The Chainlink

You blew the red light east bound on Lawrence at Damen at 5:26 pm this evening.

 

There was enough time for the biker in front of me to make it half way into the intersection, northbound on Damen, before you came whizzing past my front wheel.

 

I yelled "You're an idiot!" at your big haired chick, self, and you looked back at me. I meant it!

 

I woulda testified for any of the cars, that managed to not kill you, if they had.

 

Keep riding like a tard!

love,

gabe

 

Witness bad behavior during your commute? Feel free to post. Maybe that lovely human can read it and think they are famous. Maybe you can also inspire the whole generation of kids to shower but we can start with small things.

Views: 105300

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

The person who accused me of 'shoaling' didn't understand the concept. So why did they say it? It's the whole mindset of these 'cyclists' that I'm making fun of.

I believe the definition of shoaling in question is:

A sandy elevation of the bottom of a body of water, constituting a hazard to navigation; a sandbank or sandbar.
One cyclist in front of the next until we have a sandbar 15 feet past the stoplight.
/
I happen to agree with DUG, shoaling happens, and it's really only annoying when it's obvious that multiple cyclists are passing the shoaler each light only to reset the absurdity at the next.
/
I also agree with Shawn that it's really only particularly frustrating because a shoaler doesn't to conform to my interpretation of the safest way to bike in Chicago much like a shoaler probably finds it annoy they need to continually wedge past all the people that passed them since the last light disrupting their perfect timing of the light. 
/
Both views are egocentric. That doesn't mean we can't try to get along.

notoriousDUG said:

I love it when people have no idea what they are talking about express outrage at a concept they don't understand....

The thing that upsets people about shoaling is not simply the act of passing somebody while they wait for the light; I'm not sure anyone gets upset by that alone.

Shoaling is offensive when it is done repeatedly, by the same person, light after light.  There are people out there who will edge around you at a stop light or stop sign only to become a moving road block you need to pass before  the next stop light.  Then they once again edge past you and force you to pass them again over and over again...  It is annoying to have a slower rider continually pass you at lights only to force you swing into traffic to pass them when moving.  

If you find yourself being passes over and over again by the same person between lights just let them in front of you at the next light, it's the polite thing to do.

I think I understand now. If there are many cyclists involved, there's a sort of "critical mass" extending out into the intersection, which is potentially dangerous. If it's just one or two, then it's a convenient way for a rider to justify getting his or her chamois in a twist. ;-)

Steve

Exactly.

Shoaling is offensive when it is done repeatedly, by the same person, light after light.  There are people out there who will edge around you at a stop light or stop sign only to become a moving road block you need to pass before  the next stop light.  Then they once again edge past you and force you to pass them again over and over again...  It is annoying to have a slower rider continually pass you at lights only to force you swing into traffic to pass them when moving.  

If you find yourself being passed over and over again by the same person between lights just let them in front of you at the next light, it's the polite thing to do.

"Outrage"??  What I read in Shawn's post is ridicule .  And I absolutely agree with him -- the level of animosity expressed here towards to "shoalers" is absurd and self-righteous.

notoriousDUG said:

I love it when people have no idea what they are talking about express outrage at a concept they don't understand....

The thing that upsets people about shoaling is not simply the act of passing somebody while they wait for the light; I'm not sure anyone gets upset by that alone.

Shoaling is offensive when it is done repeatedly, by the same person, light after light.  There are people out there who will edge around you at a stop light or stop sign only to become a moving road block you need to pass before  the next stop light.  Then they once again edge past you and force you to pass them again over and over again...  It is annoying to have a slower rider continually pass you at lights only to force you swing into traffic to pass them when moving.  

If you find yourself being passes over and over again by the same person between lights just let them in front of you at the next light, it's the polite thing to do.

