An Inconvenient Convenience
The case against campus bicyclists
Kevin O'Rourke, President and Publisher
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Culture
Pennington's 2006 High Traffic Bicycling (HTB) report claims "bicycling has grown exponentially for two reasons: youth rebellionism and global warming." Pennington believes that college aged rebellious types, who buy ironic vintage Macys' t-shirts and torn Abercrombie and Fitch jeans, were looking for "new ways to stick it to the man" and bicycles were a way to do that.
The number of bicyclists started climbing in the mid-90s, but skyrocketed after Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth hit theaters. "The Greenies have always ridden bicycles, but once Gore's movie came out and going green became cheek, thousands more joined the alternative transportation movement," the HTB reports.
Dr. Pennington's original study, Biking on College Campuses: A Simple Alternative to Walking to Class, divided the biking population into three groups: poor college students who couldn't afford a car, new youth rebels, and green revolutionists. But, with the sudden surge of bicyclists via An Inconvenient Truth, the groups have became irreversibly intertwined which led to Dr. Pennington's second study where he found it fitting to create one super group - the High Traffic Bicyclists.
He has since split the HTBs into two sub groups: Main Road Cyclists and Sidewalk Cyclists. For the first time anywhere, The Sentinel provides you an exclusive in-depth profile on the HTB sub-groups, which according to Pennington, "Are equally annoying in their own obnoxious ways."
MAIN ROAD CYCLISTS
The Main Road Cyclists refuse to ride on the sidewalk. They believe they have the same right to the road as a person driving a car. They drive well under the legal speed limit, and they would probably die instantaneously if they were in a serious accident with a car - but, you cannot take away their God-given right to ride their bike in the street. Not only do they live and die by this 'street' credo, they also feel that motorists constantly "diss" them. Magazines and websites dedicated to cyclists are filled with long-winded complaints about disrespectful motorists. Things like, "I was riding the wrong way and a car almost hit me" or "I didn't signal and the guy bumped me from behind."
The number of bicyclists started climbing in the mid-90s, but skyrocketed after Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth hit theaters. "The Greenies have always ridden bicycles, but once Gore's movie came out and going green became cheek, thousands more joined the alternative transportation movement," the HTB reports.
Dr. Pennington's original study, Biking on College Campuses: A Simple Alternative to Walking to Class, divided the biking population into three groups: poor college students who couldn't afford a car, new youth rebels, and green revolutionists. But, with the sudden surge of bicyclists via An Inconvenient Truth, the groups have became irreversibly intertwined which led to Dr. Pennington's second study where he found it fitting to create one super group - the High Traffic Bicyclists.
He has since split the HTBs into two sub groups: Main Road Cyclists and Sidewalk Cyclists. For the first time anywhere, The Sentinel provides you an exclusive in-depth profile on the HTB sub-groups, which according to Pennington, "Are equally annoying in their own obnoxious ways."
MAIN ROAD CYCLISTS
The Main Road Cyclists refuse to ride on the sidewalk. They believe they have the same right to the road as a person driving a car. They drive well under the legal speed limit, and they would probably die instantaneously if they were in a serious accident with a car - but, you cannot take away their God-given right to ride their bike in the street. Not only do they live and die by this 'street' credo, they also feel that motorists constantly "diss" them. Magazines and websites dedicated to cyclists are filled with long-winded complaints about disrespectful motorists. Things like, "I was riding the wrong way and a car almost hit me" or "I didn't signal and the guy bumped me from behind."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Michael Fisher
posted 4/09/08 @ 8:22 AM NA
Some observations.
Regarding the legality of riding in the street with traffic.
Unless Ohio is considerably different from most states, bicycles have a perfect legal right to be in the street, with the cars. (Continued…)
John Jones
posted 4/09/08 @ 8:44 AM NA
Hey Kevin,
I hope that your article is meant to be humourous.
Because if you seriously think "Here's to hoping the aforementioned James takes out enough bicyclists to help us all rest a little easier. (Continued…)
Bill Gort
posted 4/18/08 @ 4:13 AM NA
The following state law guarantees the right of bicyclists to use all of the roads that are used by automobiles with the exception of freeways.
4511. (Continued…)
Lindsay Ciulla
posted 5/25/08 @ 6:34 PM NA
Way to be positive.
This is the most asinine article I have read in a long time, and it only serves to further the tension between cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians. (Continued…)
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