Where the cyclists in America belong: back alleys, gutters andsidewalks

ComandanteBanana

On Apr 15, 12:08 pm, Jym Dyer <j...@econet.org> wrote:
> >> Remind me again why BRITONS should care?
> > Man, we are like brothers! Our headaches are tied up to
> > OIL, but bikes could at least be aspirine!
>
> =v= It seems you are missing the point, which has something
> to do with off-topic cross-posting. A thread about cyclists
> in America is OFF-TOPIC for uk.rec.cycling. Britons who are
> interested in this sort of thing are fully capable of choosing
> to subscribe to rec.bicycles.soc. Those who are not interested
> shouldn't be having to wade through tons of off-topic chatter.
>
> =v= The whole point of having separate newsgroups is so that
> people can stick to what they're interested in. Kindly honor
> this. None of this stuff belongs in rec.bicycles.rides, for
> example, and rec.bicycles.misc doesn't mean "crosspost anything
> and everything to this list." The purpose of *.misc newsgroups
> is for things not covered by other newsgroups.
>
> =v= Massive cross-posting is annoying and people respond by
> tuning out. It's kind of exactly the opposite of getting the
> message out to more people.
> <_Jym_>

Well, my arithmetic knowledge lets me know that if you publish in 5
groups, you have 5 times more chance to reach to out people.
Particularly when THE TOPIC IS TRULY UNIVERSAL. On the other hand,
when I turn on the radio I hear news I don't care about, like when
Bush says we are making progress in Iraq or that we need more research
into alternative transportation, as if bikes didn't exist.

Let those who don't want to listen to turn out. We will ALL be victims
of this jungle sooner or later.

donquijote1954

> Comandante, you need to find a better route!


Suzy, regrettably I don't live anywhere close to those places where
bicycles are OK, so I must be happy to do turn to my stationary bike,
and get my workout indoors...

But have you heard of Global Warming or the War in Iraq being
connected to what we drive? Should I also shot off the news from the
outside world?

Hey, I may as well go to church and pray that Armageddon is coming
soon...

Gunner Asch

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:18:11 -0500, Cheapo Groovo <ccsj@nospam.com>
wrote:

>In article <e09cfb36-654a-4f72-96fd-
>277ae5ce690c@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com
>says...
>> Just Saturday morning I was almost attacked for doing the right thing
>> on the Causeway to Hell (the name is due to the many incidents I had
>> there, this being the third one that day). The guy blew the horn as I
>> was riding the bike nicely, and I gave him the finger. I shouldn't
>> have, but he didn't have to harass me with the horn. He stopped,
>> insulted me, wanted to fight me, and spit at me before taking off. It
>> just happens that I'm supposed to walk the bike on the sidewalk across
>> its bridges! No more biking on that road, or any other road shared
>> with traffic. Predators like this will always be encouraged to
>> mistreat cyclists due to the lack of respect given to us. No more than
>> blacks that were forced to ride in the back of buses...
>>
>> NOTE: For the reasons given above, I do NOT recommend that you give
>> the finger to anyone. Not because they don't deserve it, but because
>> the lion is waiting for any excuse to eat the monkey. Instead, I do
>> recommend you give them the finger in a nice civilized way. Something
>> like "You can eat my banana" on the back of the T-shirt will still
>> give them the finger, but with vaseline, so to speak.
>>
>> That was my best route out... I've found instead an alley that takes me
>> into town. That's where the cyclists in America belong: back alleys,
>> gutters and sidewalks.
>>
>>
>> WHY THE BANANA REVOLUTION?
>> http://webspawner.com/users/bananarevolution
>>
>> BIKE FOR PEACE
>> http://webspawner.com/users/bikeforpeace
>>
>Glad the debate is civil here. :-))
>
>You won't be picking on bike riders much longer. When gas hits $4.50 a
>gallon and the roads you drive are all foreign operated tollways!
>
>The skyway is $3 one way, and the IN toll road costs 13 cents a mile w/o
>the transponder.
>
>http://www.cheapogroovo.com


Its gonna be hard for me to ride one of my bikes..yes I do also ride
bicycles...to work every day with the 900 lbs of tools, welders and
parts that I drag around for the average 135 miles per day that I
drive.

