'DEFEND YOUR RIDE' from CBS Chicago

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Permalink Reply by bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) on March 13, 2012 at 9:20pm

CBS is in the DEpendency and consumption business. Amongst their most-valued benefactors are car companies and petrol. The LAST thing CBS wants is INdependence from that paradigm!

I especially dig her oblivious self-awareness... As she likely sits in traffic as far as the eyes in her pointy head can see... Somehow, for her? It is BIKES which are "always in the way". Poor thing.

Classic!!!!

To call her a chimp would be insulting to our simian cousins.

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Permalink Reply by Nançois 8.5 on March 14, 2012 at 10:51am

This is embarrassingly revealing, but I totalled our family car my first time out, at age 16, on a learner's permit. I also totalled our other family car at age 19 without even being in it (left it in neutral in the parking lot at work while I went inside to ask if someone could jump-start my dead battery and it rolled across the parking lot and down the hill at the end). No pedestrians or bystanders injured on either occasion--both collisions involved hitting trees.

However, I do think that is completely outrageous and I haven't owned a car in 25 years.

Michelle Stenzel said:

She's all of what, 21 years old and has already been in "a couple of really bad accidents", including totalling a car? How did we reach the point in our culture in which that's not completely outrageous?  Yeesh.  

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Permalink Reply by Scotto 6.8 on March 14, 2012 at 11:14am

+1

Michelle Stenzel said:

She's all of what, 21 years old and has already been in "a couple of really bad accidents", including totalling a car? How did we reach the point in our culture in which that's not completely outrageous?  Yeesh.  

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams 6.6 mi on March 14, 2012 at 11:24am

I haven't looked at it today, but yesterday afternoon pretty much ALL the input was from cyclists. I wish the premise assumed that there was something wrong with driving, but I think it is rather Let's Get People to Defend their Inexpensive Cars. 

edit: All the comments so far are either pro-bike, anti-car or say mean things about the

interviewee. 

I'm encouraged to see most of us taking the high ground. Dissing someone might get a laugh, but ultimately it undermines our argument. We don't need to be cruel, especially when we are right.

Peenworm Grubologist said:

There's probably not going to be a lot of cyclist input because I'm guessing we don't feel defensive about our rides. The premise of the piece and the title imply there's something wrong with driving, like this idea has managed to become pervasive enough that they would even bother approaching pro-driving from this angle. Consequently this segment actually makes me feel pretty good about the Things.

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Permalink Reply by Melanie K on March 14, 2012 at 12:17pm

I have to admit, I admire the comments that take the high ground, but some of them are pretty mean and petty- especially those commenting on her weight. And riding a bike doesn't always make you slim- especially if you love good food after a long ride!

Tony Adams said:

edit: All the comments so far are either pro-bike, anti-car or say mean things about the

interviewee. 

I'm encouraged to see most of us taking the high ground. Dissing someone might get a laugh, but ultimately it undermines our argument. We don't need to be cruel, especially when we are right.

Peenworm Grubologist said:

There's probably not going to be a lot of cyclist input because I'm guessing we don't feel defensive about our rides. The premise of the piece and the title imply there's something wrong with driving, like this idea has managed to become pervasive enough that they would even bother approaching pro-driving from this angle. Consequently this segment actually makes me feel pretty good about the Things.

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Permalink Reply by April 5.3 mi on March 14, 2012 at 12:58pm

Let's flood their inbox!!!!

Here's my offering:

Q: What’s your Chevy Cobalt bike’s main use?

A: My Trek Belleville is used for transportation: From work to home, to my meetings with the Chicago Clean Power Coalition, to tutor at 826Chi, to go to yoga, get groceries, visit friends and so on.  Getting around by bike is fast fun and free!

Q: Sounds like you have some pretty strong views on driving biking in the city versus driving in the suburbs?

A: For the most part, biking in the suburbs is a nightmare. The roads are not designed for users beyond cars--including pedestrians! Drivers treat the roads like expressways and pass by bicyclists without allotting the legally required three-foot safety distance. Biking in the city is much better, although it still has a long way to go.  Bike lanes, shared bike lanes and traffic calming designs like speed bumps, crosswalks and extended curbs help make the road safer for all users.

Q: Where did you get your car bike? Did you buy it new?

