The following guest column was written in response to a recent opinion piece by columnist Tara Servatius, titled “Crash test dummies: The cycling epidemic.”
As cyclists and cycling advocates who also drive cars when we have to, we read Tara Servatius’ tired rant against cyclists with much dismay. In her opinion piece, Servatius ignores the many positives of cycling — both for the individual cyclist and the community as a whole — and engages in a callous stereotyping that plays fast and loose with the facts and fails to meet even the minimum standards of professional journalism.
First of all, Servatius’ comparisons of cycling to what she considers socially unacceptable behavior or risks are weak, illogical and completely out of context.
There really isn’t anything positive to be gained by giving a pregnant woman the H1N1 flu, putting a baby to sleep on her stomach, smoking, or texting while driving. Cycling, on the other hand, benefits individuals and society in general by addressing significant problems, like obesity, air pollution and oil dependency. For example, the Alliance for Biking and Walking recently published a comprehensive benchmarking report (available at www.peoplepoweredmovement.org) which found direct negative correlations between the level of bicycling and walking in all 50 states and obesity, diabetes and blood pressure. In other words, states with higher levels of cycling and walking scored better in all three categories.
Second, cycling isn’t some kind of new fad. We remember when kids could ride their bikes to school, or you could ride your bike to the grocery store without fear of death or serious injury. Government policies and practices have sanctioned bicycles and pedestrians on roadway rights-of-way for many decades with bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks and uniform signage. North Carolina law includes “bicycle” in its definition of “vehicle” and, in the Bicycle and Bikeways act of 1974, the North Carolina Department of Transportation recognized bicycling as a “bonafide highway purpose subject to the same rights and responsibilities” as motorized vehicles. More and more people recognize the value of communities not clogged with motor vehicle exhaust, where you can chat with your neighbors while walking or riding to restaurants and stores. Hence, the recent trend towards smart growth and compact, higher density neighborhoods and away from single family, auto dependent cul-de sacs.
Recognizing the needs and demands for safe, alternative transportation, the City of Charlotte has rightly undertaken an assertive policy in recent years to restore the balance among the different modes of travel. Implementing the “Complete Streets” or “Share the Road” concept, city engineers and planners are installing “traffic calming” measures such as narrower lanes, traffic islands, midblock pedestrian crossings, lowered speed limits and even reduced the number of auto designated traffic lanes where justified. This plan is validated by the Urban Street Design Guidelines passed by City Council in 2007. And this concept is not just a local idea; it has the full support of Ray LaHood, the United States Transportation Secretary.
There is no reason all modes of transportation cannot safely share our various avenues of transport. It just requires everyone using courtesy and common sense — drivers and cyclists alike. We know people whose only way to get to work is by bicycle. Would Servatius suggest banning them, too? Or banning kids from riding their bikes to their friends’ houses? The occasional cyclist who takes up a lane for safety reasons — and who might delay Servatius momentarily — is someone’s parent, spouse, grandparent, brother, or sister. Point is, cyclists are normal, everyday people, and making the roads safer for them makes the roads safer for everyone.
Servatius’ piece substitutes “shock” journalism for responsible discussion. Let’s have some constructive dialogue on this topic within an established legal and behavioral framework, one that strives towards balance instead of protracted combat. Stereotyping, sensationalism and distortion have no place in a dialogue over matters of life and death.
Ann Groninger, Attny.
Martin Zimmerman
Executive Director, Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance
Melissa Bell
Inside/Out Sports — cycle shop
This article appears in Jul 13-19, 2010.
In a society with such serious issues, all we can find to talk about is the personal choice of whether to bicycle or not?
Clearly bicycles are an effective and physically empowering mode of transportation. One that deserves more accommodation.
However, I find both elitist and obsessive extremes, largely based around petty politics and economics to be less than intellectually stimulating.
I suggest a bicycle registration and tax system to pay for infrastructure improvements for those who choose to partake. This is called fairness.
While I have noticed Ms. Servatius has been drifting to the right lately, the reply is also a little too black and white.
