Comments on: Wishing Gabrielle Giffords Many More Commutes by Bike

By: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:52:13 +0000

@Max: Do we disagree? I don't think I claimed that there is any direct evidence that any motorist ever has justified an attack on a cyclist by referring to a "war on cars." But is that what it would take to show that rhetorical violence has consequences? There are many examples of motorists who have intentionally used their vehicles as weapons against cyclists. (This being a recent and high-profile example.) So, is it helpful to refer to the tensions between motorists and cyclists as a war? I don't believe so. You can't deny that there are unbalanced people out there who can't tell the difference between metaphorical violence and literal incitements to violence. And some of these people have drivers licenses.

By: Max Power

Max Power — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:23:36 +0000

I’d be inclined to agree with you if I had ever heard of someone justifying an attack on a cyclist by referring to the “war on cars.” I’ve been hit by someone who was simply not paying attention, and been threatened by people who felt that I was in the path of their royal conveyence. Never once has someone shouted “that’s one battle for cars in the war for the road!” as they buzzed me.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:35:04 +0000

What a nice post Ted. Rep. Giffords represents much that is right with this country and Arizona. She is a moderate congresswoman who was able to speak constructively with Democratic and Republican colleagues and constituents. In short, a swell bicycling advocate. Thinking of all of you in Arizona from New York.

By: Thomas Bowden

Thomas Bowden — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:58:46 +0000

I am moved to hear that Rep. Giffords is a bike commuter. If more of our elected representatives would bike to work together once in a while (and for that matter, more people in general) maybe the rhetoric would tone itself down as we got to know one another better. One of the things I like most about my bike commute is that sometimes I meet someone new, and we instantly find common ground. If we start on common ground, we often find that our differences are not as profound as we might have supposed. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Giffords, the other victims, and their families at this sad and trying time. I pray that Rep. Giffords recovers enough to ride again, and when she does, I’d like to ride with her on her first day back to work. If not, I will happily take her to the Capitol Building in a sidecar attached to my bike.

By: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:48:21 +0000

@Max: You may be right that Loughner’s is a pathological obsessive, and the object of his obsession might not necessarily have been politics. However, you falsely equate warnings about the environment (which unquestionably motivated James Lee) with political rhetoric that vilifies the opponents, and toys with incitement to violence. It is yet to be established whether or not Loughner was influenced by such political rhetoric. Many commentators are making an assumption that he was. We may never know. I didn’t imply that this was an established fact. (At least I didn’t mean to imply it.)

If you click through some of the links in this article, you’ll see that the “war” rhetoric in the transportation debate has been irritating me since November of 2010. I regarded it then as hyperbolic and unhelpful in the discussion. Now I’ve been forced to think of it as potentially dangerous, simply because of the conjecture over Loughner’s motives.

By: matt

matt — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:13:54 +0000

second that Richard. let’s not let this site go all political / environmental.

By: Max Power

Max Power — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:51:58 +0000

When James Lee took hostages at the Discovery Channel and claimed to do so to get attention for his concerns about global warming and population growth, no one seriously proposed that we tone down warnings about the environment, nor would anyone have taken such a proposal seriously.

Mr. Loughner seems to be a seriously ill person. That he chose to fixate on politics is likely random coincidence. He could have fixated on a celebrity or athlete and had his rampage at the Oscars or a sports event

By: Chrehn

Chrehn — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:51:37 +0000

We wish the very best to Congresswoman Giffords and the other victims.

By: chunkymonkeybiker

chunkymonkeybiker — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:47:05 +0000

Cyclists are always in danger on the road or in support of civic events.

By: Fransisca Deacy

Fransisca Deacy — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:24:54 +0000

Representative Giffords is in our minds as our country tries to come to terms with this indiscriminate and undeserved hit. It is hoped that we will all briefly put to the side our burgeoning enmity along republican vs democrat lines. We are all of us of the same country, fellows, and have the same interests and challenges, and are more similar than dissimilar.