I’m about to drop a dirty word; I am an avid cyclist. I bike to work every day, and I have had the same commute every day for more than three years. I love my commute, as it enables me to have time to clear my head on my way to work. But this week, my rides have been anything but meditative. And I think the word “cyclist” has become a dirty word because that’s the only way I can explain the road rage I have encountered when following all the rules of the road as required of me.
Haligonian drivers, take note; it is 100% in a cyclist’s rights—in fact, it’s the law—to get in line behind other cars and occupy the full lane when making a left turn. And to get into a left-turning lane, a cyclist must do a shoulder check, wait for a chance to go, signal, and merge in order to get into that left-turning lane. It’s common sense; that’s what a car has to do as well. So why are grown men giving me the finger, screaming at me, and even verbally assaulting me in front of their children, all because I have delayed their commute by ten seconds because I accelerate a bit more slowly than a car? To the two men who cut me off by passing me on the right on Robie, one in the middle of an intersection: you have not only put me in danger, but you also put your passengers and the people in the other cars in danger, too. And then you feel the need to give me the finger or put your window down and accuse me of impeding the flow of traffic? Seriously, learn the rules of the road. (I am sorry, however, that I told you to “Just fucking go” in front of your kid(s). I was just too frustrated to care.)
Also, I want to note that the light was green, and cars were coming in the other direction. Of course, I couldn’t turn left at that point. Seriously, I feel bad for your kids for having a father who bullies girls on bikes who are following Nova Scotian laws. And your retort of, “How am I supposed to know what your hand signals mean?” was equally ridiculous. How did you pass a driver’s test?
I am genuinely afraid that so many drivers and cyclists don’t know the rules of the road. Cyclists have every right to occupy a lane for a short time if turning left or avoiding obstacles such as parked cars or opening car doors, as long as they signal and wait for an opening. I follow the rules of the road—I signal, stop at red lights and stop signs, wait in line behind other cars when turning left or at four-way stops, and get off my bike to use crosswalks, and I still get abused by drivers. I’m so sick of this.
Drivers AND cyclists alike, do yourselves, your passengers, and cyclists (and pedestrians, too) a favour and read this pamphlet. It puts everything into really simple terms.
http://gov.ns.ca/snsmr/pdf/ans-rmv-bicycle-safety.pdf
—The Ginger Cyclist
This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2013.
Well said!
Best post on the whole cyclist/car/road issue I’ve seen on this board
THE VIRTUOUS CYCLIST: A SELF-REGARDING PRIG
“I’m going to drop a dirty word; I am an avid cyclist.” The Ginger Cyclist
But why is “cyclist” a dirty word? What is the subtext here? The subtext can be easily found in the virtuous cyclist’s protestations. He goes on at eye-watering length to tell us how he obeys all the rules of the road – he signals, stops at red lights, waits in line behind other cars when turning left or at four-way stops, and gets off his bike at crosswalks – but he is still abused by drivers. Why is this? The virtuous cyclist misconceives the issue. It has nothing to do with the rules of the road. It has everything to do with with his enormous self-satisfaction. In a word, the virtuous cyclist is a smug, self-regarding prig.
As he passes the car driver by, the virtuous cyclist smirks at the lazy, polluting slob. The virtuous cyclist is just a better sort of person. Not only is he environmentally aware but, unlike the car driver, he is an avid devotee of physical fitness. Put simply, he is good, he is virtuous, and the car driver knows that is what he thinks. What is to be done?
The car driver reacts in the only way he can. He must abuse the virtuous cyclist. He must bring the smug self-regarding prig down a notch. Go get ’em, car driver! Wait for a big puddle and step on the gas!
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Well presented Bitch actually.
As long as they follow the rules of the road, as set down by Motor Vehicles, I don’t care.
Carry on bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, and critters.
Do your thing Ginger. Just watch the Type A’s veins bulge on their forehead because they are slowed for ten seconds. Love it.
Seriously, excellent bitch even if it was a bike bitch.
Good one, kudos.
