Why do people hate cyclists? A follow-up w/ Chris Cox
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- In this episode, we head to Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, for a conversation about the efforts underway there to normalize active mobility and thus break the shackles of car dependency. Chris Cox is an active advocate and content creator striving to create an environment where All Ages & Abilities feel comfortable riding more often for more daily purposes in this city of 2.6 million people.
I reached out to Chris when one of his videos, "Why do people hate cyclists?" went viral a couple of months ago.
Video Timeline/Chapters
0:00:00 Cold Open
0:00:50 Episode begins
0:02:56 Overview of Brisbane landscape
0:06:57 Intro to Chris' TH-cam Channel
0:16:19 Intro to Why do people hate cyclists? Video
0:19:24 Drivers see cyclists as cockroaches study/article
0:24:51 Historical context of bike riding in Australia
0:30:00 The final moments of the Why do people hate cyclists? Video
0:32:25 Safer Streets Content Creators
0:33:48 Political Will - Bat Shit Crazy dude
0:39:44 USSR - Union of Socialist Safe Roads
0:44:45 Waterway Trails and Pathways - Flooding Impacts
0:50:50 Bicentennial Bikeway Saga
0:59:39 Building Broader Coalitions
1:02:53 Parting thoughts from Chris
1:06:17 John's closing comments
Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
- Audio version and transcript: bit.ly/Ep161audio
- Landing page: www.activetowns.org/2022/11/2...
- Chris' TH-cam Channel: / @chriscoxcycling
- BicycleDutch Channel: / @bicycledutch
- Not Just Bikes Channel: / @notjustbikes
- Oh The Urbanity Channel: / @ohtheurbanity
- Streetfilms Channel: / @streetfilmscommunity
- Why do people hate cyclists?: • Why do people hate cyc...
- 30kph local speed limits - a socialist, car-hating conspiracy?: • 30kph local speed limi...
- Space for Cycling website: space4cyclingbne.com/
- Space for Cycling on Twitter: / space4cyclingbn
- Chris on Twitter: / coxyjindas
- Motherload documentary: motherloadmovie.com/
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Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman
Music via Epidemic Sound: bit.ly/3rFLErD
Resources used during the production of this video:
- My recording platform is Ecamm Live: bit.ly/3rwsUup
- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: bit.ly/35DBDDU
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Background:
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.
Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."
The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.
Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.
Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022
As a fellow Brisbanite, it's been great getting Chris's videos. While the overseas videos are great, our roads being a weird mix of both American and European ideas makes something local a necessary and relatable part of the conversation!
Yes! Super excited for y'all that he has taken up the task. Thanks so much for watching. I really appreciate it, and I hope you find some other fun stuff out on the Active Towns Channel. Cheers! John
People who hate bicyclists are similar to those who hate motorcyclists. It's jealousy of freedom! Of being constrained it a tub of steel or aluminum. The freedom of the bicyclist and the motorcyclist make the drivers aware of their constraint. Constrained to the width of a lane, constrained to the cost of the vehicle and constrained to having to listen to backseat drivers.
I found out just how dangerous car drivers were (and still are) when I had a motorcycle. And many were very angry at the motorcyclist ability to get around obstacles that impeded the car. It was the first time that I had experienced road rage. And it was done when I was not in any manor impeding or blocking a car.
Rode a motorcycle for many years and I have to agree, there was and still is a fair degree of unfounded bias against us. I now use my bicycle for most local trips and commutes to work and get a similar vibe. My little theory is we (motorcycle/bicycle riders), represents a direct threat to car culture and that scares them. Frightened people don't act rationally, hence the anger .
Yes. I have definitely heard this before. Perhaps, again an indication of just how unhappy, in general, many drivers actually are. Thanks so much for watching. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Active Towns Channel. Cheers! John
And another reason that passenger vehicle owners are angry is because they are jealous of how much easier it is for a bicyclist to park his vehicle!
