Unspoken Social Etiquette

[kellychaos]

So ... spring is here again, so I've dusted off the old bicycle and took to the roads ... well, sidewalks really. There I am, enjoying a nice, leisurely ride and sweating off some of the winter fat. In the distance, another rider appears coming from the opposite direction. The rider was an adult and, I'm assuming, probably, an automobile driver as well. That being the case, I'd assumed that she would follow the same rules of the rode as applies to driving a car. With that in mind, I veered to the far right of the sidewalk and assumed she'd do the same and take to the same far, respective right in coming from of HER direction. What happens? She stays on her left ... stays on her left ... stays on her left ... now were within feet of each other and, finally, I swerve to my left to avoid her and almost wipe out. Her saving grace is that she did come back to ask if I was alright. I then launch into a "what the hell is wrong with you?", "don't you know the traffic rules?", "couldn't you tell that I was adhering to the far side of the sidewalk?" tirade. I mean that my actions and intentions WERE pretty obvious, IMHO. I know that my anger and anxiety got the best of me in the moment but ... really ... was I wrong?

P.S. Feel free to add your own, "it seems this is obvious only to me" social infractions ... and yes, I did feel kind of bad after ranting all over the woman ... but still.

[Matt Harty]

You should have swerved into the road.

[kellychaos]

But that would mean ... oooohhhhh YOU! ;)

[Comrade Rocket]

Well judging the way most people drive i would expect something like that. But otherwise people are idiots when they drive or ride bikes so you should expect people to act stupid.

[Alive]

its being human, were "stupid magnets" attracted to each other for mutual self destruction...

[Command Prompt]

Everybody needs to drive an automobile. This was the largest automobile that I could afford. Does this, therefore make me the target of your ridicule?

[Captain Robo]

I GOT HIT BY A CAR ONCE.

I ALSO HIT A CAR ONCE

I ALSO ONCED A CAR HIT

[TBMonkey]

Did you happen to hit the car with the caps lock on your keyboard?

[VolCanon]

Kelly I know what that's like. Here in Vancouver they've had a program for setting up bike lanes so bikes can go on the road without being in the same place as cars (govt recently banned biking from sidewalks, but it's not enforced. still...).

I've noticed a lot of completely dumbassed things:

People bike up the WRONG WAY on a bike lane (and almost getting me into a head-on)

People WALK in the bike lane (when the sidewalk is empty... WTF?)

People ROLLERBLADE the WRONG WAY on a bike lane.

Cars don't stop when you have the right-of-way.

Bikes dont stop when you have the right-of-way.

People bike the wrong way on a busy street (as in on car lanes. that's not on dangerous but really retarted).

Theres more, just not off the top of my head. It's weird biking in cities/towns where they dont have such "Safety" laws now. I usually have to judiciously apply various parts of my hand to express my suprise at their being not used to seeing bikers on the road.

[ziggytrix]

Was she pretty?

[kellychaos]

No. :(

[Dynamic Dustin M.]

Should of jumped her and whooped her ass, taken her bike and her wallet... GTA Style!

[kellychaos]

Oh! There's GOING to be an ass whoopin', newbie! You can bet your allowance on it.

[Dynamic Dustin M.]

That a threat? Because I love fiesty women... :)

[Schimid]

DAMN THAT DUSTIN :lol

[Carnivore]

I wish she had a lance and impaled you!

[DamnthatDavid]

DAMN THAT DUSTIN

Dammit, I changing my name as soon as I figure out a new moniker.

[Big McLargehuge]

Sometimes its not always about you, David >:

[Immortal Goat]

I was always told that (at least in MY neck of the woods) riding a bicycle on a sidewalk is illeagal. You can only ride it in the street. Maybe it's different for you, though. :/

[executioneer]

i think riding it in the street SHOULD be illegal >: fucking bikes >:

[Rev. Danno]

I wish she had a lance and impaled you!
Funny thing, about a week ago Wreck and I went to a bike jousting thing...
It was rad.
Also I think it's funny to ghost ride your bike into other bikes, or people, or things that won't get out of your way... Most of the time it won't really hit them and you can blame it on them or the booze.
Yes quite the stupid post... But i figure, eh what the hell... It's a Kelly thread...

[Spectre X]

DAMN THAT DUSTIN

Dammit, I changing my name as soon as I figure out a new moniker.

How about just David? :rolleyes

[Spastic Colon]

That's dangerous thinking. Oh shit, look out, he's got a. . . strap-on.