“Dear Angry Drivers” Letter causes uprising in Omaha

michelleRecently a cyclist vs. driver story in Omaha made waves around the community, with both sides chiming in (well, “chiming” is a rather tame word for some of the comments and exchanges…), and even Colorado cyclists involved in the discussion.

Here’s the story.

Michelle Bandur – cyclist, triathlete, Communications Director for the City of Council Bluffs, wrote a guest column for LiveWell Nebraska titled, “Dear Angry Drivers.”

Dear angry drivers,

How have you been? Still mad at me? Well, like it or not, warm weather is back, and so am I. Yep, the cyclist is back on the same road where you drive your car.

Just like the wheels on my bike, your head keeps spinning every time you see me on the road. Deal with it. I’m not going anywhere.

Read the full letter HERE.

The comments following that post go on for pages, and include such viewpoints as,

…if only bikers would follow the rules of the road, few do. Just watch a bike rider for a few minutes and you’ll see a violation within a few minutes-not stopping at intersections, failing to yield the right of way, riding across pedestrian crosswalks, darting in and out of traffic, speeding- if biking is SO dangerous, why do it, Michelle? I have nothing against bike riders, but please, this holier than thou attitude is a little rich considering the way most of the bicyclists I see violate road rules, putting themselves and others in danger…

And,

YOU deal with it … GET ON THE PATH … GET ON THE SIDEWALK … or figure out a way to NOT IMPEDED TRAFFIC. This is NOT OK …

And this,

Auto drivers always sound like you, even though they ignore the law as much, or worse, than any cyclist I’ve ever ridden with. Turn signals are merely optional, as is stopping as the light turns red (let alone yellow), blowing through right turns on red without stopping, texting while driving, and the eighty other things I can think of off the top of my head. The big difference is the idiot drivers are guiding a 3000-4000 lb vehicle, not a 20 lb bicycle. And god forbid that you should have to slow to pass a cyclist on the road…

This yin-yang diatribe caught the attention of Scott Voorhees of KFAB News Radio, who interviewed Michelle and asked why she was so PO’d. She was quick to correct, “I am not angry – I’m frustrated. It’s the drivers who are angry. Why are they so angry?”

To which Voorhees offered this explanation:

…you’re physique is enviable. You’re tone, you’re tan, you’re strong… they see that and see you there exercising and it reminds them that they’re petty, terrible, selfish scumbags… they see you out there and it reminds them what a jerk they are, and so they’re going to take out their self hate on you…

Michelle is glad to have provided a catalyst to encourage dialogue on this subject. She says, “I’m glad my letter is getting people talking. Everyone could be safer on the road, whether it’s on two wheels or four. Be safe!”

Listen to the full podcast here:

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