Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for December 21, 2016
December 20, 2016
December 22, 2016
Transcript:
Pig: Jef the cyclist went for a bike ride before dawn this morning, so he wore neon.
Goat: A neon helmet?
"Hey *#@*Face, Cyclist here"
Pig: Sort of.
Goat: Can you turn it off during breakfast, Jef?
Jef: No.
While the strip exaggerates, visibility is the key to safety for a cyclist. I have a taillight called a Daylight (Dinotte), so bright that I had to check off a waiver box to order it stating I would not use it at night so as to not blind motorists. I also have two safety flags that spin, yellow safety tape on everything from my fender to the back of my helmet, a safety triangle, yellow jersey, and a flashing headlight. I make no apologies. Takes just one inattentive driver. Too many times in a cycling fatality, the motorist claims, “I didn’t see him!”
The attitude, however, is caused by dumbass motorists who think they own the road and couldn’t care less about anyone else, much less cyclists. What’s Jef supposed to do, smile and be happy when some idiot in a car plows into him?
Adding to my earlier comments, too many cyclists whine about motorists not obeying traffic laws, passing them closer than three feet, and so on, but think that those same laws don’t apply to them, blowing through stop signs, not yielding to pedestrians, and generally being Jef. I always stopped for a stop sign, even at rural intersections where I could see miles in every direction. Just a good habit to get into.
WOW We have the opposite problem here. They use our roads because they are hilly ( Fl is mostly flat) and there are " Bike lanes" ( Share the road) But it is frustrating when they are riding slower and 2 to 4 side by side knowing a car is behind them. Yes there are a lot that get in line but the ones that don’t are rude. A race is good at least they have signs warning about them so we stay home.. Oh and what’s up about having a meeting at an intersection in the middle of it so no one can go through. I always wondered about that.
Rat would agree that visibility is key. Too many times, one of them gets away, and the neglectful drivers who had their chance say, “I never saw him.” We all have to do our parts.
One of the most common complaints from bicyclists is that the motorists think they own the road. Well, gasoline taxes are the main source of funding for road and street creation and funding, so yes, Sparky, they do own the road.
I worry about the cyclists who just ride for fun – a helmet to please the law, and no other protection. It’s great to ride a bike with the wind in your face. Remember when you were a kid and could ride all over town without a helmet – super!
I understand why bikes are required to use the road, but…. shouldn’t children or the elderly be allowed to use the sidewalks? Surely there is less damage caused between a bike and a pedestrian than between a bike and a car ..
I should have been wearing this helmet (but with the expletive removed) on September 25, 2016, when I was rear-ended riding home from church (I’m a choir boy).
The cycling cult is becoming truly obnoxious in city/suburban settings. They arrogantly ignore all rules of the road, even worse than the car drivers do.
BE THIS GUY almost 8 years ago
No jury would convict if something was to happen to Jeff.
Sherlock Watson almost 8 years ago
That sign would be correct if the comma were removed.
Bilan almost 8 years ago
Maybe the motorist behind him could read it if it was facing the other way.
PainterArt Premium Member almost 8 years ago
He does Jeff the cyclist all burly. I guess he has no clue that cyclist are actually skinny dudes.
Templo S.U.D. almost 8 years ago
Jef’s neon-ness is so bright, he’ll cause a road accident (and he won’t be injured)
dadoctah almost 8 years ago
Typical cyclist vanity display. Just be thankful that the bar in panel two crops out the neon codpiece.
Partyalldatyme almost 8 years ago
While the strip exaggerates, visibility is the key to safety for a cyclist. I have a taillight called a Daylight (Dinotte), so bright that I had to check off a waiver box to order it stating I would not use it at night so as to not blind motorists. I also have two safety flags that spin, yellow safety tape on everything from my fender to the back of my helmet, a safety triangle, yellow jersey, and a flashing headlight. I make no apologies. Takes just one inattentive driver. Too many times in a cycling fatality, the motorist claims, “I didn’t see him!”
