Comments on: My Own Ignorance http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/ Encouragement, Education & Advocacy for Bicycling in the Real World Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:48:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: rodney http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-8209 rodney Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:48:59 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-8209 Welcome to Commute Orlando! Glad you are here. Welcome to Commute Orlando! Glad you are here.

]]> By: Barry Cercone http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-8206 Barry Cercone Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:40:02 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-8206 I've read some of the posts on the blog, and have ordered my copy of street smarts. I'm hoping it gives some new insights to bicycle safety on the roads. I've got to tell you though I've been riding on the roads since high school in Pittsburgh. I'm 54 now and an avid roadie. Never had an accident until recently I was hit in the middle of the afternoon by a driver who was DUI. I was riding in the bike lane. I'm upset to hear that the new state HB 971 allows DUI offenders to have their licenses reinstated by undergoing an educational program. I say let them ride their bikes on the road for a while, then they may get a better understanding of the physics of car vs. bike. They may start to care. I'm lucky to be alive but there are many who are not so lucky as me. Be careful out there! I’ve read some of the posts on the blog, and have ordered my copy of street smarts. I’m hoping it gives some new insights to bicycle safety on the roads. I’ve got to tell you though I’ve been riding on the roads since high school in Pittsburgh. I’m 54 now and an avid roadie. Never had an accident until recently I was hit in the middle of the afternoon by a driver who was DUI. I was riding in the bike lane. I’m upset to hear that the new state HB 971 allows DUI offenders to have their licenses reinstated by undergoing an educational program. I say let them ride their bikes on the road for a while, then they may get a better understanding of the physics of car vs. bike. They may start to care. I’m lucky to be alive but there are many who are not so lucky as me.
Be careful out there!

]]> By: Rodney http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2463 Rodney Tue, 26 May 2009 14:54:13 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2463 While doing some reading on another subject, I came across a fine quote from Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) As quoted in Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson- "Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor, but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it." Wow, what a thought! The information is at our fingertips, yet we refuse to readily accept it! While doing some reading on another subject, I came across a fine quote from Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

As quoted in Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson-

“Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor, but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.”

Wow, what a thought! The information is at our fingertips, yet we refuse to readily accept it!

]]> By: fred_dot_u http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2440 fred_dot_u Sat, 23 May 2009 17:29:53 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2440 "it’s what he knows for sure that just ain’t so.” Especially when it's law enforcement! “it’s what he knows for sure that just ain’t so.”
Especially when it’s law enforcement!

]]> By: ChipSeal http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 ChipSeal Sat, 23 May 2009 16:36:15 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2439 Ah heck. If ignorance were bliss there would be a lot more happy people around! Ah heck. If ignorance were bliss there would be a lot more happy people around!

]]> By: Fred Oswald http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 Fred Oswald Sat, 23 May 2009 15:11:54 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2438 Nice article. I have a couple comments -- On ignorance -- Will Rogers made the famous quote: "It's not what he doesn't know that bothers me; it's what he knows for sure that just ain't so." There are three kinds of ignorance: (1) The simple ignorance of those who do not know. (2) The compound ignorance of those who do not know that they do not know. (3) The dangerous ignorance of those who "know for sure" but it is based on superstition. One little typo: The state and local governments enact laws to protect us [form FROM] ourselves. Nice article. I have a couple comments –

On ignorance –

Will Rogers made the famous quote: “It’s not what he doesn’t know that bothers me; it’s what he knows for sure that just ain’t so.”

There are three kinds of ignorance: (1) The simple ignorance of those who do not know. (2) The compound ignorance of those who do not know that they do not know. (3) The dangerous ignorance of those who “know for sure” but it is based on superstition.

One little typo: The state and local governments enact laws to protect us [form FROM] ourselves.

