to forum folks for attempting to engage thoughtfully, but we’re calling it for OneLessCar.
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I wonder how long it will be before we see a mysterious newcomer to the forum…

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, all, but this has to be addressed:

@DismalScientist 128463 wrote:

To all my compadres with the unnatural clothing: You know that khakis are the ideal cycling kit. You know that

While I readily concede the dorkiness of being a middle-aged woman (or man, for those of you who are men) in lycra, dayglo orange, and glow-in-the-dark bracelets and anklets, khakis are not the answer.

Khakis are never the answer.

Ever.

To anything.

That is all.

[vern]

@Amalitza 128579 wrote:

I’m sorry, all, but this has to be addressed:

While I readily concede the dorkiness of being a middle-aged woman (or man, for those of you who are men) in lycra, dayglo orange, and glow-in-the-dark bracelets and anklets, khakis are not the answer.

Khakis are never the answer.

Ever.

To anything.

That is all.

There is a guy that I see almost every morning jogging between Gallows and Virginia Lane on the WOD who jogs whilst wearing khakis. He is much too thin to be Dismal, but maybe he is Dismal’s accomplice in crime.

[PotomacCyclist]

I ran a 9-mile race during grade school while wearing jeans. Still not sure why. But I think I finished 4th in my age group.

When I returned to running seven years ago, I saw the light. No running in jeans. Or in khakis for me. I don’t even own any jeans right now. (But I must admit to owning khakis.)

[PotomacCyclist]

I ran a 9-mile race during grade school while wearing jeans. Still not sure why. But I think I finished 4th in my age group.

When I returned to running seven years ago, I saw the light. No running in jeans. Or in khakis for me. I don’t even own any jeans right now. (But I must admit to owning khakis.)

I tried doing a few bike commutes in khakis but that is not pleasant, especially in the summer. Why would anyone want to do that voluntarily? Completely messes up the pants with perspiration, and puts a lot of wear and tear on clothes that aren’t really designed for sustained athletic activity.

[PotomacCyclist]

@hozn 128570 wrote:

Are the safety patrol cyclists representatives of NVRPA? I think the lawyers (kcb203) on the thread have demonstrated the invalidity of your claims from a legal perspective. And plenty of folks have given you an indication that your abuse is unwelcome from a social perspective. Do what you want, obviously, but don’t pretend the authorities or fellow trail users see your behavior as acceptable.

Plus there’s the fact that he called in the racist attack dog on this thread. Great way to foster good will.

[SolarBikeCar]

@PotomacCyclist 128587 wrote:

Plus there’s the fact that he called in the racist attack dog on this thread. Great way to foster good will.

I have no idea who the troll is but I suspected it was one of my opponents who was frustrated with the inability to make a compelling legal case for banning an ELF on a MUP, upset that the park manager wasn’t issuing a trespass notice, and upset that social media shaming wasn’t making me hide. I figured the troll was a last ditch effort to label me as crazy by pretending to be an ELF supporter and then saying inflammatory stuff to tar me via association; I was ignoring it. Seriously, these techniques are straight out of Mean Girls. Shameful examples of cyber stalking and cyber bullying!

[dasgeh]

@Erin Potter 128556 wrote:

Okay, that took some interesting turns, but it’s time to shut it down. Thanks to forum folks for attempting to engage thoughtfully, but we’re calling it for OneLessCar.
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Aw, man. I seem to have missed the posts that got the guy thrown off…

[PotomacCyclist]

Now he’s coming up with a conspiracy theory that someone spent the time to create an account like that, because his friend/ally went overboard.

I won’t get into too many specifics but basically every comment that I recall ended with him calling every cyclist a Communist or Commie sympathizer or a supporter of the Red Chinese because they rode “Chinese-made Cannondales.” Someone pointed out that a lot of bikes are made in Taiwan, which throws out the whole “Commie” attack while revealing that his main problem seems to be with Asian products. Every post was like that, about the overwhelming threat of the Chinese and how cyclists were complicit because they are all riding “Chinese-made Cannondales” and basically handing over the country to International Communism because of that. Over and over again, with white-hot rage against the Chinese and against DC-area cyclists.

It’s similar to other general attacks I’ve read against cyclists and bikeshare, almost always from hard right-wing people. (Sorry, but it has to be said.) They bring out the evil specter of turning American cities into copies of Chinese cities because of bikeshare and bike infrastructure. It’s always along the lines of “we don’t want to become Third World countries like China.” Of course they ALWAYS conveniently ignore how prevalent cycling and bikeshare are in many major European cities like Copenhagen, Paris and Amsterdam. That reveals that the argument is more about racial fear-mongering and hatred than it is about anything else. It’s also similar to the vitriol I’ve read on some car and motorcycle forums where people go absolutely bonkers with the racial animus when talking about Japanese cars or motorcycles. Rarely do I read the same hatred about German cars. (I don’t drive much and I don’t ride motorcycles. I just happened to come across some of these forums for other reasons.)

I pointed out that I mostly ride Canadian-built Bixi/CaBi bikes. I don’t even have a strong opinion about the ELF either way, since I’ve never encountered it myself and I don’t know what it’s like to ride near it. I recognize the potential issues but it’s different when I haven’t been in those situations yet. But I do have strong objections to race-baiting, fear-mongering, rage, hatred and non-stop personal attacks. And I think it’s laughable that an “opponent” supposedly created that account. Give me a break. I also pointed out how that guy was actually a great PR person for China and all the other evildoers he was attacking. He generated so much ill will that I can’t imagine anyone would be convinced to be in favor of the ELF if they weren’t already. Heck, he could have convinced fish to hate water while posting in favor of water.

[Tania]

@SolarBikeCar 128592 wrote:

I have no idea who the troll is but I suspected it was one of my opponents who was frustrated with the inability to make a compelling legal case for banning an ELF on a MUP, upset that the park manager wasn’t issuing a trespass notice, and upset that social media shaming wasn’t making me hide. I figured the troll was a last ditch effort to label me as crazy by pretending to be an ELF supporter and then saying inflammatory stuff to tar me via association; I was ignoring it. Seriously, these techniques are straight out of Mean Girls. Shameful examples of cyber stalking and cyber bullying!

And here I was all sad that the crazy might be over!

[lordofthemark]

Why don’t we get productive and nerdy and find WODCar man a suitable on road bike route. Traffic can’t be too high speed and terrible, but the ability of the ELF to do 25MPH uphill probably makes some routes comfortable that normally would not be a to a person on a 100% pedal power bike.

[Author]

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