Washington Post columnist suggests it's OK to hit cyclists
The all-powerful bike lobby has a new critic in Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy, who writes this week that D.C. cyclists are "biker terrorists out to rule the road."
After lumping cyclists into a single deplorable category he likens to an "L.A. bike gang," Milloy writes that those who deign to ride on sidewalks are "lucky that someone hasn't put a broomstick through the spokes of their wheels." As for those who ride in the road, they're infuriatingly slow and entitled, Milloy writes, adding that they also, apparently, have a penchant for attacking cars.
Leaving aside that Milloy complains about cyclists on the sidewalk but whines they should get out of the road, too, his suggestion that it's defensible to run down bikers is insane. Yes, some cyclists can be jerks, and it would be great if everyone followed the rules. But a biker spitting on a car is at most disrespectful; a car plowing through a peloton is criminal and deadly. Suggesting the two are comparable does nothing but inflame the mutual distrust between some cyclists and drivers, which in turn only leads to more of the hostility Milloy laments.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Olympics 2024: is Paris ready to party?
Talking Point Build-up to this summer's Games 'marred' by rows over national identity, security and pollution
By The Week UK Published
-
Solo travel: the 'ultimate indulgence in 2024'
The Week Recommends Why more of us are choosing to go on holiday on our own
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published