Washington Post is on an Anti-Bike Roll

[kwarkentien]

I read this today and was actually speechless (and anyone who knows me knows that that is almost unheard of). Courtland Milloy is known for fomenting discord and trying to make everything about race. While I’ll admit that there are cyclists that are a-holes, they do not represent the majority just as all drivers and pedestrians are not a-holes. As a cyclist who has been hit by a car just over 6 weeks ago, I must say his advocating “hit them: it’s only a $500 fine” is chilling. I’m damn lucky to be alive and in my case, the hit wasn’t intentional, but it was from inattention to bicycles on the road. I shudder at the thought of what could’ve happened if there was malice in my accident. Damn sure I wouldn’t be here to type this response on the forum.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[KLizotte]

@rcannon100 89865 wrote:

I would like to take this opportunity to remind the gentlemen and ladies of the jury that you can IGNORE anyone on the forum. Simply go to their profile and hit IGNORE over on the left column and you wills never see posts from that person again.

Just saying.

I hit the “report” function on nutjob’s post. Hopefully it will be removed soon.

[jrenaut]

I’ve been hit by a car twice – once on my bike by a completely unapolagetic cab driver on PA Ave, and once on foot by a guy in an F-250 SuperDuty who pulled a “I can turn left really fast when the light turns green before everyone starts to go and this works where there are no pedestrians but not at 16th and P NW” move. He handled it as any decent human being would – he was horrified and eager to make sure I was ok. I had a bruise on my leg and didn’t even end up hitting the ground, thanks to a Lexus SUV parked across the street to break my fall (the one time I’ve ever been happy to see a Lexus SUV).

Anyway, my point is these were relatively low speed and caused by drivers making bad decisions, not drivers trying to run me over on purpose. I was lucky that I only got bruises and a wrecked bike (stupid aluminum…). It’s truly horrifying that, first, a human being could write that doing this on purpose would be “worth it”, and second, that the editorial staff at one of the best known papers in the entire world would sign off on publising it.

I’m glad I get all my news from Twitter.

[mstone]

@dkel 89866 wrote:

Was my post that bad??

Seriously, though, when my kids give me the “wait–what” line, I always find it aggravating and often somewhat insulting; seemed an appropriate response in this case.

The best response to trolls is to just ignore.

[vern]

@jrenaut 89871 wrote:

I’ve been hit by a car twice – once on my bike by a completely unapolagetic cab driver on PA Ave, and once on foot by a guy in an F-250 SuperDuty who pulled a “I can turn left really fast when the light turns green before everyone starts to go and this works where there are no pedestrians but not at 16th and P NW” move. He handled it as any decent human being would – he was horrified and eager to make sure I was ok. I had a bruise on my leg and didn’t even end up hitting the ground, thanks to a Lexus SUV parked across the street to break my fall (the one time I’ve ever been happy to see a Lexus SUV).

Anyway, my point is these were relatively low speed and caused by drivers making bad decisions, not drivers trying to run me over on purpose. I was lucky that I only got bruises and a wrecked bike (stupid aluminum…). It’s truly horrifying that, first, a human being could write that doing this on purpose would be “worth it”, and second, that the editorial staff at one of the best known papers in the entire world would sign off on publising it.

I’m glad I get all my news from Twitter.

The first time I got hit by a car I was 14, riding through an intersection where I had the right of way. The driver, after knocking me down, stopped, got out of his car and said, “oh, I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry, taking my daughter to the ER”.

And me too, I suppose?

[PotomacCyclist]

To be honest, the “troll” sounds like a Friend of Milloy, instead of a Fauquier Fred. Or maybe Milloy himself?

I don’t really get the KKK business. Is he suggesting that all of the African-American cyclists I see on D.C. roads, join the KKK? Not too sure that would work out. Not sure that I’d get accepted by them either, since I’m not white. But I guess that doesn’t count in Milloy and FoM’s calculus.

