It's self-evident that the poll will only be answered by a very small, distinct, and possibly somewhat elite fraction of the cycling public.
I would guess that skews it pretty hard toward people who know how to behave, because honestly, when I'm stopped fixing a flat -- and I've fixed five of them in the last two weeks (apparently I have angered TheMerckx) -- about six out of ten cyclists zip by without a word. Often, it seems, purposely not meeting my gaze (I'm looking to catch their glance, smile, and wave them off, with thanks -- and to save them them the trouble of overmuch slow-down in doing a good deed).
But a surprising number of people seem to try not to look. So very far from what I was taught. And very different from what people are self-reporting here, as the poll is currently at close to 90% "slow down and ask". Not the reality I'm seeing out there. Hmm.
Perhaps it's merely a sad comment on the place i ride (SFBay Area) and how either self-involved, or possibly wary and skittish, people around here are. Still, it's a rich person's sport, and we're all decked out with nice stuff, riding through the wealthy areas up on the hillsides. So I tend to discount the idea that they're sensing a trap...
Guessing there may just be a) more self-justifying jerks in my zip code, and/or b) more thoughtful and well-adjusted people frequenting this site, than in the general cycling public.
Or maybe it's just my uniform of full-Postal-with-Yellow-Jersey Team Kit...?
(joking, joking)...
I would guess that skews it pretty hard toward people who know how to behave, because honestly, when I'm stopped fixing a flat -- and I've fixed five of them in the last two weeks (apparently I have angered TheMerckx) -- about six out of ten cyclists zip by without a word. Often, it seems, purposely not meeting my gaze (I'm looking to catch their glance, smile, and wave them off, with thanks -- and to save them them the trouble of overmuch slow-down in doing a good deed).
But a surprising number of people seem to try not to look. So very far from what I was taught. And very different from what people are self-reporting here, as the poll is currently at close to 90% "slow down and ask". Not the reality I'm seeing out there. Hmm.
Perhaps it's merely a sad comment on the place i ride (SFBay Area) and how either self-involved, or possibly wary and skittish, people around here are. Still, it's a rich person's sport, and we're all decked out with nice stuff, riding through the wealthy areas up on the hillsides. So I tend to discount the idea that they're sensing a trap...
Guessing there may just be a) more self-justifying jerks in my zip code, and/or b) more thoughtful and well-adjusted people frequenting this site, than in the general cycling public.
Or maybe it's just my uniform of full-Postal-with-Yellow-Jersey Team Kit...?
(joking, joking)...
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