by Pete, October 1997
If you commute on your bicycle, here's a quick quiz to find out just what kind of cyclist you are. Select the response that most closely matches your biking profile.
What pace to you take when riding your bike to work?
a. Leisurely. I like to take in the sights.
b. A steady pace that won't make me sweat.
c. I go as fast as possible, and often have to brake hard to avoid
collision.
What do you do at red lights?
a. Wait patiently behind the cross-walk with the other cars.
b. I usually advance in front of the waiting cars and sometimes past the crosswalk, but still wait for the light to change to green and traffic to clear before crossing.
c. I sometimes ignore red lights and look for small spaces in the cross-traffic. If someone is about to run a red light in front of me, I advance anyway, causing them to honk and swerve, much to my delight.
How do you feel about cars?
a. They have as much right to the road as bicycles do.
b. They are a nuisance when cycling.
c. Cars are evil and I will do whatever it takes to destroy them.
What kind of legislation do you think should be passed to make it safer for city cyclists.
a. Wide bike lanes on more streets.
b. Stricter enforcement of red lights with stiffer penalties.
c. Deputizing cyclists to enforce traffic laws, providing them with weapons and allowing them to convict and punish motorists in the street.
Now, let's see how you scored. For each "a" answer, score 0, for each "b" you get 1 point, and for each "c", score 3.
0 points: Wimp. Bicycle commuting is not for you.
1-4 points: Your mother would be proud.
5-9 points: You strike a balance between good sense and the occasional transgression of the transportation hegemony.
10-12 points: All movements have their extremists, and you're it. I hope you have good medical insurance.