Streetsblog SF has an article today about a Facebook group called "There's a perfectly good bike path right next to the road you stupid cyclist". As the name may suggest, it is not a pro-cycling group. There is a great deal of talk about whether or not FB should delete the group or not, I have my opinions about it. That is not, to my eyes, the meat of the issue though.
When people get on a roll about "outlaw cyclists" who "never stop at lights' and "never yield to pedestrians" they forget they are talking about people. Cyclists are equally at fault when they insist on talking about "fucking cars" and "ruining the environment" and "never stopping at lights". Again, the people in the situation are forgotten and the stupid machines are placed in their stead so that we can rally and rail against the "other".
Just to put this into perspective for everyone, this is what the "other" looks like
When groups advocate dooring cyclists or running them off the road or intimidating them to "teach them a lesson" this is who gets targeted. Either directly, as my kids have experienced to some extent, or indirectly by not being allowed to ride because there are people out there who think that violent, hateful, abusive language, images and actions are justified.
So, you can go read up on this silly group if you want. I feel very sorry for our Australian friends who must deal with this crap everyday (the group is Australian in origin). There is even a group that has been started to counter this, but I am not sure that that is the answer either. Behavior that is unconscious, from people who are not self-aware can not be countered with reason. So there is only one option really-
Keep riding! Smile at those you pass. Be patient with those who do not know. Keep your eyes on the road. But most of all, KEEP RIDING!
