These three short videos from the New York City Department of Transportation remind cyclists not to be a “joyk.”
The cycling sins they illustrate might seem obvious, hence rare; yet I witness them every day in my own neighbourhood. I’m not shy about calling out such behaviour. Cyclists have enough unwarranted hatred directed our way, without jerks on bicycles whipping up more.
At this time of year, we should also mention riding after dark without lights … which is not so much the behaviour of a jerk as a fool.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmn1Cc8bx0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjt5BHcgYYw[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsCncAdwdIg[/youtube]
Do you have a bike jerk complaint, or do you think these ads unfairly target cyclists in a world of jerks in cars? Please leave a comment below.
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The videos make a good point – I see folks do this every week, it seems. But how about some videos about turning left in front of bikes, U-turning from the curb lane, and popping a door on a cyclist? Only seems fair.
Yup! I like their “bike smart” videos, but it would be good to see some “drive smart” equivalents.
Incidentally, like your site. I play blues harp.
Given that we have now reached 7 billion potential cyclists, we have to accept the JERK ratio. That is for every 100 kind considerate souls, there are a few jerks! Being a jerk is not genetic, but learned behaviour. Rude behavior by any segment of the driving or riding public reflects badly on others. Watch what you do, others are watching also! Reality is, your behavior could be on YouTube
Too true, Lee. We, at least those of us with access, are participating in a giant panopticon–as the Stanley Cup riots illustrated.
More and more people are carrying surveillance devices, otherwise known as smart-phones. I’m just a tweet away from the local police, and often use Twitter to report dangerous motorists. Just a couple of days ago, I used that method to report an idiot on a crotch-rocket, weaving through traffic on a busy thoroughfare.
I like the ‘celebrity’ factor they used (although I don’t know the last one).
Seeing as this comes from NYC, it does perhaps unfairly target cyclists (assuming they haven’t done this in the past for cars/pedestrians). It seems in any major city (or in my case smaller city), pedestrians walk out in the middle of any road without looking (too busy with their phones or MP3 players), and car drivers in NYC are arguably some of the most aggressive.
To think there aren’t jerks on every side would be naive and foolish.
Having said that I don’t mind calling out bad cyclists, though I also think with more enforcement of the laws directed at cyclists, it’s probably time to re-think the laws all together, as most laws directed at cars shouldn’t apply to bicycles.
Biggest pet peeve is riding against traffic. I see this every now and then and it drives me crazy. Seeing cars coming at me would scare the bejesus out of me. I don’t have an issue with riding against traffic on quieter one-way streets and believe the laws should be changed to allow this.
I do see many cyclists riding at night/morning without lights or reflectors which is bothersome. However I’m also seeing a number of cars driving with no lights on (early morning). Just yesterday between 6:45-7am, I counted 8 cars on a 2km trip with no lights on.
My biggest annoyance with police enforcement is targeting those without bells. Although I have one, I see no point (other then to warn small animals on the road) in having a bell. I don’t ride on the sidewalk. We don’t have many multi-use pathways, and the ones we do I’m almost never on. Motorists aren’t going to hear a bell.
When I was pulled over earlier this year, after about 15 minutes of questioning why I had I camera, he (the cop) realized he had nothing on me, so he thought he’d go with the “easy ticket” and ask if I had a bell (which wasn’t originally why I was pulled over). Back fired on him…
When I questioned him if he randomly pulls over cars to check for working horns, he declined to comment. An old friend who works at an auto body shop here said about 20% of the cars he deals with, don’t have working horns.
I agree especially on the bell issue. I’ve never used one.
My voice is a whole lot louder than any bell. They can come in handy on shared trails … though, again, a polite warning works as well.
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