I'm done being a perfect cyclist
Yes, I've been one of those guys thinking "if I just shows cars I'm a safe and rule following cyclist, I can help be the change in perception of bikes!"
How naive I was. The lack of respect I'm shown on a bike per mile is just absurd. Odds are every 3 mile trip I take, I'll have one of the below happen:
- Car try to pass me with a stop sign or red light coming up, and need to stop in the oncoming traffic lane because there wasn't enough time to fully pass.
- Oncoming traffic cut me off to turn left through an intersection
- Rev their engine next to me
- Honk at me even though there's a car going my speed in front of me
Cars don't give a shit about us following the law. Laws that only exist because cars, not bikes or pedestrians, need to stay safe from other cars. It's just an excuse to dehumanize and feel good for voting against our safety.
It took me 2 years of cycle commuting, but I finally get it. I'm done trying to win over drivers with perfect behavior when I'm never given the same respect on the other side.