Heh, I’ve been heading up Herring Cove road from the rotary, signalling and moving to the left to get to purcells cove road, and people speed up and go around me on my left. Fucktards, everyone.
i don’t understand how a driver doesn’t know what hand signals mean, the’re not very many and it’s not like they’re complicated
It’s not the hand signals PG, it’s the very existence of the cyclist that galls some of these aggressive motorists.
This is actually a very intelligent bitch and should be forwarded to the city.
Hand signals are INDEED part of the driver’s test. You can fail them and still pass the test since the grade is cumulative and not area-specific. Still…
What an idiot..
montreal man go back to montreal please.
your stupid and annoying poetry is lame and awkward EVERY TIME.
did you not even read the bitch? OB is a woman and is neither smug nor virtuous.
OB i agree! Left hand turns are the hardest part of being a cyclist in halifax.
i applaud yo9u for cycling and following the rules of the road correctly, the anger is probably a spillover from the avid cyclists who drive on sidewalks, run red lights, swerve in and out of traffic, and basically act like they are hot shit because they are “saving the environment”. Please try to be safe
some car drivers are angry from the moment their feet hit the floor in the morning. probably teeth grinders while they sleep too. they take it out on cyclists because they are safely hidden behind their cars doors and cyclists are bare arsed to the gravel. basically, bullies.
the ‘braver’ of them also go after other drivers. anyone who bleats about ‘flow of traffic’ usually falls into that group. it’s just an excuse to rage about anyone or anything in the self important twerp’s way.
I love gingers!
RSVP
: lowcoaster (08/16, 12:47PM)
“montreal man go back to montreal please.”
Lowcoaster, you can’t really mean that! I’m sure, on reflection, you know I’m right. But, as is always the case with me, I do try and look for reasons why people say the things they do. In your case however, such reasons do not appear to be in evidence.
For example, you claim that my poetry is stupid and annoying and lame every time but, lowcoaster, I don’t write poetry. How am I to respond? What can I say? Do you think I should start? Do you think I should try to write poetry? Can you give me some pointers? I’d appreciate that, lowcoaster.
Yes, of course I read the bitch so once again I’m puzzled about your question. I can’t see any grounds for criticism there either. I must admit I did miss the part about her being a woman. Can you point it out for me? Of course, her sexual orientation – one must be careful here – has nothing to do with the fact that she sees herself as virtuous while drivers see her as a smug, self-regarding prig. There are a lot of smug, self-regarding prigs on this site, lowcoaster, and most of them if you’ve noticed, are female. Have you noted the moral outrage of the commenters on this thread? You know why that is? They are females, lowcoaster, females all. It comes with the gender.
Anyway lowcoaster, thanks for saying “please.” Manners among smug, self-regarding prigs are a scarce commodity as you might suspect and I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Anyway, I’ll be sticking around, lowcoaster. Someone’s got to keep an eye on the prigs.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
But OB if I’m going so fast I don’t see you ….. How the hell do you think I can see you hands !
Just ignore him lowcoaster, he doesn’t have anything better to do lol.
RSVP
: Coastingly (08/16, 6:28PM)
Then what are you doing on here, you buffoon.
By the way lowcoaster, your request that I return to Montreal was incoherent. You see, I already am in Montreal. Therefore it is just being incoherent to request that I return there. You do understand that, don’t you?
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Excellent post Ginger. And I second The Great Batshit’s suggestion that it be forwarded to city council–it would be a great starting point for a review of our roads and rules with an eye to how we may make them safer and improve public awareness.
I also think a review of our current driver’s test (written and actual driving) is in order, especially with so many alternate forms of transportation on the streets and sidewalks (e.g., motorized chairs often used by our older population) these days.
BTW Ginger, I shared your post on my FB to help get the message out there, as I did with Klyde’s motorcycle post. Many thanks for taking the time to post.
Am happier today that Ginger’s post as well as mine is being circulated around cyberspace on different forums. Public needs better awareness as knowledge is empowerment. Can’t thank you enough SheSang, you have my respect and gratitude.
Thanks Klyde:) Back at you dude!