Most cyclists I have observed do a pretty good job of riding single file at the right edge of the road, thus not obstructing automobile traffic, I also see a great many cyclists riding on the left side, blowing through stop signs and traffic signals, and occasionally riding 3 wide.
The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.
To James H:
I think the reason bicycling is such a lighting rod is deals with some fundementals issues about the American lifestyle choices.
As we can the see by the oil exploration disaster of Deepwater Horizon, the individual decision on what vehicle we choose to drive and
the number of miles we commute has international ramifications.
The impact of these decisions
can be experienced every day when you breathe. So yes its very important to have this debate.
Also Ms. Seravatius decided to use her position as a journalist to hammer home some kind of agenda
in a very unreasonable way.
I live in the Charlotte community,
I contribute to world via my work as a computer programmer and the volunteer work I do at my child’s school and by using my bicycle once a day. Our family only uses one car.
Tara is a reporter and a journalist. She should be reporting the news, not making it.
To velo_audix:
More specifically Tara is a columnist and her job is to state her opinion. Her pieces, like all columns, are not designed to be un-biased — they are designed to BE biased. Her opinion’s don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of the Creative Loafing editorial board, but that’s the point — she represents a different, more conservative point of view.
The cyclists in Charlotte are far better behaved than those I’ve seen in other cities.
But what do you consider to be a busy road?
At my skill level, there are some roads that I won’t ride on: South Blvd, Park Rd and Tyvola among them (that’s when I swtich to sidewalks). But there are others that I’m comfortable riding on, like S Tryon, Morehead, Woodlawn and any given street in Uptown.
There is a combination of factors that make a road safe or unsafe for bikes, from congestion and speed to lane width and road geometry. To say that bikes should stay off busy roads overly simplifies a complex topic.
i mountain bike several times a week
i live on the interior side of the booty loop, selwyn ave
the bikers for the most part are fine BUT BUT BUT not a week goes by some dipsh!t biker doesnt drift into my lane and i dont budge, sometimes several times a week, i love to buzz them, i love to lay on my horn and scare the sh!t out of them, if youre going to continue to stain my incredible neighborhood (lived there for 30+ years) then get used to the harassment bc we’re all going to keep dishing it
stay in single file and please for f@ck’s sake find another damn neighborhood or loop, you guys are killing me
I read both sides of this story. I do not bike regularly but I know people who do. It’s is ridiculous to say that bikes shouldn’t be on the road. It’s a great sport, good for the environment, part of a healthy lifestyle and can be a lot of fun. On the other hand, I travel Queens Road near the University quite often and I get very nervous driving through there with all of the cyclists. I’m not sure if or when I can pass, if or when I should follow behind, what to do when they ride 2 or 3 deep into the road. Sometimes they yell at me or wave their arms and I honestly don’t know what they are communicating. It’s very confusing and therefore dangerous. I don’t know what the “proper road etiquette” is for cars and bikes. I’ve asked around and I get all kinds of answers. I think educating drivers and bikers on a uniform standard of conduct for both would be a good start to solving this problem.
Dawn, I love your response! You are totally correct…both drives AND cyclists need to be educated on proper road etiquette. I am a newer cycler, and I won’t go out on the road unless I’m with at least a small group of people who know what they’re doing, as I don’t feel like I know all the rules and such of biking on the road. And the last thing I’d want to do is get myself injured because I didn’t do something right, or caused a driver to not do something right. Biking is a healthy form of exercise, and it’s great for the environment…so we need to encourage more of it throughout our communities. However, we need to ensure we’re providing proper resources to everyone for safety’s sake.
To; velo_audix
Tara is not a reporter or a journalist..
She’s a right wing advocate. Similar to Rush Limbaugh/Glen Beck.
Therefore, expect her to back anything oil industry, NASCAR, or ignorant and apathetic fat slob related. Ironic, much like her brethren she actually makes a decent point occasionally.
I like biking, and would do more of it if the conditions were more favorable. The fact is, bicycles and their accommodation on public roads are not a priority among the majority in this society.
As usual and like most things there are some good reasons why, and some not very good reasons.
No sense arguing over this fact.
When gas reaches 8 dollars a gallon you will all be tripping over yourselves to say that bikes belong and how you’ve ridden for years!
