The Chainlink

Is it worth it to try to educate people?

Is it worth it to try to educate people in a civil manner about biking when you're probably going to get yelled at? 

For example, this morning I was biking south on Wells around Ohio when there was a runner jogging south with traffic, in the bike lane.  She was in the buffered lane itself, not even in the parking area to the right (and with headphones on).  It's too bad I couldn't explain that she's putting bikers at risk by taking their lane in the few seconds that I passed by.    

It just puts a damper on my morning when the response to my "this is not a jogging lane" is "fuck off!" 

Julie

 

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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on June 27, 2012 at 2:03pm

Hey, don't make fun of my shirt!  : P

seriously, funniest post all day, thanks.


James BlackHeron said:

It always seems to be that "same guy" on the sidewalk in my neighborhood and often in other parts of town too.  Some dude in a backwards baseball cap  and grungy T-shirt on a beat-up department-store mountain bike with lots of rust and the rear wheel way out of true.   The guy is carrying 2 or 3 plastic shopping bags looped over the grips as he rides and is going at barely more than a walking pace.

Did they clone this guy 10,000 times?   Every time I see a guy riding on the sidewalk it is this same guy...

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on June 27, 2012 at 2:17pm

Michael B is right... I live in Rogers Park, and am constantly infuriated w/all the cyclists on the sidewalks. The cops used to ticket aggressively for it, but well, I guess w/the reduced manpower that's not happening anymore.  That and dogs off leashes are huge quality-of-life issues on the north lakefront, IMO. 

Having said that, cyclists have to share every single other through-way with pedestrians, or cars.  Can we just have our 3 feet?  Boo too jogging in the bike lane. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 27, 2012 at 2:22pm

+1

Joe Schmoe said:

Michael B is right... I live in Rogers Park, and am constantly infuriated w/all the cyclists on the sidewalks. The cops used to ticket aggressively for it, but well, I guess w/the reduced manpower that's not happening anymore.  That and dogs off leashes are huge quality-of-life issues on the north lakefront, IMO. 

Having said that, cyclists have to share every single other through-way with pedestrians, or cars.  Can we just have our 3 feet?  Boo too jogging in the bike lane. 

Permalink Reply by Jason W on June 27, 2012 at 4:39pm

Yelling is the only way to educate some people...

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 27, 2012 at 4:52pm

I, personally, am a huge fan of defenestration. 

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Add flogging . . . :)

Jason said:

Yelling is the only way to educate some people...

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 27, 2012 at 5:38pm

Very true, there would be handy fenestrators speeding by aplenty. 

Serge Lubomudrov said:

It would be rather hard to accomplish while riding a bike outside. You can try in-fenestration, though ;)

James BlackHeron said:

I, personally, am a huge fan of defenestration. 

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Add flogging . . . :)

Jason said:

Yelling is the only way to educate some people...

Permalink Reply by Reba 4.0 mi on June 27, 2012 at 9:23pm

I DO educate the idiots who ride on the sidewalk in my neighborhood. Ever try walking a 70lb dog who's desperate to chase stuff (especially bikes) with a cyclist coming right at you? I've got him pretty well trained to not throw himself and me into the street but the sidewalk is really just too much to ask and really, really unsafe for any one. 

I shudder to think what herding children is like with these morons riding on the sidewalks. So yes, I holler at them, every time, whether they have headphones on or not, even at the guy with the shopping bags riding the cruiser at a snail's pace. 

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