Fu*king Cyclists

I am a road cyclist. The shit i see on a normal morning scares the shit out of me. I am happy in a city environment. I get city traffic , know how to ride it and am cool. It is the country lanes with fucking idiots texting, smoking, eating, jerking off whatever else that is deadly. last weekend, out for a ride come to an intersection loaded with backed up traffic. I am cutting through, get to the intersection and there is a cyclist lying on the ground in a pool of blood not moving. Some idiot woman is wandering around saying " I didn't see him"

The guy was wearing a reflective vest!!!! Pull your head out of your ass and look around and respect the fact that you are sharing the road with joggers, motorcyclists and bikes.

If I only used roads with shoulders I pretty much wouldn't be able to ride a bike.

And sorry, I'm not going to hug the edge of the dirt so I can have cars going by me with inches to spare. Without a shoulder there is not room for a bike and a passing car to fit in one lane. All I'm doing is riding maybe 2 feet from the white line, I don't think that suddenly makes me a "lane hogging traffic cop," I just want cars to give me some space and maybe slow down a bit.

Another thing, does it take longer to pass 15 bikes all in a single file line, or 15 bikes in a shorter but wider group?

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Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

Cool. That does not seem to be the norm around here.

I'm not sure what that means, but again, it one wonders what the motivation is when single file is safer for everyone and shows.

OK. Get a flashing seat led.

I do feel for the cyclists out there, having been clipped and run into ditches, but getting pissed off and acting out towards reasonable people in retribution is no way to solve anything or be safe.

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My wife and I were riding in city traffic. Some fat fuck pulled out from the curb without looking and nearly clipped her. She gave him the finger and told him to invest in some fucking driving lessons.

He chose to stop the car, and get out and get into a screaming match. I let the mrs. Read him the riot act, question what power microscope is required to view his manhood, etc. I also quietly pulled out the u lock and walked behind him. He came within a half inch of touching my wife: make no mistake, that was a half inch away from getting his skull caved in.

I think drivers often feel free to threaten or attempt to intimidate other people because they are ensconced in a climate controlled steel cocoon. I'm not saying I endorse it, but I don't mind reading about someone reaching through the window or the door of the obesity coffin and serving a dose of reality to our nation's motorists.

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Originally Posted by jamal

If I only used roads with shoulders I pretty much wouldn't be able to ride a bike.

And sorry, I'm not going to hug the edge of the dirt so I can have cars going by me with inches to spare. Without a shoulder there is not room for a bike and a passing car to fit in one lane. All I'm doing is riding maybe 2 feet from the white line, I don't think that suddenly makes me a "lane hogging traffic cop," I just want cars to give me some space and maybe slow down a bit.

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Again, all you're doing is penalizing the people who do try to give you some room. The assholes are going to rip by you as close as ever. For those of us who get it about road riding, you just seem like an asshole.

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Another thing, does it take longer to pass 15 bikes all in a single file line, or 15 bikes in a shorter but wider group?

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That depends on traffic patterns, but in a lot of scenario, I can pass a single file pelo and not have to go far into the oncoming lane where I can't pass the assholes who won't share the road.

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Originally Posted by jamal

Another thing, does it take longer to pass 15 bikes all in a single file line, or 15 bikes in a shorter but wider group?

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Depends, how big of a plow is on the front of the car?




;)

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Originally Posted by assman

I am a road cyclist. The shit i see on a normal morning scares the shit out of me. I am happy in a city environment. I get city traffic , know how to ride it and am cool. It is the country lanes with fucking idiots texting, smoking, eating, jerking off whatever else that is deadly. last weekend, out for a ride come to an intersection loaded with backed up traffic. I am cutting through, get to the intersection and there is a cyclist lying on the ground in a pool of blood not moving. Some idiot woman is wandering around saying " I didn't see him"

The guy was wearing a reflective vest!!!! Pull your head out of your ass and look around and respect the fact that you are sharing the road with joggers, motorcyclists and bikes.