@@CaptApril123 I rode a motorcyle for about three years and twice I was almost struck by motorist who were out to harm me. Once on an interstate with no witnesses at high speed when I was tailgated. And I mean really up close. And he accelerated when I tried to get away. And I did, but just barely.
Known for over 72 years but ofc nothing has been done to address the fact that loads of people turn into psychos in a car. They don't just hate bicycles and motorcycles, they hate everyone and everything but those two groups are just far more vulnerable. I have a bit of pity for them because it hurts themselves a lot too.
Disney cartoon from 1950 about it: th-cam.com/video/mwPSIb3kt_4/w-d-xo.html
I lived in Holland for 15 years and in Vancouver Canada for 29 years. I have not received either a helmet or bell infraction in either location at all even though bells required by law in Holland. The city does not care. They are provincial/federal laws in both countries.
Yeah, that is what makes the aggressiveness of the Brisbane police so baffling
I have gotten a ticket for failing lighting though (NL). Which is fair enough - especially in the winter months that really does reduce safety.
@@Snowshowslow Agreed. Thanks for watching and for your contribution to the conversation. I really appreciate it. Cheers! John
I'm in SWFL. The advice for cyclists is to "Be predictable". How am I to be "predictable" to drivers who haven't ridden a bicycle since they got their Learner's Permit at age 16?
Yeah, that advice is rooted in the vehicular cycling mantra of riding your bike as if you were a motor vehicle... for decades, this was the approach in car-centric societies so that motor vehicle drivers AND street design departments were absolved of any action or responsibility. What we know now is that this approach was a complete failure and a disaster, with so many lives lost due to both preventable crashes and chronic disease due to epidemic levels of physical inactivity. Thanks as always for tuning in, Dave. I really appreciate it. Cheers! John
Great video
Thanks, Bobbie! Happy New Year 😀
Just imagine where having that extra surplus from not having to pay for car payments, repairs, maintenance, insurance, tolls, taxes and fuel.
I know people that literally live in poverty in order to keep a car on the road, even though they live in a place with good transit and bicycle infrastructure. The idea of not owning a car is completely alien to them and suggesting it would label you a mad man. It's sad really.
Great point. Yeah, this came up in my episode last week with Ethan Tufts. Did you catch that conversation? th-cam.com/video/GGJb7g7vD_M/w-d-xo.html Cheers! John
It's been calculated/researched that ever $/€ 1 invested in bicycle infrastructure results $/€ 7 of social value. It's such a no brainer for governments but clearly that still too high a bar for many governments.
Yep. Emotions often pull more weight than facts for city leaders and when they hear from a loud angry minority of their constituents screaming to keep the status quo of car centric design they make the erroneous conclusion that this is the right thing to do. Which is why I say, we the people must band together and speak up telling factual and truthful, but impassioned stories as to why it is in the city leader’s best interest and the best decision for the community to create an all ages & abilities active mobility environment. If the leaders still don’t do the right thing, vote them out.
Cyclists desperately want to crack the mystery of why people hate cyclists and how these people can be influenced for peace. It might help to learn from an expert in something similar, how to stop racism, at least until we figure out how to stop looking like insects. :)
Daryl Davis is interviewed by Chris Voss and Derek Gaunt in a TH-cam video on the channel Black Swan Group. It's called
Legacy of Daryl Davis | Chris Voss w/ Derek Gaunt
Daryl has influenced over 300 members of the KKK, many of them top leaders in this group, and convinced them to leave and make peace with him. It's really worth watching.
Interesting
I've heard so many horror stories of car drivers trying to run cyclists off the road, or slamming open their car doors with the intent to clothesline passing cyclists, and one even of someone taking out a metal bat from their car and trying to chase down a nearby cyclist. I have absolutely no idea how these people function in society when something as minor as a choice in vehicle can send them into such a murderous rage.
It's been getting better in recent years, but I have no sympathy for car drivers in basically any situation anymore.
