🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <39r0m3$h1k@oak.zilker.net> franker@zilker.net (Ronnie L. Jones) writes:
>>As an avid cyclist, this sounds like a wonderful idea to me.  Think of all the
>>lives saved, pollution avoided, dependence on foreign oil alleviated, etc.
>>It's true - very few *need* to have a car; we become dependent on them because
>>they're available.  If they weren't available, we'd find a way to free ourselves
>>from that dependence.  Ah, a dream come true - everyone walking or biking to work.
>>
>
>An avid cyclist huh. Boy do I have a bone to pick with you and your criticdal mass 
>buddies. You have no rights on the roadways. You pay no gas or road tax to peddal 
>your worthless ass in the middle of the lanes and cause traffic hazards / accidents. 
>Nothing else is more annoying than watching your spandex clad ass block traffic. I 
>call the cops every single time I see your type on the roadways, and ya know, they 
>come do something about it. Best tickets ever given, would love to see more of them. 
>Would love to see them toted off to jail for trying to pull that critical mass 
>shit. Would gladly pay extra taxes to be sure the cops have enough force to do just 
>that. Pet irritation #1

Boy, got you fired up, didn't I?  Here's some info that might help:
1) I, just like every other cyclist I know, pay every bit as much gas and road
   tax as folks like you.  Did you think that somehow none of us had a car just
   because we try to give it a rest occassionally by cycling?
2) According to the traffic laws, a bicycle is a vehicle in every sense that a
   car is, and is entitled to the use of the roads.  If an officer tickets someone
   for cycling legally, then he's made a mistake (it's been known to happen).
3) I'm guessing the 'critical mass stuff' you're referring to is the attempt by
   some cyclists (not the same as *all cyclists*) to fight for their
   right to use the roads by getting a group of riders to all ride in the same
   place at the same time to intentionally create a traffic mess in an effort to 
   draw attention to their cause.  The attention drawn is usually a lot like yours,
   though - people resent it because they've been made to 'suffer' for the sake of
   this demonstration.  I've heard of it before, but I thought it was just because
   I kept up with cycling stuff.  I would never take part in something like this,
   though I can understand their frustration - they want safe access to the roads,
   but even though such access could be provided by means like bike lanes, they
   never seem to have the voice to get the funds for it.

I'm sorry these people gave you a bad day, if I can appologize for them.  Please
don't dismiss a valid option for environmentally friendly transportation, though -
there are ways to arrange it so the bikes don't interfere with traffic.


-Mike Jackson
"My opinions are my own, of course, but they're still good ones."