Don't hate me because I drive a car

Bicycles are no match for cars and trucks. But on L.A. streets, it seems like growing numbers of bike riders are taking on many of the most arrogant and annoying habits of their gas and diesel guzzling counterparts. The blogger known as El Chavo on the Eastside Blog describes an unpleasant encounter with L.A.'s new "Bike Kulture" while driving very slowly behind a rider on Monte Vista Street in Highland Park.

"She proceeded to reach into her backpack to look for something, slowing down to a crawl as she pretended to rummage through her stuff for that one thing she needed immediately. Even though she could have easily pulled over to the right (there weren’t even any cars parked on this stretch) she stayed in the middle of the traffic lane as if to prove some point, and never pulled anything out. Yeah, I get it, I’m the chump going 5 mph because you hate my transportation."

El Chavo, also a bike rider, is quick to point out that many bike advocates wouldn't condone this kind of behavior. But El Chavo fears inconsiderate bike "idealogues" will ruin it for everyone.

"If you’re trying to get people out of their cars, doesn’t it make sense to play nice and share the road with the rest of us?"

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Gil Mahoney]

If people are inconsiderate behind the wheel of a car they are likely inconsiderate on a bicycle.

[Ironman Carmichael]

Aren't motorists wonderful? I reserve the right to run over your dog, your child, or to knock cyclists off the road because this is Los Angeles where God is spelled C-A-R. But goodness gracious, don't hate me.

[BAby Bibble]

Oh come ON "Ironman" don't be a retard. It is perfectly fine to drive a car if you're going to be considerate and perfectly WRONG to ride a bike if you're going to hold up traffic for half an hour.

[skd]

It's just the convulsions of the LA Car Culture in its death throes.
Let's face it, cars have been inconsiderate for over 60 years.
How many car drivers slow to an excruciating crawl when they are talking on their cellphone or putting on make-up.
Gas is going to reach $5 a gallon this summer. Hope everyone has lots of cash.
The car culture was born in LA....and now it is dying. The new "Bike Kulture" is the future. Whether you like it or not.

[Freeway Cyclist]

Don't hate me because i ride a bike faster than you on the freeway.

[No Roadrage Here]

1. There is no evidence or reason to presume that a person rummaging through a backpack was some militant bike activist out to prove a point. What kind of a moron automatically jumps to that conclusion?

2. If a bicyclist looking through a backpack is considered "rude" by people in cars, shall we talk about road rage and highway shootings? I've never heard of a bicyclist shooting another bicyclist in the head because one cut the other off on the biketrail. Only people in motor vehicles are so self-centered and violent.

[jtk]

Please, it's rude to stop in the middle of the street. Pull that ass over. She's no different than a driver who slows down and double parks to take care of some random crap, forcing drivers to pass by driving into the oncoming traffic.

You bikers who defend her are a--h----, by self-association.

(I'm a lifelong cyclist, have done critical mass, and advocated for bikers. If you want to be considered traffic, behave like traffic, not like jerks who hold up the traffic,)