In anticipation of dismissive criticism, I assert that from a cyclist's perspective, this is an honest and meaningful comparison, not an over-the-top exaggeration.
And I assert that this is a lazy, hyperbolic comparison that tries to compare a ridiculously complex issue involving race, socioeconomic divides, police brutality, and then some, to a fairly simple issue involving cyclists who flaunt the rules of the road, and drivers who ignore cyclists.
I'm a consummate pedestrian in SF who is somewhat afraid of becoming a cyclist, and who drives once or twice a month (mostly to get out of the city). Even I have some close calls with cyclists who think it's cool to ride on the sidewalk when there's a perfectly good (and not even particularly heavily-trafficked) road sitting next to them.
I witness a lot of crap: cyclists running red lights and stop signs, cyclists weaving around stopped traffic at lights in order to get ahead, cyclists riding the wrong way on one-way streets (sometimes on the sidewalk because "that doesn't count" apparently), cyclists riding side-by-side blocking traffic lanes.
Maybe it's not a majority of cyclists who do this stuff, but it is a very large minority.
And then there's my favorite: Critical Mass, a monthly event where a ton of cyclists get together (a bunch of them clearly drunk) and ride around SF en masse, blocking streets and taunting cars. And they wonder why drivers hate them? Seriously?
Having said all that, I do know some cyclists who are awesome and obey the law, and always put safety and vigilance first. I wish everyone was like that.
And I assert that this is a lazy, hyperbolic comparison that tries to compare a ridiculously complex issue involving race, socioeconomic divides, police brutality, and then some, to a fairly simple issue involving cyclists who flaunt the rules of the road, and drivers who ignore cyclists.
I'm a consummate pedestrian in SF who is somewhat afraid of becoming a cyclist, and who drives once or twice a month (mostly to get out of the city). Even I have some close calls with cyclists who think it's cool to ride on the sidewalk when there's a perfectly good (and not even particularly heavily-trafficked) road sitting next to them.
I witness a lot of crap: cyclists running red lights and stop signs, cyclists weaving around stopped traffic at lights in order to get ahead, cyclists riding the wrong way on one-way streets (sometimes on the sidewalk because "that doesn't count" apparently), cyclists riding side-by-side blocking traffic lanes.
Maybe it's not a majority of cyclists who do this stuff, but it is a very large minority.
And then there's my favorite: Critical Mass, a monthly event where a ton of cyclists get together (a bunch of them clearly drunk) and ride around SF en masse, blocking streets and taunting cars. And they wonder why drivers hate them? Seriously?
Having said all that, I do know some cyclists who are awesome and obey the law, and always put safety and vigilance first. I wish everyone was like that.