9 Things Drivers Need to Stop Saying in the Bikes vs. Cars Debate

There are certain things guaranteed to set off an internet firestorm. Talk about climate change, mention Monsanto, or bring up the treatment of women in video games. And you can, especially in recent years, piss off a whole bunch of people simply by writing about bikes and cars. Nothing seems to bring out the angry caps lock and personal attacks faster than transportation issues.

A recent report showing more cyclists are dying on US streets prompted a remarkable number of stories about cyclist safety. And in the comments section of each, people rehashed the same tired arguments over and over.

So, before the next big wave of internet arguing, I propose we retire a few overused and underwhelming opinions in the bikes vs. cars debate. Though I drive and bike, my allegiances skew toward cyclists (feel free to scroll straight the comments and yell at me). But beyond my personal judgments lie a great many studies and data showing most of the pro-motorist arguments just don’t hold up. I know it’s hard to be wrong, especially on the internet, but here are a few sentences I hope we see less of in the future.

Read the 9 things here: http://www.wired.com/2014/11/9-things-drivers-need-stop-saying-bike...

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Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on November 12, 2014 at 3:27pm

Sorry Gene, tl;dr. But what really annoys me personally are guys riding around on souped up tricycles along the LFP with a pelican sticking up behind them taking beautiful pics along the way. Now that really burns me up.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on November 12, 2014 at 4:40pm

Phew, I thought you were talking about someone I know until I got to the part about the pelican.  The guy I know has a flamingo.

Joe Guzzardo said:

Sorry Gene, tl;dr. But what really annoys me personally are guys riding around on souped up tricycles along the LFP with a pelican sticking up behind them taking beautiful pics along the way. Now that really burns me up.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on November 12, 2014 at 5:13pm

I don't know what this has to do with Gene's post, but 1) obviously it would be better to live in Edmonton where you can just put your bike in a bike rack without a lock and 2) watching her ride that bike made my knees hurt since she had her saddle too low.  Finally, I have never seen a beautiful pelican.  The ones I have seen are really pretty ugly and I sure don't want to live inside one. :-D

Returning this thread to its regularly scheduled programming?

Jeff Schneider said:

You gotta problem with pelicans?



Lisa Curcio 4.1mi said:

Phew, I thought you were talking about someone I know until I got to the part about the pelican.  The guy I know has a flamingo.

Joe Guzzardo said:

Sorry Gene, tl;dr. But what really annoys me personally are guys riding around on souped up tricycles along the LFP with a pelican sticking up behind them taking beautiful pics along the way. Now that really burns me up.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on November 13, 2014 at 4:06am

Me, too, and if I find that bird alone, I am going to wring its long, pink neck and tie it in a knot.

Joe Guzzardo said:

Sorry Gene, tl;dr. But what really annoys me personally are guys riding around on souped up tricycles along the LFP with a pelican sticking up behind them taking beautiful pics along the way. Now that really burns me up.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on November 13, 2014 at 4:20am

But seriously, the article makes some very good points.

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on November 13, 2014 at 5:59am

I'm always glad to see a well-reasoned piece like this in a mainstream media outlet with a huge readership, both in print and on line. However, as always, don't read the comments section.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on November 13, 2014 at 10:04am

I don't think her seat what too low; it looked right to me. 

I didn't like the first bike rack, tho.  It was one of those wheel-benders.

Lisa Curcio 4.1mi said:

I don't know what this has to do with Gene's post, but 1) obviously it would be better to live in Edmonton where you can just put your bike in a bike rack without a lock and 2) watching her ride that bike made my knees hurt since she had her saddle too low.

Permalink Reply by Louie Louie on November 14, 2014 at 4:05am

The problem is that making driving easier also encourages more driving, a phenomenon known as induced demand, which causes traffic engineers to chase ever-diminishing returns in trying to improve LOS.

I thought that point was very interesting.  I see what they are doing to I90 past O'hare when I go to see my family in the burbs and wonder if that expressway really needed a extra lane on both sides.  I think the extra lanes will simply encourage more people to drive instead of taking Metra for instance.

Permalink Reply by Ikram Bokhari on November 14, 2014 at 10:51am

the article is dead-on.  I can't believe this is even a debate.  A 25 pound bike vs 2,000 pound car, how can that be a balanced debate.

Permalink Reply by Martin Beatch on November 14, 2014 at 3:00pm
Fun fact: Don Iveson, who is listed as a cameraman in this video, is the current mayor of Edmonton. Sarah Chan (woman riding the bike) is his wife. So, that's what politics looks like in Canada.



Jeff Schneider said:

You gotta problem with pelicans?



Lisa Curcio 4.1mi said:

Phew, I thought you were talking about someone I know until I got to the part about the pelican.  The guy I know has a flamingo.

Joe Guzzardo said:

Sorry Gene, tl;dr. But what really annoys me personally are guys riding around on souped up tricycles along the LFP with a pelican sticking up behind them taking beautiful pics along the way. Now that really burns me up.

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on November 14, 2014 at 8:20pm

Man, that chick is hot. I guess that was an invisible pelican riding on her front basket? Gene has some real competition now. Better watch your back, Gene.

Jeff Schneider said:

You gotta problem with pelicans?



Lisa Curcio 4.1mi said:

Phew, I thought you were talking about someone I know until I got to the part about the pelican.  The guy I know has a flamingo.

Joe Guzzardo said:

Sorry Gene, tl;dr. But what really annoys me personally are guys riding around on souped up tricycles along the LFP with a pelican sticking up behind them taking beautiful pics along the way. Now that really burns me up.

Permalink Reply by yai danche on November 15, 2014 at 4:07am

The most important point of the article is that drivers and cyclists are people and neither are saints who follow the rules of the road all the time.  Yet cyclists are painted as these jackasses who break rules, etc.

About the video, Sarah has a blog and they are a committed biking family!  She biked and used public transit while pregnant and now regularly hauls her kids by cargo bike.  Sure, once in a while you see Rahm on the train, but when have you seen him bike to work?  And we know he knows how to ride a bike (I recall him completing a triathlon).  

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