Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 9, 2009 at 9:57am

notoriousDUG said:

I am pretty sure that, while the do kill a lot of people, cars are still well under guns and war when it comes to actual lives taken... And you did make a direct comparison.

Since this discussion went off-track a long time ago, I think it is OK to comment on your statement of cause of death. This document states that in 2006 12,791 people died as a result of assault with a firearm, while 45,316 people died as a result from a motor vehicle accident.
Sounds like your chance of dying is traffic is about 3.5 times as high as the chance of dying from assault with a firearm.
(I am aware that there is a lot more to this statistic, like social class, ethnicity, etc.)

Not sure about the war statistics

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on November 9, 2009 at 10:09am

'notortious.' I think that's a kind of turtle. Maybe.

Lay down and die. Ehh, I think I'll pass. =)

Hypocrisy bugs me to no end. I can just see this guy ranting and raving his views... he's the one holding the picket sign with an unfortunate (but hilarious) misspelling on it. lol

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on November 9, 2009 at 10:16am

Interesting figure but I don't know how much it actually proves in relation to actual danger of each item when you take into account the exposure of a car vs. a gun to the general population.

By those numbers I have a lower chance of dying from a gun then I do from a car but at the same time I see hundreds of cars a day compared to guns of which I see one maybe once or twice a month; if you take exposure into it the comparison becomes, in my opinion, silly.

I agree cars can be a dangerous weapon but I think the gun comparison in relation to level of danger is a poor one at best.

Duppie said:

Since this discussion went off-track a long time ago, I think it is OK to comment on your statement of cause of death. This document states that in 2006 12,791 people died as a result of assault with a firearm, while 45,316 people died as a result from a motor vehicle accident. Sounds like your chance of dying is traffic is about 3.5 times as high as the chance of dying from assault with a firearm.
(I am aware that there is a lot more to this statistic, like social class, ethnicity, etc.)

Not sure about the war statistics

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 9, 2009 at 10:42am

Yes and no.
The statistic can be used to determine your chance of dying from a gunshot wound v. dying from a car accident. Not taking anything else into account your chance of dying from a car accident is about 3.5 higher than your chance of dying from a gunshot. In that sense it is pretty clear cut

Of course if you apply factors like social class, ethnicity, age, etc. to these numbers then your chances will change. African american males in a poor neighborhood likely have a higher than average chance of dying from a gunshot wound. Cyclists likely have a higher than average chance of dying from a car accident.

For an interesting treatise on safety risks for cyclists, and how you can spin these numbers any which way you want, I suggest you read "Pedaling Revolution" by Jeff Mapes. The discussion is in of the later chapters (not sure which) and he proves that you can make cycling look dangerous or not depending how you slice and dice the stats. All he proves in my opinion is that the saying "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." still holds true today

notoriousDUG said:

Interesting figure but I don't know how much it actually proves in relation to actual danger of each item when you take into account the exposure of a car vs. a gun to the general population.
By those numbers I have a lower chance of dying from a gun then I do from a car but at the same time I see hundreds of cars a day compared to guns of which I see one maybe once or twice a month; if you take exposure into it the comparison becomes, in my opinion, silly. I agree cars can be a dangerous weapon but I think the gun comparison in relation to level of danger is a poor one at best. Duppie said:

Since this discussion went off-track a long time ago, I think it is OK to comment on your statement of cause of death. This document states that in 2006 12,791 people died as a result of assault with a firearm, while 45,316 people died as a result from a motor vehicle accident. Sounds like your chance of dying is traffic is about 3.5 times as high as the chance of dying from assault with a firearm. (I am aware that there is a lot more to this statistic, like social class, ethnicity, etc.) Not sure about the war statistics

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Permalink Reply by mattbikes1 on November 9, 2009 at 11:25am

So, to sum this discussion up, I will start reporting all incidents I have with cabbies via 311 and the companies themselves when possible (thank you T.C. O'Rourke), my cross tube is now a missile launcher (thanks Juan and Mike W.), and I will continue to bike defensively. I took the LFT today and might start doing it more often as to avoid traffic although every time I have had an incident with a cabbie it is usually later at night and I believe the parks and thus the LFT are closed after 11:00 pm? I hate the idea of modifying my behavior of biking, according to the city laws and ordinances mind you, so as to avoid cabbies who exhibit bad behavior and aggression towards bikers, but if it keeps me out of harms way and less disturbed it might be worth it at times. I do believe that the bad cabbies are the minority and not the majority, and I give other drivers and bikers who I share the road with more than enough consideration including cabbies. I have been pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of many cabbies in the last two years that I have lived in and biked this city, it just really rattles me when I have a real close call because of the behavior of others especially a "professional" who derives an income by driving. They should know better even if they have had bad experiences with other bikers. My initial post was made immediately following my most recent incident and thus exposes my level of rage. Perhaps some anger management classes are in order. I usually don't have any issues outside the daily observance of gross negligence on the behalf of drivers and bikers alike and usually I can just laugh about it or shake my head in disapproval, however, when I feel like my life has been threatened it sends me into the fight or flight response without fail and I am not one to flight. It is a shame that an activity that can make me feel so free and unencumbered can also make me feel like a target at a shooting range. I have been a commuter for 9 years and don't plan on stopping anytime soon, so I will have to adjust my behavior because that is all I can control, and hopefully the cabbie community will do the same. Thank you for all the input, rage, rants, debate, and humor. Btw, I think that Jessica and Pjc jr should go out on a date together, there is clearly some chemistry there. Ride safe, and if anyone has any other suggestions about to whom and how to report bad cabbie behavior I am all ears. Ride safe everyone.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 9, 2009 at 11:36am