It’s creepily ironic that Milloy posted this just now, considering all of the driver-caused deaths in the D.C. area just over the past week. What was it, three or four people killed in the span of four or five days? But I guess that doesn’t count either, because there seems to be some constitutional amendment somewhere, where car drivers are not guilty of breaking any laws if they kill someone. So the 32,000+ that get killed every year by drivers don’t count, but watch out for those cyclists. Because, oh, “that guy in San Francisco.” (Believe it or not, some people still trot out that line and example, and continue to ignore the tens of thousands killed by car drivers every year in the U.S.) I simply don’t get it. Why doesn’t it bother some of these people that… 32,000 and more continue to get killed by car drivers every year in this country? (And more than a million worldwide.)

[peterw_diy]

I suppose it’s possible that nutjob is a FoM who doesn’t write well, but I take the forum nom de plume as a strong clue that it’s satire (in which case I think it’s pretty well done).

[Drewdane]

@Fauquier nutjob 89858 wrote:

Carbon fiber fumes must have gone to you alls brains. Malloy and Kelley are right about DC area cyclists. Walking around downtown is dangerous on any given day because folks on two wheels only care about themselves since they are saving the planet by not contributing to climate change. I have been brushed back and hit over the years. If I see cyclists coming towards me I don’t move out the way I defend and stand my ground in DC. Yeah I have put a few of you down and filed charges and got convictions. You don’t ride on sidewalks and yeah sorry traffic laws apply to you all too. If you don’t like it go whine to your leftist liberal commie friends. The big problem with DC these days is white liberal overeducated and overpaid punks who have chosen to live in DC now that it is safe and secure. You all despite your holier than sh*t tudes are the racists.

And dont get me started about what happens when you all come out to Fauquier County for your rides and to play Tour D Stupid. Stopping around blind corners in groups of 6 to 8 all across the rode to check route instructions just pisses off those of us who live out here. Riding three wide across a lane to get up a hill at 5mph when the speed limit is 50mph is not cool and playing nice Playing Lance Armstrong on your $10k carbon fiber Trek with your buds and admiring your spandex encased packages is why good ole boys have issues with you all. We don’t mind sharing the road we do it all the time for tractors, combines and stock and dogs. But there is this concept called courtesy and it goes both ways. Try a little courtesy.

Do they make your little spandex outfits all in white with a white hood for your rides in DC because it sure would be appropriate for you rich boys and girls who look down their snot covered noses at old time DC residents. I know Bell makes white helmets and you can make crosses out of broken carbon fiber frames, seat posts and handlebars. Yeah carbon fiber burns. Maybe you all can form a bike club with the initials KKK since it would be appropriate for your attitudes downtown. You all arent God’s gift to the planet. Get over yourselves and get a mountain bike.

fred

*yawn*

[VikingMariner]

One thing is for sure: The op-ed article generated a lot of interest in cycling, promoted the idea that not every cyclist is a Lance-wannabee douche bag, and that there is at least one responsible interest group in DC promoting safe, responsible cycling. The whole incident is a teaching moment for society in the DC metro area (definitely for motorists & cyclists, who can at least spell empathy, excluding sociopaths). I see this whole thing as a win for cyclists and motorists alike (double win for me, my Madone, and my German sports car). Just my two cents.

[83b]

@Fauquier nutjob 89858 wrote:

Carbon fiber fumes must have gone to you alls brains. Malloy and Kelley are right about DC area cyclists. [and various sundry inanities…]

Read as “Assorted Drivers Tears” to understand my feelings on the matter.

[83b]

@Fauquier nutjob 89858 wrote:

Carbon fiber fumes must have gone to you alls brains. Malloy and Kelley are right about DC area cyclists. [and various sundry inanities…]

Read as “Assorted Drivers Tears” to understand my feelings on the matter.

[Geoff]

Dear Miss Manners:
On a recent ride on a multi-use trail I came to an intersection with a street. I had a green light, so I proceeded into the crosswalk. At the same time a driver, eyes glued to a phone, pulled into the crosswalk directly in front of me.