How did anti-cycling become a ‘conservative’ viewpoint??? I’m a moderate conservative. I bike everyday to work, for errands and to church on Sundays. I frequently combine the bus and bike for other trips.
I ride Park Road for a third of a mile, and – for the most part – have no problems. I had one older guy get all mad and blow his horn when all I was doing was riding in the far right of the right lane. I got buzzed twice in a row one day on Fairview. It doesn’t scare me – just makes me call the cops on you.
On the other hand, I’ve had drivers who let me in front of them and many drivers allow me to change lanes for my left turn. Nearly everyday of my short trip to work is an example of how cars and cyclists can – and do – share the road.
I’ve been riding on roads for over 20 years. It can be sometimes difficult, due to road conditions, narrow roads, careless or reckless drivers, careful but unsure drivers, and inconsiderate cyclists.
Car drivers, it’s simple. Give me at least a yard (3 feet) on the left. Don’t pass me in an intersection. Sacrifice 10 seconds out of your life to pass me. And, carry realllllly good insurance if you hit me. Cyclists are not out here just to make your life more miserable. Go past a little slowly and a little wide. Thanks.
This article is full of baloney. She doesn’t have a clue about cycling and road safety. She is just a disgruntled person, angry at a lot of things she doesn’t like, and too arrogant to accept other people in her world. Full of baloney.
I suggest Creative Loafing begin a small regular section of their paper (1/4 page ad size) dedicated to “sharing the road tips” wherein motorists and cyclists can learn exactly those “rules” (how to pass a cyclist, how to cyclist signal intentions, etc.). These need to NOT be opinions, but well-accepted guidelines formed by Cycling coalitions and reflecting the local and state traffic laws. I’m sure CABA can readily provide these!
less noise, more poise.
‘Crash test dummies: The cycling epidemic ‘ is a poorly thought, poorly researched opinion piece that really has no place in print.
I’m thrilled the rebuttal was well-thought and legitmate.
I suggest the next time Tara wants to write about cycling ~ she take the time to visit any number of cycle-friendly cities in the US and witness first hand how sharing the road works when supported by cyclists, advocate groups, local government, and yes, even (gasp) drivers!
Until then, please keep burning that petroleum ~ because that’s a wonderful alternative to excercise and progressive thinking.
I’m going to go ahead and propose that everyone in this comment section that has a problem with cyclists is probably pushing or surpassed 250 pounds.
Stuff another Big Mac in those faces, fatties.
i m a fan of cycling but i wonder why they are doing this
?
Nicely written rebuttal. I drive, I bike, I pay attention. Cyclists in Charlotte are a very well behaved bunch. Pay attention, and every once and a while get out of your car, get off your couch, get from in front of the computer, turn off the TV and get on a bike. I promise you will become a happier person. Wait for a couple of weeks though, it is way hot out there. Slow down and quit being so selfish how much time do you really waste behind a cyclist. Frank Griffen I appreciate your passion for my safety, but you have said enough. Get outside.
You goofs. She’s putting you on, and you guys bit down hard. Calm down. She has succeeded in making her point, which isn’t about cycling, but about cyclers: they have no sense of humor.
Like said above, you fools fell for it.
Tara used biking to prove her point.
Her point is that our personal freedoms are being taken away by the government in the name of public safety/health. We all sit by and let it happen, because we’re told these are bad things(smoking,texting while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, not wearing a helmet, eating fatty foods, etc), and we’re good people and don’t want to do bad things.
Tara just did what the government does. She took real statistics that show te dangers in biking, and used them to demonize it. Just look at how you all came unglued.
Just remember that feelingwhen the government tells you they’re going to have to put a sin tax on Soda, or chips, or anything else they may feel like taking away from someone.
Thank you for the rebuttal; I couldn’t have stated it better myself!
Thanks for taking the time to put together an articulate response to that article. You have represented the bicycling community well. Nice job.
Again, until bicyclers start paying their fair share of road use taxes, and agree to be registered like other vehicles, many will consider their presence a safety hazard at best, a nuisance at worst.
