http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LessIsMore/message/6255 currently is: From: gbarrett@ccil.org Date: Thu Dec 5, 2002 11:56 pm Subject: Re: [LessIsMore] My husband is becoming a fanatic "A woman was standing outside the door smoking a cigarette. "Isn't it too cold to be riding a bicycle?" she asked incredulously. My husband, who took etiquette lessons on the web from David, said, "Obviously not. I'm *here*, aren't I?"" Good story, Diane. I think it interesting that a woman is standing outside in the cold -- just standing, SMOKING (which actually reduces blood flow to the extremities) -- and questioning whether someone ELSE should be exercising (riding a bicycle) in the cold. About your husband's being in the right as a pedestrian, you might ask your husband if he would like that engraved on his gravestone should a similar situation arise again. But you might check your highway laws first. In our area, a biker on a public road must observe most laws of the highway that automobile drivers observe -- including who has the right of way. Gary Barrett Quoting "Fitzsimmons, Diane" : > Yes, another my-husband-is-riding-a-bicycle story. > > I've noticed more and more that my husband is really getting into his > bicycle. He's starting to display all the worst characteristics of an > arrogant driver -- and I'm exaggerating only a little. > > Last week we were making a shopping trip. I was on my bike; he was on his > bike and pulling the empty trailer. We tend to be like "pedestrians" (on > sidewalks and using crosswalks) in really heavy and fast traffic. We > crossed the east-west crosswalk, and then my husband immediately made a > right turn and went across the north-south crosswalk. The traffic all ways > was at a stop, as it was supposed to be a left-turn-only time. When my > husband began across the north-south crosswalk, there was no car in the > left-hand lane. But by the time he was about halfway across, here came > a car. The driver was extremely perturbed at having to stop for him and > honked at him > > When I eventually caught up with him, I asked him whose fault that was. > "It doesn't matter. Pedestrians always have the right of way." > > "That is not much comfort when the other person is driving a two-ton > car." > > "If they hit me, it will be their fault." > > "Yes! But you'll be dead! You're starting to sound like those fanatics > on the car-free list-serv who think any driver who causes a vehicular > death should be charged with first-degree murder." > > My husband was intrigued by that idea and asked to know more. I explained > that these people believe that causing a vehicular death was similar to > a person who waves a gun around and shoots it in a crowd. The person may > not have intended any deaths but was showing such lack of regard for human > life it was still first degree. > > I noticed a gleam in his eye. That means it's an idea he is rolling > around in his head. > > Yesterday he *was* hit by a car, although it was definitely not his fault. > A cable-guy truck just rolled into him at a stop. Neither my husband or > the bike was hurt, but you better believe I've been onto him to be careful. > > But it is a tension out there when riding a bike. It seems like some > drivers are *too* careful -- such as sitting and sitting and sitting even > though it's their turn to go and then motioning you to go on -- while > others are too eager to get past us -- rolling a stop so they can get a > jump on getting past a bicycle. > > And I must admit I am getting tired of people like the one in this story > my husband told me today. It's in the 30s and pretty nasty out, but my > husband rode the bike to the library. A woman was standing outside the door > smoking a cigarette. "Isn't it too cold to be riding a bicycle?" she asked > incredulously. My husband, who took etiquette lessons on the web from > David, said, "Obviously not. I'm *here*, aren't I?" > > I often get questions like that from co-workers. "You're not going to > ride in this weather, are you?" > > I don't know if I mentioned that my husband has lost 8 pounds since he > began riding, so he has even more motivation. > > I will keep you posted. > > Diane Fitzsimmons > Norman, Okla. > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://webmail.ccil.org, a free service offered by Chester County InterLink .