Anecdotal research suggests that people are being let off-leash without adequate training to perform basic activities such as walking on sidewalks or through airports and busy city centers. I’m assuming this expands to shopping malls, but I never go there so I can’t be sure. It’s easy to blame the mobile phones which apparently grow from our hands, but even when no phone appears to be involved, the same problem exists: people wander about without any apparent awareness that anyone else might be in the vicinity.
Take, for instance, the gentleman who wandered off the Plane Train at SEATAC airport the other day. As he detrained, he stopped to investigate which of the 4 identical escalators best satisfied his fancy. I’m not one to criticize someone’s escalator scrutiny – you can’t over think these sorts of things – my issue is with the choice to stop just outside the exit of the train, completely unaware that he was blocking the way for the other passengers still left on the train.
It isn’t that these are bad people. We’re a product of our society and society teaches us that being a self-absorbed asshole is the right way to go about your life; there’s no limit to what you can accomplish when you don’t give a flying fuck about how those accomplishments impact other people. Which brings me back to my original point: we’re not getting the right training in order to avoid being assholes.
Riding a bike in general and riding in a group in particular teaches you all sorts of things about external dependencies and the trickle effect that our actions have on those around us. Rule #59 extends beyond just riding in a straight line, but to riding predictably and informing those riders who are dependent on you of dangers and obstacles. Cyclists develop a situational awareness that becomes second nature with practice.
I therefore propose that we modify our free-ranging policy to include a provision that mandates all humans be required to take a bicycle racing class and spend significant time riding in a group at speed before being allowed into the wilds of society. Don’t change your line when walking on a sidewalk without peeking over your shoulder. Don’t stop dead in your tracks without checking if someone is behind you. Don’t take a right-hand turn without warning when driving in the far left lane. Don’t block doorways. Don’t knock people in the head when you’re walking with a 2×4.
And for the love of Merckx, take off your headphones.
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From time to time, I see a commuter rider wobbling all over the road, riding wide and cursing every car that goes past him and shaking his head. really giving cycling a bad image.
Take a closer look at him and there's headphones plugging his ear holes! I really want to whack him over the head with a frame pump at what he's doing.
@Steve G
Can't you see they're wearing headphones?
You're a funny man Frank.
Another great one Frank. Often times I think people just don't care. We cyclists know the value and advantage of working in a group, staying with the group, and the consequences of dumb moves in a group. Many of those clueless slobs not only can't ride bikes, they can't ride bikes.
Oh, this has to be my pet peeve. It's drivers around here that take the cake on this one however. Oh that and generator/boom box users in camping grounds if we are talking not giving a rats about how your actions effect everyone else in general.
Paragraph #3 - GOLD!
I concoure withyou on the final paragraph so long as it's not with the bunches around here. For some unexplicable reason in the last 12 months obsticales are increasingly not being pointed out. When they are, never by the entire bunch, just one or two about a third wheel and then never again. It seems the front riders figure they've seen the pothole, so the rest will. Surprised by the hole the next rider calls "HOLE!" but never point it out and gawd knows what happens from there. I will always and include the location but it is never repeated.
I yell back "no point in yelling "hole" if you don't also tell us where!" but my pleading has fallen on deaf ears. The incidents of crashes is on the rise and my participation in the rides is on the fall. How hard is it to yell "Hole middle" or "branch left" becasue when you are riding in close quarters at 40km/hr in pitch black it certainly helps.
And the shopping cart morons who stop in the middle of the aisle, a child to either side, fully oblivious? Same 'it's all about me' culture.
@Puffy
We had a guy that used to occasionally ride with us that did this with his phone. Apparently the groups disdain of headphones meant he needed to turn up the volume on the iphone to listen to music and serenade us with whatever crap he liked.
Needless to say he doesn't get invited on rides any more.
The group leader that sings on slower rides we haven't managed to stop yet (although it does force the addition of V from the group until he shuts up).
Nice one Frank. We've all become too self absorbed to give a flying fuck about anyone but ourselves. Which is sad quite honestly.
I'm guessing that all this tech and instant updates to things takes the old skool act of actually chatting to the person next to you about the days events away. Like everything, it's all about balance and being aware that someone around you is in exactly the same boat as you.
And I'll keep wearing my earbuds on rides. I know what's going on around me. I explain that this way: if I was deaf, could I not ride a bike? I've tuned my other senses to be aware of my surroundings, and besides, if you're relaxed when the semi coming up from behind (which you couldn't avoid even with 20/20 hearing) you'll get less hurt. I've actually tested this, and pretty sure I'da been more fucked up if I hadn't been listening to Zep when the car that ran a stop sign crushed me. (legal: I in no way condone, recommend or endorse anyone to ride with tunes in their ears. You may get killed, and I won't be held responsible. So there.)
Nice article. Being self absorbed is one problem but lotsa people also seem to lack any sense at all of spacial awareness. Could be upbringing, genetic, stupidity or cultural. I used to think people growing up in more densely crowded environments (not being racist here - just sociological, demographical or whatever the proper term is) should reasonably learn to be more spacially aware, right? but that doesn't seem to pan out. Yep, stop dead on the footpath in front of me, walk out of doorways without looking etc.
Agree worst are joggers/walkers with headphones on shared paths, or a gaggle of walkers (how do they even talk to each other?) with unattached dogs.
BTY there is a safety suggestion by a minister of one of the fair states of Oz today of licences for cyclists, for a FEE of course. Like paying for a licence is going to stop some car hitting me.
There has been a similar discussion going on about the lack of racing knowledge and etiquette in my London cycling club forum.
One of the conclusions being that where there used to be one or two club rides on weekends and people would mix and learn, now there are four or five each day because someone wants to go at 0730 not 0800 so they start their own ride. Smaller rides, less exposure to experienced people, the senior riders don't get to know people and are then hesitant about making comments or suggestions.
@Scaler911 Agreed on earbuds. I wear them only when I'm riding alone and only here in Dubai where there is very little need for me to interact with cars and traffic. I'm mostly on hard shoulders and rarely have to go into lanes or expect vehicles to stop or go around me so it's just a matter of making sure I am aware of them when I have to interact. If I'm going to be collected it will be some idiot driving on the side of the road at 120km/h - knowing about it would make zero difference.
@Brianold55 Based on living in a country with a 40% population from India and surrounds I'd say the opposite. I think it's only when you have the luxury of space that you feel obliged or able to respect it.