Youtube ESPN's TonyKornheiser supports running over cyclists

[MitchJi]

Hi,

Kornheiser supports running over cyclists

[youtube]R7wnBoWOfAU[/youtube]

You can listen to what Tony Kornheiser said in response to plans to replace a lane for cars with a bike lane in D.C. (but I don't know how long it will be on Youtube -- ESPN will probably try to take it down).

Some choice quotes from the show:

"Last time I looked, the roads were made for automobiles."

"...how are they gonna get the bikes down there? They're gonna have to go through other streets. I think this is a terrible, terrible idea."

"I swear to you, it's all you can do to not RUN THEM DOWN, like Wile E. Coyote, just run them over. *laugh* [...] Get the hell out of my way! Am I wrong in this?"

And then he goes on and on, ridiculing cyclists for their "little water bottles" and "stupid hats" (that guy really needs to grow the hell up), calling them "disgusting poseurs" and repeating his call to action to "run 'em down!".

 

[AussieJester]

Well..i only bothered listening to ~2 minute mark and he said run them over if they are on the road out of the bike lane, obviously wasn't serious, and TBH i think he has a point, if there is a bike lane cyclist SHOULD be using it IMO
Its safer for the cyclist and doesn't aggravate the car users, you want to get in the left lanes and mingle with 2 ton
cars with idiots at the wheel be my guest, if i had the opportunity to use a bike lane i would be in it 100% of the time .

KiM

 

[mwkeefer]

So they are building "proper" bike lanes, that is cool!

I say we all (GCinDC pay attention) target this guy, how many bike accidents can we cause him in one day? I mean we hit him not him hit us?

After listening to the whole bit... he is no different than most other drivers, he believes he owns the roadway and fails to see that centrally placed bike lanes would be safer for him and us and the actual cyclists... So maybe we don't run him down a bunch just spray him with water as we go by...

Think of the Paper Boy from Better off Dead.. I WANT MY 2.00!

-Mike

 

[morph999]

He's obviously never tried to ride a bike on sidewalk. It's not a fun experience. bump bump bump bump bump bump...the sidewalks I've been on were horrible. I prefer riding on the street most of the time. Make the sidewalks accessible to bikes and make them smooth and I would probably ride on them but when they are bumpy as hell and then they have that huge drop-off every 50 meters, it sucks. I don't want to go off a 6 inch - 1 ft drop-off with my bike.

 

[amberwolf]

Well..i only bothered listening to ~2 minute mark and he said run them over if they are on the road out of the bike lane, obviously wasn't serious, and TBH i think he has a point, if there is a bike lane cyclist SHOULD be using it IMO

I didn't listen to any of it; there have even been ex-law-enforcement here in the valley printed in the papers saying stuff like that; it doesn't help anyone when they do.

However, I do think that there are frequent times when a cyclist isn't going to be able to stay in a bike lane. Often it is because the road conditions in the lane are dangerous or perhaps just uncomfortable due to potholes or road damage. Sometimes it is because cars are parked or stopped there (legally and illegally, depending on the area) in the lane. Very often it is because of the need to navigate, such as making turns that require crossing to the other side of the lanes (left turns here in the USA), or going straight across intersections where the lanes have been dangerously marked to the *right* of the right-turn lane for cars, so cyclists must instead change lanes into a regular lane to not be run over by cars. Less frequently, the lane is not wide enough for some bikes (or any trikes), sometimes not even a foot wide! (These were probably originally just shoulders that were retagged as bike lanes by unthinking personnel in city planning).

There are other situations, too, but those are some I run across every single time I ride here in the valley.

That said, if I *could* stay in that lane all the time, I would. It's just not practical nor safe to do so 100% of the time.

EDIT (added): Also, there are places where riding any assisted bike in a bike lane or bike path is illegal, forcing them to ride in the regular lanes.

 

[dogman dan]

Obviously come the "real sports have a ball in it" culture. That dude, though he works is sports, will never get sports like skiing, rock climbing, windsurfing, etc. What? no keeping score? A good example of the classic ugly american. The mindset that saw nothing wrong with seperate drinking fountains, etc.

Yep, guilty, when it snows I'm the dude on cross country skis. Not so often here though.

Fortunately NM has some pretty good state law establishing the road rights of bicyclists.

 

[Ypedal]

location location..personally i don't think i'd be a cyclist in Toronto.. but here in Moncton, sure !

I have to admit i have it good here, roads are wide enough to allow cars to pass and bikes to exist on the right fairly safely.. but in crowded cities it's suicide imo. I've watched some video's on youtube that scare the hell outa me. ( this from a guy who has no problem riding an ebike at 60+ km/h ! )

Just like there are arrogant car drivers, there are dickhead cyclists also. win win. :|

 

[John in CR]

It sounds like a Critical Mass ride should have the starting area staged in front of that guy's house.

 

[heathyoung]

Critical mass doesn't help the cause either.

Its lately been a bunch of people whose sole purpose is piss off car drivers and ride in an unsafe matter with little regard for personal safety or courtesy.