Another weekend and another bunch of bicyclists traversing Lake County roadways. A lot of people don't like 'em. As in the following missive The Hound received. A warning: The Hound is only the messenger here, so don't go ballistic. This probably represents what a lot of people think. Then again, it may not.
"This is aimed at a group that would be chagrined to see themselves in this unfavorable mirror, or to know the joke that they have become.
"Just who are these obnoxious self-centered twits who have for years ridden their bicycles on Hunt Club Road on Sunday mornings? I have ridden my bicycle for decades and I am embarrassed to even be associated with their clueless and boorish behavior.
"Two-wheel riders (I am both a bicyclist and motorcyclist) have long had a program of 'share the road' aimed at automobiles. But share the road is a two-way street requiring courtesy and common sense from both drivers and riders.
"It means you obey the traffic laws and display common courtesy. Just because you have a large number of riders does not allow you to blow through stop signs and run red lights. It is also stupid and dangerous to use your huge pack to block the entire lane and pile up autos behind you.
"I am a high-level executive. These parties exhibit a long list of clues for the exact people I try to keep out of my organization: Rude, obnoxious, self-centered and clueless is just a start.
"Their need to act like a pack means they will be the same in the workplace. Self-serving group think is not how we maintain a highly profitable, world-leading company (and thriving as an American manufacturer). And to be a little impish myself, paying absurdly high prices for clown outfits with someone else's ads emblazoned all over does not indicate these are people to whom I would like to give budget authority.
"Our area has some wonderful bike trails. If you can't use reasonable behavior on the highway, move to the bike trails.
"My name is withheld as I doubt these people have much of a sense of humor and I would feel bad if I accidentally offended a customer, vendor or (heaven forbid) a local authority."
The Hound thinks the writer feels better and it might be cheaper than analysis.
I'm a bicyclist, too, sometimes commuting to work by bike. I take the car and drive out to the Robert McClory trail and then bike the rest of the way via trail. It doesn't save much gas but it's good exercise. I'd rather bike all the way from the house, but I'm taking my life into my hands riding a bicycle on many of the Lake County roads.
That being said, I'm tired of seeing these gaggles of two-wheeled, brightly-colored circus clowns (that's what their outfits remind me of) riding in packs instead of single file and riding through red lights in clear violation of the rules of the road. If they want respect, they need to pay more heed to safety and sharing the road and less to what they wear.
THE HOUND SAYS: Fashionista bicyclists! Who would have thought?
How about Boorish drivers? I have seen so many more rude, obnoxious, erratic drivers than cyclists. I am sure these comments come from the same people that sit on their fat butts, and throw cigarette butts out the window. Get a life.
THE HOUND SEZ: Renee: "And when I see the sign that points one way; The light we used to pass by every day." Renee, don't walk away, just ride.
Just yesterday, I was heading to church when the light turned green. I went to step on the gas when this bicyclist rides right in front of me, causing me to slam on my brakes. Not only did she not follow the light, she was riding on the road in the wrong direction. This person was completely oblivious to me, but I almost changed their life forever because they couldn't follow the rules. I love to ride my bike, but I was always taught to follow the traffic rules when on the road. Why do people ignore them at their own peril? I sure hope she made it home in one piece.
THE HOUND SAYS: Yes, but was she wearing a nice biking outfit?
Twice in the last year I have had problems with them not stopping for stop signs.
The first was on a country road at a four-way stop. With all the trees around I couldn’t see him coming. When I was leaving the stop sign this bicyclist blasts thru the intersection turning right in front of me. All the way to the yellow line, then cutting back in front of me to ride the shoulder of the road.
The second time happened at another four-way stop with cars sitting at each stop sign waiting their turn. When it’s my turn, here come two bicyclists from behind the car to my right and cross the intersection in front of me without stopping.
Bicyclists are becoming a real problem along our roads. Are the police issuing bicyclist tickets for their infractions? They seem to think they are above the law.
I think its time for the state to require bicyclists to buy license plates. Then we would have a way to report them to the authorities. With the added revenue from license plate sales, maybe we could widen the shoulder of the roads and create more bicycle lanes.
THE HOUND SAYS: Not stopping at traffic control devices, stop signs and signals, is a common complaint about weekend bicyclists, which is why many a motorists considers them boorish. Also, licensing bicyclists is an excellent idea. Why didn't Rod Blagojevich or MIke Madigan come up with that as another revenue enhancement measure?