I saw this article about bicycles needing to stay out of the road on statenews.com a while ago. I’m pretty sure it came through bikeportland. I skimmed it, tagged it as another righteous idiot, and moved on. A thread showed up on point83 today and I went back. I get it, it’s a college paper, and this likely to be full of “Fuck yeah!” yelling asshats whose entitlement filled youth is now empowered by the impression that they’re college education makes their opinions informative. All the same, this isn’t Shelly The Republican, this is “college news”.

I’m frustrated by new specific laws popping up, it’s contrary to my pro-liberty beliefs. No cell phones while driving, no texting while driving. That Zack argues that killing someone wouldn’t be his fault because he was busy texting, thus not paying attention and they were in his way underscores the lack of personal responsibility that’s taken hold in so many. This only creates a larger movement for more of these irrelevant laws. “He wouldn’t have died if texting while driving was illegal”. Sure, but isn’t being a fucktard called reckless endangerment or something these days? Vehicular manslaughter?

I enjoy the argument that goes, “My concern is not merely about inconvenience. [there was a bicyclist in my way, so I did something unsafe to avoid being inconvenienced by their speed, thus creating an unsafe situation, and it was totally their fault. Man.]”

But roads are for cars, not bicyclists.

Bicycles traditionally have a right to the road. Sidewalks (with the exception of Multi-Use Paths) are rarely designed with bicycle traffic in mind, and often unsafe for bicycle operation. Just last night I was complaining about the overwhelming tendency of people (particularly in college debate) to make arguments and statements based on magic fairy dust. I’m willing to bet this is borne from, “I’ve always driven my car on the road, and I see cars on the road, theretofore, that’s what roads are for.” with absolutely no consideration put into actual transportation design.

I get it, bicyclists — you’re in the Tour de France.

I get it, driver – you’re in a Nascar race. That totally fucking explains the spoiler on the back of your sedan.

And the capstone argument? Most of the drivers on campus speed, so bicyclists are creating a dangerous situation.

Right, not merely about inconvenience. Shut the fuck up and get off the internet.

edit to add: Great mockery, Zack’s website.
“Major: International Relations and Journalism”.