It's like a jungle out there for bike riders. And the attack comes
from the top and from the bottom... Lions on SUVs*, given to
zigzagging around and yapping away on the cell phone, threaten them
from the top, and rats from the underworld steal their wheels if not
their bike to support their crack addiction. And then you report it,
and it goes into oblivion. So it is that cyclists must stay in
constant alert for predators, like the monkeys of the jungle.
"Have you ever wondered why sport utility vehicle drivers seem like
such assholes? Surely it's no coincidence that Terry McAuliffe,
chairman of the Dem-ocratic National Committee, tours Washington in
one of the biggest SUVs on the market, the Cadillac Escalade, or that
Jesse Ventura loves the Lincoln Navigator. Well, according to New York
Times reporter Keith Bradsher's new book, High and Mighty, the
connection between the two isn't a coincidence. Unlike any other
vehicle before it, the SUV is the car of choice for the nation's most
self-centered people; and the bigger the SUV, the more of a jerk its
driver is likely to be."
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0212.mencimer.html
Life in the jungle ain't easy...
RIDING A BIKE COSTS PEANUTS
OK, since the lion (for whom “peanuts” is not important) refuses to
listen to the monkey asking for bike facilities,* let's scrutinize the
secrets ($$$) of the political jungle, where “democracy” is the word
of choice…
"The highest measure of democracy is neither the 'extent of freedom'
nor the 'extent of equality', but rather the highest measure of
participation" -A. d. Benoist
Then I'd assume that 50% of the American public and 80% of the young
who don't vote do not live in democracy. Or perhaps they see it as a
waste of time --and money.
“Remember the Golden Rule: Those with the Gold, Rule” (saying)
“The Best Democracy Money Can Buy” (title of book)
And this one...
"Freedom is when the people can speak, democracy is when the
government listens" -Alastair Farrugia
Oh, that one was so good. So let's see: The monkey can cry all he
wants but he will be ignored. Tough life that of the monkey.
Other quotes...
"Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is
silence about truth" -Aldous Huxley
That one was deep. We all live in the lie (notice the word “lie” in li-
on). And look at this one...
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they
don't have any" -Alice Walker
And this would threaten the order in the jungle...
"Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the
rulers" -Aristotle
And here they must be talking about the lion...
"The wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the cage. He is in
front of it" -Axel Munthe
Many more quotes to entertain yourself are found at the link below. I
hope you use them responsibly and don't start a revolution.
http://www.democracy.ru/english/quotes.php
*Riding a bike is good for the environment, great for peace, and
excellent for your health. We need facilities, though, like BIKE LANES
to be safe.
WHY THE BANANA REVOLUTION?
(T-shirts to help you survive in the jungle, no kidding)
It doesn't sound much like my experience. I don't find I'm "under
attack", and furthermore that if I give drivers due consideration then I
get due consideration back (just as when I'm driving, I give cyclists
due consideration and get it back).
Go out there spoiling for a fight and you'll find one though.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.c...@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
>So it is that cyclists must stay in
>constant alert for predators, like the monkeys of the jungle.
Monkeys are well known for throwing shit at passers by and making lots
of noise.
Perhaps that explains some of the posts from bike riders?
Perhaps yall may now have some grasp of the thinking of a longtailed
cat, in a room full of rocking chairs?
Gunner
>*Riding a bike is good for the environment, great for peace, and
>excellent for your health. We need facilities, though, like BIKE LANES
>to be safe.
Yes Indeed.
Btw..we managed to successfully avoid the democracy trap here in the
US, fortunately the Founders realized how dangerous a democracy is,
and gave us a constitutional republic.
“A democracy is always temporary in nature: it simple cannot exist as
a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up
until the voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts
from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority will
always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the
public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally
collapse due to loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a
dictatorship.”
Gunner
But then again, you don't seem to live in the DEEP jungle.
The UK has one of the safest drivers in the world.
Well, that makes so much sense, but bike lanes don't take that much to
build. Or in lack of it, enforcing 20mph speed limit on the slow lane
would ensure a happier coexistence.
What we need first then is a political will --nowhere to be found. :(
The monkeys --sorry the cyclists-- you are talking about are the ones
in lycra. They are much noiser than the commuter type. And don't eat
peanuts. ;)
I just have a problem with the language "by the people and for the
people..."
I wonder what the type of democracy they are exporting to Iraq... ???
uall learn how to ride a bike and no need for bike paths and lanes and
less doa bikers.
>On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:19:27 -0700 (PDT), ComandanteBanana
><nolionn...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>So it is that cyclists must stay in
>>constant alert for predators, like the monkeys of the jungle.
>
>Monkeys are well known for throwing shit at passers by and making lots
>of noise.
>
>Perhaps that explains some of the posts from bike riders?
What, because of the morons who like to throw things from cars?
they are killing outthe people who dont support the will of the people
... the people that count that is .
but how long is that guy gunna last tho ? and what happens when he karks
it ?
'Riding in NYC is pretty scary. Many people are driving without a
license and/or without insurance, and that's not even touching on all
the trucks and vans speeding along making deliveries and not really
giving a damn about who's around them. Most drivers are extremely
aggressive and subconsciously, they drive in attack mode. They will
only think of the consequences after they hit you, and even though you
may have been "right" , you're already in the hospital or dead.
I learned my lesson by seeing too many accidents already.........I
simply assume that most drivers are going to try and speed through a
fresh red light or that a car door will swing open without someone
looking to see if anything is coming.'
Same goes for San Francisco, we have a lot of hit and run.
I use to commute to work until I felt sick breathing poison from the
tailpipes during rush hours. Many close calls from drivers not paying
attention. Then there were a few drivers who intentionally run bikes off the
road or cause an accident.
On the other hand we have Critical Mass with thousands of bicyclists amassed
in downtown San Francisco during Friday rush hour. No idea what the protest
was but sure pissed off thousands of commuters who just wanted to go home.
I think that's an American desease. I had one of those in a little Geo
Tracker I had, but was able to follow the guys. I was lucky to recover
500 bucks on the spot.
I think those are rather wild monkeys. They scare people instead of
winning them over.
We should occupy one and only one lane. Just the fair share away from
the lion's share the cars currently hold.
True indeed Most commuter types are interested in surviving to make
it home, or to work.
Its the lycra'd "purists" and endorphine addicts that are the biggest
problem. Those and the homeless drunks/druggies that have to resort
to a second hand store Huffy to make their rounds as they lost their
DLs years ago.
Hum...sometimes its hard to tell them apart, but for the clothing.
Gunner
Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional,
illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an
unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the
proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
Those morons should be shot. Assault with a deadly weapon is the crime
when something is thrown at a rider.
I had a beer bottle miss my head by inches once tossed by an illegal
immigrant in a pickup truck.
His truck became disabled shortly thereafter, and he was too, not
long after that.
If you paid attention to the news, you would know they are exporting a
consitutional republic as well. Its the only thing that actually
works.
I'm in another forum (Dahon foldables) where, I assure you, their
members are civilized people.
But the Huffy type ride mostly the sidewalks and back alleys. It's the
lycra types that give a bad name to cycling.