BIKE: (no subject)

[Fred Meredith]

An interesting reflection, Stephen.

I guess personal observations vary. I've ridden in Ireland and Scotland 
with their very narrow roads bordered by hedges and walls and without 
shoulders. I've experienced even tour buses holding their position 
patiently behind me until I can find a wide place or crest the hill so 
they can see if there is room to pass. With few exceptions, the drivers 
are friendly and patient and even when it is an oncoming situation 
where the road is only one lane, they often pull over at a wide spot if 
they think the closer option is theirs. Everyone cooperates except,  
tourists and in identifying European vehicles, it seems the Germans are 
the most impatient in my observations. Not just the Germans on 
motorcycles, but the Germans in their cars. The Germans on bicycles are 
just fine.

I guess they act differently at home.

Fred (also finds Ecuadorian drivers much more friendly than in the USA) 
Meredith


On Jan 21, 2005, at 7:52 AM, Stephen Peckham wrote:
>  I've been living in Heidelberg, Germany since August 2003, and one of
>  the most important differences I've noticed between here and the US is
>  the attitude of car drivers.  In my experience, car drivers don't get
>  mad when they see a bicycle, or when a bicycle slows them down.
>  Bicycles are simply treated like other slow-moving vehicles, and 
> drivers
>  wait patiently until there is room to pass.
>
>   And when a car does squeeze by where there's not enough room, it
>  frequently turns out to be an American driver (identifiable by the
>  license plate).
>
>  In the US, whenever I hold up automobile traffic, I'm conscious that 
> I'd
>  better hurry and get out of the way before the driver loses patience 
> and
>  runs me over.
>
>  Steve Peckham
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Get on or off this list here:  http://BicycleAustin.info/list
When in doubt, ride your bike … or at least write about it!

Fred Meredith
P.O. Box 100
Manchaca, TX 78652
512/282-1987 (voice)
512/282-7413 (fax)
512/636-7480 (wireless)
visit <http://2merediths.com> for writings and photos
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text/enriched
Size: 2329 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.bicycleaustin.info/private.cgi/forum-bicycleaustin.info/attachments/20050121/60e0326f/attachment.bin