On the other hand..its bad kharma to leave a bike rider a red smear on
the roadway because the spandex clad dipshit decided that he is above
all traffic laws and the laws of physics dont apply to the big assed
trucks he cuts in front of. Much like the rainbow stickered idjits in
tiny cars who do the same.

You can be right..you may have that 5 second edge in right of
way...but all too often they are dead...and right when they swing out
in front of an overtaking vehicle from behind a row of parked cars and
get launched into the ditch.

my two biggest fears when driving are kids chasing a ball across the
roadway, and some yutz on a bike deciding he is immune to becoming a
street pizza.
Gunner


"[L]iberals are afraid to state what they truly believe in, for to do so
would result in even less votes than they currently receive. Their
methodology is to lie about their real agenda in the hopes of regaining
power, at which point they will do whatever they damn well please. The
problem is they have concealed and obfuscated for so long that, as a group,
they themselves are no longer sure of their goals. They are a collection of
wild-eyed splinter groups, all holding a grab-bag of dreams and wishes. Some
want a Socialist, secular-humanist state, others the repeal of the Second
Amendment. Some want same sex/different species marriage, others want voting
rights for trees, fish, coal and bugs. Some want cradle to grave care and
complete subservience to the government nanny state, others want a culture
that walks in lockstep and speaks only with intonations of political
correctness. I view the American liberals in much the same way I view the
competing factions of Islamic
fundamentalists. The latter hate each other to the core, and only join
forces to attack the US or Israel. The former hate themselves to the core,
and only join forces to attack George Bush and conservatives." --Ron Marr

Fred Clydesdale

In article <fe2ee7f2-e37c-43a5-9511-9be8fc6836f9@u69g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
ComandanteBanana <nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Furthermore, Dr. Walker wore a long wig on some trials to see if
> perceived gender had any effect on overtaking distances. It certainly
> did - drivers gave him an average 14cm more room.

although we must recognize the possibility that this only proves
that people will go out of their way to avoid a transvestite in an
ill-fitting wig.

Gunner Asch

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:21:31 -0700 (PDT), ComandanteBanana
<nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Apr 14, 9:54*pm, Gunner Asch <gun...@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> wrote:
>> On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:06:42 -0700 (PDT), donquijote1954
>>
>> <nolionnoprob...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >Something funny happens though. The more you move to the right, the
>> >more they squeeze you. It's a power game, I believe, where only the
>> >strong (read SUVs and cars) survive.
>>
>> Evidently you have never heard the phrase "Right or Dead Right"
>>
>> Might want to ponder on that one for a bit.
>
>Yep, and I have changed my survival strategy accordingly.
>
>I have realized that America, despite her claims to democracy and
>Christianity, is now ruled by the Law of the Jungle. The world seems
>to know it now too. It's evident in her foreign policies that she's
>getting hungrier. And it's even more clear when you live inside and
>you notice that the top predators want to have an SUV to show their
>power and wealth --if not to impose their might...
>
>However dinosaurs are not forever. Actually, the hungrier they get,
>the quicker they exhaust the resources, and the quicker they
>disappear. But they were not known for having big brains either.
>
>Someone may ponder about that too.

And this has what to do with assholes on bikes thinking they can
survive an encounter with a motor vehicle?

Gunner



"[L]iberals are afraid to state what they truly believe in, for to do so
would result in even less votes than they currently receive. Their
methodology is to lie about their real agenda in the hopes of regaining
power, at which point they will do whatever they damn well please. The
problem is they have concealed and obfuscated for so long that, as a group,
they themselves are no longer sure of their goals. They are a collection of
wild-eyed splinter groups, all holding a grab-bag of dreams and wishes. Some
want a Socialist, secular-humanist state, others the repeal of the Second
Amendment. Some want same sex/different species marriage, others want voting
rights for trees, fish, coal and bugs. Some want cradle to grave care and
complete subservience to the government nanny state, others want a culture
that walks in lockstep and speaks only with intonations of political
correctness. I view the American liberals in much the same way I view the
competing factions of Islamic
fundamentalists. The latter hate each other to the core, and only join
forces to attack the US or Israel. The former hate themselves to the core,
and only join forces to attack George Bush and conservatives." --Ron Marr

Gunner Asch

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:46:36 -0700 (PDT), ComandanteBanana
<nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>A fascinating psychological study. Want to see a person's true
>character? Study them alone, in a car, in traffic. And prepare to be
>shocked.
>
>http://www.gizmag.com/go/7255/


Ayup..booger picking goes way way up.

