Who's really the idiot? My issues with some bikers -

[scan]

This all comes back to the whole perception issue. If we are perceived as arrogant, we tick off the majority. Other biker friends might understand what you are doing, but the majority (the non-riders) won't. Most people will see a bike on the sidewalk and think "Wow, what makes him so special". Guess what, you being right in this case won't help you or our cause. You can park there and no one can do anything (except maybe push your bike down in anger), but if you live with this attitude it will continue to tick off the majority. You will be "right" all the way until they take our bikes away.

I don't think most riders like the idea of having to be "extra" courtious to the general public (read: cagers/non-riders) since they aren't doing anything wrong. Just because you aren't wrong doesn't mean it's the best solution.

It might make you mad. You might not want to think about this idea. The fact is the idea is there and if you don't care you should at least know people are going to be thinking this way. I park in the parking lot in a car spot. I try to ride in a polite fashion. I zip around to keep myself in a safe possition in traffic and when I'm on a country road by myself I let it rip. I enjoy riding, and try to keep my biking world from annoying others. Should it be that way? Maybe not, but it is.

[sapaul]

Just shows you how insiduos the sickness has become, an old fart parks his bike where he should'nt, so two other old farts push it over, and you laugh. I can only imagine how that "old fart" felt to come out and find his bike toppled over, and all of this is justified by saying he parked in a no parking zone and inconvienenced some shopping trolleys. And is'nt damaging someone else's property criminal? Where does it end?

[ronboskz650sr]

When CHris and I ride together, we park in a car spot, front anfd rear wheels overlapping to make us longer in the space. Except at Walmart...The lot is so cramped, we'd come out to damaged bikes if we used the spaces...it's almost impossible for the cars to see around each other, and they hit each other pulling in or out all the time. I'd hate to see what they'd do to our bikes.

[cb360]

Yet one more reason not to shop at Wal Mart

[ronboskz650sr]

As if we needed another one.

[iwannadie]

O.K., before you guys get your panties in a bunch- It's not legal to park on the sidewalk in front of a "no parking" sign here.

No, he wasn't "taking a parking spot from a car or a handicap spot"- he parked right in front of the door where everyone has to push their cart around his bike to load their car/bike/whatever. He was being an arrogant ****head. Maybe one of them should have called the police and had it towed instead of pushing it over? Would that make you feel better. Why not just park out in the lot and walk a whole 100 feet to the door?

I laughed at the two "old farts" because the guy who parked the bike was an old fart too. Maybe you will get there someday if your lucky.

Hey, doesn't wishing for the Karma wheel to turn my way make bad things come your way?

well parkign illegal and blocking the door is NOT what i was talking about when i brought up parking on sidewalks so...

i dont like parking in actual parking spots, cars think they should share a spot with you if you park to one side of the spot leaving any room. cars dont always seem to see the bike when they go speeding into a spot and can rear end the bike. the bike is hidden in a sea of cars leaving it more vulnerable to people messing with it.

i like my bike near the door where people are walking by, a would be loser wanting to mess with the bike doenst know the next person to walk out the door isnt the owner. no thing to do with being lazy. so i will continue to park Legally on the sidewalks by the door at the stores.

[bikeguy joe]

scanevalexec- well said.

sapaul- maybe you shouldn't have spent your therapy money on that beemer.

iwanna- I realize that there are some places where parking bikes on the sidewalk is legal. This was not the case this time. I wasn't laughing at the poor guys bike being pushed over, I was laughing at the militant shoppers and their retaliatory efforts- they probably thought it was some young fart parking his bike there so he could run in and buy a pack of Philly's and a rap CD.....
The point I was trying to make (I think) was this guy (the biker) was being an idiot.

Wasn't this thread called "Who's really the idiot? My issues with some bikers"?

[BuzZz]

This all comes back to the whole perception issue. If we are perceived as arrogant, we tick off the majority. Other biker friends might understand what you are doing, but the majority (the non-riders) won't. Most people will see a bike on the sidewalk and think "Wow, what makes him so special". Guess what, you being right in this case won't help you or our cause. You can park there and no one can do anything (except maybe push your bike down in anger), but if you live with this attitude it will continue to tick off the majority. You will be "right" all the way until they take our bikes away.

I don't think most riders like the idea of having to be "extra" courtious to the general public (read: cagers/non-riders) since they aren't doing anything wrong. Just because you aren't wrong doesn't mean it's the best solution.

It might make you mad. You might not want to think about this idea. The fact is the idea is there and if you don't care you should at least know people are going to be thinking this way. I park in the parking lot in a car spot. I try to ride in a polite fashion. I zip around to keep myself in a safe possition in traffic and when I'm on a country road by myself I let it rip. I enjoy riding, and try to keep my biking world from annoying others. Should it be that way? Maybe not, but it is.

I can see your piont, and even agree to some extent, but where does it end? Do I have to start wearing the same type of clothes as eveyone else to avoid offending someone? Driving a certain type of cage? Ride a cruiser cause that's what everyone else rides?

I refuse to appologize for my love of bikes and riding and if Joe Public don't like it, he can K.M.A. It's almost like equating riding with smoking or drinking. If I'm not riding through his livingroom, what business is it of his? Call me old fashioned, but I believe in the 'it's a free country' idea....

Sure, Joe Public can decide to raise a fuss and maybe even get bikes outlawed. So I don't go out of my way to make a nuisance out of myself, but if I'm not doing anything wrong(illegal), I am being denied my rights if I must pussyfoot around and appologize for riding a motorcycle.

So after my little rant, what have I gained or defined? Absolutely nuthin'..... sorry

[ronboskz650sr]

[Cockney Rebel]

I laughed at the two "old farts" because the guy who parked the bike was an old fart too. Maybe you will get there someday if you're lucky.
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Hey I'm an old fart too , I passed my driving test 50 years ago and I'm still a biker ( because I cant walk ) I'm still here because my Golden Rule is treat every other road user as an idiot ,they will all make a mistake some day " Even me ".

Smudge