Face off — Cyclists not human enough for drivers: study

[DismalScientist]

Meh… It’s OK since most cyclists don’t view drivers as fully human either.:rolleyes:

[lordofthemark]

Not only are we alien, subversive of norms, many of us dress funny, but we also are a super powerful minority who control govt officials behind the scenes.

Oh dear

[Steve O]

The problem with this study (which I did not read, so perhaps it’s in there) is any sort of comparison. Do drivers also consider other drivers similarly not human? What about pedestrians? Or any stranger in general?
We don’t know if drivers dehumanize cyclists any more or less than any other group they may encounter. Perhaps it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact they are cyclists instead of any other particular group.

And is it just drivers? Do pedestrians similarly dehumanize cyclists? If so, of course, they can’t inflict as much damage, but an interesting question, nonetheless. And Dismal’s point, as snarky as it is, is actually a fair point. Do all road users dehumanize those on another form of transport? Or just everyone else except themselves?

[sjclaeys]

Studies have found that a significant portion of the people of both political persuasions view those on the other side as not human, so this is not unique.

[rcannon100]

@sjclaeys 189360 wrote:

Studies have found that a significant portion of the people of both political persuasions view those on the other side as not human, so this is not unique.

Personally I think people who ride Warbirds are composed the rotting husks of old Indian Maize, fermented with wild New Mexican cactus buttons, smothered in bourbon and then reincarnated using chants from pages 59-62 of old Dept of Commerce reports.

[KWL]

@rcannon100 189369 wrote:

Personally I think people who ride Warbirds are composed the rotting husks of old Indian Maize, fermented with wild New Mexican cactus buttons, smothered in bourbon and then reincarnated using chants from pages 59-62 of old Dept of Commerce report.

You had me at “smothered in bourbon.”

[ImaCynic]

“But if drivers can put a human face to cyclists, researchers say this could reduce aggression directed at cyclists and road trauma involving riders.”

Lose the helmet, and you will be safer on the road?

[Steve O]

@ImaCynic 189436 wrote:

“But if drivers can put a human face to cyclists, researchers say this could reduce aggression directed at cyclists and road trauma involving riders.”

Lose the helmet, and you will be safer on the road?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457506001540

[ImaCynic]

@Steve O 189437 wrote:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457506001540

Fascinating findings:

“The relationship between rider position and overtaking proximity was the opposite to that generally believed, such that the further the rider was from the edge of the road, the closer vehicles passed.”

Ha! This is the basis of my repulsion theory: Those on the road tend to repel each other, like what happens when the same pole of magnets are near each other. Want cars to be further away? Ride closer to them!

I feel validated… somewhat.

[Author]

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