The Jackassery of Traffic Laws

man.under.stress — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:01:33 +0000

So fucking what. Traffic laws were intended for cars, face it. Bike infractions- running through red lights, stops signs (puhleez), are effectively tantamount to inane pedestrian offenses like jaywalking. As long as a cyclist is riding accountably, who cares about traffic laws made for bigger, dumber vehicles. Anyone that thinks bikers need to obey traffic laws has never been on a bike or experienced the reality of bicycle commuting. I understand that it would be a safer world if we all wore helmets and waited for Mary Poppins to cue us to cross the street but this reality is unlikely. So let’s choose a more pragmatic one. When was the last time you stopped fully at a stop sign in a car? When I hit a red light biking on an uphill, you sure as fuck better bet I’m going to run it to keep my wheels rolling and my struggle against gravity continuing. And of course I’m going to make sure the coast is clear first! On a bike this much easier to do than in a car. One has much more peripheral vision and also agility, and the ability to start and stop quicker. I find most of the time that I am passing cars in city traffic, and that THEY are like giant cumbersome animals, distracted by their cell phones and limited visibility. Plus I can get from one side of Atlanta to the other in 10 fucking minutes on a bike with one gear. So fuck you.

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The Jackassery of Traffic Laws