While the entrances to the park are closed overnight, the trail itself is open

oh, you forgot to add to your to-do list that you will also enlist in the army and request to be deployed to Afghanistan, thereby increasing your risk of surviving :)




mattbikes1 said:

So, to sum this discussion up, I will start reporting all incidents I have with cabbies via 311 and the companies themselves when possible (thank you T.C. O'Rourke), my cross tube is now a missile launcher (thanks Juan and Mike W.), and I will continue to bike defensively. I took the LFT today and might start doing it more often as to avoid traffic although every time I have had an incident with a cabbie it is usually later at night and I believe the parks and thus the LFT are closed after 11:00 pm? I hate the idea of modifying my behavior of biking, according to the city laws and ordinances mind you, so as to avoid cabbies who exhibit bad behavior and aggression towards bikers, but if it keeps me out of harms way and less disturbed it might be worth it at times. I do believe that the bad cabbies are the minority and not the majority, and I give other drivers and bikers who I share the road with more than enough consideration including cabbies. I have been pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of many cabbies in the last two years that I have lived in and biked this city, it just really rattles me when I have a real close call because of the behavior of others especially a "professional" who derives an income by driving. They should know better even if they have had bad experiences with other bikers. My initial post was made immediately following my most recent incident and thus exposes my level of rage. Perhaps some anger management classes are in order. I usually don't have any issues outside the daily observance of gross negligence on the behalf of drivers and bikers alike and usually I can just laugh about it or shake my head in disapproval, however, when I feel like my life has been threatened it sends me into the fight or flight response without fail and I am not one to flight. It is a shame that an activity that can make me feel so free and unencumbered can also make me feel like a target at a shooting range. I have been a commuter for 9 years and don't plan on stopping anytime soon, so I will have to adjust my behavior because that is all I can control, and hopefully the cabbie community will do the same. Thank you for all the input, rage, rants, debate, and humor. Btw, I think that Jessica and Pjc jr should go out on a date together, there is clearly some chemistry there. Ride safe, and if anyone has any other suggestions about to whom and how to report bad cabbie behavior I am all ears. Ride safe everyone.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by mattbikes1 on November 9, 2009 at 11:40am

HA ha! Me thinks I stirred the pot a wee bit too much!

Duppie said:

While the entrances to the park are closed overnight, the trail itself is open

oh, you forgot to add to your to-do list that you will also enlist in the army and request to be deployed to Afghanistan, thereby increasing your risk of surviving :)




mattbikes1 said:

So, to sum this discussion up, I will start reporting all incidents I have with cabbies via 311 and the companies themselves when possible (thank you T.C. O'Rourke), my cross tube is now a missile launcher (thanks Juan and Mike W.), and I will continue to bike defensively. I took the LFT today and might start doing it more often as to avoid traffic although every time I have had an incident with a cabbie it is usually later at night and I believe the parks and thus the LFT are closed after 11:00 pm? I hate the idea of modifying my behavior of biking, according to the city laws and ordinances mind you, so as to avoid cabbies who exhibit bad behavior and aggression towards bikers, but if it keeps me out of harms way and less disturbed it might be worth it at times. I do believe that the bad cabbies are the minority and not the majority, and I give other drivers and bikers who I share the road with more than enough consideration including cabbies. I have been pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of many cabbies in the last two years that I have lived in and biked this city, it just really rattles me when I have a real close call because of the behavior of others especially a "professional" who derives an income by driving. They should know better even if they have had bad experiences with other bikers. My initial post was made immediately following my most recent incident and thus exposes my level of rage. Perhaps some anger management classes are in order. I usually don't have any issues outside the daily observance of gross negligence on the behalf of drivers and bikers alike and usually I can just laugh about it or shake my head in disapproval, however, when I feel like my life has been threatened it sends me into the fight or flight response without fail and I am not one to flight. It is a shame that an activity that can make me feel so free and unencumbered can also make me feel like a target at a shooting range. I have been a commuter for 9 years and don't plan on stopping anytime soon, so I will have to adjust my behavior because that is all I can control, and hopefully the cabbie community will do the same. Thank you for all the input, rage, rants, debate, and humor. Btw, I think that Jessica and Pjc jr should go out on a date together, there is clearly some chemistry there. Ride safe, and if anyone has any other suggestions about to whom and how to report bad cabbie behavior I am all ears. Ride safe everyone.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Todd Allen on November 9, 2009 at 3:01pm

Most dangerous jobs in America...

Cop? - Nope.
Soldier? - Nope.
Fire fighter? - Nope.

Cabbie???

http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-most-dangerous-jobs-in-america.htm

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Permalink Reply by Eric R on November 9, 2009 at 6:02pm

This is how you handle people hailing a cab... with a high five! I have yet to try it; with my luck someone would freak and grab on to my arm.

Juan Dominguez said:

Over the years, a developed a sense to just stay away from cabbies and be aware of possible fares ahead has set in. I have also imagined my top tube as a rocket launcher.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 10, 2009 at 6:22pm

Hahaha, that video is hilarious!

Eric Roach said:

This is how you handle people hailing a cab... with a high five! I have yet to try it; with my luck someone would freak and grab on to my arm.

Juan Dominguez said:

Over the years, a developed a sense to just stay away from cabbies and be aware of possible fares ahead has set in. I have also imagined my top tube as a rocket launcher.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by mattbikes1 on November 10, 2009 at 9:46pm

That is good stuff, makes the anger melt away!

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

Hahaha, that video is hilarious!

Eric Roach said:

This is how you handle people hailing a cab... with a high five! I have yet to try it; with my luck someone would freak and grab on to my arm.

Juan Dominguez said:

Over the years, a developed a sense to just stay away from cabbies and be aware of possible fares ahead has set in. I have also imagined my top tube as a rocket launcher.

• ▶ Reply

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