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xaaraDear Imbeciles who Drive Two-Ton Heaps of Steel,
I am a biker. This means that I ride a frame of metal on two wheels. The whole ensemble weighs, at least in my case, twenty-four pounds. Combined with my weight, this comes to something around 150 pounds.
If you hit me, I will die.
Therefore, let me refresh your memory of some of the basic rules of the road. When I place my left arm behind me and to the side, palm back, that means I am about to slow down and stop. This is most likely because there is a stop sign or red light ahead. Stop signs and red lights are rules, not suggestions. Once I stop, this is not your opportunity to creep up along my left side so that when we start again you can merrily clip me with your side-view mirror. No, this is your chance to show that you are not an asshole! Pretend I'm a car--it's hard, but I'm sure you can do it--and keep your distance.
When I place my left arm (a) straight out to my left, or (b) in an L shape directly left of my shoulder, I will be turning left or right respectively. Although I know your first instinct will be to cut me off in an attempt to put another notch on your dashboard, resist! I promise I'll make the turn as quickly as possible if you promise not to bankrupt my insurance company by plastering me to the blacktop.
Finally, if you see me attempting to turn onto a street, try decelerating to let me in instead of slowing down when you see me (there is good in you--I can feel it!), speeding up once you realize that I can't do anything but wait helplessly, and then slowing down again once you've passed me.
With a simple adherence to these few rules, you and your non-renewable-resource-guzzling behemoth can avoid both killing people on a daily basis and being killed in your sleep by those who, like me, are sick of being run onto the sidewalk.
Warm Regards,
Carmen
I am a biker. This means that I ride a frame of metal on two wheels. The whole ensemble weighs, at least in my case, twenty-four pounds. Combined with my weight, this comes to something around 150 pounds.
If you hit me, I will die.
Therefore, let me refresh your memory of some of the basic rules of the road. When I place my left arm behind me and to the side, palm back, that means I am about to slow down and stop. This is most likely because there is a stop sign or red light ahead. Stop signs and red lights are rules, not suggestions. Once I stop, this is not your opportunity to creep up along my left side so that when we start again you can merrily clip me with your side-view mirror. No, this is your chance to show that you are not an asshole! Pretend I'm a car--it's hard, but I'm sure you can do it--and keep your distance.
When I place my left arm (a) straight out to my left, or (b) in an L shape directly left of my shoulder, I will be turning left or right respectively. Although I know your first instinct will be to cut me off in an attempt to put another notch on your dashboard, resist! I promise I'll make the turn as quickly as possible if you promise not to bankrupt my insurance company by plastering me to the blacktop.
Finally, if you see me attempting to turn onto a street, try decelerating to let me in instead of slowing down when you see me (there is good in you--I can feel it!), speeding up once you realize that I can't do anything but wait helplessly, and then slowing down again once you've passed me.
With a simple adherence to these few rules, you and your non-renewable-resource-guzzling behemoth can avoid both killing people on a daily basis and being killed in your sleep by those who, like me, are sick of being run onto the sidewalk.
Warm Regards,
Carmen
