We can count coups while issuing free advice on behavior modification... As a historian for the Park Service out West, I was always intrigued by accounts of inter-tribal warfare where, in some instances, a warrior wanted greater status than that conferred by killing an opponent from another tribe, but also wanted to get across the message "to stay away from my village/horse herd/buffalo hunting area/etc." They would ride up to or overtake opposing riders and whack them with a bow, club, or special coup stick, rather deliver a fatal arrow wound or skull-crushing blow. This was called 'counting coup.'
I believe we cannot ignore dangerous and discourteous behavior by anyone, and have been vocal about reckless cyclist behavior and air-headed pedestrians for years. The frustrating part is that it is difficult to know what is most effective. When I was crossing Hamilton on the Square in the crosswalk with the green and walk lights at noon a few years ago, some guy blew through the red light guiding traffic in his direction of travel and had to swerve to avoid hitting me. Rather perturbed at such reckless disregard for my safety, and for the law of yielding right-of-way, I counted coup by whacking his shoulder with the rolled-up Isthmus I was carrying (so it was a Thursday), saying to him "yield to pedestrians, friend." He looked astonished, and said "Hey, don't hit me!" and slowed up a little. I questioned "What would you suggest would be more effective in getting you to respect people's safety?" He had no response and continued on his self-centric path. Other times I have told fellow cyclists in similar circumstances, "Hey, it's great that you bike like I do, but you just HAVE to have to be courteous around other people!" No one has ever responded like on the goofy after-shave commercial from decades ago, "Thanks, I needed that!", but I hope they changed their behavior. And then there are the throngs crossing mid-block who somehow are misled to thinking State Street is a traffic-free pedestrian mall. "Hey, this ain't Lillehammer..." -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Michael Rewey Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 10:19 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Bikies] Blowing Red Lights After Concert on the Square tonight I witnessed a bike blow a red light amid pedestrians and other bikes. ... ... How do we get thru to bikers who behave like that? ... ... Is it proper to do it thru peer pressure and comment? Michael Rewey [EMAIL PROTECTED] "So many roads, So little time..." _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
