On “Roaditude”
I know they annoy a lot of people, and the word “Roaditude” is pretty lame, but I sincerely appreciate the SANDAG ads you see on all the buses and bus stops these days. Stopping is part of riding, it’s true. It upsets me every time I see some kid endangering himself and scaring a well-meaning motorist by flagrantly blowing through a red light, because that reflects poorly on me as a fellow cyclist. Now, coming to a full stop at some stop signs is totally ridiculous, for sure, but we all have to share these roads, flawed as they may be.
I really like the ones geared toward that other kind of cyclist. The one who thinks it’s appropriate to cruise the wrong way down the street on his mountain bike, headphones at full blast, at night, with no lights or reflectors.You know, the one who’s basically trying to kill himself and take you along with him. I’ve seen so many accidents caused by cyclists riding against traffic either on the road or the sidewalk and entering an intersection or crossing a driveway where nobody expects anything to be coming at speed. A pleasant reminder to “go with the flow” couldn’t hurt.
Behaving like an automobile, being predictable, and occasionally moving to the right when there’s room make for a safe and pleasant alternative to a car-centric lifestyle. I think we’re well on our way toward legitimizing cycling as a practical mode of 
transportation for all but the longest and heaviest trips, and in my opinion the cycling community could use a little less righteous indignation and a little more sympathy for those poor folks trapped in their cars all the time.
But will these ads actually change anything, or are they another big waste of money? Who knows. I just really like having a picture of a bike taking the lane in such a public place. 
