18C or cyclo-vilification

I recall a day, about a year ago, in Brisbane where I was offended, insulted and intimidated, not once, but thrice!

Just for the record, I can’t be humiliated because I don’t care that much what other people think of me.

All three incidents occurred whilst pedaling my bike. 

Incident one was par for the course. A tradie blew his horn at me and then yelled some abuse at me as he accelerated past me. 

He was attempting to insult and intimidate me, ostensibly to make me re-think my inconvenient (to him) mode of transport. 

Of course he was really just indulging in his own personal addiction, reveling in the anger at the recognition of his own individuality.

My response? I smiled at him, knowing that would him make even crazier. My sport, his loss.

The second incident was far more interesting. Cruising along the bike path next to the river I was passed by a bunch of pot-bellied corporate types, dressed to the nines in le Tour Lycra.

The last of the pelaton, as he passed me, screeched ‘bloody fixie’. To which the pelaton snickered.

Factually incorrect, by the way, not even close to a fixie. My bike is a free wheeler and has a hidden second overdrive gear in the rear hub, activated by a kick back mechanism.

This was an attempt at offence and insult. I responded by engaging said second gear and riding straight past them. That is, I responded with humiliation.

The third incident was by far the best. At a quiet cross roads with no cars in sight I decided to cruise through a red light rather than wait for no man.

Another commuting cyclist, that I was completely unaware of, decided to catch up with me in order to share his mania.

‘You’re the type of fuckwit that gives us cyclists a bad name’ he shouted at me from behind.

In his stupidity this one was attempting to offend, insult and intimidate, all at once. The trifecta!

It goes without saying that I responded with complete intimidation, to the point that he become worried for his personal safety.

Which was my point. Fools need to be concerned with their own safety rather than the salving of their need to share their personality disorders. 

I like to think he might have learned a lesson. Probably not.

Section 18C makes it unlawful to publicly offend, insult, intimidate or humiliate anyone on the basis of their race, colour, or national or ethnic background.

Note, there’s no mention of their choice of transport. Clearly an omission.

Being unlawful, this means that the party that is offended, insulted, intimidated or humiliated, can take the other party to court in a civil action.

Which is an expensive and difficult process that can lead to even further humiliation. Not for the feint hearted.

There needs to be an ‘eye for eye clause’ inserted into section 18c. That is, it is not unlawful to respond to attempts at ‘offence, insult, intimidation or humiliation’ with the same.