Bicycles and Entitlement
So, one thing and another, I have seen a couple close friends posting on Facebook about problems they have with Bicyclists. Being that I do that... Okay, look. I am a bike courier, by trade. I spend 7-8 hours a day, riding 30+ miles (sometimes less) through the streets of Seattle. Before which, I rode where ever i lived. I did not even get a drivers license until i was 28, because I had a bike. In short, I know whereof I speak.
So, I have opinions. And let's start by saying, while I am courteous, attentive, and careful on my bike, I am unusual in that. There are a lot of us who do stupid, asinine things, and cause problems in so doing. Lets take that as a given.
However. And this is a big however. When a bike hits a car, under whatever circumstances, bike loses. Car is unlikely to significantly damaged, and the driver is very very unlikely to be injured. Pedestrians? We hit a pedestrian, we are going down. So, again, not a winning proposition for anyone. Yes, am sure there are exceptions, and you can find / quote / cite horror stories about how a bike messenger ran a sweet little old lady off the road, or how one knocked you over and just rode off as though nothing happened. I am not denying the validity of those events, and I am not excusing those behaviors.
I am saying, however, that they are unusual by the nature of a bicycle. Most of the time, in most situations, we are as likely to be injured, as badly or worse, than anyone that we encounter. This SHOULD make bicyclists more careful, and that it doesn't is ... well, because we are, at the end of the day, we are just people.
And people do not pay attention.
Because, really, it does not matter what you drive, or do not drive. Bikes run red lights? Yes. And so do cars, so do pedestrians. How many times have you been walked into by someone who was too busy texting to watch where they were going? How many times have you seen people cross the street, in the middle of the block, completely oblivious to their surroundings or the hazards or that idiot in the car who is texting a message about dinner to his husband, instead of watching where he is driving?
People, are the problem. Blame bikes, all you want. But that's bullshit. People who do not pay attention, who are rude, who are dangerous, people who are more concerned with their own right of way than the light, the stop sign, or the flow of traffiic.... it does not matter how they get around; They are always going to be that way.
Blame the person. See the person. Not the Vehicle.