2003.07.17 queen rider:
so the other day i'm on my way home, right? now, i live in the Highlands area, which is just west of Cherokee park. there are always people out and about; walking dogs, riding bikes, jogging, stalking women, coughing up bits of phlegm, whatever. i'm driving home, come up to the stop sign at cherokee triangle, on cherokee parkway–where it, willow, and alexander meet. i turn left onto willow, and as i'm doing this, i see a biker in the other lane on willow, putting up his arm in a "left-turn" sign. as i'm driving towards him, i see him kind of act as though he's about to pull across my lane, but stop himself nearly immediately. as i continue, i see him give me some kind of "look"–an expression of contempt, or disdain, or something–and, as i drive past, i hear a very distinct, very obviously-directed-at-me "thanks." i was already too far away for him to hear me, but i replied with "hey no problem… fucking dick."
why is it that people using alternate modes of transportation always feel like they have some special rights or something. pedestrians have special rights (on the roadways) but if you're riding a bike in traffic, you're a fucking car. you have the same rights and right-of-ways as cars, and you're expected to follow the same traffic rules as cars. you don't just get to cross traffic when and where you feel like it, unless you can do so without disrupting everybody else.
i have no problem with people riding their bikes wherever and whenever they want to, but don't expect special treatment. and especially don't be a dick if you don't get it.
brian. said:
I fucking hate that shit. I would have gotten out and started an argument with him.
I ended up screaming at a guy that didn't observe the "yield" sign over by the Daniel Boone statue. I hate that shit. Elizabeth got mad at me for yelling.
Hunter said:
People don't know how to deal with that yield sign. It mystifies and frightens them, so they respond by driving through it as fast as they can, thus leaving the source of their discomfort far behind them. At least, that was my experience when I lived over there… and Matt, you should carry around a tube and blow darts for these situations. The only thing more clever than a witty retort is a blow dart in the neck, I always say.
m@ said:
no shit. i would kill for a blow gun.
i've always maintained that i would love to be able to carry around some type of tagging device, so that i could just tag people when i saw them doing something stupid.
my ideas have varied from a simple paint-ball gun, to some type of crossbow with messages about the idiots' infractions attached to the bolts somehow. that way, when the person got to where they were going, they'd get out of the car, see the crossbow bolt, and read something along the lines of "get off the road, you fucking cocksucker."
i've also always wanted some type of flip-down LED sign, like those you see with the animated text and all that stuff, where i could type in a message, get in front of the idiot that just pissed me off, and flip the sign down so they can read about exactly what type of idiot they are and why.
hell, i'm not a perfect driver, but i'd venture to bet that i'm better than 90% of the mother-fuckers out there.
bikey mcbikington said:
"thanks."
brian. said:
Stuff it, bikey…I ran into our ass in pretty much the same place matt did. You cut me off on grinstead, turning left where the road splits. First you almost run into me while throwing your arm up, then you dart around me, right out in front of a car. You're an idiot and I wish you had died.
bikey mcbikington said:
I demand equal rights! Two abreast on any public road. Too long have your "kind" ruled our roadways. You are a slave. A slave to dinosaurs that power the machines that carry you on their backs. One day, they'll see – they'll all see, and they'll know that bikey mcbikington was right. now, if you'll excuse me, I have to start my shift at Starbucks.
Jennifer said:
C'mon, we're dyin' here! I think I speak for the rest of us that couldn't be there to witness the melodious splendor of your band live under the heavens – how the hell did it go?!?
"it's not a box, it's a submarine"