The strange psychological phenomenon that explains why people hate cyclists

[ImaCynic]

When cycling as explained by psychology.

https://boingboing.net/2021/03/17/the-strange-psychological-phenomenon-that-explains-why-people-hate-cyclists.html

[secstate]

Ugh, so sad to see Scott Simon — of all people — tweeting against cyclists!

[ImaCynic]

Sadly, it only takes few bad apples to taint the whole batch.

[lordofthemark]

@ImaCynic 210202 wrote:

When cycling as explained by psychology.

https://boingboing.net/2021/03/17/the-strange-psychological-phenomenon-that-explains-why-people-hate-cyclists.html

I mean in addition to attribution bias, there is the problem that huge numbers of non bike riders (and many casual bike riders) don’t actually know either the law or proper safe riding behavior.

Recently I attended a virtual college reunion – another zoom event with about 8 alums from my old dorm. I mentioned that I am into biking and bike advocacy. One guy was like “are you one of those bad cyclists who ride in the center of the lane” One other agreed.

“Actually there are good reasons to do that – how much time do you have” I “smiled” of course, and moved on (believe it or not)

But I am planning on trying to explain “taking the lane” on my FB page – maybe it will sink in with somebody.

[Steve O]

lordofthemark;210351 wrote:

… There is the problem that huge numbers of car drivers don’t actually know either the law or proper safe driving behavior.

ftfy

[Brett L.]

@Steve O 210362 wrote:

ftfy

Us-vs-them language not going to solve anything. I’d expand the language, change “car drivers” to “people”.

… There is the problem that huge numbers of people don’t actually know either the law or proper safe driving behavior.

[lordofthemark]

@Brett L. 210367 wrote:

Us-vs-them language not going to solve anything. I’d expand the language, change “car drivers” to “people”.

… There is the problem that huge numbers of people don’t actually know either the law or proper safe driving behavior.

This doesn’t really match my point though. People who regularly ride bikes on street generally have a pretty good idea of safe riding behavior, and of laws relating to bikes.

Similarly, drivers mostly have some idea (even if they violate it anyway) of how to drive safely around other cars, and what the laws are in that regard.

What drivers (and even car free pedestrians who do not ride bikes, sorry Steve) do not know, and what bike riders do know, are things like the dooring issue, the reasons to ride in the center of the lane, the need to get to the left to make a left turn, etc, etc.

[mstone]

@lordofthemark 210368 wrote:

This doesn’t really match my point though. People who regularly ride bikes on street generally have a pretty good idea of safe riding behavior, and of laws relating to bikes.[/quote]
Not in my experience. They generally have a good idea of what they think is safe/”normal”, but actual laws? No. That’s true regardless of mode.

[ursus]

@lordofthemark 210368 wrote:

the need to get to the left to make a left turn, etc, etc.

It’s off topic, but how is one supposed to make a left turn from a protected bike line on the right? I usually leave the PBL earlier and get to the left, but this requires me to know the PBL well. Making the left at the last minute requires a tight turn and often is impossible without stopping and waiting for a long time for a break in the traffic. It also angers others in the PBL who want to continue straight.

[EasyRider]

@ursus 210370 wrote:

It’s off topic, but how is one supposed to make a left turn from a protected bike line on the right? I usually leave the PBL earlier and get to the left, but this requires me to know the PBL well. Making the left at the last minute requires a tight turn and often is impossible without stopping and waiting for a long time for a break in the traffic. It also angers others in the PBL who want to continue straight.

Good question. Feb 2020, I was pulled over by ACPD at Wilson and Highland for doing just that. I was heading west on Wilson, left the bike lane a block or so from the intersection because I needed to turn left on Highland. Turned left, got pulled over a block later by the Trader Joe’s. Stood there on the sidewalk while the officer tried to figure out what traffic violation I had committed. After 20 minutes he gave up and let me go with a written warning, something petty like “not signaling my lane change”, though in conversation he seemed to be under the impression that I should be confined to the bike lane.

[Brett L.]

@ursus 210370 wrote:

It’s off topic, but how is one supposed to make a left turn from a protected bike line on the right? I usually leave the PBL earlier and get to the left, but this requires me to know the PBL well. Making the left at the last minute requires a tight turn and often is impossible without stopping and waiting for a long time for a break in the traffic. It also angers others in the PBL who want to continue straight.

The Venn diagram between what is safe and what is legal are often two very non-concentric circles. I always choose what is safe versus what is legal…

Depending on the jurisdiction, there may not be any tolerance for leaving the PBL. Depending on the speed and density of traffic on the road, a box turn might be more appropriate.

[Steve O]

@EasyRider 210371 wrote:

Good question. Feb 2020, I was pulled over by ACPD at Wilson and Highland for doing just that. I was heading west on Wilson, left the bike lane a block or so from the intersection because I needed to turn left on Highland. Turned left, got pulled over a block later by the Trader Joe’s. Stood there on the sidewalk while the officer tried to figure out what traffic violation I had committed. After 20 minutes he gave up and let me go with a written warning, something petty like “not signaling my lane change”, though in conversation he seemed to be under the impression that I should be confined to the bike lane.

@Brett L. 210367 wrote:

… There is the problem that huge numbers of people don’t actually know either the law or proper safe driving behavior.

Including police officers

[ImaCynic]

I am not aware of any ordinances in the surrounding jurisdictions that require a cyclist to ride in the PBL. If so, can someone please share that link with me?

[lordofthemark]

@mstone 210369 wrote:

Not in my experience. They generally have a good idea of what they think is safe/”normal”, but actual laws? No. That’s true regardless of mode.

I would say MOST frequent transportation riders appear to me to realize A. That bikes are legal in the road B. That riding on the far right of the lane is not required, etc. IE the kinds of things that non riders typically misunderstand, leading to “cyclist hate.

It may be different for some other laws. Its probably most an issue where we have inconsistent laws through our region – for example proceeding on LPI legal in DC, but not elsewhere (absent explicit signage).

[lordofthemark]

@ImaCynic 210377 wrote:

I am not aware of any ordinances in the surrounding jurisdictions that require a cyclist to ride in the PBL. If so, can someone please share that link with me?

Theres an ordinance in Md requiring riding in a bike lane if it’s available (unless they have repealed that since last I heard) but it has a bunch of exceptions, and I am pretty sure making a left would be one of those.

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