Listen now by clicking here:
[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/spokesmen/The_Spokesmen_138.mp3]
Today’s Spokespeople:
Topics
- Tragedy in Kalamazoo
How to Listen:
Listen now by clicking here:
[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/spokesmen/The_Spokesmen_138.mp3]
Today’s Spokespeople:
Topics
How to Listen:
Perhaps one of the most important episodes of the round table podcast ever. I think that Tim’s analogy of peoples attachment to cars being like their attachment to guns in the USA really did nail it. The attachment to cars is an attitude that is not unique to the United States and it is a disease of the mind that people can not fathom how to get around by other means or that locations need to provide acres of free-parking or else nobody will come.
Guys,
As a long time listener who has learned much and enjoyed the discussions here, I am sorry to say this last show was a bad idea. It really did not add much except a lot of speculation and generalization about the motives and behavior of drivers and cyclists that has been thoroughly covered before. I am a regularly cyclist and have almost been killed by driver error more than once, and the subject is, of course, a concern. But….I don’t think I would subscribe to a podcast that became a regular bitch session that bemoans the carelessness of drivers and our car culture. Hopefully we can move on now that this subject is thoroughly exhausted.
Just to be clear I do think there is room for legitimate discussion about cases where law enforcement and the courts seem to assume the guilt of the cyclist and seem resistant to evidence to the contrary. But by the same token devoting a whole show to an incident as tragic as this when you really don’t know all the facts is not a public service.
Sorry my first post to you is of a critical nature, but it is because I like the show so much, if you can understand that.
Bruce
While I respect Bruce’s comment above, I really enjoyed this show–maybe because it confirmed my own opinions. In fact, I earlier posted the following message on the comment thread to the previous episode (because I got confused):
Go Tim! Love the rant–no need to apologize. I’m angry too, and I live in the bicycling capital of North America, Davis, CA.
I enjoyed the podcast for several reasons. First, I was wanting to listen to someone talk about this subject especially considering how quickly it dropped out of the headlines. Of course, all headlines were pushed aside because of the tragedy in Orlando and I am not diminishing that. Second, I was glad to hear the way the show was concluded restating the positives of cycling. As a casual rider who is striving to be more involved, this event was almost enough to make me go another direction but I am encouraged to keep riding now. It would be great if every program could end with a couple minutes of good press. Even though we know it in our minds and hearts, it is always good to hear others say it. Thanks for the podcast – I always learn something.
Bruce – we understand. We were quite raw with emotion, though.
Eric – I can’t quite believe we managed to talk positives but i’m glad we did.