Boulder, Co. MAN vs. MAN BEHIND THE MACH.

entitlement...

I have not read the article, but can imagine the details. In the old days (prior to bike lanes) in Boulder, the most dangerous day to run was Sunday. It was almost like the trip home from church, having been saved, was open season on runners. Thirty years later I still sport the scars caused by the cars that I didn't anticipate.

I often have the same reaction to incidents on the roads as you indicated, but for the sake of balance:

Paragraph 1: Runners and cyclists are also often enraged, and when threatened the natural response can lead to rage.

P. 2: Accounts in the media do not have all the facts; the incident described in the report has usually been preceded by acts not reported, but relevant to the outcome.

P. 3: What is "intitalizm"? Runners are legally classified as pedestrians. The point of view of the motorist is "get on the sidewalk, idiot". The law favors the motorist, and the runner wants to be free. The driver who "shares the road" does so out of respect for the running spirit.

I do not drive, but suspect runners drive like jerks at times. As a group, runners and cyclists are not more honorable than drivers.

What the hell is intitalizm?

Looks like "entitlement" ... see the next post.

Sister:

1. spelling correction, entitelizm/ ment

2. I become "threatened," not enraged, when my life is at stake. Resulting in "frustration," due to the lack of curtsey those in a position to inflict MAJOR injuries upon me.

3. The media reports road rage all the time with accounts being quite factual. Actually, my experience with rage behind a wheel doesn't have to come from reading the papers reports. I can just get on the road. Observe the driver dialing the phone,however, un-intentional, their not paying attention to the bike lane or the side walk. Add a cup of coffee to that and a few kids in the back seat, well, you understand the picture.

We the pedestrians have the RIGHTof WAY regardless. Don't get pissy and honk your horn or throw your trash at me...for wanting to excercise my lifestyle. Your the one in a hurry, I'm the one experiencing freedom!

Do you (any poster on this board), the runner/cyclist, drive a motorized vehicle? Is it an oversized vehicle?

Would you support the repeal of the "right turn on red" law?

Answers to these questions and others may explain why we are not making progress in the traffic wars.

Drivers will do in their vehicles exactly what they do in their living rooms.

The mere presence of a bike lane where a driver could once drive is enough to anger some motorists. In the US, the automobile is KING; there are more of them and BIGGER. And there space is shrinking.

In Boulder, the rights of runners are fought for. I have heard Boulderites described as "exercise Nazis", but there are radicals on the other side of the spectrum. Also, many Boulder drivers are from out-of-town.

Also, many Boulder drivers are from out-of-town.[/quote]

"out-of-town" is an understatement, they're from another planet.

I would guess that very few Boulder inhabitants were born there (based on the rapid growth in the area). I guess the socialists up there should have lifted the drawbridge sooner. Maybe people should ask that CU be moved since that is a source of a lot of out of towners who also stay.

What makes one an "exercise Nazi"? Based on what I hear I only thought conservatives could be Nazis and there are probably only 20 conservative in all of Boulder.

Boulder has become increasingly pedestrian un-friendly since I arrived in '91. At one time it was fine to cycle in and around Boulder ... now, I am petrified to ride my bike in town on anything other than pedestrian only paths ... or in North Boulder by the Rez.

Just a couple of weeks ago a visiting scientist from another country, made the mistake of assuming that someone would actually stop for him in a pedestrian crossing. *Smash* ... Hit & Run ... take a ride to BCH.

The term "exercise Nazi" was used by a PhD exercise physiologist to describe the local people in power (city administrators) imposing their lifestyle (exercise-based) upon those who choose a less active lifestyle, thus being intolerant; being undemocratic.

"what they do in their living rooms" refers to behaviors described by an earlier poster that may cause accidents--carrying on conversations with passengers, adjusting the entertainment center, eating a quick lunch or drinking, supervising the kids, use of the phone, etc.

As for the "traffic wars", a thread of a few days referred to Lance Armstrong describing the conditions for cyclists on the streets of Austin (another "liberal" college town).

I run in a city a lot bigger than Boulder, and I have confrontations with drivers. I regret it later because it ruins the enjoyment of running; but, it seems that when it occurs it is necessary to send a message to the driver. Presently, I am running the alleys (to avoid unsafe pedestrian crosswalks) in order to get to the park trails.

I never have problems w/drivers any more. I just assume they are all drunk, arguing with their Ex on the cell phone and reaching for the crack pipe.

The car is an unconcealed weapon.

This thread has taken an interesting ride. last night I was talking with my phsyical therapist. He and his wife( which I might add (was a top female masters distance runner back in the day) Stated that they moved from Boulder for the very reason we've been talking about here. Boulder has an incredible problem with their roads. He could remember when their weren't bike lanes. It actually is getting worse. The fact that a ped. can try his luck crossing a street, is enough to say BOULDER SUCKS when it comes to stating their a athletic community. The elevation is great to train in but regardless, there's many other places to train, less cars, less people. Places in Oregon are becoming increasingly simular, resort types are moving in...More money less awarness!

I work in Boulder, but live about 10M east of there (Erie). I moved here from the Chicago suburbs 9 years ago. I have less problems on the roads now compared to growing up running near Chicago. I would assume that things haven't gotten better in the Chicago suburbs in the meantime.

One way to avoid much of this problem is to stay off of the roads as much as possible. Why live in or near Boulder and not run on the trails for much of your mileage? I realize that life, work and family constrict our time so that we can't always get to a trail, but I find that I don't have nearly as many problems with cars when I'm running the trails.

Now, the oblivious people walking on trails like the South Boulder Creek trail are a whole other story - it can be a great place for a tempo run, but you better be ready to hurdle dogs and small children. And you better be prepared for people taking up the whole trail walking 4 abreast and not responding to "on your left" - and being pissed when you do run by because you surprised them. Usually the only bad stretch is in the first mile or so (from Baseline). Anybody else have similar experiences?

BDG

BDG wrote:

One way to avoid much of this problem is to stay off of the roads as much as possible. Why live in or near Boulder and not run on the trails for much of your mileage? I realize that life, work and family constrict our time so that we can't always get to a trail, but I find that I don't have nearly as many problems with cars when I'm running the trails.

BDG

I agree. I've lived in Boulder off and on for 4 years and have never had any problems with drivers, however, I do most of my mileage on the bike paths and trails. Boulder is totally surrounded by an incredible amount of open space. Why would anyone want to run on the roads?

It's funny how these f***ing cowards don't act the same in the grocery store.