Thankfully, I rarely experience any nasty driver behavior, but that's mostly a function of the fact that Austin has been building out a safe and inviting Dutch-inspired cycle network that I can ride on, which is a good thing for drivers' experiences as well. Thanks so much for watching. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Active Towns Channel. Cheers! John
I think "break the shackles of car dependancy" is the wrong way of putting it. I think a natural reaction to such a statement by a lot of people would be : "Hey! I like my car! Who are you to criticize me?" I get the idea that seems to be the case a lot in North America, a sort of "us vs them" thing. While in reality its not about taking something away, its about adding something to your life.
"Maybe you want to do some exercise? Have you tried doing that in combination with your transportation and save money to boot with our new and safe cycling lanes?" , "Are you annoyed with traffic jams all day? What if I tell you, you could spend that time in nature while having a bit of a work out?" "Want to do some work during your commute? Try the WIFI enabled commuter train so you can actually do something useful in the time you spend getting to work?"
Just a few generic examples, but it shows stuff people get, stuff they can do, an extra choice thats offered, in short something positive! Think of it as food: You can tell somebody "Its bad to only eat hamburgers and chips. It makes you fat, doesnt have a lot of nutricion." Or you could say: "Hey I like burgers too, but this salad is really good, want a bite?" He is not losing a burger, he is gaining a salad! 😀
Yes. All good points. I think we covered much of this in my discussion with Ethan Tufts last week. Perhaps you caught that episode?
@@ActiveTowns Yes, just saying. Im sure you are aware of the fact that cycling in the Netherlands only became popular because of measures against traffic accidents. It never was the plan to ban cars or anything. And thats why it became such a succes because the general idea "how do we make our streets safe for our kids" is something we can all get behind. Its just better to be "for"" something than to be "against" something. Loved your coverage of Queen Maxima her visit to Austin because that event really showed some positive energy. The funny thing is of course is that even she as an Argentinian woman probably never grew up with cycling and only learned it once she came to the Netherlands, and now she moves around as a natural in her expensive dress and high heels.
They miss something, it is not against cars, it is against car dependency. If you can chose to not use a car you are still free to chose to use a car. But it takes a lot of cars off the roads with people who rather not drive, which makes it better for people who want or need to drive.
Cycling is growing hugely in Alberta adults, and there is helmet laws only for people under 18 yo. And vast majority wear a helmet, w/o law requiring it.
Not surprised.
It is alright to wear a helmet if you feel it suits you, for whatever reason. The bad thing about the helmet requirement is that everybody in all circumstances have to wear one. Even if you only cycle to the end of your lane to go to the corner shop.
Another good and interesting podcast. Thanks John and Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John
In a discussion about helmets being strongly encouraged in the USA and mandated in Australia, here is what has been bothering me lately. Helmets are designed for one impact and then should be discarded. Helmets should be replaced every 3 to 5 years do to degradation. Helmets should be destroyed at the end of their useful life to protect others from using a helmet that may not be safe anymore. From a sustainability point, that is a lot of resources (plastic and styrofoam) going into the landfills. Has anyone come up with a sustainable plan to keep the old helmets out of the landfill? Just some food for thought. Thanks for this conversation, John and Chris.
Glad you enjoyed the conversation, Gary. Yeah, the entire helmet industry has major problems with greed, misinformation, and, as you point out, unsustainable practices. No, I have not heard of any ways of keeping them out of landfills. Thanks so much for watching. Your support is very much appreciated. Cheers! John
@@ActiveTowns I've been given a lead on organization that might recycle helmet materials. I will follow up to see if that is an option.
I called Sustainable Recycling in Arvada CO and was told they would NOT take old bicycle helmets. It has the wrong type of styrofoam and the plastic shell has to be a type 1,2, or 5 type of plastic. Bummer. Another burden on our landfills.
I have a bell & an electric high decibel buzzer to spook people who don’t listen for bell.
👍 certainly helpful during some situations. Whenever possible, I try to actually talk with people (pedestrians on a shared path) so as not to completely frighten them.
@@ActiveTowns I agree, it feels quite aggressive (from both sides of the equation) to ring the bell. It's a bad week if I have to use my bell more than once or twice.