As I rode in today I mused on the discussion on shoaling. I saw plenty of it and it really didn't bother me. I asked myself why and finally realized that I was at least happy that people were stopping at the light. When plenty of people ignore traffic signals I find satisfaction in the shoalers who at least stop. That, of course, was until I encountered Shoalita. A young girl with no helmet, a department store bike, pajama bottoms and moccasins. She passed everybody at every light for about four miles and was inevitably passed by each rider she had shoaled. I figured she was a kid and would stop at Payton School as we made our way down Wells. I was surprised that she is apparently an adult and rode to the loop.  I found it more amusing than annoying because she didn't do anything to  endanger anybody. We stayed in our positions and  she shimmied her way past us at lights. I kept making bets with myself as to when she would figure out what was happening. I lost every time. 

To the couple inside the Envoy driving south on Halsted nearby Grand/Milwaukee last night: Nice job? Way to blow? Not really sure what to say, but after riding in the city for 10+ years I can safely say I've never seen this come up before last night.  Just wanted to share what I find to be an amusing tale in the hopes of lightening the mood on what's turned into a rather aggressive thread.

I absolutely love it that there are a lot more folks riding our streets these days. It's fun, (most of the time), healthy, and IMHO, really the best way to get around town. The more, the merrier, strength in numbers, etc..

But, I too, become "outraged" and "self-righteous" when anyone else's behavior endangers my life.

When you shoal me, you force me to take the lane to pass you repeatedly in/near an intersection- the place where statistics prove that most collisions occur.

Exercise a bit more situational awareness and we'll all live to ride another day.



curt(is) locke said:

"Outrage"??  What I read in Shawn's post is ridicule .  And I absolutely agree with him -- the level of animosity expressed here towards to "shoalers" is absurd and self-righteous.

notoriousDUG said:

I love it when people have no idea what they are talking about express outrage at a concept they don't understand....

The thing that upsets people about shoaling is not simply the act of passing somebody while they wait for the light; I'm not sure anyone gets upset by that alone.

Shoaling is offensive when it is done repeatedly, by the same person, light after light.  There are people out there who will edge around you at a stop light or stop sign only to become a moving road block you need to pass before  the next stop light.  Then they once again edge past you and force you to pass them again over and over again...  It is annoying to have a slower rider continually pass you at lights only to force you swing into traffic to pass them when moving.  

If you find yourself being passes over and over again by the same person between lights just let them in front of you at the next light, it's the polite thing to do.

You: getting all hot and bothered about shoaling, and arguing about it on the internet

Me: Wondering what's worth getting so agitated over; continuing to have fun riding my bike.

Unfollowing this thread.

At one time it was a quick story share, minimal reaction, repository for day to day near miss/close calls that were good reads. It seems though a new breed of confrontational, whiney, thin skinned wanna be PC Police/Feeling corrector/Inserting Busy Bodies want to ruin this once majestic thread...

Leave a story, read a story, occasionally make a comment.

Between Michelle's off the tracks derailment and now the shoaling is/is not cool... f me. Guess this is what happens when a load of new folks sign on.

Testify!

Tim S said:

Unfollowing this thread.

At one time it was a quick story share, minimal reaction, repository for day to day near miss/close calls that were good reads. It seems though a new breed of confrontational, whiney, thin skinned wanna be PC Police/Feeling corrector/Inserting Busy Bodies want to ruin this once majestic thread...

Leave a story, read a story, occasionally make a comment.

Between Michelle's off the tracks derailment and now the shoaling is/is not cool... f me. Guess this is what happens when a load of new folks sign on.

I guess I missed the "missed connection" -- what exactly happened that you've never seen before??

PFEggs said:

To the couple inside the Envoy driving south on Halsted nearby Grand/Milwaukee last night: Nice job? Way to blow? Not really sure what to say, but after riding in the city for 10+ years I can safely say I've never seen this come up before last night.  Just wanted to share what I find to be an amusing tale in the hopes of lightening the mood on what's turned into a rather aggressive thread.

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service