Currently most roads are not designed to handle large numbers of bikers especially during rush hour in the city.
I’m often amused at the sheer number of Charlotte area bikers that ride down here in northern South Carolina. Expecting a free ride and special treatment on their $5000 bicycles. Some are even obnoxious in their behavior and desire to ride 2 and 3 abreast when the conditions are unfavorable.
Some don’t like to hear the truth of the matter. Especially the hysterical on either side of the equation or those content to profiteer from the current state of affairs.
I’d suggest you take some anti-sensitivity training. And think a little less of yourself and more about others.
This current discourse is not a solution. Just long on emotional immature, short on logic.
Bianchi fan,
Even though I’m somewhat sympathetic to your broader point, especially in regards to private property..
There is no inherent right to use a public roadway anyway that one sees fit. Especially when it regards public safety.
This argument would be similar to a 16 year old riding a 4 wheeler down the interstate, complaining when apprehended that the government is taking infringing upon his rights. Rights that do not exist.
You’re missing the point.
This wasn’t really about bikes on public roadways. It was about having your rights restricted in the name of health and safety.
Tara used Bikes, because she knew it would hit a nerve with the same people that sit by and do nothing when other personal freedoms are taken away.
If she thought doing a story on restricting kite flying would have got their goat, she would have done a story on that.
If you’ve listened to Tara for more then a minute, you’d know her real stance on government restrictions.
Any historian will tell you, we don’t lose are freedoms all at once, they are taken away slowly. one at a time. Always effecting minority sized groups, so the majority will go along with it, because it isn’t effecting them.
I agree with that.
But IMO we’re dealing with a bigger issue here. Bikes and their accommodation on public roadways..
All one has to do is watch a bike race over in Switzerland or most European countries to be wowed by the bicycle infrastructure in these countries. Specifically bike lanes, etc..
Our country is retarded by comparison.
Tara makes a valid point. She pays road use taxes when she drives. Bicycles she must dodge on public roadways do not.
However, like many things today instead of finding solutions, it’s lost in the cliquish and partisan bickering and mud slinging of the different camps.
As though any form of criticism in regards to the current system is somehow a personal attack against any one particular group.
And next time a bicyclist is run over by a little old day, as the bicycle community is temporarily overwhelmed with shock and grief, it can then go back to keeping its head firmly buried in the sand.
A cogent response – which is more than can be said for her in the past few years. She has turned into a “Glen Beck wannabe” with the same tired, shrill, rant, never offering a solution. This is why I only listen to WBT radio for traffic reports.
If Tara’s point was to draw attention to personal freedom, she really needs to rethink her strategy. Her effort has obviously done more to distract from personal freedom than to draw attention to it.
Specifically, accusing a cyclist of trumping up charges on a car driver (which is effectively what she did), with NO evidence of such behavior, was pretty irresponsible. Her article maligns the cyclist, and the cycling community alike. It’s no wonder the comments are focused on the debate about sharing the road instead of personal freedom.
As to taxes, most cyclists continue to own cars, and thus DO pay road use taxes along with everyone else. Very few bike commuters (in Charlotte, anyway) are fully car-free.
Again, Tara really should re-think her strategy if she is going to challenge the way people think about personal freedom. Maligning the cycling community is definitely *not* the way to do so.
Tara’s article is a bit over the top, but obviously cycling is a problem in this city. I don’t have any problem with cyclists and exercise (I’m a runner myself). My problem is the roads themselves. Most of the time, they are barely safe for cars, with people flying around over the speed limit, bumper to bumper. Add in cyclists, and you have cars flying all over the place. It is just not safe. Roads that have specific bike lanes are great, and I hope they add more. But those should be the only places that people should be able to ride a bike, because the other roads are just not equipped for it. People can’t just “move over” when it is bumper to bumper. To me, bicycles on these busy roads is as bad as the area school buses driving on the highways, even though they can only go 45 mph.