Proginoskes almost 8 years ago
Great! Now I’ll know which direction to drive my car.
ozed almost 8 years ago
That would wreak havoc with his wind resistance, however…
juicebruce almost 8 years ago
Jeff got run over by a reindeer………
Carl Premium Member almost 8 years ago
When he ran through another stop sign….
legaleagle48 almost 8 years ago
The attitude, however, is caused by dumbass motorists who think they own the road and couldn’t care less about anyone else, much less cyclists. What’s Jef supposed to do, smile and be happy when some idiot in a car plows into him?
Partyalldatyme almost 8 years ago
Adding to my earlier comments, too many cyclists whine about motorists not obeying traffic laws, passing them closer than three feet, and so on, but think that those same laws don’t apply to them, blowing through stop signs, not yielding to pedestrians, and generally being Jef. I always stopped for a stop sign, even at rural intersections where I could see miles in every direction. Just a good habit to get into.
Loves life almost 8 years ago
WOW We have the opposite problem here. They use our roads because they are hilly ( Fl is mostly flat) and there are " Bike lanes" ( Share the road) But it is frustrating when they are riding slower and 2 to 4 side by side knowing a car is behind them. Yes there are a lot that get in line but the ones that don’t are rude. A race is good at least they have signs warning about them so we stay home.. Oh and what’s up about having a meeting at an intersection in the middle of it so no one can go through. I always wondered about that.
MeGoNow Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Rat would agree that visibility is key. Too many times, one of them gets away, and the neglectful drivers who had their chance say, “I never saw him.” We all have to do our parts.
aerilim almost 8 years ago
I wonder where he got the battery pack for that thing inserted….
Qiset almost 8 years ago
maybe running over him wasn’t actually an accident. I’m just saying…
Sandfan almost 8 years ago
One of the most common complaints from bicyclists is that the motorists think they own the road. Well, gasoline taxes are the main source of funding for road and street creation and funding, so yes, Sparky, they do own the road.
Cameron1988 Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Jef has such a huge ego
sevenfeet0 almost 8 years ago
Cartoonist on Cartoonist crime…
Radish the wordsmith almost 8 years ago
Jef must be full of energy.
cdgar almost 8 years ago
Typical cyclist. May they all rot in Havana.
Ginny Premium Member almost 8 years ago
I worry about the cyclists who just ride for fun – a helmet to please the law, and no other protection. It’s great to ride a bike with the wind in your face. Remember when you were a kid and could ride all over town without a helmet – super!
Ginny Premium Member almost 8 years ago
I understand why bikes are required to use the road, but…. shouldn’t children or the elderly be allowed to use the sidewalks? Surely there is less damage caused between a bike and a pedestrian than between a bike and a car ..
Charlie Tuba almost 8 years ago
Some of you are misspelling the cyclist’s name: It’s JEF (only one F).
Charlie Tuba almost 8 years ago
I should have been wearing this helmet (but with the expletive removed) on September 25, 2016, when I was rear-ended riding home from church (I’m a choir boy).
Number Three almost 8 years ago
Some cyclists think they own the road. I hate it when they sneak up to you and then whizz past making your jump out of your skin.
No “Excuse me” or anything.
xxx
peabodyboy almost 8 years ago
Has Jef been drug tested lately? I think he is getting into Lane Armstrong’s secret stash.
Pearls and swine almost 8 years ago
I think Jef has a to big of an Ego.
angelfiredragon almost 8 years ago
having ran over a deer in my truck before, I didn’t feel a single thing…not sure I’d feel anything if it was Jeff either.
jsieverd almost 8 years ago
That is Frazz-tastic!
Sisyphos almost 8 years ago
The glare from Jef the Cyclist is blinding!
I hope he ignores a red light and gets hit by a speeding, glare-blinded semi-trailer driver. Of course, Jef would just brush it off (before suing)!
TMO1 Premium Member almost 8 years ago
The cycling cult is becoming truly obnoxious in city/suburban settings. They arrogantly ignore all rules of the road, even worse than the car drivers do.
Zebra over 6 years ago
I’m betting five bucks Jef hasn’t picked up a girl in years