topaz: (grinnybike)
Tim Pierce ([personal profile] topaz) wrote2009-11-25 09:44 am
Entry tags:

with apologies to H.G. Wells

When I see six or seven bicyclists lined up at a traffic light on a rainy 46dF morning in November, I do not fear for the human race.

[identity profile] ursomniac.livejournal.com 2009-11-25 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
When I see ONE bicyclist actually stopping at a red light or stop sign, I thank the FSM.

But then again I commute through Harvard Sq., so there's already multiple populations of Darwin effect wannabes out there: cars, bikes, pedestrians, etc. My particular "gets me all stabby" location is the end of JFK at the square. The two lanes are clearly marked as "left turn only" and "go forward" (three signs and painted road), yet overly-privileged drivers CONSTANTLY use up the left-turn only lane as their "oh I can't be bothered waiting in line with everyone else so I'll "just" sneak in here..." maneuver. Grrrrr.

If everyone just does what they're supposed to do, it's really not that bad a location: congested, yes, but entirely doable with a very reasonable amount of "delay".

ext_86356: (madblog)

[identity profile] qwrrty.livejournal.com 2009-11-25 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
The cyclists on Beacon St / Hampshire St. between Porter Square and Kendall tend to be fairly well behaved, if only because the cops have been known to set up cyclist ticket traps on that stretch. (Yes, really!)

I confess that I have made that mistake on JFK myself -- I don't drive it often, and while there may be signs I didn't notice until the last block that the left lane is a left-turn-only lane. My bad. I will hit myself with an honorary BBC foam bat in penance!

[identity profile] agaran.livejournal.com 2009-11-25 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Remind me to tell you about the conversation I had with the guy who manages the UPS Store in Bedford, an avid cyclist, about MC.

[identity profile] kcatalyst.livejournal.com 2009-11-25 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
yay bicycles! I am sad not to be using mine for now.
mizarchivist: (Bike wheel)

[personal profile] mizarchivist 2009-11-25 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
You know- I was just remarking on the number of bikes I saw out last night. It had pleased me.
ext_86356: (glare)

[identity profile] qwrrty.livejournal.com 2009-11-25 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
It really is awesome. Time for me to start teaching traffic classes, clearly. :-)
mizarchivist: (Avatar- You are such a fangrrl)

[personal profile] mizarchivist 2009-11-25 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes! FYI: these folks were pretty great with the lights and reflective. That was part of my happy. Also, I need to get a new light for next season. ^_^

I feel the same way.

[identity profile] mpacket.livejournal.com 2009-11-25 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a spot where our area bike thru-way (Bryant Street) crosses the area car thru-way (Oregon xpressway) and we wait for the light (cause cutting across four lanes of 55mph travelling cars is suicidal and we're not) and during rush hour I will see upwards of 12 or 14 bike. Moms with wagons. Tweens heading to Elem school. Hipsters on fixies. Commuters. Old ladies with baskets for groceries.
We sometimes talk as we wait for the long bike.
It's pretty great.