Why do I immediately get 'thumbs down' every time I mention in an answer that I'm a cyclist.?

Question

Do you people out there really hate cyclists so much or is it just a guilt reaction by people who know how unhealthy their own transportation choices are but can't admit it?

If you hate cyclists so much, why? I'm not demanding that everyone do what I do, but I am suggesting that more people could and could enjoy it and reap some significant health and monetary benefits at the same time.

Comments and opinions welcome.

Answer 1

I don't know why you'd get a "thumbs down" for being a cyclist unless the rest of your answers don't apply to the original questions.

I wish I could get everywhere on a bike.  It'd be a whole lot less expensive than filling up my tank every week.  But with severe asthma, it's just not realistic.  I have a hard enough time walking for exercise.

Answer 2

I'm not sure which questions you are referring to. As an avid cyclist myself, I continually deal with anger from other motorists. Even though I try to obey the traffic laws. Everyday during my commute, I see drivers running stop signs or lights, driving in the bike lanes or taking other shortcuts. I try not to get offended, but tell myself I am gaining health benefits as well as saving money. If others resent me for that, that is their problem, not mine.

Answer 3

Well Living in Portland Oregon, I find that the Bike n**i`s here tend to think that they always have the right -of-way., when in actuality they have to follow the same rules as cars, Like Stopping at stop signs! Running red lights!

Then theres the thing where when a cyclist is passing a parked car, they force traffic in the same lane to cross the center line, when in acuality the cyclist had plenty of room between themselves and the parked car.

Myself, I cant pedal uphill, so I ride a vintage scooter!

Currently I`m building a "cabinscooter" (scooter with a cabin) that will hold 2 people and thanks to the Diesel engine I bought, I should be geting 200 mpg with Biodiesel (because diesels get waaaay better MPG than gas does).

Answer 4

I don't understand that, there are even Christian cyclist groups that ride.  They are discriminating and are think of it as evil, but by no way true.........xx

Answer 5

I don't hate cyclists and I think it's funny that anyone would judge you solely on that. I live 25 miles from work and school so biking isn't a commuting option for me (just for pleasure around the block). The only time I get slightly irked with cyclists is when they dart out in front of you in an intersection without warning. Very rare though. I usually don't yell or anything because car versus bike, well, you do the math.

Answer 6

Cycling is a mode of transportation that not everyone is capable of doing but if you can, you should do it.  Every year, the number of cyclists in America keeps growing.  It is, as was said in other words, cheaper than driving every day and gets your body into better shape than you can really imagine.

Unfortunately, no matter how much we want to admit or not admit it, people don't like cyclists because they get in the way on the road.  I think this is a very rude claim but many folks believe a road is for a car and no one else.  Ride your bike on the sidewalk is what they say, but what about the people walking on the sidewalk?

Cycling can also be very dangerous though, my dad was hit by a car almost a month ago now.  He accidentally ran a red light and because the sun was in the motorists eyes he didn't see my dad.  Now the guy was not mad at my dad because he said it could have just as easily been a car.  Share the road everyone and ride your bike if you have the time or just want to enjoy a pleasant morning/afternoon.  And no matter what, always wear a helmet.

Answer 7

I've never seen any of your answers, but since you posted this in the car section, I think the most likely reason that you get thumbs down is because people are asking about car related stuff and NOT commuting on a bike.  I understand that you are probably quite proud of saving money on gas and saving the environment and what not, but people want answers that actually pertain to the questions asked.

I doubt the thumbs downs are actually a retalitory jesture, but I guess there is also a possibility that whoever is giving them to you could be doing it out as spite as well.

EDIT: Sorry, I just realized that this is actually in the commuting section and not the car section, but the rest of my answer is still the same about people not liking bike answers when the question is about cars.

Answer 8

Its not that I 'hate' cyclists.  I hate that their bikes are not subject to the same registration and insurance laws my car is, yet we share the same road.  I hate that I have to give a cyclist the right of way when they can travel no where near the speed of my car.  I hate that cities do so much to protect the rights of cyclists, but refuse to install bike lanes.  I hate that a lot of cyclists are wearing Ipods and not listening to traffic.  I hate that a lot of cyclists dont have signal lights on their bike, nor do they make the proper hand signals.  I hate that some cyclists weave in and out of traffic as if they own the road bc they are smaller.