Who is this "Everyone" and "Cyclists" in your post? When I'm bicycling, I'm a cyclist. When I'm driving, I'm a driver. When I'm walking, I'm a pedestrian. No matter what mode I use, I'm part of "Everyone". Also, if only bright clothing and reflective vests actually did make it safer at night for people to bicycle. That would be great. Unfortunately, they don't do that. If you want people to be safer while bicycling - which of course you do, right? - then you should advocate for safe, protected bike infrastructure. |
The title of the thread is literally asking cyclists to NOT ride their bikes, not to wear reflective clothing. Drivers don't want to have to be slowed by the pesky business of murdering another road user |
The slowing only comes from being caught. |
Correct. So the safest choice of action for you is not to ride a bike at all. That would totally eliminate any and all possibility of your all consuming fear of being hit by a car while riding. This is the conclusion a reasonable person would come to. |
Key words here are “reasonable person “. Cyclists tend to have a total lack of common sense and responsibility for their own safety. They want to do what they want to do when they want to do it and everyone else watch out. |
"...a joke which was told after the first World War. An antisemite claimed that the Jews had caused the war; the reply was: Yes, the Jews and the bicyclists. Why the bicyclists? asks the one. Why the Jews? asks the other." -Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, Meridian Books second enlarged edition (1958), chapter 1 "Antisemitism as an outrage to common sense", p. 5. |
Sometimes the only fitting retort to an absurd statement is one that is equally absurd. Back up about 5-6 posts, and read again. Slowly. Like a child. Aloud, if you need to. If it still doesn’t make sense after that, provide an email address where I can explain it to you privately, sparing you further embarrassment. |