Why do drivers get so mad about cyclists riding through stop signs? A quick thread.
Preamble: I've seen a few good conversations on this topic recently, full of on-point observations, but maybe not hitting the big picture.
Executive summary: Drivers hate bike riders rolling through stop signs because they have an issue with the existence of bike riders on the road. It's literally that simple.
Observation 1: Drivers roll though stop signs all the time. In multi-ton vehicles. They speed in residential areas. They pull out of spots without looking. They play with phones. Generally speaking, there's a culture of naughtiness that is quietly accepted.
Observation 2: If bike riders actually stop at stop signs, it makes drivers even madder than if we don't. This slows them down even more. So to recap, riders make drivers angry if we don't stop and furious if we do.
The problem is that driving is miserable. It's often not a fun or effective way to get around. The presence of bike riders, flitting around in the margins, is infuriating to many because we're there, exposing their misery.
This is the truth. No matter what you do while riding on streets, many drivers will hate you. Framing riders as naughty assholes is just a device to express this deep feeling that they do not want you there.
Related: Just try to unpack the anger over bike riders being "self-righteous." The idea that riders are having fun, doing something virtuous and efficient and healthy—and demanding the ability to do it safely—is somehow infuriating. This comes across as an insult to a worldview.
This reminds me of the way that some folks come after vegans as if they are elitist assholes rather than people who are doing something healthy and kindhearted and ethical, basically harmless (or better) to others. Their choices threaten people's identifies. Same with bikes.

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More from @Pflax1

7 Jun
It's unfortunately not uncommon these days to see public officials talking about mandating that bike riders get licenses, special insurance, and helmet use. I wanted to write a short thread outlining why they all are horrible bad-faith ideas.
nypost.com/2021/06/06/sim…
The first, most obvious reason: They won't work—in fact they'll make things worse by discouraging riding (which is the intent). Don't be fooled that they'd make anyone safer or add a layer of useful personal responsibility; the point is the optics to look tough on naughty riders.
Second, what would emerge would be discriminatory. Given the state of US policing, the ultimate losers would be young Black men. Other POC, like delivery and restaurant workers, and the homeless would also suffer. These ideas would lead to harassment and targeting and injustice.
Read 6 tweets
6 Jun
Was thinking this morning about Unbound Gravel and why, exactly, that race and events like it have captured people's imagination—and perhaps what traditional sanctioned racing doesn't provide.
People want more than a workout and a competitive environment to test themselves—they want adventure and experiences and self-expression. Whether it translates to good TV is really besides the point because it revolves around immersive participation.
Adult life can be tired and disconnecting, and I think most folks don't fantasize about getting yelled at (or dropped early on) at a crit, where you literally can't participate if you're in a sleeveless jersey. People are willing—excited even—to suffer, provided it's fun too.
Read 6 tweets
21 Apr
As some of you know, I wrote a bunch of tweets yesterday about wheelie culture (due to the bogus arrest in Perth Amboy). I saw a bunch of replies expressing questions, concern & disapproval about the safety of these kids styling amid traffic on city streets and had some thoughts.
The executive summary is that if you see young folks who don't look like you doing sick wheelies on busy city streets and worry or complain about safety, you're missing the point of the culture and likely assessing Bike Life from your POV rather than that of the participants.
Imagine having a position where you say you admire the spirit and creativity of graffiti but kind of just wish it was mostly displayed on art gallery walls and schools if it has the right message. This limits, appropriates, and entirely misses the subversive DNA of the art form.
Read 10 tweets
19 Apr
I was exchanging tweets about bike helmets with someone I admire and they made a sort of joke equating my position about bike helmets, about people making choices about what's right for them, with masks. If I'm going to be truly honest, this bugs the shit out of me.
I think the root of the problem is that tons of people, even really smart people & folks who ride, have a simplistic perception of what helmets can do. They are like seat belts or condoms for bike riders and everyone should wear one. They surely do something so why not wear one?
So I pretty frequently interact with people who simply have no idea that someone semi-credible sounding is going to jump in their TL in defense of not wearing a helmet. To them it's like arguing against seat belts or masks for Covid. I really don't enjoy what follows.
Read 5 tweets
18 Apr
OK I'm mad at Apple. Yesterday I did a hike with my iPhone in my pocket. I guess it jostled around a bit and registered as 10+ login attempts. Phone was disabled. Even though I never even tried to enter a password and had all credentials, Apple's only fix was a complete data wipe
The patchwork of what is and isn't saved from the cloud is not encouraging. And I'm in password hell.
I understand why Apple is trying to protect security. But surely they must know that phones are prone to jostle-logins. Why don't they have a way to verify identity without wiping everything?
Read 4 tweets
19 Jul 20
OK, I'm going to tweet about step-though bikes. As I said last night, I'm kind of lusting for one. So I spent some time perusing bikes and I'm prepared to share highlights. Let's do this.
As a preliminary let me say something that's obvious to some and news to others. Though they've often been categorized this way in the US, step-through bikes are NOT lady's bikes. This is absurd. Everyone rides what they want, end of story. I am willing to die on this hill.
I mean, if you're wearing a sundress, a step-through frame is awfully convenient. It's also pretty sweet if you just like Dutch style or like to get off your bike easily or just think illogical gender traditions are bullshit. We agree, right? Step through bikes are for anyone.
Read 13 tweets

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