The talk about “cyclists not paying taxes road use taxes” overlooks two important details: (1) Substantial funding for roads — especially local roads — comes from other sources, including property and sales taxes that we ALL pay. Even though fuel taxes are generally dedicated to transportation infrastructure, they’re NOT the only source of funding by a long shot. (2) Wear on roadways caused by cyclists is negligible, unlike that caused by much heavier vehicles (especially heavy trucks). To claim “cyclists aren’t paying their share” is simply false. If one considers maintenance costs due to roadway wear, it might be that cyclists (and other non-motorists) pay MORE than their share.
Beyond who pays (or doesn’t) there remains Tara’s concern for freedom. It’s strange for a columnist who’s long advocated individual freedom in nearly every other field to deny freedom of choice in transportation. Even if Tara ignores the need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, the likely impact of carbon emissions on the future of our planet, the health effects of a sedentary lifestyle, etc., ensuring we have multiple transportation choices improves our national security, economic viability, and personal ability to live and earn. We must not forget that not everyone can drive: age, mental ability, and financial circumstances make cycling the best transportation choice for a small but significant fraction of our neighbors. Does Tara really wish to sentence them to “house arrest” because they can’t drive?
On my way to work this morning I didn’t see one cyclist. How could this be an epidemic, it isn’t even an outbreak. What we need here and everywhere else is a pandemic!!!! Let’s spread this aweful disease!!!
What Bill Clay said is the most thought, concise and accurate reply yet. I think Tara tends to use her power as a journalist as an avenue to vent her own personal frustrations at times. True our current road infrastructure is inadequate for cycling, but it is improving and will continue to do so as long as there are advocates for cycling as recreation and transportation on our roads, progress will be made.
And to Tara; I personally know the lady that got hit in Mooresville on 4th of July. Her husband is a Chiropractor in the Cornelius area. The road she was on while narrow, is NOT heavily trafficked and if people are watching their speed, not talking on the phone, not messing with the radio, not texting and generally paying attention…there are no problems. I travel these roads everyday so I’d suggest unless you truly know what you are talking about to just keep your trap shut! BTW I am boycotting Creative Loafing for awhile. Shame on them for publishing this kind of “Hate” journalism (if you even want to call it journalism) She might as well substituted cycling with “Jews”, “Negroes”, “Mexicans”, “Muslims”, etc.
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Hum,
I wonder how many bike lanes the publicly funded Bobcats arena would have bought? The new NASCAR hall of fame?
Or the God forbid $50 million dollars of city and county money that helped finance Bank of America stadium?
War in Iraq?
The list goes on and on..
The fact is bicycle transportation is just not a priority or a value in this city, or in this country.
And I don’t expect this to change anytime soon.
no one has brought up the real reason that Servatius wrote her article in the first place. If you have ever listened to her radio program. You know that she hates all black people. When Anthony Foxx supported cycling. Tera had to immediately hate it because a black person supported it.
Hey Bill Clay, you mentioned heavy trucks..
I have a question for you..
How much of the food that you consume each day is brought into your community by bicycle?
D, I think she hates what she perceives as liberalism which she equates to Marxism or socialism or some other fantasy of her own making..
And of course biking is something poor people or liberals do.
Therefore I think she’s actually prejudice against the Chinese. Because they are both communist and ride bikes.
I bet she eats Chinese food and shops at WalMart. lol
You just can’t make this shyt up.
Only a special kind of jerk is OK with taking up an entire lane of traffic on the Booty Loop, especially during rush hour traffic. And only a self-loathing doucher would cruise around in their those skin-tight, licra suits and Livestrong bracelets.
You want to use the roads? Fine. Keep up with the flow of traffic. If you cannot maintain a cruising speed of 35 MPH, then take your bike into the neighbood streets or find some bike trails. Also, why don’t you contribute extra taxes for your extra vehicle. Afterall, that vehicle is causing major road congestion, as cars all over the road are having to stop and go, accelerate and decelerate, which ultimately has a much worse effect on the environment, if you would just drive in your car and get exercise from a normal, activity.
THe bottom line is you all are egotistical, irrational cancers on society, whose negative externalities far outweight the positives. Join a gym like a normal person, and for God sake’s throw away those asinine biking outfits you wear.
