Charm Offensive

For the last couple of years, I've been going out of my way to help pedestrians. When I see someone waiting at a crosswalk, I take the lane, signal a stop, stop, and then ask the pedestrians if they would like to cross. Almost always I am rewarded with a big smile and an enthusiastic "Thank you". (If you've seen a dorky looking guy on a Pedersen bike doing this, it was most certainly me...) Of course, some drivers get pretty angry about actually being forced to obey the law, and they sometimes honk horns and yell obscenities, but none have killed me (yet).

Since I started doing this, I've seen a few other cyclists do it, too. This has to be good for the public's perception of cyclists!

I would love it if Chainlinkers became known as those nice people who bring some civility to our streets. Any ideas how we can get more cyclists to ally themselves with pedestrians, and also how we can get this practice associated with Chainlink?

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Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on August 23, 2013 at 5:54am

Most cultures / cults / religions / belief systems have some form of "ethics of retribution".

Most Christian systems state the "Golden Rule" that we should treat others in the way we would like to be treated.

It's pretty easy. If I don't like being treated a specific way, I can be pretty sure that (most?) others won't want to be treated like that either.

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Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on August 23, 2013 at 8:12am

I have several crosswalks on my route to work or to ride some of the local MUP in the forest preserves and I stop and take the lane as often as I can. One woman with her child almost got hit because the driver of a passing vehicle didn't want to stop, she pointed out (pointing at me on a bicycle) that at least some good people know the law. She thanked me and they crossed.