Opinions Have an opinion? Contact us at opinions @theotherpress.ca @ Wheels, heels, and automobiles Why the feuding between bikers, drivers, and pedestrians needs to stop By Jacey Gibb, Opinions Editor where I don’t read at least one letter to the editor complaining about someone’s recent nightmare encounter with a reckless, rule- defying cyclist/ driver/ pedestrian. These citizen-written pieces needlessly bitching about this kind of stuff are as common as rain clouds in the Lower Mainland, and I’m beyond sick of it. Mostly because it’s pointless (I doubt that guy you almost hit because he was jaywalking is going to read your words and experience a Grinch-like transformation), but also because they’re ignoring a crucial fact: regardless of whatever means we're taking to get from Point A to B, we're all still people. That’s right. Inside that speeding container of metal and [ seems like not a week goes by gears is a fleshy human just like yourself. They may be momentarily behind the wheel, but the moment they leave the confines of their car, they magically become pedestrians. The same goes for bikers. Underneath that horrendous helmet hair and those fingerless gloves, cyclists are people too. So why is it that some people continue to single out these different groups and slap an absolute on them? “All bikers think they own the road!” I’m sure they feel the same way about you, Captain Four-Wheels. As someone who dabbles into all three transportation pools, I can say without much bias that I know where people are coming from. It’s annoying when a car almost hits you because they’re not giving you the right-away you're entitled to because you're travelling on foot. ee I know I always fume when I’m stopped at a red light and someone ona bike breezes past me into the intersection, either ignoring that they’re supposed to be following the same rules as drivers or because they’re completely ignorant of it. These types of situations are annoying to experience, but that doesn’t mean you have to take to the media and generalize an entire group of people. That’s almost the You’re pushing my buttons! Why you should take handle in hand By Natalie Serafini, Contributor ave you ever noticed an eerie quality to our school? There’s a presence that hovers like some manic poltergeist, rasping and breathing heavily. You'll be walking down the hallway and hear it: a haunting, Invasion of the Body Snatchers-ty pe deal. Actually no, it’s like an asthmatic pug dog, but not adorable. Or maybe it’s more like Chewbacca, I haven’t decided yet. But it’s there, this whirring sound that accompanies—wait for it—someone pushing the electric button to open the door. Now, obviously I have no problem with people who actually need to use the button. My beef is with people who don’t need to use it—because in pushing that button, they’re pushing my buttons! See what I did there? Is there something I’m missing? If you’re capable of opening a door, then why not just do it? I can remember getting joy out of pushing buttons when I was young and carefree, which was actually the sole reason I took piano lessons, but these aren’t children that I see abusing the button. These are fully grown, fully capable, fully lazy adults. Maybe it’s the way I was raised; my dad wouldn’t get me a glass of milk without asking me why I couldn’t get it for myself. Using electricity to open a door 18 hl 2 definition of discrimination. Instead of just complaining about the way other people act, take the encounters and learn something from them. Be a more considerate driver or take more precautions when crossing the road. Regardless of whether you’re on four wheels, two wheels, or none, it doesn’t make you any less of a human being—and the same goes for those around you. that you are capable of opening for yourself is a waste. Besides, I’ve actually seen the buttons break from overuse. Is that what you want? For people who need the button to be unable to use it because you were too lazy to open a door for yourself? The buttons are intended for those who need them, not for those who are oblivious. I have to return to this laziness issue here because seriously, how much energy does it really take to open a door? I understand that this depends on whether it’s a pull or a push—I mean, if it’s a push you just sort of lean—but it’s not like we can’t afford to spend a tiny fraction of our energy on opening doors. I’m not entirely certain that it’s just people being lazy either, based on the number of times that I’ve held the door open for someone who pushed the button before striding on through. As in, the door was already open, but they pushed the button anyways. Maybe it’s an addiction. Maybe it’s a force of habit. Maybe it’s an excessive dependence on technology. I have no idea, but people need to stop doing this. Honestly, isn’t anyone else annoyed by that sound? Take matters and handles into your own hands—it’s easy once you start.