In 2001, Novak screamed at a pedestrian in DC. After the incident he was quoted as saying:
"He was crossing on the red light. I really hate jaywalkers. I despise them. Since I don't run the country, all I can do is yell at 'em. The other option is to run 'em over, but as a compassionate conservative, I would never do that."
I had a car once. A really nice Mazda Tribute with lots of room, a moon roof and primo air conditioning. But I had to get rid of it, fortunately before the gas prices started rising. I really liked it a lot, but my friends were all very thankful because apparently I'm a bit of an aggressive driver, much like Novak. So I have some insight into Novak's angry mindset towards the lower-caste carless. Pedestrians in DC can be an infuriating bunch - from self-absorbed cell phone conversationalists wandering their way across the street, herds of Jennifers walking 4 abreast in a classic Roman phalanx (OMG just like Sex and the City!!!), or people just taking their time jaywalking where they will go.
DC bicyclists have a bad reputation too, mostly due to the road habits of those cool bike messengers you can find any weekday afternoon at the Big Hunt happy hour. They are as arrogant and condescending as Novak, as they are the hippest of the hip and usually in a great amount of agony from being so painfully subversive all the time. It hurts to be so cool, and that's why they're grumpy all the time. This anger from being so hip clouds their judgement and causes them to be reckless bicyclists on both road and sidewalk.
Another reason bicyclists can be so grumpy is that by the time you see their grumpy selves on the street, they've probably almost died several times that day. I come close to death every time I ride my bike to the gym. As bad as the shots have been around my 'hood, I'm still more likely to die from an auto collision than a gunshot wound. A lot of DC motorists are talking on their cell phone (illegal), smoking pot (more common than you'd think), are generally aggressive, or just don't see bicyclists at all when driving. It's that or they don't think bicyclists are valid or worthy of any respect on the road. And red lights seem to be just as optional to motorists as they are for bicyclists.
When you're on a bike and you nearly die, it makes you kind of grumpy. It makes you want to avoid drivers any way you can, and if that means running a red light if it's clear on your left and right, especially if it gets you that much further away from the pot smoking driver that you are afraid of.
And don't get me started on pedestrian and motorist use of designated bike lanes. Those are the narrow aisles on the right side of some streets that have the bicycle symbol. In case you didn't know, they're for bicyclists, not for double parking, hailing a cab, or for you to use when you need to pass someone on the right. That's my lane, not yours. You get 95% of the rest of the paved world, so let me use what little is allowed for me.
So the debate between motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists continues. Bicyclist and writer Andrew Sullivan has covered the conflict for some time.
Thanks to M.V. Jantzen for the photo of the bike lane.
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