Gunner


"[L]iberals are afraid to state what they truly believe in, for to do so
would result in even less votes than they currently receive. Their
methodology is to lie about their real agenda in the hopes of regaining
power, at which point they will do whatever they damn well please. The
problem is they have concealed and obfuscated for so long that, as a group,
they themselves are no longer sure of their goals. They are a collection of
wild-eyed splinter groups, all holding a grab-bag of dreams and wishes. Some
want a Socialist, secular-humanist state, others the repeal of the Second
Amendment. Some want same sex/different species marriage, others want voting
rights for trees, fish, coal and bugs. Some want cradle to grave care and
complete subservience to the government nanny state, others want a culture
that walks in lockstep and speaks only with intonations of political
correctness. I view the American liberals in much the same way I view the
competing factions of Islamic
fundamentalists. The latter hate each other to the core, and only join
forces to attack the US or Israel. The former hate themselves to the core,
and only join forces to attack George Bush and conservatives." --Ron Marr

Cindy Hamilton

On Apr 15, 9:21*am, ComandanteBanana <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> On Apr 14, 9:54*pm, Gunner Asch <gun...@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:06:42 -0700 (PDT), donquijote1954
>
> > <nolionnoprob...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >Something funny happens though. The more you move to the right, the
> > >more they squeeze you. It's a power game, I believe, where only the
> > >strong (read SUVs and cars) survive.
>
> > Evidently you have never heard the phrase "Right or Dead Right"
>
> > Might want to ponder on that one for a bit.
>
> Yep, and I have changed my survival strategy accordingly.
>
> I have realized that America, despite her claims to democracy and
> Christianity, is now ruled by the Law of the Jungle.

You know, I can't quite recall which Bible verse talks about
bicycling. I'd
be happy to look it up in my own copy if you could provide book,
chapter
and verse.

Cindy Hamilton

ComandanteBanana

On Apr 15, 1:25*pm, Fred Clydesdale <f...@belldinger.com> wrote:
> In article <fe2ee7f2-e37c-43a5-9511-9be8fc683...@u69g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
>
> *ComandanteBanana <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Furthermore, Dr. Walker wore a long wig on some trials to see if
> > perceived gender had any effect on overtaking distances. It certainly
> > did - drivers gave him an average 14cm more room.
>
> although we must recognize the possibility that this only proves
> that people will go out of their way to avoid a transvestite in an
> ill-fitting wig.

Is that because people avoid transvestites?

If it was sexy ladies I bet they would to get closer to pinch their
ass.

ComandanteBanana

On Apr 15, 1:29*pm, Gunner Asch <gun...@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:21:31 -0700 (PDT), ComandanteBanana
>
>
>
>
>
> <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >On Apr 14, 9:54*pm, Gunner Asch <gun...@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> wrote:
> >> On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:06:42 -0700 (PDT), donquijote1954
>
> >> <nolionnoprob...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> >Something funny happens though. The more you move to the right, the
> >> >more they squeeze you. It's a power game, I believe, where only the
> >> >strong (read SUVs and cars) survive.
>
> >> Evidently you have never heard the phrase "Right or Dead Right"
>
> >> Might want to ponder on that one for a bit.
>
> >Yep, and I have changed my survival strategy accordingly.
>
> >I have realized that America, despite her claims to democracy and
> >Christianity, is now ruled by the Law of the Jungle. The world seems
> >to know it now too. It's evident in her foreign policies that she's
> >getting hungrier. And it's even more clear when you live inside and
> >you notice that the top predators want to have an SUV to show their
> >power and wealth --if not to impose their might...
>
> >However dinosaurs are not forever. Actually, the hungrier they get,
> >the quicker they exhaust the resources, and the quicker they
> >disappear. But they were not known for having big brains either.
>
> >Someone may ponder about that too.
>
> And this has what to do with assholes on bikes thinking they can
> survive an encounter with a motor vehicle?

This is a METAPHOR. You know, like all this carnage on our roads is
related to another metaphor, the original sin... Yep, if Eve hadn't
eaten the forbidden fruit, we would all be friendly and be vegetarian.

Well, I still prefer my own metaphors...

THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE
Once upon a time, in the deep jungle, lived a Lion and a Monkey... One
day the Monkey, tired of the Lion always taking the LION'S SHARE, and
seeing that such injustice represented a danger to all, demanded
JUSTICE... The Lion, yawning and stretching, said, "You would have to
have paws and sharp teeth..." Then the Monkey, who was very clever,
devised a plan: He would go to the costume store, and look like a
lion...

When the HUNGRY LION saw him, noticing that the new lion wasn't a
match for him, and fearing COMPETITION, killed him on the spot --
before the indifferent look of the little animals of the jungle... And
that's how the Law of the Jungle was re-established one more time...
(NOTE: Other monkeys survived him...)

ComandanteBanana

On Apr 15, 1:32*pm, Cindy Hamilton <angelicapagane...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> On Apr 15, 9:21*am, ComandanteBanana <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Apr 14, 9:54*pm, Gunner Asch <gun...@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> wrote:
>
> > > On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:06:42 -0700 (PDT), donquijote1954
>
> > > <nolionnoprob...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > >Something funny happens though. The more you move to the right, the
> > > >more they squeeze you. It's a power game, I believe, where only the
> > > >strong (read SUVs and cars) survive.
>
> > > Evidently you have never heard the phrase "Right or Dead Right"
>
> > > Might want to ponder on that one for a bit.
>
> > Yep, and I have changed my survival strategy accordingly.
>
> > I have realized that America, despite her claims to democracy and
> > Christianity, is now ruled by the Law of the Jungle.
>
> You know, I can't quite recall which Bible verse talks about
> bicycling. *I'd
> be happy to look it up in my own copy if you could provide book,
> chapter
> and verse.
>
> Cindy Hamilton- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

It's evident enough... HE RODE A DONKEY.

You get the point? He chose the most humble mode of transportation
around, saying like a bike today.

You must learn to read into all those metaphors, you know.

ComandanteBanana

On Apr 15, 1:29*pm, Gunner Asch <gun...@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> wrote:
> Gunner
>
> "[L]iberals are afraid to state what they truly believe in, for to do so
> would result in even less votes than they currently receive. Their
> methodology is to lie about their real agenda in the hopes of regaining
> power, at which point they will do whatever they damn well please. The
> problem is they have concealed and obfuscated for so long that, as a group,
> they themselves are no longer sure of their goals. They are a collection of
> wild-eyed splinter groups, all holding a grab-bag of dreams and wishes. Some
> want a Socialist, secular-humanist state, others the repeal of the Second
> Amendment. Some want same sex/different species marriage, others want voting
> rights for trees, fish, coal and bugs. Some want cradle to grave care and
> complete subservience to the government nanny state, others want a culture
> that walks in lockstep and speaks only with intonations of political
> correctness. I view the American liberals in much the same way I view the
> competing factions of Islamic
> fundamentalists. The latter hate each other to the core, and only join
> forces to attack the US or Israel. The former hate themselves to the core,
> and only join forces to attack George Bush and conservatives." --Ron Marr-Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Am I suppose to read that diatribe every time? Why don't you say
something shorter like, "I'm all for the Law of the Jungle"? Or
"Forget about civilized behavior and embrace the caveman within"?

That's what you propose, right?

ComandanteBanana

On Apr 15, 2:57 pm, frkry...@gmail.com wrote:

> I've ridden your "jungle" since I was in my 20s, many decades ago.
> Unlike you, I've never needed to whine about how terrible the world
> is. Unlike you, I've had no trouble dealing with traffic. Unlike
> you, I've taken the time to look for actual data on bicycling's level
> of danger. And in doing so, I found that despite the prevalence of
> "Danger! Danger!" worriers, cycling is an _extremely_ safe activity.
>
> I've commuted by bike since 1977. I've cycled in hundreds of cities,
> and in peak rush hour in many of them. I've ridden in at least eight
> countries. I've done many self-supported tours, up to 4000 miles.
> I've ridden for nearly 40 years. In all that time, my only on-road
> injury was one skinned knee. Off road, add one incident where I
> scraped my hands a bit.
>
> You're unreasonably paranoid and obnoxiously noisy about it. If
> you're afraid to ride busy roads, don't do it. Ride where you're
> comfortable, and quit your wimpy whining.
>
> - Frank Krygowski- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

That you may be a veteran of war doesn't prove that wars are safe...

