Are we there yet?

A while ago, I came across the following quote:

In order to protect society from bad ideas, a new idea goes through several phases before it is accepted by society. When a new idea is first presented, it is often just ignored. Later, as it begins to get noticed, it is ridiculed. And next, when it is perceived as a legitimate and possible change, it is attacked. Finally, the new idea is assimilated."

This is one of those statements that makes a light bulb go on over your head. Think about the curious smirks that appear on the faces of people when you tell them you cycle to wok. Or about the various comments, ranging from derisive to abusive, hurled at cyclists by drivers passing by them at high rates of speed. Consider the extreme anti-cyclist reactions voiced by some after a cyclist fatality in traffic. Or the Critical Mass rides, and the anger they sometimes provoke.

These reactions may actually be good news.

Surely, bicycling for transportation is no longer ignored. No longer is it associated with a fringe segment of older guys sporting colander-shaped helmets, pedaling their 10-speeds with pant legs tucked into their tube socks. Those guys were not perceived as a threat to anybody. But they sure paved the way.

We are now past that stage. We are still sometimes ridiculed. But the ridicule now usually comes from individuals so far removed from the mainstream of life, they are just beginning to notice us. Mostly, we are also past ridicule.

We often seem to make people angry. Is this a good thing? Generally, I don't think that anger is a helpful step in creating mutual understanding. But it may be inevitable. If we accept the logic of the passage quoted above, anger may be a natural phase we must pass through before our views are accepted. And the good news is that it is the last stage before assimilation. Which means we're almost there.

It is probably best to avoid deliberately making people mad. But sometimes anger will inevitably result as a consequence of our actions. And if we believe those actions to be right and just, then we should not avoid them, though they may incite anger in some. Possibly the best way to defend against and respond to that type of anger is to ignore it, and to make sure that our actions are in every respect legal and beyond reproach, so as not to be accused of outright provocation.

Although uninformed drivers may sometimes instruct me to get on the sidewalk with my bike, I now I am a strictly law-abiding cyclist. I want other road users to accept me as a legitimate vehicle operator, and therefore, I follow their rules whenever I can do so without jeopardizing my safety. Even if their comments rile me, I know I am well within my rights.

At the same time, I am not insensitive to the fact that current laws do little to truly protect cyclists, nor are they uniformly enforced. For example, intersections are designed for cars, not pedestrians or smaller vehicles. The only place in Chicago I know of where pedestrians truly have the right of way, is Downtown, where their number alone ensures they won't be run over by turning vehicles (talk about critical mass!). For cyclists, no intersection is safe.

If street planners are truly concerned for cyclists' safety, then crossings should be modified to recognize cyclists and give them the right of way. If they believe that cyclists should exist alongside cars, then lowered speed limits, designated bike lanes and other traffic-calming measures could go a long way toward making cyclist feel safer. But none of these improvements will do any good without rigorous driver and cyclist education. And beyond education, there needs to be enforcement. After all, if you can get away with using the bike lane as a passing lane, then why not?

In the last ten years, we've seen an explosion of cycling facilities in Chicago. But education and enforcement are still lacking. As cyclists become an increasingly common sight on city streets, and rules regarding them are widely known and understood, I believe tolerance will evolve, and anger give way to mutual acceptance and respect.

Fingers crossed.

Comments

[ishkadebble]

Interesting quote and observations. I certainly have experienced the ridicule and anger! Here's hoping we are getting closer to the tolerance phase of things. I live for the time when mutual acceptance and respect become the norm!

[Matt]

Hey, thanks so much for this post. Literally about an hour ago I was riding my bike home in the rain from my job at a local music club. An oncoming SUV slowed down, the driver honked his horn, and a few loud expletives were hurled my way. For a moment I was stunned. Then I was furious. Saying nothing, I drew my ulock from my bag and began pedaling furiously at the SUV. When I am calm, I understand that violence rarely solves anything. I was not calm and fully intended to inflict a few thousand dollars in damage to the car and maybe liberate some of the asshole's teeth from his mouth. My reaction must've scared the hell out of the SUV driver, as he immediately floored it and sped away. His intoxication was obvious as he was barely able to keep his vehicle on the road, much less maintain his lane.

Sitting here, I've been decompressing and thinking about the pointlessness of the anger and resentment of cyclists. Cycling is such an obvious solution to the problems of traffic, pollution, and reliance on oil that the resentment of cyclists by drivers is enough to make one really depressed about the nature of humanity.

This post has given me at least some hope that things are changing.

[Justyna]

What is hard for me to understand is why do some people care so much about what you do?! If the guy wants to drive, let him drive. If you want to bike, why not just let you bike? It's no skin off his nose.
Congratulations on not letting your anger get the best of you. That's hard thing to do.