Prius Haters Abound

[dasgeh]

http://www.arlnow.com/2013/07/22/priuses-vandalized-in-tire-slashing-spree/

I feel bad for these owners, though we all know all Prius drivers are scofflaws.

Topic

[Nubbs]

@jabberwocky 58831 wrote:

In my experience, Prius drivers tend to just be terrible. Not generally aggressive, but total brain-stem drivers (the actual brain doesn’t seem to be engaged in any fashion whatsoever). Its obviously not universal; my lovely girlfriend drives a Prius C, and lots of Prius drivers are considerate and good, but they definitely seem to be the make and model that attracts far more than their fair share of idiots.

When I started noticing this pattern several years ago, my working theory was that people drive Priuses to feel good about how green they are, and seeing a cyclist pisses them off because it reminds them that they are still driving cars and burning gas and knocks them right off their nice smug-cloud. After driving my girlfriends Prius a few times, my new theory is that 75% of the info in front of you when driving a Prius is focused on fuel efficiency, and Prius drivers get obsessed with maximizing mileage, so they tend to not want to slow down and re-accelerate for any reason.

I would have to agree with most all of this statement. I drive 50 miles round-trip to and from work every day. I take 66 60 267 to Herndon and back. My disdain for Prius drivers started long before I ever got into cycling. At first it is like they think they are saving the world so it is in their right to keep traffic at a moderate pace by doing 50 in the left lane. But the more i paid attention it is the fact that they are just so disconnected from what is going on around them. They just do not give a crap about anybody but themselves.

Even when I am driving the electric car and trying to maximize range I make an effort to stay out of peoples way so as not to impede their progress. This is something lost on most Prius drivers.

[eminva]

@Tim Kelley 58829 wrote:

I wish I had a minivan. You could just roll multiple bikes in and out!

Yes, we had to get a new automobile a couple months ago — we just have one car so we have to rent cars on some weekends when we go in all different directions. One weekend we got a minivan. My husband and son were all over it and I was all, “a minivan?” My husband got out our bikes and showed me how all three fit in the back without even taking off the wheels to convince me.

Now we have this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3356[/ATTACH]

and we can roll the bikes right in and out.

and yet, I feel as dismal does.

Liz

[PotomacCyclist]

@Tim Kelley 58829 wrote:

I wish I had a minivan. You could just roll multiple bikes in and out!

At the Diamond Derby, people roll multiple bikes THROUGH the minivan.

[Tim Kelley]

@eminva 58838 wrote:

Now we have this:

Jealous.

[PotomacCyclist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFIYlDEpLcQ

The Cyclist and the Driver Should Be Friends

[lordofthemark]

@jabberwocky 58831 wrote:

In my experience, Prius drivers tend to just be terrible. Not generally aggressive, but total brain-stem drivers (the actual brain doesn’t seem to be engaged in any fashion whatsoever). Its obviously not universal; my lovely girlfriend drives a Prius C, and lots of Prius drivers are considerate and good, but they definitely seem to be the make and model that attracts far more than their fair share of idiots.

When I started noticing this pattern several years ago, my working theory was that people drive Priuses to feel good about how green they are, and seeing a cyclist pisses them off because it reminds them that they are still driving cars and burning gas and knocks them right off their nice smug-cloud. After driving my girlfriends Prius a few times, my new theory is that 75% of the info in front of you when driving a Prius is focused on fuel efficiency, and Prius drivers get obsessed with maximizing mileage, so they tend to not want to slow down and re-accelerate for any reason.

I dunno. We recently got a Honda Civic – conventionally fueled, but with the green econ button, and lots of info to keep track of your mpg (part of your dashboard changes color depending on your current fuel economy) and I confess to trying to drive to get the average MPG up – but it does not at all make me oblivious to cyclists (of course cycling and following bike safety issues helps with that). I tend to notice more misbehavior from minivans, but then that may have to do with doing much of my street riding (and walking) in Annandale, where Priuses are scarce on the ground.

I also note that the tire slasher went after Priuses and also minicars. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that whoever it is that has this extreme gripe about these kinds of cars, has little love for cyclists either.

[rcannon100]

We are a one car family too. It is a minivan. And I LOVE the thing. To me, a minivan is a covered pickup truck. It is all utility. It is a total family car. And yes, from piling stacks of bicycles and gear into the van —- to running rescue dogs out to the vet. Last night I ran out to Purceville with two dog crates filled with 5 puppies to the Blue Ridge Vet. The dog crates just slide in and out (while I watch another foster family hilariously try to get the crates into their sub-hatchback imitation SUV thing. A minivan is a family beast that gets the job done.

BTW the puppies will be available for adoption this weekend.

[video=youtube_share;TV1FSz4RKqk]http://youtu.be/TV1FSz4RKqk[/video]

[rcannon100]

They just do not give a crap about anybody but themselves.

And that’s different from absolutely everyone else on the road, how????

You know who I hate? I hate those guys driving Suburu Forresters! Man, those people just burn me up!!

As for who did all this. Oh come on people. It’s simple. A NOVA tire dealership did it. It’s there way of drumming up business!

[dbb]

I am pretty down on people driving yellow 1968 buick skylarks. They really set me off!

[vvill]

We have a “microvan” Mazda 5. It can just about fit a human-sized bike without taking either wheel off, but I usually take the front one off anyway. Don’t really want the kids playing with the spokes while we’re driving.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@PotomacCyclist 58845 wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFIYlDEpLcQ

The Cyclist and the Driver Should Be Friends

See, the Prius didn’t even stop at the crosswalk with kids waiting. If that’s the pro-Prius propaganda, imagine what reality is like.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dbb 58851 wrote:

I am pretty down on people driving yellow 1968 buick skylarks. They really set me off!

Of course. Skylarks should be blue or burgundy.

[DaveK]

I agree with dasgeh in that confirmation bias is at work here. If you head out expecting one group to be crappy you will notice it more. Except for MD drivers. They really are the worst.

[DaveK]

@ShawnoftheDread 58870 wrote:

Of course. Skylarks should be blue or burgundy.

Now, in the ’60’s, there were only two other cars made in America that had positraction, and independent rear suspension, and enough power to make these marks. One was the Corvette, which could never be confused with the Buick Skylark. The other had the same body length, height, width, weight, wheel base, and wheel track as the ’64 Skylark, and that was the 1963 Pontiac Tempest.

[sjclaeys]

@Arlingtonrider 58803 wrote:

I’ve got to admit, I don’t really get this whole stereotyping thing. I’ve encountered good and bad behavior by drivers of all sorts of vehicles. My own wariness rises somewhat with big SUV drivers, but some of them have also been the most gracious drivers I’ve come across.

There you go, being all rational and such. Where is the fun in that? :rolleyes:

[Author]

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