I even bet you that riding a bike on America's roads is more dangerous
than doing service in Iraq.

We have to do the numbers, but I think that that's more true than
Obama's statement that soldiers in Iraq are safer than kids in
Chicago. At least I see more terrorists on our roads.

donquijote1954

On Apr 15, 4:29*pm, ComandanteBanana <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> On Apr 15, 2:57 pm, frkry...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I've ridden your "jungle" since I was in my 20s, many decades ago.
> > Unlike you, I've never needed to whine about how terrible the world
> > is. *Unlike you, I've had no trouble dealing with traffic. *Unlike
> > you, I've taken the time to look for actual data on bicycling's level
> > of danger. *And in doing so, I found that despite the prevalence of
> > "Danger! Danger!" worriers, cycling is an _extremely_ safe activity.
>
> > I've commuted by bike since 1977. *I've cycled in hundreds of cities,
> > and in peak rush hour in many of them. *I've ridden in at least eight
> > countries. *I've done many self-supported tours, *up to 4000 miles.
> > I've ridden for nearly 40 years. *In all that time, my only on-road
> > injury was one skinned knee. *Off road, add one incident where I
> > scraped my hands a bit.
>
> > You're unreasonably paranoid and obnoxiously noisy about it. *If
> > you're afraid to ride busy roads, don't do it. *Ride where you're
> > comfortable, and quit your wimpy whining.
>
> > - Frank Krygowski- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> That you may be a veteran of war doesn't prove that wars are safe...
>
> I even bet you that riding a bike on America's roads is more dangerous
> than doing service in Iraq.
>
> We have to do the numbers, but I think that that's more true than
> Obama's statement that soldiers in Iraq are safer than kids in
> Chicago. At least I see more terrorists on our roads. - Hide quoted text-
>
> - Show quoted text -

OK, here I respond to my own challenge, since there's been no
challengers so far...

Some numbers on nationwide bicycle fatalities from 1975-2002:
"660 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2002."

So, since the deployment in Iraq accounts to 150,000 or so, we have to
prove that the same number of people riding bikes on heavy traffic
have a greater death toll. Of course, this doesn't apply to well
maintained bike paths where the beautiful people live nor to those
living in the actual Green Zone in Baghdad.

And also you have to take into account that bikers are not wearing
heavy armor...

pyotr filipivich

[Default] I missed the Staff Meeting but the Minutes record that
Gunner Asch <gunner@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> reported Elvis on Tue, 15
Apr 2008 10:29:16 -0700 in misc.survivalism :
>On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:21:31 -0700 (PDT), ComandanteBanana
><nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>On Apr 14, 9:54*pm, Gunner Asch <gun...@NOSPAMlightspeed.net> wrote:
>>> On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:06:42 -0700 (PDT), donquijote1954
>>>
>>> <nolionnoprob...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> >Something funny happens though. The more you move to the right, the
>>> >more they squeeze you. It's a power game, I believe, where only the
>>> >strong (read SUVs and cars) survive.
>>>
>>> Evidently you have never heard the phrase "Right or Dead Right"
>>>
>>> Might want to ponder on that one for a bit.
>>
>>Yep, and I have changed my survival strategy accordingly.
>>
>>I have realized that America, despite her claims to democracy and
>>Christianity, is now ruled by the Law of the Jungle. The world seems
>>to know it now too. It's evident in her foreign policies that she's
>>getting hungrier. And it's even more clear when you live inside and
>>you notice that the top predators want to have an SUV to show their
>>power and wealth --if not to impose their might...
>>
>>However dinosaurs are not forever. Actually, the hungrier they get,
>>the quicker they exhaust the resources, and the quicker they
>>disappear. But they were not known for having big brains either.
>>
>>Someone may ponder about that too.
>
>And this has what to do with assholes on bikes thinking they can
>survive an encounter with a motor vehicle?

Bikers feel that they too can pick and chose which laws apply to
them. Including the laws of physics.
Unfortunately, there are certain objective realities; just because
you're rather have a diagnosis of athelete's foot, doesn't make the
compound fracture go away.



tschus
pyotr
--
pyotr filipivich
The two oldest cliches in the book are "The Good Old Days were
better." and "After all, these are Modern TImes."