I wanted the driver to know I was there, to take her eyes off the phone, and to realize she should not have been blocking the crosswalk. So, as I manuevered around her car, I swatted the car. Might have even hit the hood.

It felt good at the time but now I’m having second thoughts. Was I being a bully? Did I escalate the motorist-cyclist wars? Do I deserve to have a broomstick stuck in my spokes?

Sincerely,
Bike Ninja

[VikingMariner]

@Geoff 89889 wrote:

Dear Miss Manners:
On a recent ride on a multi-use trail I came to an intersection with a street. I had a green light, so I proceeded into the crosswalk. At the same time a driver, eyes glued to a phone, pulled into the crosswalk directly in front of me.

I wanted the driver to know I was there, to take her eyes off the phone, and to realize she should not have been blocking the crosswalk. So, as I manuevered around her car, I swatted the car. Might have even hit the hood.

It felt good at the time but now I’m having second thoughts. Was I being a bully? Did I escalate the motorist-cyclist wars? Do I deserve to have a broomstick stuck in my spokes?

Sincerely,
Bike Ninja

Dearest Mr. Ninja,

Road rage is unacceptable behavior. Both driver and cyclist would be in the wrong in this situation. Remember–two turds don’t make an eagle. :0) Be seeing you soon.

Your pal,
The City of Falls Church Police Department
http://www.fallschurchva.gov/292/Police

“Be excellent to each other.” – Bill & Ted

[Terpfan]

@Fauquier nutjob 89858 wrote:

Carbon fiber fumes must have gone to you alls brains. Malloy and Kelley are right about DC area cyclists. Walking around downtown is dangerous on any given day because folks on two wheels only care about themselves since they are saving the planet by not contributing to climate change. I have been brushed back and hit over the years. If I see cyclists coming towards me I don’t move out the way I defend and stand my ground in DC. Yeah I have put a few of you down and filed charges and got convictions. You don’t ride on sidewalks and yeah sorry traffic laws apply to you all too. If you don’t like it go whine to your leftist liberal commie friends. The big problem with DC these days is white liberal overeducated and overpaid punks who have chosen to live in DC now that it is safe and secure. You all despite your holier than sh*t tudes are the racists.

And dont get me started about what happens when you all come out to Fauquier County for your rides and to play Tour D Stupid. Stopping around blind corners in groups of 6 to 8 all across the rode to check route instructions just pisses off those of us who live out here. Riding three wide across a lane to get up a hill at 5mph when the speed limit is 50mph is not cool and playing nice Playing Lance Armstrong on your $10k carbon fiber Trek with your buds and admiring your spandex encased packages is why good ole boys have issues with you all. We don’t mind sharing the road we do it all the time for tractors, combines and stock and dogs. But there is this concept called courtesy and it goes both ways. Try a little courtesy.

Do they make your little spandex outfits all in white with a white hood for your rides in DC because it sure would be appropriate for you rich boys and girls who look down their snot covered noses at old time DC residents. I know Bell makes white helmets and you can make crosses out of broken carbon fiber frames, seat posts and handlebars. Yeah carbon fiber burns. Maybe you all can form a bike club with the initials KKK since it would be appropriate for your attitudes downtown. You all arent God’s gift to the planet. Get over yourselves and get a mountain bike.

fred

Oh, good, you must be from the Ft Foote Patrol too that tries to run over kids on the road back there.

[Anonymous]

@peterw_diy 89878 wrote:

I suppose it’s possible that nutjob is a FoM who doesn’t write well, but I take the forum nom de plume as a strong clue that it’s satire (in which case I think it’s pretty well done).

Even if you are wrong, there is no particular reason to have the post removed. Fauquier nutjob didn’t threaten violence to anyone, and “Racist Pretentious Overeducated Twits” is not hate speech. Third-grade quality* insulting, maybe, but hardly threatening.

*though with better spelling and lots of syllables

[Author]

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