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The article, “Bicycling in the US” by Miles Mathis, argues that the US is the worst nation for bicycle safety due to its pervasive “car culture.” Mathis contrasts this with countries like Belgium and Holland, where strong enforcement of laws protecting cyclists leads to significantly safer roads. He states that in these European nations, penalties for harming cyclists are severe, such as permanent license revocation, encouraging drivers to exercise extreme caution. This leads to more people cycling, creating a positive feedback loop where drivers are accustomed to sharing the road.
In contrast, Mathis asserts that in the US, regulatory agencies are compromised by corporations, leading to a lack of safety enforcement and a promotion of car sales. He claims car companies actively undermined public transportation like trolleys and trains to boost their own industry, and now target bicycles. Local police are allegedly instructed to ignore incidents involving cyclists, and motorists rarely face consequences.
Mathis shares personal experiences of being hit twice in Taos, New Mexico, with one hit-and-run incident resulting in no police action. He also details daily harassment, near-misses, and projectiles thrown at him while cycling, even in bike lanes. He resorted to carrying bear spray and later a gun for protection. He describes similar hostility in California, where cyclists are sometimes targeted with homophobic slurs and aggressive driving.
The author criticizes the media’s focus on helmets as the primary solution for cyclist safety, arguing that modern helmets are ineffective against car collisions and other severe impacts. He believes this narrative is pushed by car companies and tire companies to shift blame to cyclists and distract from the fundamental issue of “car culture.” Mathis points to statistics showing that countries with lower helmet usage have better safety records, while the US has high helmet use and high accident rates. He also touches upon the high rate of “roadkill” in the US, suggesting a general disregard for vulnerable road users.
An addendum from October 25, 2022, discusses a manufactured event in Florida reported by Breitbart, involving an alleged incident where a Bennett killed a Chapman with a tire iron. Mathis suspects this event is a staged psyop (“spooks”) to instill fear in cyclists, citing discrepancies in the reported age of the suspect and suggesting the involved parties might be agents. He questions the plausibility of such an event occurring in an exclusive area like Clearwater Beach, which he notes is also the international headquarters of Scientology. He points out the superficial statements made by a friend of the victim and speculates about the victim’s background and connections within the “finance industry.”