See update: Madison's ex-mayor responds to controversy
Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin touts his record of pedaling his bicycle and advocating for bicyclists' rights against aggressive drivers, dogs, curbside litter and other nuisances.
But really, it sounds like he's all about the car. When it's snowing, you'll find him driving around the “gold level” bicycle friendly city complaining about people who choose to ride their bikes. At his blog, he writes that those who rode their bicycles in this week's second snowstorm should be executed.
“The bicyclists who braved the week's second storm should be taken out and shot. Spare them and the poor driver, when they skid on treacherous streets and slide under the wheels of a truck delivering fresh vegetables.”
I'm assuming Soglin is somewhat level-headed and didn't really mean that literally. But that kind of low-brow trash talk does nothing but dehumanize bicyclists and justify any harm that might come their way.
I don't care if Soglin approves of bicyclists or not.
If he doesn't think they should be bicycling in a snowstorm, for whatever reason, that's fine by me. If he thinks his street should be snowplowed before the bike lanes, that's a little selfish but I'm cool about that. But he shouldn't suggest violence against bicyclists, or anyone for that matter, just because he thinks they're showing bad judgment.
Soglin is showing bad judgment in his comments and should apologize.
Seen first at Cyclelicious.
Recent Comments