Categories: La Vie VelominatusThe Rules

On Rule #59: Hold Your Line

Anecdotal research suggests that people are being let off-leash without adequate training to perform basic activities such as walking on sidewalks or through airports and busy city centers. I’m assuming this expands to shopping malls, but I never go there so I can’t be sure. It’s easy to blame the mobile phones which apparently grow from our hands, but even when no phone appears to be involved, the same problem exists: people wander about without any apparent awareness that anyone else might be in the vicinity.

Take, for instance, the gentleman who wandered off the Plane Train at SEATAC airport the other day. As he detrained, he stopped to investigate which of the 4 identical escalators best satisfied his fancy. I’m not one to criticize someone’s escalator scrutiny – you can’t over think these sorts of things – my issue is with the choice to stop just outside the exit of the train, completely unaware that he was blocking the way for the other passengers still left on the train.

It isn’t that these are bad people. We’re a product of our society and society teaches us that being a self-absorbed asshole is the right way to go about your life; there’s no limit to what you can accomplish when you don’t give a flying fuck about how those accomplishments impact other people. Which brings me back to my original point: we’re not getting the right training in order to avoid being assholes.

Riding a bike in general and riding in a group in particular teaches you all sorts of things about external dependencies and the trickle effect that our actions have on those around us. Rule #59 extends beyond just riding in a straight line, but to riding predictably and informing those riders who are dependent on you of dangers and obstacles. Cyclists develop a situational awareness that becomes second nature with practice.

I therefore propose that we modify our free-ranging policy to include a provision that mandates all humans be required to take a bicycle racing class and spend significant time riding in a group at speed before being allowed into the wilds of society. Don’t change your line when walking on a sidewalk without peeking over your shoulder. Don’t stop dead in your tracks without checking if someone is behind you. Don’t take a right-hand turn without warning when driving in the far left lane. Don’t block doorways. Don’t knock people in the head when you’re walking with a 2×4.

And for the love of Merckx, take off your headphones.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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VeloJello says:

May 15 2014 at 4:54 am

I'm fortunate enough to live in a part of the UK where I can safely get from my front door to the office on the bike on MUP's. Sadly I find it way safer (and quicker) riding the road. I don't want to see that infrastructure taken away, because for the non-cyclist riding a bike for a wee pootle, it fills a gap and makes life safer. But for me on a road bike fully lycra'd up, I feel out of place there. I ride a road bike, therefore I ride the road. It doesn't take a UCI ban for me to not want to go on the pavement with all the dangers there...

On the odd day I get the local Metro in to the city, the goons who decide to wait at the entrance to the platform blocking everyones way are a constant annoyance!
Mike_P says:

May 15 2014 at 4:56 am

@ChrisO

There has been a similar discussion going on about the lack of racing knowledge and etiquette in my London cycling club forum.

I'm truly hoping your London club isn't that bunch who like to think they own Richmond Park, have a reputation for running red lights, abusing other riders and flicking motorists the finger when riding events and not worrying about the Highway Code and giving way at intersections. Oh, but their kit looks flash, so that's ok.
Deakus says:

May 15 2014 at 5:11 am

@Frank. This grumpy old man image you are working on is really believable! All points well made, but I am expecting reports of you doing your supermarket shopping at 6am very shortly. I also imagine you get tired dialling long distance?

Great article though.
wiscot says:

May 15 2014 at 5:19 am

Headphones are just the tip of this particular iceberg. Its the slavish obsession/addiction to smartphones and the need to look at them constantly while walking, riding, doing just about everything. Gosh, wouldn't want to miss a terribly important text by a few seconds now would we? Smartphones = the new pacifiers.
Teocalli says:

May 15 2014 at 5:20 am

@Carel

A shared cycle way, the mom on the phone pushing a pram, the dog on the leash, for once, but of the extending kind, fully extended, the toddler on a cycle stopped across the middle of the way then moving backwards because of the fixed gear. The mom yelling at the cyclist (me) because he was frightening the kiddy! Typical scene!

@Carel

A shared cycle way, the mom on the phone pushing a pram, the dog on the leash, for once, but of the extending kind, fully extended, the toddler on a cycle stopped across the middle of the way then moving backwards because of the fixed gear. The mom yelling at the cyclist (me) because he was frightening the kiddy! Typical scene!

On the way to my winter hill rep BOAT (Byway Open To All Traffic). Two mums with prams, 1 toddler, 1 dog occupying most of the width of the BOAT. There's a recipe for an accident, thinks I as I approach. Next thing I'm passing them in the air upside down. So convinced they were the danger I failed to spot the patch of leaves covering a low curb.........
ChrisO says:

May 15 2014 at 5:31 am

@Mike_P

@ChrisO

There has been a similar discussion going on about the lack of racing knowledge and etiquette in my London cycling club forum.

I'm truly hoping your London club isn't that bunch who like to think they own Richmond Park, have a reputation for running red lights, abusing other riders and flicking motorists the finger when riding events and not worrying about the Highway Code and giving way at intersections. Oh, but their kit looks flash, so that's ok.

London Dynamo... no it isn't them.

I'm with Dulwich Paragon, an altogether much more respectable bastion of civility.

And now the largest British Cycling affiliated club in the country, including more than 100 women members.
Mike_P says:

May 15 2014 at 5:45 am

@ChrisO

@Mike_P

@ChrisO

There has been a similar discussion going on about the lack of racing knowledge and etiquette in my London cycling club forum.

I'm truly hoping your London club isn't that bunch who like to think they own Richmond Park, have a reputation for running red lights, abusing other riders and flicking motorists the finger when riding events and not worrying about the Highway Code and giving way at intersections. Oh, but their kit looks flash, so that's ok.

including more than 100 women members.

That is worth bigging up!
dyalander says:

May 15 2014 at 5:56 am

Train door blocking notwithstanding, it's one thing to stop in front of an escalator, it's a whole different level (don't pretend puns aren't awesome) stopping to decide where you're going immediately after you step off, while a line of people are gently propelled into one another behind you.
KW says:

May 15 2014 at 6:12 am

The big problem that I have with those users who are oblivious is not the joggers/walkers with their headphones, or even the strollers. It's the folks with dogs and retractable leashes. For all that is holy, if you're going to use one of those things, PLEASE learn how to retract the fucking thing. If you can't figure out how to walk your dog, I'm more likely to plow into the human, not the dog. I like dogs.

We do have some decent paved off-street paths/trails around here, but there are a few stretches that are so popular (particularly near Lake Michigan) that I will avoid them at all costs while out training, even if it means riding on less that stellar roads. If I'm out for a leisurely spin with Mrs. KW, that's a different story.
scaler911 says:

May 15 2014 at 6:21 am

This seems like the right place to ask: What kind of maths does one use to explain the phenomon wherein when you're on a MUP (miles of it) on a nice weekday morning with few other users; you, the lady jogging with her stroller, and the old guy riding at you from the opposite direction all meet in the exact same place causing everyone to stop, go in the dirt whatever?

Or does that only happen to me.....