, 'opacity': false, 'speedIn': , 'speedOut': , 'changeSpeed': , 'overlayShow': false, 'overlayOpacity': "", 'overlayColor': "", 'titleShow': false, 'titlePosition': '', 'enableEscapeButton': false, 'showCloseButton': false, 'showNavArrows': false, 'hideOnOverlayClick': false, 'hideOnContentClick': false, 'width': , 'height': , 'transitionIn': "", 'transitionOut': "", 'centerOnScroll': false }); })

DDD 012 – Right vs. Nice

11 posts prior to my first rant – not so bad.  Vancouver, BC is where I live, and the relationship between cyclists and motorists lies somewhere between the Hatfields/McCoys and the Cold War; a whole lot of tension with a few incidents from time to time.  I would like to propose a question to all involved in said dispute:

When did being right trump being nice?

If everyone just chilled out a bit and dialled back the solipsism all of this silliness would go away. Cyclists, just move over a bit, and when you’re on a tight road don’t double up.  And how about staying off major traffic arteries?  1 block up, 1 block down; it’s not that tough.  Drivers, does it really affect you when a cyclist rolls a stop sign or cheats a light?  Of course it doesn’t.

Contrary to the efforts of all levels of government, you can’t legislate respect.

As expected, the always effective ‘they started it’ argument will surface, and if that gets passed over, the weighty ‘it’s the principle of it’ angle is presented.  Drivers get practical and believe that cyclists should pay insurance and follow laws made for cars.  Cyclists get ethical and point to the negative environmental and sustainability points of view.

If one is going to get principled, I’m am going to suggest that one might be better served to go volunteer at a school or a shelter or give blood or do something that actually matters.

So the militant cyclists and drivers are both wrong.  Pretty simple really.

Just don’t get me started on pedestrians….