James H.: Your rhetorical question brings up an important point. Sounds like you think cycling advocates claim that ONLY bicycles should be used for transportation. I know of no cycling advocate (even those who choose not to own motor vehicles) who make such a ridiculous claim.
Unlike Tara, and perhaps you, no cyclist would claim that his preferred vehicle should be the ONLY one that his neighbors may use on the roads we all pay for. We don’t claim bicycles are best for EVERY task; no vehicle is. We simply wish to use the the best tool for the job at hand.
I doubt any of us would use a bicycle (even with a trailer) to supply our neighborhood Harris-Teeter. On the other hand, my local grocery manager has never objected to my using a bicycle and trailer to haul a week’s worth of groceries back home.
Why should I make you breathe the excess emissions of a 2,000 lb. motor vehicle that never really warms up in a short trip so I can haul 50 lbs. of groceries 2 1/2 miles home on a pretty day — especially when I need some exercise anyway?
First of all, not everyone on this board complaining about biking is fat. You don’t have to be a biker to be in shape. Second of all, bikers tend to ride during the busiest traffic hours (morning rush hour, evening rush hour). Some of these bikers are using the bike as their mode of transportation. Others are using it as exercise. Regardless of the use, motorists will continue to be as annoyed with them as they are with other cars. Between runners not using sidewalks and bikers riding side-by-side it makes the roads riskier for everyone. More bike lanes would be the best solution.
Bill,
You’re talking to an old time biker here..
Of course I can separate my desire to bike from addressing the issues at hand.
And the last time I checked, no one was infringing on your desire to ride your bike on public roads.
Some of us would just like to see common sense accommodation on the roads. So we can exercise our freedom of choice as well without feeling as though we were performing a death defying act.
That’s not the status quo or defending your own personal choices like a rabid dog.
It has become obvious to me that Ms. Servatius has chosen the evils of cycling as her champion cause. On her radio show, she recently even linked cycling to homosexuality. Now it seems we cyclists are also in cahoots with injury attorneys looking for a payout.
I did a lot of internet surfing trying to find her article’s quoted statistics, and came up with nothing (not saying she made it up, just sayin’). I did find other interesting statistics such as cyclists in cities with larger numbers of cyclists have a lower chance of getting injured by motor vehicles, and motor cyclists are 100% more likely to be a member of the Village People than bicyclists (kinda puts a hole in the cyclists=homosexual theory, at least by Servatius journalistic research standards).
In all seriousness, as a retired military veteran, I have lived all over the country, and have traveled all over the world. The Charlotte/Lake Norman area is hands-down the best cycling I have experienced. Long, beautiful country roads, challenging climbs, unbelievable scenery, and a mild climate make this a cyclist’s paradise. We could be a “Mecca” for amateur cycling tourism, if we could all change our attitudes just a little. Our infrastructure does not support cycling (very few dedicated bike lanes, rural roads with no shoulder) and due to budget constraints, likely never will. Believe me, I used to be a cyclist hater. They should ride on the F’n sidewalk, I used to say…Until gas prices and personal budget constraints got me pedaling to work. I immediately recognized the enormous benefits to my health, mind, and spirit. I also realized what an ignorant fool I was to be so intolerant of something so beneficial and non-threatening. It doesn’t take much to give a cyclist some room, and contrary to Ms. Servatius, you will not get a ticket for crossing the double yellow line to do so. Cyclists also need to be more mindful and courteous, yes, there are definitely a few jackass cyclists out there…if you are a cyclist who thinks that riding 3-abreast at rush hour is OK, then you are a jackass. Of the cycling deaths that Ms. Servatius referred to, many were the result of riding at night with no lights, riding against traffic, and of all things, riding off a sidewalk into an intersection. There are plenty of websites dedicated to cycling safety, if you are even a casual cyclist you should look them up.
Maybe Ms. Servatius should also have articles about the evils of gun ownership (776 deaths by accidental discharge), swimming (3842 deaths by drowning), snow skiing (couldn’t find solid stats but it killed Sonny Bono and Natasha Richardson), not to mention SCUBA, hiking, and horseback riding (before you even respond, I am a long-time gun owner and the strongest supporter of the Second Amendment rights).
