Comments on: 09/11/2012 – Where Allegiances Lie

By: SSSully

SSSully — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:37:54 +0000

Perhaps “Nanny” never had a bicycle of her own or learned how to ride one? Her appearance says born early last century when only kids with money had bicycles. If so, maybe there is jealousy that displays as anger. Quick! Someone give Nanny a bike and teach her to ride!

By: Jennifer Kubicki

Jennifer Kubicki — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:40:17 +0000

Just yesterday, as per usual days, I witnessed a motorist honk loudly at a pedestrian who was trying to cross the street at a cross walk and it was her right-of-way. He was trying to turn right. As he honked, he crept close to her. God. There is an entire culture of Nanny States here in Jacksonville to contend with. I’m anxious to see how this new obstacle fairs for the Kickstand clan.

By: Robmin

Robmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:02:22 +0000

I’ve been riding in Poland for decades, before and after the demise of the People’s Republic. I usually ride 10,000 km annually, with 50% of this commuting. It is very rare that I’ve had any road rage incidents that seem to be so common in the States. My 6 year old daughter and I completed a 240 km mini tour in 3 days with 90% on peaceful country roads. We were honked at twice, but the drivers were being polite and maybe were giving us some warning before passing our tandem. All the major cities have a loaner bike program. The recent changes to the rules of the road are very beneficial to cyclists, allowing us to legally ride two abreast on country roads and protecting our rights to ride.

Sport cycling is enjoying a renaissance in Poland and there really is no stigma, unless you try wearing small size lycra, on being a cyclist. The Czech and Slovak Republics are cycle crazed and their tourist information offices tout the terrain as bike friendly.

By: Widsith

Widsith — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 23:52:36 +0000

I didn’t bother getting a drivers’ license until I was 18, and continued riding my bike whenever possible even after I could drive. My friends (most of whom had gotten their licenses a couple of years earlier, as soon as they were old enough) thought I was crazy. In the US at least, abandoning your bike and driving a car often is seen as one of the milestones in passing from childhood into adulthood. It’s no wonder some people look down on them as toys.

By: Cyclingforslack

Cyclingforslack — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:16:49 +0000

Even adults can make them seem like toys, when the rider is dressed like a super hero it’s hard not to imagine why. The problem is that people don’t think about it as transportation. And here in Richmond, it’s almost as fast as getting around with a car because all most all the in city roads are only 25 mph.

By: Zorba

Zorba — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:15:17 +0000

There *is* the possibility she’s the opposite – a Fascist Theocratic Nanny State ™. We’ll find out if/when she pulls a Bible out of her purse…

By: BlindPilot

BlindPilot — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:59:28 +0000

Thank you, sir!

I wonder how this Ms. Nanny State would feel about being called a socialist liberal?

By: Zorba

Zorba — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:39:46 +0000

Always glad to oblige: Repeat after me: “The Socialist-Liberal Nanny State!”.

By: yolanda

yolanda — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:03:11 +0000

Yes, it’s true, and it’s the reason why cycling isn’t built into the infrastructure during road construction as it should be.

By: yolanda

yolanda — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:01:15 +0000

I brought a folder with me to vegas and instead of riding around town (convention kept me busy) it wound up being a luggage trolley and a fast way to get my dogs to the patch of allowable ground at the end of the parkade. It’s got a rack so I strapped a box style dog seat onto the rack and popped both little dogs in there for the ride. Boy didn’t I get looks! I couldn’t ride it through the lobby every time and by the end of my stay the security were making a point of preventing me from it…. Still, a bike is useful!