# Sir T-Cups, come on down **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066 "2012-07-03T04:47:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/81 "2012-07-03T19:23:19Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > No need for such melodramatics, merely stop using the idea that what is simply a good idea (paying attention) is an obligation and that failing to do so mitigates a responsibility that is 100% in the court of the driver. Certainly do not use it as a pittable offense because then your are just plain blaming the victim. And the bicyclist on the sidewalk has a 100% responsibility to not cause an accident with an actual pedestrian. So he sure as shit better be paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/82 "2012-07-03T19:32:36Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > And the bicyclist on the sidewalk has a 100% responsibility to not cause an accident with an actual pedestrian. So he sure as shit better be paying attention. Personally I’d prefer that the cyclist have a 100% obligation to not be on the sidewalk. But hey, whatever works for you. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/83 "2012-07-03T20:16:47Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Personally I’d prefer that the cyclist have a 100% obligation to not be on the sidewalk. But hey, whatever works for you. And when he shirks that obligation and causes an accident as a result, he is at the very least partially liable, if not completely in the absence of illegal operation on the part of the driver. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/84 "2012-07-03T20:40:27Z")
> [@OtisCampbellWasRight](#): > > Am I the only one who noticed that Just a week ago he was pitting Southern women for having the audicity to call him a Yankee/assume he was hittin’ on 'em/dismiss him. No, you’re not. I just got back from Gulf Shores (where this happened) and am amazed anybody would think it’s a good place to bike. It’s a beach resort (meaning very hot and very bright [everybody’s wearing sunglasses]), it’s mobbed this time of year by everyone from vacationing families and fratboys to the year round 90 year old residents, traffic is frequently bumper to bumper, and it’s the DUI capital of Alabama. I don’t wish anybody biking it any ill will but you’re braver than I am. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/85 "2012-07-04T01:40:42Z")
Bumper to bumper traffic is great to ride in. Everybody is stopped and you can make better time than a car. ---
**Author:** ![yams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/848f3c/32.png) [@yams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yams)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/86 "2012-07-04T02:19:36Z")
The pedantic cuntery in the other thread was so thick I’m surprised all the legal harpies shrilling about how riding a bike on a sidewalk makes someone fair game for distracted motorists didn’t choke on their own fumes and implode in a shower of Alabama Legal Code and bitch glitter. “You should be glad it wasn’t me driving that car - I’d have run you under my front wheels and then recited vehicular law while you choked to death on your own blood, and I’d have been happy to do it, because the law absolves me of the need to look where I’m fucking going.” When I’m biking, I ride on the streets and I watch out for cars. When I’m driving, I drive in the streets and I watch out for bikes. When I’m on the internet, I don’t act like a know-it-all dickwhistle, and Jesus H. Christ on a bright blue fixie, I can’t say the same for most of the people participating in that other thread. love yams!! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/87 "2012-07-04T02:32:00Z")
> [@yams](#): > > The pedantic cuntery in the other thread was so thick I’m surprised all the legal harpies shrilling about how riding a bike on a sidewalk makes someone fair game for distracted motorists didn’t choke on their own fumes and implode in a shower of Alabama Legal Code and bitch glitter. The Grand Ol’ Opry is brought to you by Martha White Self Rising Flour and Alabama Bitch Glitter… you can be a bitch or you can glitter but you haven’t been both until you’ve been Alabama bitch glittered! ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/88 "2012-07-04T04:39:57Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The Grand Ol’ Opry is brought to you by Martha White Self Rising Flour and Alabama Bitch Glitter… you can be a bitch or you can glitter but you haven’t been both until you’ve been Alabama bitch glittered! I think I’m about to make up a new cocktail. Alabama Bitch Glitter. It’s definitely going to have Goldschlager in it. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/89 "2012-07-04T04:47:38Z")
> [@Nocturne](#): > > I think I’m about to make up a new cocktail. Alabama Bitch Glitter. It’s definitely going to have Goldschlager in it. And Southern Comfort, but I’m not sure Amaretto will go well with the Goldschlager. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/90 "2012-07-04T05:14:59Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > And Southern Comfort, but I’m not sure Amaretto will go well with the Goldschlager. Just keep drinking it, you won’t notice after a while. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/91 "2012-07-04T06:21:46Z")
> [@yams](#): > > When I’m biking, I ride on the streets and I watch out for cars. When I’m driving, I drive in the streets and I watch out for bikes. When I’m on the internet, I don’t act like a know-it-all dickwhistle, and Jesus H. Christ on a bright blue fixie, I can’t say the same for most of the people participating in that other thread. I can’t help but think that this would be more convincing had it not been preceded by two paragraphs of know-it-all dickwhistling. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/92 "2012-07-04T08:11:00Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > And Southern Comfort, but I’m not sure Amaretto will go well with the Goldschlager. Southern Comfort goes best with L&P. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/93 "2012-07-05T04:23:36Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > Drivers just don’t expect to see fast moving vehicles on sidewalks. It’s dickish behavior that endangers yourself and pedestrians, and leads to backlash against responsible cyclists. OTOH, some drivers don’t bother to look for anything on sidewalks when making a right. As a pedestrian, I’ve been nearly hit by at least two of them; one was exiting [a driveway](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2101+Crystal+Drive,+Arlington,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.85611,-77.049297&spn=0.006525,0.009645&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=53.741627,79.013672&oq=2101+crystal+drive&t=h&hnear=2101+Crystal+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22202&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.856161,-77.04929&panoid=4e9lHcPK8V6R3_My3mkYNA&cbp=12,118.51,,0,0) onto what was a one-way street at the time. Dude only looked for oncoming traffic and didn’t bother to come to a full stop. Certainly didn’t look for anyone (i.e.: me) approaching from his right. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/94 "2012-07-05T13:39:39Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > OTOH, some drivers don’t bother to look for anything on sidewalks when making a right. As a pedestrian, I’ve been nearly hit by at least two of them; one was exiting [a driveway](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2101+Crystal+Drive,+Arlington,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.85611,-77.049297&spn=0.006525,0.009645&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=53.741627,79.013672&oq=2101+crystal+drive&t=h&hnear=2101+Crystal+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22202&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.856161,-77.04929&panoid=4e9lHcPK8V6R3_My3mkYNA&cbp=12,118.51,,0,0) onto what was a one-way street at the time. Dude only looked for oncoming traffic and didn’t bother to come to a full stop. Certainly didn’t look for anyone (i.e.: me) approaching from his right. Well in that case I guess it’s OK for cyclists to ride on the sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/95 "2012-07-05T17:40:52Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > \*I’m \*the one operating a 2000-pound death machine. You’re likely even more dangerous than you look. Unless you’re driving a compact car from the Sixties or a Lotus, you’re probably in the 3000 range. The smallest Kia is about 2500 pounds and not even a Miata can attain 2000 pounds in street trim. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/96 "2012-07-05T18:50:26Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > OTOH, some drivers don’t bother to look for anything on sidewalks when making a right. As a pedestrian, I’ve been nearly hit by at least two of them; one was exiting [a driveway](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2101+Crystal+Drive,+Arlington,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.85611,-77.049297&spn=0.006525,0.009645&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=53.741627,79.013672&oq=2101+crystal+drive&t=h&hnear=2101+Crystal+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22202&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.856161,-77.04929&panoid=4e9lHcPK8V6R3_My3mkYNA&cbp=12,118.51,,0,0) onto what was a one-way street at the time. Dude only looked for oncoming traffic and didn’t bother to come to a full stop. Certainly didn’t look for anyone (i.e.: me) approaching from his right. So you made the same mistake our guest of honor did. You approached from his right and the driver will be looking left. Very few drivers have eyes in the back of their head. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/97 "2012-07-05T19:20:40Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So you made the same mistake our guest of honor did. You approached from his right and the driver will be looking left. > Very few drivers have eyes in the back of their head. Except I had the sense to slow down and go behind that particular Mr. Doesn’t Bother Looking Where He’s Going rather than trying to occupy the same space. Yelled at him about it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/98 "2012-07-05T19:37:15Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So you made the same mistake our guest of honor did. You approached from his right and the driver will be looking left. > Very few drivers have eyes in the back of their head. The driver is supposed to be checking BOTH directions. and, you know, stop. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/99 "2012-07-05T20:19:10Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So you made the same mistake our guest of honor did. You approached from his right and the driver will be looking left. > Very few drivers have eyes in the back of their head. I can’t agree with you here, **Rick**. Well, i agree that they don’t have eyes in the back of their heads. 🙂 But they _are_ supposed to look both ways, and they _are_ supposed to yield to pedestrians, even if that means that they wait a little longer to exit the property. When i exit a property or a street into the flow of traffic, i always make sure to look to the right one last time in case a pedestrian has appeared while i was checking the traffic to my left. It’s the proper thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066/100 "2012-07-05T21:32:34Z")
From post #25 in the other thread. > [@Rick](#): > > Riding on the sidewalk against the flow of traffic. Yes you are on the sidewalk, and yes the driver should look. The problem is a leisurely ride on a bike is say 9-12 MPH, where a leisurely pace for a pedestrian is 2-3 MPH. You are easily going 4X as fast as a person on foot. The driver is used to looking to the right for X distance for pedestrians, not 4X distance. Assuming the driver is going to turn right, his attention is focused to the left. You are approaching from the right. Even the best of drivers don’t have eyes in the back of their head. The second problem is yes the driver should look, and I know this will comes as a shock but they don’t always look. Here is my [cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15227241&postcount=1) for that. BTW In Texas a buddy of mine was the driver in such a accident and the cop cited the bike rider. The rider was drunk, but the cop said basically he was riding the wrong way on a sidewalk. on a bike you are covering way faster than a driver expects. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-t-cups-come-on-down/627066.md?page=6)