I understand that Ms. Servatius is not a journalist, but is merely a small-market conservative radio personality. Please don’t take her too seriously. But please, seriously, give the guy or girl on the bike some room, it’s not that big of a deal.
What I really want to know is, how did Tara get to be a overly-compensated mouthpiece for the Charlotte community?
I mean some people out here in the world actually believe what she writes.
And until that changes, I don’t expect common sense in regards to bicycle accommodation or any other topic of substance to make a return anytime soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O15DXv3Vwg
You idiots are really funny.
“Ms. Servatius is not a journalist”
“how did Tara get to be a overly-compensated mouthpiece for the Charlotte community?”
You fools may want to read her bio before you make any more dumb comments.
Servatius has won more than two-dozen state and national journalism awards for column writing and investigative reporting. Among her most recent was a first place news enterprise reporting award from the North Carolina Press Association about the weaknesses in Charlotte’s court system. Tara also recently won a national first place Green Eyeshade award for column writing from The Society of Professional Journalists.
BTW, by all means. Boycott Creative Loafing. That’ll be one less liberal rag in the world.
Bianchi Fan,
I would expect the basics of road travel and bicycles in general to be backwards compatible for such an accomplished individual..
You know, sort of like learning the basics of fire before becoming a fireman.
Hey I got an idea..
Let’s replace Tara with Miss teen S.C.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBR5MCz5srs
Bianchi Fan,
You reference her FACEBOOK PAGE??? Are you kidding me?! I mean really, cut and paste from her Facebook page.
She may have been a journalist at one point in her career, but I consider her no more a journalist than Rush Limbaugh or Rachel Maddow.
Lighten up and go for a ride…
Don’t forget that crack pot Glenn Beck!!!! How can all of these right wing nut jobs have time to write such ridiculous comments don’t you sally’s have a tea party to attend. I myself am headed out to ride my bike, unfortunately I will be in the dirt so you will not be able to take out your suburban frustrations out on me as I cause all of Charlotte’s traffic problems with my preferred mode of transportation. Maybee I will win an award with all of this ridiculous babble!! They obviously just give them away!!
My Facebook bio now says that I was awarded First Place Limerick from the Nantucket Association of Ear-F**kers.
I would love a copy of that award winning Limerick. Post it.
By the way Scrimshaw very well written reply above. Not the one about the indecent penetration of the ear.
Watch when gas prices get up to $10 a gallon how people will change their tune. I saw it when prices went to $5 too.
Another point to make that drivers don’t really see is that for just about every adult cyclist that’s on the road means that that’s one less car on the road. You think traffic is bad now? You think it’s going to be any better if all the cyclist were to drive?
Thanks for writing a rebuttal Ann on that rather weak rant.
Blah, blah, blah…first off, I ride on and off-road so I’m speaking with experience. Tara’s right. You ride on a two lane country road with double yellow lines and no shoulder at your own risk. Too many roadies in gay spandex who just bought the latest carbon fiber POS after watching the Tour de France are arrogant idiots.
“…in the Bicycle and Bikeways act of 1974, the North Carolina Department of Transportation recognized bicycling as a “bonafide highway purpose subject to the same rights and responsibilities” as motorized vehicles.”
Key word here is “responsibilities”. Riding in some roads is IRRESPONSIBLE! I don’t give a damn what the law says…there are idiots driving as well and I don’t think the law helps much AFTER you’ve been catapaulted by an Escalade doing 60 mph.
And lastly…lay off all the green crap and Smart Growth, etc. Just as the Lynx/McCrory line, cycling is like spitting in the ocean. As much as you Bohemians and nouveau Lance Armstrong wannabes like to think you’re in France…you’re NOT! If you like that lifestyle, fine…move there and quit your leftist whining about your freaking “cyclist rights”! Roads are built first and foremost for MOTORIZED VEHICLES…deal with it!
The Equalizer Says: Roads are built first and foremost for MOTORIZED VEHICLES…deal with it!
WRONG!
