Brazil - Bicycle Lane For What?
Goooood morning readers! How are you? This is a frustrating day and quick angry post!
So guys, I'm sorry for this quick post outside of my usual positive traveling posts. A couple days ago I've posted with an incredible passion about the Community meaning and how important it is for our life.
However, today I'm feeling disapointed, as I see the concept fading away in my own city, people don't even care about the others.
If you've been following my blog I'm sure you have noticed that I'm a cyclist. Hence, I don't use the bicycle only for fun - I use it to go to work, to go to the beach, to visit my parents, to basically everything. It is my main form os transportation.
Now, if you are following the news you may have noticed that Brazil is going through a big strike. The government, a couple days ago, decided to increase gasoline prices, which led to a gigantic truckers' strike, which led to a paralyzation in Brazil - food, fuel, mail and a lot of different goods are not being delivered.
One thing brings another and I totally support the truckers' cause, this country needs to be shaken badly so things start to change. Below are some news, so you can check what I'm talking about.
Truckers’ Strike Paralyzes Brazil as President Courts Investors
Brazil's truck drivers reject concessions as strike goes into eighth day
Brazil's President concedes to striking truckers' demands after week-long work stoppage
What makes this post so angry and my day so frustrating?
This is what infuriates me!
The arrogance. I understand that many services need gasoline to work (i.e. police cars, ambulances, fire trucks), however, general public could, and should, find other alternatives to move during this strike. They could use a bus, or cycle, or walk.
But no! They need to make a gigantic line and wait all afternoon to re-fuel. To be honest it's their option, I respect. If they prefer to be stuck there instead of exercising, it's their own problem.
What I can't respect though, is their arrogance. They are using spaces that they shouldn't be using, by law and common sense, to park their cars while they wait. One of this places is the bicycle lanes.
We, the cyclists, are forced to move between the line of parked cars and the on going traffic, putting ourselves in danger. Imagine if we hit one of their rear-view mirrors by mistake? Better not imagine, right?
I'm sorry, but I find it to be pathetic, arrogant and kinda dumb to stay parked there like a monkey waiting for fuel. Thinking about the situation, calling them monkeys is an insult to monkeys, since this amazing animal is more inteligent then most of the drivers there.
I'm sorry for getting it out of my chest like this. I just wanted to spread my frustration as a citizen of Brazil and as a cyclist. I just hope I don't die cycling today, 'cause the bike lanes are taken.
What would you do in this situation If you were a driver or a cyclist?
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~Love ya all,
Disclaimer: The author of this post is a convict broken backpacker, who has travelled more than 10.000 km hitchhiking. Following him may cause severe problems of wanderlust and inquietud. You've been warned.
I'm Arthur. I blog about Adventure Stories, Brazil, Travel, Camping & Life Experiences.
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How frustrating, and a little ironic that they use the bike lane. Where I live very few bicycle around town, so drivers aren't used to looking out for them in the small bike lanes we have. I never ride in them, although I think it may technically be illegal to ride on the sidewalk.
Hey @ginnyannette thanks for the comment!
It is frustrating because it took the cyclists so many time to get their own space, and now that they have, the bastards park on top of it - it's agains the law btw. But it's only because there everything is a little crazy over here, on a daily basis no one touch the bike lane.
Right after I posted this blog I went down to the street and the police was there taking them out, YES!
Here it's ilegal to ride on the sidewalks, only dismounted.
At least you have a cycling lane to be occupied by cars...
Suuup @sina-adventure
Yeah, gotta fight for it!
It took us years to get our own space. So now that we have it we won't let it go. But right after this post the police came and took them out of the way. It's absolutely ilegal to park or even stop on the bike lanes here.
Hahaha. In India, cars drive regularly on cycling lanes. Heck even on the pavement meant for pedestrians! Of course, pedestrians walk on the road. And everyone is busy on their phones!
AHAHHAHAHa dude! I gotta visit this mitic place. I have a feeling that one should close its eyes and let the flow guide you, trying to avoid a wreck means more wreck. Breath in, breath out and let the flow go.
A bit of perspective is funny huh... one, you have bike lanes and two... in India, you would be sharing tbe lane with cows on phones!
Seriously thpugh... hear your frustration. Its interesting seeing you mad... you are normally such a chilled guy!!!
I'm chilled hahahah just got frustrated for not being able to move, I mean... it's not my fault if they don't have gas. But shortly after police came and solved the problem.
In the end it turned out funny, because I was freely moving around while the cars were still waiting to refuel.
In Valencia the bike lanes would look like this as well, so the actually have to built bumps so cars can't use it for parking.
Hey @for91days, thanks for passing by!
That's awful - but isn't it against the law? Here if people do that on a 'normal' day they get a nice ticket and the car will be towed.