Science proves it: BMW drivers are the worst!

Via.

Like you, I've long heard stories about how BMW drivers in the U.S. tend to be jerks. But since the evidence was all anecdotal, I tended to dismiss it.

But then today came news of a study that shows that luxury car drivers, especially of BMWs, ARE jerks. And I'm not just extrapolating from the data. Researcher Paul K. Piff actually said, "BMW drivers were the worst."

Why did they regularly threaten pedestrians and fail to take turns at intersections? Do only asshats buy these cars? Bill Appledorf theorizes: "People in the eyes of rich people fall into two categories: competitors to impress or become richer than, and nonentities whose function, if they don't just get in the way or threaten rich people's wealth, is to make rich people richer."

Mr. Appledorf is probably onto something; after all, science also shows that powerful people lack empathy!

I don't think that's going to work...

While encouraging people to drive mindfully could be helpful, telling them "Don't drive like an asshole" seems a mite crude. Still, I hesitate to lambaste this person—wait, is that an NRA sticker?

What a moron.

Remember that time Barack Obama got reelected?

That was so awesome.

I especially enjoyed the thoughtful commentary we saw from the losing side. (Via.)
One Big Ass Misteak America 2012 Death of America

Get out of your cars, you frigging lunatics.

This graph is from a new World Meteorological Association report. Each one of these bars aggregates 10 years of data. See the trend? The world is getting warmer. To quote the authors: “The period 2000-2010 was the warmest decade on record since modern meteorological records began around 1850.”

Think about what it’s going to look like in ten years. And then walk, ride a bike, use public transportation, or ride-share. But for the love of God, be thoughtful.

Heroes and Villains on the Road

Via.

People typically ride bikes for any (or all) of the following reasons:

1. They care about the environment.
2. They want to get some exercise.
3. (A distant third): They're looking to save money on gas and/or it's a style choice. "Hey, all the other hipsters are doing it!"

In short, bikers are usually responsible, civic-minded individuals. So it was with pride that I read this New York Times article about Bill Hewitt. I often see his B-Line Sustainable Delivery cargo bikes around Portland. More power to him.

Via.

But we wish less power to Mailand King. According to this Oregonian article, the gentleman backed his Camaro right into a passing cargo bike in a Home Depot parking lot the other day. And then Mr. King got out of his car and was less than gracious to his victim—but this isn't what merits his award today.

No, it was when the cargo-biker, Mike Cobb, tried to get a photo of the Camaro's license plate that King's behavior veered to the churlish. See, Mailand King has his 15-year old daughter stand in FRONT of the license plate so no photo was possible.

As Cobb himself notes in the article's comments: "Identification, contact info. I was happy to supply. I got backed into by a car traveling at 10-15 MPH. I was traveling safely and legally. Clear-cut fault. No need to hide anything."

So to review King's actions: First, hit a biker. Then, refuse to share information about yourself and coerce your kid into the cover-up? Ugh.