My goal for NCCC rides is trust, mutual respect, a sense of fairness, kindness, and a great training ethic. Pushing our physical limits is good. We just need to make our sport respectful to drivers, pedestrians, other cyclists and law enforcement. San Diego is not bike friendly, and I believe that cycling clubs are a big reason why. Violating the rules of the road is more than unsafe; it is dishonorable.
Because of my position, I frequently talk to cyclists who say they do not ride with clubs like ours because of our poor road etiquette. I cannot reply ?No, we are not like that,? but rather must say, ?Yes, that issue frustrates me as ride leader.? I had one new cyclist tell me she honestly thought it was legal for bicycles to run stop signs because everyone does it. While working the polls, one of the Carlsbad bike police voiced his opinion about bicycle clubs to me: ?These big groups think they?re in the Tour de France with their packs that take over the road, interfere with traffic, and roll right through stop lights.? As for drivers, I don?t really need to give examples of their attitude toward us ? has any San Diego cyclist NOT been yelled at by a driver for bicycling?
Three Strikes ? Riders with 3 strikes in a period of a year will not be welcome on Saturday Regular Rides for 6 months from the 3rd strike. A strike is an egregious, rude act, which is 1. illegal and 2. violates someone else?s right of way.
Is this excessively punitive? Is there a positive reinforcement that would work? Do we have any right to control our rides (helmets, sexual/racial harassment, membership)? Do we want our rides to become critical mass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7uY9ydMYc&feature=related) events or bike messenger races (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWf2JyIKrN4)?
I am ashamed to say I was the first violator that I charged with a strike. I had just caught on to a fast draft group, and the other riders went through a yellow light. By the time the last riders went through, the light was red. A truck waiting on the cross street was angered, and yelled at us.
Red Lights - We run red lights to avoid being dropped. To remove this incentive, we simply must wait for those who get caught by lights. When going through any yellow light, each of us must make a habit of looking back to see if riders at the back of our group have been stopped by the light change. The trailing rider should yell "Stopping!" The lead riders should yell, "Hold up! Someone got stopped by the light." This is a matter of courtesy, so let's stop the practice of cheating an unfair advantage. It is rude. Even though we are a recreational group, I understand that we all get competitive at times. Remember the Tour de France (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQDjqAkLUB0) when Lance Armstrong caught a girl?s shopping bag and crashed. Tyler Hamilton had the pack slow up to wait for Lance to rejoin before resuming race pace. What a great show of sportsmanship!
;D Here!, Here!
Dear Jeff,
I think the rides would be more enjoyable and beneficial if your ideas are put into action. Your posting reminded me of these words of Baha'u'llah:
''I admonish you to observe courtesy, for above all else it is the prince of virtues. Well is it with him who is illumined with the light of courtesy and is attired with the vesture of uprightness. Whoso is endued with courtesy hath indeed attained a sublime station.'
Nigel
I wanted to reply to Jeff's post of four and a half years ago to bump it to the top as all the points he makes still apply. I echo Nige's last reply and I try to make sure the Long rides follow these principles. There was discussion at the last NCCC Board meeting that we drop the "no group-splitting at red lights" guideline in our Rules of Etiquette. I personally believe it belongs in there. It was put there because of this post from 2008 and all of Jeff's reasoning still applies, for me. Although Jeff posted this for the Regular riders, the Long riders abide by the primary principles (except they don't count strikes), and I encourage Regular riders and Cruiser riders to consider it, too.
-Karl