Bicycling at Hains Point, 1942: Hey, take Back the Streets!
Periodically, DCist runs a short piece that in some way advocates cycling as a means of commuting, along with a modest plea for some mutual respect between cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians. Usually, this results in an unbelievable amount of vile hatred spewed at cyclists. It’s like Lou Dobbs and immigrants – blame ‘em for all ills, and demonize those who disagree. The only thing missing (a la Lou Dobbs, and frankly, most local politics in DC) is a little injection of race (clearly, they’re not trying hard enough!).
Today’s installation is, thus far, modest by comparison. But it does have this beaut:
“In my time here I've found cyclists to be more annoying and deadly than cabs, buses or even muggers. They are a people with no laws, no rules and no sense.”
Hey, we are “a people”! Cool! Maybe we can have a homeland given to us too!
If you want to waste your time and get your blood pumping a little (like I did), you can find more crap here (and, to be honest, I find the original article not really worthwhile – some good thoughts are contained therein, but they’re certainly not comprehensive, balanced, or even with any particular sense of priority):
http://www.dcist.com/archives/2007/02/02/dcists_rules_of.php#comments
-- posted by Chris