A:  I bought my bike used off of Craigslist. It was only about a year-old and was practically new.  I’ve put over a thousand mile on it since then and have only needed to upgrade the tires.

Q: Now for a few fun questions. If your car bike had a human emotion, what would it be?

A: Elation.  It is pure happiness to ride a bike.

Q: Do you ever pump it up and rock out when you’re driving riding?

A: Not on headphones, because I need to be aware of what’s going on around me, but I occasionally strap some on some portable speakers and groove to classic rock or rock en espanol

Q: If your car bike had a theme song, what would it be?

A: My bike does have a theme song, “Michelle, ma belle”  from the Beetles.

Q: Do you have any rules in on your car bike at the moment?

A: Always yield to pedestrians!  There is a hierarchy of road users based on who can cause the most damage.  Cars should yield to bikes and bikes should always yield to pedestrians.

Q: Finally, what do you think your next car bike will realistically be?

A: I don’t plan on getting a new bike for a very long time.  There is no reason to because my bike is built well and I will take very good care of it.  In general I think it’s better for the planet and our wallets if we don’t buy things unless we actually need them.  At some point when I have kids I might buy a bakfiet (box bike) so I can tote them and groceries around at the same time.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C on March 14, 2012 at 1:15pm

Well defended, April.

April said:

Let's flood their inbox!!!!

Here's my offering:

Q: What’s your Chevy Cobalt bike’s main use?

A: My Trek Belleville is used for transportation: From work to home, to my meetings with the Chicago Clean Power Coalition, to tutor at 826Chi, to go to yoga, get groceries, visit friends and so on.  Getting around by bike is fast fun and free!

[snip]

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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on March 14, 2012 at 2:30pm

Her last answer sounds like a gag from that old LP Trixie website.  Anybody else suspect she's going the trustafarian route and charging her gas to mommy or daddy's VISA? 

"A: I wouldn’t mind a Cadillac or Lexus SUV. While I love my car, it’s a two-door car, so I honestly don’t have a lot of room. Getting an SUV would give me a lot more room, plus I can sit higher up. I don’t know when I’ll be getting another car though. Since this one is relatively new, I think I will try to hold onto it for awhile, or until I have a stable job and can afford to purchase one on my own. If money wasn’t an issue, I would love to have a pink Corvette!"

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Permalink Reply by Gerry G on March 14, 2012 at 9:35pm

Yes, kudos to April, all the way.

My throw away 'brain damaged' line should be tossed... mea culpa.

Schwinn made Corvette's in the 1950-60's.  Pink wasn't an option thou.   

 

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Permalink Reply by bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) on March 14, 2012 at 9:36pm

Oh NO! Oopsie!... My bad! Oh yes! Let's be cordial with her!..

... And as long as we are biking down Lolli-pop Lane past gingerbread houses and gum-drop puppies? I will skip, whistle and think happy thoughts while someone fetchs the white paint for the next Ghost Bike.

Ever-Lovers, I've been hit three times. Hospitaized for days and days. Hundreds of stitches. One of these karmic installments the kind and thoughtful citizen paused for me to regain consciousness and sit up before I watched them simply drive away. I thought pure, yummy, Deepak Chopra self-talk as I dragged home my twisted ride.

Jah guide and protect us... Still... What are the odds this dingbat driver gives one of our beloved-sibling riders the full Sandusky?

People like her make me want to root for the Mayans.

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Permalink Reply by Gerry G on March 14, 2012 at 11:03pm

bk, the high road is attractive.  When I miss the turn, I double back.  

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Permalink Reply by bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) on March 15, 2012 at 1:31pm

Dear King George,

Please accept this Declaration of Independence.

Thank you.

Signed,

The Founding Fathers.
The End.
Done and done.


(Full disclosure?.. As a lumbering oaf, I respect and admire your fortitude and endurance in the alpine conditions of the high road!!! I know it to be a serene place. Still?... Both Malcolm X & MLK shared a common fate from the cold blue steel barrel of resistance to change. The future is ALWAYS a heretic! I puzzle over what, short of complete infrastructure collapse, would awake the slumbering, slobbering madame-subject of this, our current thread?......)

Peace & Chain grease!
-bk


Steel Driver said:

bk, the high road is attractive.  When I miss the turn, I double back.  

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