The History of the
League of American Bicyclists
The League began as the League of American Wheelmen (LAW) in 1880, and was responsible for defending the rights of cyclists from its start. The League of American Wheelmen is credited with getting paved roads in this country before the reign of the automobile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSROlfR7WTo
I am beginning to think that all the haters are more disturbed by the “gay spandex” than anything else. Could be indicative of repressed homosexuality. CL could probably help you find a group meeting for that. Good luck.
Ms. Servatius haas been drifting to the right for the last decade. Unfortunately, much of what she writes these days is drivel. There is a concept that itis much easier to constuct a negative argument than a positive one, so trying to argue with someone who only wants to tear down an argument as opposed to engaging in an honest debate is an exercise in futility.
The funnny thing is, while I am diametrically opposed to Ms. Servatius on mothings, I don’t disagree with her on everything. I don’t use East Boulevard often, so I don’t really know what is going on there, but I know that tearing up Elizabeth Avenue for street car tracks was absurd, and the idea of doing the same thing to the length of Central Avenue is insanity. The only thing the Elizabeth prooject did was to destabilize most of the businesses in the area. On the other hand, doing anything to encourage Charlotteans to use any alternative to automobiles for daily commmutes cannot be a bad thing. Bike lanes so that people who choose to ride them can do so more safely is not an exorbitant step to take. Itis, by the way, illegal to ride bicycles on city sidewalks.
With regard to the Booty riders, that is an event for charity, which has taken place for several years, is well-publicized as to when it will happen and the route, and is well supported by the Corporate community. The concept is TEAMS of people riding together. If you can’t share the road for one 24 hour period with a community supported and organized charity event that says more about the complainers than it does about the cyclists.
Everybody in the country needs to have more respect for others, even if we disagree with them. That is what the Christianity we so louder profess to believeinis all about.
Finally, given that Tara’s first article after Anthony Foxxwas elected was a diatribe about how Charlotte would automatically begin to lose white population and its status as a major city, it doesn’t surprise me that she will automatically attack anything she percieves him to support. If she ever supports him on anything, I will begin to give her credibility again.
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If any of you had been listening when Tara started this tirade on her show you would realize that it followed yet another cycling accident. In this case the cyclist was laying in the road in the dark, his friends admitantly having picked up the bike but not the cyclist. What sort of person picks up a bicycle out of the middle of the road before picking up the human being that has fallen off of it? There are so many blogs, cyclists advocates and other venues out there that are constantly waging war on drivers for being in their way, and claiming that they have every right to be on the public road as the drivers do. Excuse me but you do not! My tax dollars pay for that road every time that I fill up my SUV at the pump and every time that I renew the registration on my vehicles. Show me a cyclists license that states that he is aware of the rules of the road, show me where a cyclist is paying a yearly vehicle registration to be on the road, show me the receipts with all of the taz dollars that they are spending for the maintenance and upkeep of the roads, show me the cyclist insurance that covers the thousands of dollars spent on the bikes and the even greater amount to cover their injuries and funerals. None of this exists.
At the same time, that you are blasting drivers about not being safe, motorcyclists are being hit on a regular basis in this country. And in almost every situation the first thing out of the media, government and other activist groups is that motorcycles are unsafe. As a motorcycle rider I pay my dues. My registration is renewed every year, I pay the fuel tax for the upkeep of the road, I am insured not only covering my monetary investment in my motorcycle but also for any bodily harm that comes to me or anyone else that I might hit (and by law even for those that are uninsured themselves), I have a license proving that I have taken the test and shown my understanding of the rules of the road and that I know how to operate the vehicle which I am driving.
The facts are the facts…American roads were not designed with cyclists in mind. Go to the engineers of any of the municipalities around and you will see that there was no consideration for cyclists when the roads were developed and the rules of the road were decided on. Yes, there is a lot of catching up being done in this city and around the nation to make the roads safer for cyclists and unlike Tara I do not begrudge this at all. But I do take offense to the “hollier then thou” attitude and the attitude of I deserve to be here as much as you do so you can just wait and go 20 miles below the posted speed limit until I get where I am going, that more and more cyclists seem to be taking. Show some common courtesy on the road, if you are not going the posted speed limit move over as far as possible, if you fall..get yourself or your friend out of harms way before worrying about the bike.