GET ON THE FUCKIN SIDEWALK!

"GET ON THE SIDEWALK!" I hate when people yell stupid things at me from passing cars when I'm riding my bike. Me and my favorite riding friend Shawn had a guy who was crossing the street on foot yell "GET ON THE FUCKING SIDEWALK!!!" at us right after we passed him. What a dickhole! Wait until the cyclists ride by, THEN yell something stupid at them. I guess he thought at that point if we were offended enough we'd have to turn around and ride back to continue the dialog and maybe by that time he could've ran if he needed to? I wish I could personally talk to anyone and everyone who thinks that everyone (including adults!!!) should "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!!!!!" while riding their bikes. I'd ask them if they ever walk on a sidewalk? Or do they ever turn there cars into shopping centers where there's a sidewalk? Or can they actually see the sidewalk when they drive? If we rode on sidewalks it would be dangerous... FOR EVERYONE!!!!! When I'm taking a leisurely stroll on foot down a sidewalk relaxed arms swinging by my sides, mind wandering over 50 things, watching geese that are eating whatever it is they dig out of grassy areas, the last thing I'd want is a cyclist flying by me at 20mph, whether they ring a bell or honk a squeezee horn from 50 feet away to warn me or not. I wouldn't want it to happen. I don't want to have to watch out for cyclers passing me on the sidewalk. I also wouldn't want to stop in traffic that's moving 45-50 mph to wait for a cyclist to cross the intersection of a sidewalk or play the you-go-NO-YOU-GO! game while traffic behind me is trying to figure out why I'm stopped. No thanks. I'd rather the cyclers just ride in the street and shuck and jive with the cars.

The next day after I typed up that post, when i was riding to work, I had two separate drivers yell "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!" while they drove by me. The second one was a lady who sounded so agitated and annoyed by me riding in the street her tone of voice was kinda saying "I KEEP YELLING AT YOU ASSHOLES ON BIKES BUT YOU KEEP RIDING IN THE ROAD!" Like it was something that she'd figured out and was sharing it with us, but we JUST AREN'T LISTENING!

It's interesting to me the mentality of the assholes we share this society/city/community/state/country/world with, the idea that it's okay to very loudly and publicly display your dissatisfaction with someone who isn't doing anything wrong, but is just "in the way". If someone is in the lane your traveling in and not traveling in the same type of vehicle you're traveling in, and they're moving kinda slow, instead of safely passing them by slowing down a little and moving to the edge of the lane and passing, just scream at them and tell them to get the fuck out of your way. They shouldn't be in your way, right? Because you've gone through the incredibly difficult process of getting a drivers license and you've paid for your automobile or are making payments and (HOPEFULLY!!!!) your auto insurance and now you've got the right to the road and to not have some asshole slowing you down when you're driving from point "A" to point "B" as they say. If it's another driver that's driving slow, honk your horn and yell at them. Tell them to get the fuck out of your way! Are they doing the speed limit? Yes?!?! YELL AT THEM! TELL THEM TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF YOUR WAY!!! WHO DOES THE SPEED LIMIT!?!?!?!?! We can't have people trying to cross the street either! Someone's trying to cross the street when you're trying to turn right on a red light? THEY'RE SLOWING YOU DOWN!!! YELL AT THEM!!! HONK AT THEM!!!!! TELL THEM TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF YOUR WAY!!!!! They shouldn't be walking where you're trying to drive!!! THEY ARE SLOWING YOU DOWN!!!

and where are we going in such a fucking hurry anyway? To the grocery store? To buy something at a retail store? Could we get to the store in 45 more seconds and still have the same great quality of life that the average American enjoys? I think so.

Sean's bicycles update: I just recently put together my new commuter/go everywhere bicycle. It's a 1987 Trek Elance 400T. I had my friend/bike mechanic extraordinaire Nathan build a 650B wheelset for it with the hubs that were originally on my Bridgestone and I can't say enough great things about my new cushy super comfy tires! I wish all bikes fit tires 32mm or wider! It's just a whole different world. The end.