Sore Thumb
Guru
I get a few anti-cyclist comments at work sometimes. I tend to take them on this chin or give back as good as I get, or maybe try and educate if they are willing to listen.
However, sometimes the comments from people can be very negative and do get too me.
One such comment was from a Matron at a hospital I sometimes work at. I must have passed her whilst she was stuck in traffic by some traffic lights.
She stopped me at work whilst I was going into the changing rooms. She told me that I was very dangerous cyclist. I asked why. She told me that my flashing lights were very distracting and dangerous. I told her that was the idea of the lights and it improved my safety, and her seeing me was what I wanted. She said that she was distracted because of the lights and she was looking out for an ambulance not a cyclist (ambulances by us have lots of flashing white LEDs). She told me that it was illegal to have flashing lights on a bike and when I told her they were she did not believe me. She would not listen to my side at all and continued to tell me that I was dangerous and doing something illegal.
I have used these lights on my bike for a few years now and have never caused an accident. I use a exposure Strada on continuous setting on the bars and a exposure joystick on my helmet on flashing mode.
Considering she was senior management (matron) I found the hole episode uncomfortable and felt intimidated by her.
I will see if she makes any further comments about my cycling.
Any thoughts?
However, sometimes the comments from people can be very negative and do get too me.
One such comment was from a Matron at a hospital I sometimes work at. I must have passed her whilst she was stuck in traffic by some traffic lights.
She stopped me at work whilst I was going into the changing rooms. She told me that I was very dangerous cyclist. I asked why. She told me that my flashing lights were very distracting and dangerous. I told her that was the idea of the lights and it improved my safety, and her seeing me was what I wanted. She said that she was distracted because of the lights and she was looking out for an ambulance not a cyclist (ambulances by us have lots of flashing white LEDs). She told me that it was illegal to have flashing lights on a bike and when I told her they were she did not believe me. She would not listen to my side at all and continued to tell me that I was dangerous and doing something illegal.
I have used these lights on my bike for a few years now and have never caused an accident. I use a exposure Strada on continuous setting on the bars and a exposure joystick on my helmet on flashing mode.
Considering she was senior management (matron) I found the hole episode uncomfortable and felt intimidated by her.
I will see if she makes any further comments about my cycling.
Any thoughts?
I don't condone this sort of thing, as i do train with a few newbies to my club, but put it this way, he has great deal more respect for me :P
