GeoB said:Quoted message said:I firmly believe that one thing that cyclists in cars can
do for cyclists on bikes is to do the speed limit on all
roadways open to cyclists.
I feel that we should all do the speedlimit on all roads.
And feel free to use the 'fast' lane [1]. Used to be folks
appeared to maybe be a lil embarrassed that they were
speeding, and would slow down to work their way through a
crowded stretch of road. Not now! They crowd my bumper (to
me this is threatening my life with their blunt
instrument), flash their lights and worse. The speedlimits
are OUR laws. The authority to enforce them is derived
from us the citizens. The speeders are, therefore, very
much our business. One could even argue that we as
citizens have a responsibility to NOT aid the speeders in
speeding by yielding to them.
It is so bad hereabouts that unles you are willing to
break the law then you cannot even use the fast lane.
Unless you drive a large vehicle as I do (when I cannot
avoid it, my Suzuki Samurai is down for a new suspension
install so my tow vehicle is all I have left when I
can't bike).
I have reached a point that I drive where and how I would
drive if the speeders weren't there [2]. If I would
normally drive in the left lane of the freeway, then I do
so now, and let the speeders deal with the inconvenience.
If I am trying to merge right to an exit, and the speeders
are coming up too fast on my right, I just move over, let
them work it out. It is their situation, their scoff-law
attitude caused whatever traffic situation we are in. I do
not wish to have to change MY driving in order to
accomodate THEIR lack of respect for our laws, their lack
of concern for being a good example to our young drivers,
their self-indulgence that scares our older citizens off
of the road.
[1] In Calif on multi-lane roads, the law doesn't
actually require slower traffic to take the right-
most lane. And the 'slower traffic use turnouts' or
'slower traffic stay right' was never intended for
folks doing the speedlimit.
[2] I should mention that I only do this when driving my
6500 lb diesel pickup. When driving my lil Suzuki
Samurai I am still obnoxious but take more care for
my life.
GeoB
Givers have to set limits because takers rarely do.
- Irma Kurtz
The problem is not speeding per say, but a general breakdown
in US society of considerations of social responsibility and
respect for others. This breakdown is seen in other areas:
using the vehicle horn instead of a doorbell in residential
areas, inflicting the "thump-thump of hip-hop on ones
neighbors, etc.
Tailgating behavior is an act of either ignorance/stupidity
[1] or aggression with its implied threat of violence (I
will run you off the road if you do not get out of my way).
This is part of the same inconsiderate and offensive
behavior that leads people to buy vehicles of ever larger
size so they will have a perceived advantage in a collision
with another vehicle (and the desire to broadcast that
attitude to others roadway users).
As for why this is occurring, the relative social isolation
[2] and deliberate avoidance of people of a different social
class in the US are certainly partly responsible. The belief
of might makes right promoted by government, the competitive
business system, and the popular entertainment industry must
also share a large portion of the blame.
[1] Not taking into account that if the vehicle ahead makes
a sudden stop, a collision will occur.
[2] This is one of the greatest advantages of bicycles over
motor vehicles - communication with other cyclists is
easily performed while riding, so the social restraints
are present that disappear when a person gets in his/her
isolation box of a motor vehicle.
--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area
