I think you missed the major point. Which is we as cyclists need to be courteous to other road users especially pedestrians. Doing the opposite would be like beating some other ethnic group that is also oppressed to try and combat Jim Crow laws. Being rude when we ride will help nothing!

For a lot of people, unfortunately, the article's point becomes distorted and in some cases lost. Thus, another lost opportunity to civilize the conversation around biking in the city.

I am happy to read the comments from all these guys with their chamois in a knot over this schluffing business. Could there be a clearer semiotic that NYC is hitting on all eight cylinders and has virtually run out of actual problems than this keening blog thread?

So, way to go, NYC. And kudos to you, Bob, for teasing this otherwise hidden evidence of a high-functioning city out of something as seemingly innocuous as schluffing. Brilliant!

A.H.

So not the bike snob, but giggle about hipster cysts at least once a week.

Angus has convincingly argued that the article's thesis is flawed (shall members of disrespected immigrant groups also pitch collective mea culpas to the city paper?), but it was the packaging that was most damaging. I well understand that headlines and art are not something writers can directly control, but it is something they can anticipate and avoid. As should have been expected the piece lead with an outrageous messeger-in-crosswalk photo (crossing signal suspiciously indistinct) and teaser that put the negative generalization about uncivil "bikers" in no uncertain terms. This was at the top of the city homepage for days and the topic predictably spread through NYC media last week, sparking jeremiads against "bikers" wherever a comment box or call-in number was available. I even had to defend my own riding because of this generalizing article, in a conversation that had been until that moment friendly and without prejudicial accusation.

From one dork on a bicycle to another: Please don't do this again.

We all need to be respectful on the road to everyone no matter how they are getting around or what kind of bike they are riding(especially this one, how can we claim to advocate bikes and complain about hybrids?).

If we really want to safe on the streets yield to more vulnerable users; cars yield to bikes who yield to peds for yield to children I guess. If everyone on the road is looking out for everyone else instead of themselves then you will have tens or hundreds or people looking out for you but if people just look out for themselves there will be only one person on the street who concerned for your safety.

This bickering is really a waste of time and counterproductive.

I'm the bike snob?

Recruiting Bikesnob commenters is a great way of boosting your own comments section as they are many.

And maybe you should actually read the blog and see how many times I, I mean he says something praising a fixed gear fetishist or indeed a dentist.

Only the true Bikesnob would deny his divinity. I am not Bikesnob.

Yours,
A cycling dork