On The Inflated Sense of Superiority Among Bike Riders

from Rookie’s keyboard

Hello, friends

Most of the posts on here are technical (as they should be). But sometimes, I plan on covering some semi-philosophical issues related to the world of pedaling.

Today is one of those days.

I will explain why the entitlement radiating from cyclists is so…..remarkable.

Being a driver and a bike commuter, I think I can be sufficiently objective.

Let’s start with the definition of entitlement.

Entitlement is the mindset that an individual is inherently deserving of specific privileges simply for existing without the need to consistently put in personal effort to achieve and protect them.


That said, it’s necessary to point out that cyclists do indeed deserve some privileges/rights simply for “participating” primarily for safety reasons.

Those would be:

Respect

Some motorists just don’t respect cyclists.

I’ve been in multiple situations when I have to let a line of cars pass even though I am the one that should go first according to the traffic laws.

Why? You are often not seen as an equal. Cycling is sometimes deemed a sign of low economic status.


The fragility of bicycles doesn’t help either because respect often boils down to force and power. And since motorists have more of those, they feel superior.

This could be easily understood if one imagines a tank on the street. The tank will be treated differently because it can flatten a car to the ground.

Well, cars can do the same to bicycles.

Safe Distance

In most cases, the law says that a car should keep at least a 1.5m distance from cyclists on the road.

This is necessary for the following reasons:

  • Avoid hitting cyclists
  • Give cyclists enough room to maneuver
  • Prevent the loss of equilibrium due to air movement caused by a passing vehicle

Free Bike Lanes

Motorized vehicles should not park or drive on bike lanes. Pedestrians should respect bike lanes too.

Transporting A Bike Via Public Transport

If the law allows the transportation of a bicycle on public transport (buses, metro…etc.), then cyclists should have the right to use that service without criticism.

If a cyclist expects special treatment outside of the points above, we can talk about unjustified entitlement.

The most common scenario is a cyclist violating traffic laws and then expecting the rest of the participants to change their behavior for him/her.

A few common examples:

a/ Many cyclists ignore red lights and pass through traffic by zig-zagging around cars and/or pedestrians. This is a very dangerous behavior that could lead to serious injuries or worse if others do not invest extra effort to protect the cyclist.

b/ Riding through pedestrian zones (e.g., sidewalks) while expecting pedestrians to make space for you.

c/ Riding against traffic – a very common phenomenon that annoys even cyclists themselves when it’s done to them.

d/ Riding two abreast – cyclists should ride in a single file to minimize the space that they occupy on the road.

e/ Riding without lights at night (a.k.a. invisible mode) is another instance when cyclists display unhealthy entitlement.

f/ Riding behind large vehicles – some extreme cyclists get behind a large vehicle like a truck to get the advantage of the reduced drag. This technique allows cyclists to reach the speed of motorized vehicles.

However, it creates a risky situation for the driver and the cyclist. If the driver has to brake suddenly, the cyclist may fail to stop and hit the rear of the vehicle. The outcome could be death.

…etc.


Big Egos = Trouble

Let’s be honest. Many cyclists consider drivers and pedestrians individuals using an inferior form of transportation.

Pedestrians are losing time due to the lack of efficiency whereas drivers of motorized vehicles are pointlessly sitting in traffic and polluting the city.

Cycling offers speed and efficiency without pollution. On top of that, it has a large cardio element that’s beneficial to one’s health.

A “snob cyclist” often thinks as follows:

“The losers in the cages (cars) are contaminating the air and getting fat in the process. They cause traffic jams, severe accidents and visible air. People like me choose to live differently. We’re saving the planet and deserve respect for it.”

There’s truth to this statement, but it doesn’t give a cyclist the right to disobey traffic laws and expect others to tolerate it.

Adrenaline

Cycling increases your adrenaline levels. High adrenaline = greater likelihood to take risks. And risky behavior from cyclists annoys drivers and makes all cyclists look bad.

Smaller Chances of Injuring a Stranger

A person is more likely to take risks when they don’t endanger other people. An accident between a bike and a car always ends up in favor of the car.

Regardless of how strong your bike is, a small hit from a motorized vehicle will break it.

Of course, a cyclist can injure a pedestrian, but a lethal end is unlikely (although not impossible) because bicycles are slow and the most likely point of contact is the front tire which is a lot less forgiving than the bumper of a car.

If the collision is between a cyclist and an adult, the hit will be around the leg/hip area and thus the injury is less likely to be lethal. The most vulnerable people are the elderly (weak bones) and children (kids are small and the cyclist may hit them in the head).

The fact that a cyclist is less likely to hurt another person encourages reckless behavior.

No Repercussion For Breaking The Law

Since cyclists represent a small portion of the traffic participants and are a lot less likely to hurt someone, law enforcement doesn’t punish them with large fines.

Also, bicycles do not have license plates and when you add the helmet and the glasses, a cyclist becomes unrecognizable in a video recording.

That anonymity sometimes encourages cyclists to behave like they own the road.


That’s enough for today.

Until next time,

Rookie


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Comments

One response to “On The Inflated Sense of Superiority Among Bike Riders”

  1. Dan K Avatar
    Dan K

    Good article. In my area (somewhat suburban) I find the the biggest issue is cyclists riding the wrong way and riding without lights.

    There is some demented idea that has persisted over generations that somehow riding against traffic is safer because “you can see the car coming”. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is far more dangerous since drivers do not expect a vehicle to be going the wrong way. They may not even see you or be shocked and too slow to avoid hitting you. As for you seeing them and swerving out of the way or jumping off the bike… Good luck. Better to avoid creating an even more dangerous riding situation for yourself and go WITH the direction of traffic.

    No need to comment on why riding without lights is foolish.

    I think most often both of these are done by people who are NOT serious or experienced cyclists. It’s almost always someone with an old beater MTB commuting, likely since their car is broken. I’ve almost never seen someone who looked like they’ve given any real thought to cycling doing these two things.

    Some of the other things you mentioned, I’ve seen a lot more in denser urban areas.

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