Great opinion piece in NYT – The Pedestrian Strikes Back

[VikingMariner]

No, but if I did I would not feel some sort of special entitlement. I would take views different than mine with serious interest. Also I am not interested in only trails. Perhaps re-read what I wrote.

[VikingMariner]

@Crickey7 184105 wrote:

Sounds like somebody needs a hug.

[lordofthemark]

@VikingMariner 184103 wrote:

To recap, I’m not trying to be part of your little online clique of keyboard warriors and bullies. I came here to learn and I’m sure this new stimulus will teach me more about you with your next reply.

The people you are calling keyboard warriors are the people in the trenches who expend their own time and energy on bike advocacy in the real world. Who go to meetings, talk to politicians, lead rides, teach children to ride, correct maps, research alternatives, etc. Often tedious, thankless work. Keep that in mind.

And recall the proverb, that you learn more by listening than by speaking.

[mstone]

@dasgeh 184100 wrote:

Using offensive language in your posts isn’t helping your cause. Please stop.[/quote]
At some point it’s easier to just use the ignore list.

Quote:

I would just add that we *could* increase the amount of space we dedicate to transportation, but doing so would be expensive. We’d have to tear down homes, destroy parks, impact rivers, tunnel underground (which, ps, is not at all a new idea, even with Elon’s name behind it), or build above, all of which has HUGE costs. It’s not exactly zero sum — we could raise taxes and spend tons of money — but it’s a lot like zero sum. And when location is important (i.e. curb space right in front of a school), then yes, it is exactly zero sum.

For the hard problems location definitely matters: it’s the last mile in the places people want to go. If you tear down, etc., you destroy the thing people are trying to get to so it’s not a realistic option. Designating new ROW mostly only works in greenfield development, and it’s become painfully clear to anyone paying attention that the costs of continuing down that road (pardon the pun) are literally unbearable. (Cheap up-front, painfully expensive in terms of ongoing maintenance–and doesn’t actually fix the problem of how to get people to where they wanted to go in the first place, just distracts them for a while with something shiny.)

[lordofthemark]

@VikingMariner 184103 wrote:

@VikingMariner 184106 wrote:

No, but if I did I would not feel some sort of special entitlement. I would take views different than mine with serious interest. Also I am not interested in only trails. Perhaps re-read what I wrote.

As I said, there is nothing you have said that I have not heard before (and I am sure the others you are responding to have heard it all before as well), and I am familiar with all the reasons its not a realistic answer. You however are not. And I do think I (like any other human being) am entitled to be addressed and questioned with respect. Not “stirring the pot”. If you read the policy discussions on this forum you will see I have had disagreements with dasgeh and with MStone, and they with each other – but we address each other with respect, and try to bring information forward. And we all know what we don’t know.

You sound like you are here to troll. We do not need that.

[Steve O]

@VikingMariner 184103 wrote:

the usual douche bag, running red lights, yelling at people (sometimes on a whim), and giving people the bird at the drop of a hat.

“The usual douche bag” ??

My experience is that those are an extreme minority, just like the maniacs driving 90 on the beltway. They exist, but they do not represent any “usual” group.
I intersect with dozens if not scores of people riding bikes every day, and I struggle to recall the last time I saw one flip the bird. The vast, vast majority of people, regardless of mode, are not douche bags. I hope that you do not describe yourself that way when you talk at work: “I am not one of those usual douche bags….” because you would then be implying that the majority of us reading this now are. Or if you want to exclude the people on this forum, then the majority of people at Bike to Work Day or something. “Usual” implies “most.” And even if you don’t use that language with your co-workers, you clearly have internalized it, since you used it here.

[lordofthemark]

@VikingMariner 184103 wrote:

until I explain that I am not the usual douche bag,

Must. Resist. Obvious. Joke.

[VikingMariner]

Man, this echo chamber has some angry people. You mad, bruh? . Ah yes, social media. Always predictable. lol You guys crack me up.

[Steve O]

@VikingMariner 184120 wrote:

Man, this echo chamber has some angry people. You mad, bruh? . Ah yes, social media. Always predictable. lol You guys crack me up.

I have been a participant on this forum for almost 10 years. It is, without question, the most civil and courteous on-line group of people I have ever encountered. Those of us who know LOTM personally know full well that he is never an angry person. Ever. You should come to a coffee club and meet him sometime.

I laughed out loud at his response. I only wish I had thought of it first.

I do not know if you were also directing your comment at me or just at him. But let me assure you, mine was not written in anger either, but merely as a counter-response to what you wrote. If you spend more time here, you will hopefully learn that although there are differing opinions on various topics, almost always the conversation is about debating the ideas, not attacking the person. For a good example, go read the e-bike thread: 1200 comments and virtually zero flames in the whole thing.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

Note to self, method of waving hi to Steve-O must be changed.

[VikingMariner]

Ten years–You make it sound like a job. This is just the Internet, son. No one with common sense takes social media seriously. I’d gladly come to one of your social events if I have time. First round on me (applies to all of you). Dead serious but show a little respect for your elders, who are buying.

[Steve O]

@VikingMariner 184123 wrote:

I’d gladly come to one of your social events if I have time. First round on me (applies to all of you). Dead serious but show a little respect for your elders, who are buying.

Check out the calendar. Lots of opportunities.

[Steve O]

@VikingMariner 184123 wrote:

Ten years–You make it sound like a job.

Well, it did earn me an Academy Award nomination.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18679[/ATTACH]

[huskerdont]

@VikingMariner 184123 wrote:

This is just the Internet, son. No one with common sense takes social media seriously.

1) Not all of the internet has been poisoned. Some places get by with near-human levels of grumpiness.

2) Some places are still inhabited by people posing as adults (i.e, occasionally have “serious” discussions).

3) Smiley faces after condescension come off as creepy.

[cvcalhoun]

@VikingMariner 184123 wrote:

Ten years–You make it sound like a job. This is just the Internet, son. No one with common sense takes social media seriously. I’d gladly come to one of your social events if I have time. First round on me (applies to all of you). Dead serious but show a little respect for your elders, who are buying.

You assume everyone here is young enough to be your son? Unless you are 85, I can personally vouch for the fact that this is not true.

Your profile says you have been biking since 1968. For the record, I’ve been biking since 1959.

[Author]

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