]]> By: Keri http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2419 Keri Fri, 22 May 2009 17:56:21 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2419 I've had several drivers slow to my speed in the left lane of a 4-lane (thus obstructing traffic) to lecture me about where to ride. The most ridiculous was when a small group of us were claiming the lane on a winding, narrow 2-lane where it was unsafe to pass due to sight lines and oncoming traffic. As soon as a shoulder developed, we moved aside to allow several cars that had stacked up behind us to pass. The driver of the first one slowed to our speed and began to lecture us about how he's a cyclist and blah blah blah. Meanwhile, the self-righteous ignoramus impeded all the cars behind him for an additional 10 or 15 seconds. I’ve had several drivers slow to my speed in the left lane of a 4-lane (thus obstructing traffic) to lecture me about where to ride.

The most ridiculous was when a small group of us were claiming the lane on a winding, narrow 2-lane where it was unsafe to pass due to sight lines and oncoming traffic. As soon as a shoulder developed, we moved aside to allow several cars that had stacked up behind us to pass. The driver of the first one slowed to our speed and began to lecture us about how he’s a cyclist and blah blah blah. Meanwhile, the self-righteous ignoramus impeded all the cars behind him for an additional 10 or 15 seconds.

]]> By: ChipSeal http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2418 ChipSeal Fri, 22 May 2009 17:37:04 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2418 Steve A asked me: "So, ChipSeal, after the exchange, did the motorist illegally cross the double yellow to pass you?" This fella had already done so! He was facing oncoming traffic while pacing me. He seemed to want to deliver a far more lengthy lecture, but oncoming traffic prevented it! About a third of the traffic that overtook me on that portion of my trip passed on the right. (Scofflaw motoring!) The majority of those did so when there was no opposing traffic in sight! I should note, however, all traffic I encountered displayed due care and passed me in a safe manner*- more than five feet of room and lower than the speed limit no matter which side they overtook me on. *That is, if passing on the right could be described as a safe manner! What they did is illegal by statute in Texas. Steve A asked me:
“So, ChipSeal, after the exchange, did the motorist illegally cross the double yellow to pass you?”

This fella had already done so! He was facing oncoming traffic while pacing me. He seemed to want to deliver a far more lengthy lecture, but oncoming traffic prevented it!

About a third of the traffic that overtook me on that portion of my trip passed on the right. (Scofflaw motoring!) The majority of those did so when there was no opposing traffic in sight!

I should note, however, all traffic I encountered displayed due care and passed me in a safe manner*- more than five feet of room and lower than the speed limit no matter which side they overtook me on.

*That is, if passing on the right could be described as a safe manner! What they did is illegal by statute in Texas.

]]> By: Wayne Pein http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2417 Wayne Pein Fri, 22 May 2009 16:36:41 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2417 Just the other day my wife and I were on our narrow 2-lane low traffic neighborhood collector when a driver a good distance behind us started honking. We were on a curve and climb which in a short time opens up to a 3 lane road. The driver kept honking so I stopped in the middle of the road, turned around and approached her. Me: "Don't demand that I get out of your way." Female driver: "I'm sorry sir. I was concerned for your safety." Me: "Don't be concerned. Wait your turn." Her: Zooms away. Wayne Just the other day my wife and I were on our narrow 2-lane low traffic neighborhood collector when a driver a good distance behind us started honking. We were on a curve and climb which in a short time opens up to a 3 lane road. The driver kept honking so I stopped in the middle of the road, turned around and approached her. Me: “Don’t demand that I get out of your way.” Female driver: “I’m sorry sir. I was concerned for your safety.” Me: “Don’t be concerned. Wait your turn.” Her: Zooms away.

Wayne

]]> By: Steve A http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/05/20/myownignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-2412 Steve A Thu, 21 May 2009 23:36:37 +0000 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3304#comment-2412 So, ChipSeal, after the exchange, did the motorist illegally cross the double yellow to pass you? So, ChipSeal, after the exchange, did the motorist illegally cross the double yellow to pass you?

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