Don't even get me started on the ones who then want to criticize my parenting skills.
Sometimes I wish that I could do the same for them. "Put away your cell phone!" "Use your own darn turn signal!" "Stop speeding up behind me, it's a red light!" "Don't you know that children under 12 shouldn't be in the front seat and babies shouldn't be given juice in a bottle??!" "Really, your kid needs their own TV to go to the store?" How would they like that? Doesn't make you feel so hot, does it?
Today, I finally came up with the perfect answer to every single person who wants me to abide by their biking "rules": "I'm riding safely and legally and that's the best I can do." It's simple, to the point, non-confrontational, and exactly true (and I don't have to explain to my three-year-old what that word mommy just said meant). I will have you notice that I said safely before legally. Although I do not advocate breaking laws, there are a few laws that were made with cars, not bicycles, in mind and in a crunch, my children's safety comes first (also, sometimes we're not heavy enough to trip the signal lights and I'd be waiting forever to cross an empty street).
However, it is a fantastic feeling that I get from the majority of people who shout out "You rock, Mama!" "Right on!" "That is so cute!" "That is so cool!" and so on. It's easy to focus on the negative people and feelings but it's so awesome to know that so many people are rooting you on--inside and outside the biking community and from all walks of life. So, keep shouting about how awesome I am and keep your negative opinions to yourself, I'm truly sorry if I made you 30 seconds late to where ever it was you had to get to in such a hurry (while you drive one handed, talk on the phone, and eat a cheeseburger at the same time as driving your deadly weapon).