Why Are DC Area Cyclists the RUDEST I Have Ever Seen ?

[Roscoe]

I don’t know if this post might just offend people, but I’m interested in some insight please. I’ve cycled quite a lot in numerous other states and countries, and I have NEVER seen such rudeness from cyclists as I have here. It absolutely disgusts me.

I live in a very excellent area for cycling – near Rock Creek park and the good cycling roads of Chevy Chase, and I enjoy cycling the area. But I am shocked and disgusted on a regular basis about the lack of etiquette I continue to see from such a huge amout of fellow cyclists. In particular, why do so many feel that it’s acceptable to cycle 2-abreast on a non-residential road with 25 or 35 mph speed limit, causing traffic to either back up at length, or need to attempt to pass on roads that are a bit curvy. It’s not only totally rude, it’s not safe for anyone.

Is it just because auto drivers here are so rude also ? Thanks for the insight, the situation is both deplorable and amazing.

Topic

[washcycle]

@Roscoe 9895 wrote:

First of all, close observation should reveal that I actually AM trying to figure out why these cyclists are riding 2-abreast. Does your post indicate that you believe I should somehow “ask them” why they’re doing it ? It would interest me to learn some reason why they acquire some great safety advantage when the single cyclists appear to be just fine, as do the ones who ride together but following eachother as I always do unless I’m in a residential area with no traffic.

No, you aren’t. You’ve made up your mind. They’re doing it out of rudeness as far as you’re concerned. You’re sick and disgusted by it, and anyone who sees things differently is just trying to justify rudeness.

I don’t believe you should ask people – though you’ve asked a lot of people here and they’ve given reasons. Reasons you don’t like. Again, you don’t want to hear anything other than “Yeah, cyclists here are rude.” If so, head to WTOP, you’ll hear more agreement there.

@Roscoe 9895 wrote:

As far as being free to stay behind people riding 2-abreast, for what frequently appears to be only to chat, and going 15mph in a 25 mph zone frequently in a backlog of traffic…..it’s pretty annoying. But I’m sure that since going 15mph in a 25mph zone “never killed anyone” you must do it all the time, in addition to voluntarily going 10 miles under the speed limit most or all other times in standard conditions. Right ?

I do it when safety requires it. And I don’t assume that the people making it required are doing so out of selfishness.

@Roscoe 9895 wrote:

But then again, inconveniencing (frequently many) other people for what appears to be no good reason pretty much defines the term “rudeness.”

How do you know it’s for no good reason? People have given you good reasons. But you won’t accept them.

[Roscoe]

@washcycle 10020 wrote:

People have given you good reasons. But you won’t accept them.

This is not intended to sound rude, just right to the point since we’ve got so much verbage here.

But once again, you are simply wrong.

People may have certainly given reasons why it can be beneficial or even necessary to ride 2-abreast…..BUT NOT WHERE I AM REFERRING TO. Why that is lost on you is…..fascinating.

These riders probably ACTUALLY SEE other riders riding on the right with no problems whatsoever. Common logic requires one to believe that there’s a pretty good chance many of them have actually SAFELY ridden these very roads themsleves solo on the right, since I have NEVER seen a single rider taking the whole lane here. In fact it is quite likely that even as they ride abreast, they see pairs of riders in file. In short, it is PERFECTLY CLEAR that these roads do not require riders to either take the entire lane or ride 2-abreast.

So you just continue to create the strawman argument…that I am trying to assert that there is NEVER the need for a cyclist to take the entire lane.

[CCrew]

@Roscoe 10029 wrote:

So you just continue to create the strawman argument…that I am trying to assert that there is NEVER the need for a cyclist to take the entire lane.

I would say that Clarendon Blvd in the several blocks before Lynn flies in the face of that statement. I ride it every morning, and trying to make that left onto Lynn pretty much requires that you assert your right to the lane. The left turn lanes onto L street coming out of Georgetown is another

I think that there’s something lost here in this argument though. There’s a huge difference between recreational cycling, and what’s generally referred to as vehicular cycling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicular_cycling

I’m with you in the fact that many recreational cyclists have an arrogant bent as to their rights without consideration of other traffic; not to put a damper on your argument, but as a rider with a large amount of miles there are indeed places (albeit limited) where fully asserting your right is the prudent and safer course. I’m sure others can supply other examples.

[Roscoe]

@washcycle 10019 wrote:

And this, I think, is the fundamental problem. You’re coinvinced that you know WHY they are doing what they do. Think about that for a minute. That requires amazing insight. Empathic, mind-reading like insight. The fact is that you don’t know why they’re doing it.

You make a good point and I accept it. It is indeed near impossible to know the motives of others without asking them.

What i DO know however, is that for whatever the reason, they are taking actions that not only inconvenience others, that make both others and themselves LESS SAFE…..by forcing traffic to both be delayed unnecessarily and need to pass in a more dangerous manner. This is clearly both RUDE and DISCOURTEOUS….in addition to being unsafe and simply unintelligent.

But I applaud your giving people the benefit of the doubt. I suppose if someone deliberately takes your newspaper from your porch every morning you give them the benefit of the doubt also. There may be a very good reason….you SIMPLY DONT KNOW. And it’s but a minor inconvenience to you, just a few minutes to go buy another and a buck or two. I’m sure you wouldn’t be upset by this very minor inconvenience, and would give them the benefit of the doubt. Right ? I didn’t think so….

You can decide that when people steal your newspaper, they are doing it as a personal attack on you. They are doing it to hurt YOU. They hate YOU. Not how I would go through life, but it is an option.

[Mark Blacknell]

You know what else is annoying, Roscoe? Self-centered people who whine about the self-centeredness of other people, all the while without an ounce of self-awareness.

People in front of you annoy you. We get it. We really do. We just don’t really care.

[Roscoe]

@Mark Blacknell 10033 wrote:

You know what else is annoying, Roscoe? Self-centered people who whine about the self-centeredness of other people, all the while without an ounce of self-awareness.

People in front of you annoy you. We get it. We really do. We just don’t really care.

Another thing that is annoying is people that post on internet forums without the slightest modicum of comprehension. People in front of me don’t annoy me. People that intentionally, and FOR NO GOOD REASON, cause a backlog for dozens of motorists and unsafe passing conditions annoy me. I’d have thought you would comprehend that by now, but apparently not.

I’d have also thought that perhaps you (and/or others) might care about showing courtesy to other motorists and cyclists. Perhaps not.

I get your lack of reading comprehension. I really do. I just don’t really care.

[Tim Kelley]

Hey everybody–this has a been a great thread to read over the past couple of days with lots of differing and fantastic viewpoints. I think we’ve gone around in circles quite a few times, so I’m wondering if we’re ready to move on to other topics now? If no one has any objections, I’ll close this thread.

Roscoe–welcome to the forum!

[Author]

Replies