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Ugh, no one wants to see that. The bigger issue is clearly people not paying attention on the road. I don't mind a call-out or middle finger from cyclist to motorist or vice versa if its warranted. I am just seeing way too many passive aggressive assholes on two wheels these days. I see you, and I don't want my car anywhere near you.

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Originally Posted by Sirshredalot

My wife and I were riding in city traffic. Some fat fuck pulled out from the curb without looking and nearly clipped her. She gave him the finger and told him to invest in some fucking driving lessons.

He chose to stop the car, and get out and get into a screaming match. I let the mrs. Read him the riot act, question what power microscope is required to view his manhood, etc. I also quietly pulled out the u lock and walked behind him. He came within a half inch of touching my wife: make no mistake, that was a half inch away from getting his skull caved in.

I think drivers often feel free to threaten or attempt to intimidate other people because they are ensconced in a climate controlled steel cocoon. I'm not saying I endorse it, but I don't mind reading about someone reaching through the window or the door of the obesity coffin and serving a dose of reality to our nation's motorists.

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Great, but your situation doesn't address what I'm talking about: road hogs and blocking rural roads.

There's assholes on both sides of the issue. I try not to be one.

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Originally Posted by KQ

Alright, here's a question for the collective:

Below is a picture of an unmarked intersection I cross through often. There are no yield signs, no stop signs, nothing.

One day while traveling west on Stoval Rd. doing the speed limit of 50mph in my large farm truck (I was highly visible) two bicyclists traveling south on Swegle Rd. turned east on to Stoval Rd. right in front of me causing me to slam on the breaks. When I honked they flipped me off. Who has the right away at this intersection?

Here's how the intersection works:

Traffic traveling south on Swegle Rd. either turns west or east when it reaches Stoval Rd. The west bound branch merges into Stoval Rd. without crossing traffic but the east bound branch of Swegle Rd. must cross over the west bound lane of Stoval. Stoval can either continue straight or take the "Y" and head North. To me this intersection is essentially a "T" except someone, way back when, decided to make a lazy "Y" probably to make the turn easier for farm equipment.


http://www.clker.com/cliparts/e/b/4/...se.svg.med.png


Attachment 186816

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Originally Posted by KQ

This particular road is very bad. It is one blind turn after another and it's long. On the weekends, if you're a car, you basically can't drive on. It's frustrating for everyone.

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i'm not sure you can claim ROW at 50mph when approaching an intersection
imagine standing in front of a judge saying that

All you can do is drive responsibly and know that other road users won't be predictable



i totally understand the frustration
i drive around groups of cyclists too

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

Ugh, no one wants to see that. The bigger issue is clearly people not paying attention on the road. I don't mind a call-out or middle finger from cyclist to motorist or vice versa if its warranted. I am just seeing way too many passive aggressive assholes on two wheels these days. I see you, and I don't want my car anywhere near you.

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As a pedestrian and occasional driver I could write the same thread about drivers watching videos while driving. It's ridiculous. Yes I see you, random dude on the highway watching a movie on your phone mounted to the windshield....

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Originally Posted by abraham

As a pedestrian and occasional driver I could write the same thread about drivers watching videos while driving. It's ridiculous. Yes I see you, random dude on the highway watching a movie on your phone mounted to the windshield....

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Seriously, what the fuck is up with that? I see all kinds of assholes with their giant phablets suction-cupped to the windshield directly in front of them. How in the fuck is that good for your vision, nevermind that I see you watching netflix or stabbing at it with your fat fingers trying to text?

/threaddrift

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

There's some group ride around here on Wednesday nights where apparently all traffic laws are suspended.

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Originally Posted by Cruiser

For my part, when I eventually pass cyclists who aren't being courteous, I put the pedal to the floor and blow a cloud of diesel smoke out the pipe at them. Good times...

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Most of the folks frothing over cyclists breaking the law break the law themselves. It's just that sometimes cyclists break the law in different ways than drivers do. Are cyclists doing things like rolling though stop signs disproportionately versus cars speeding, texting, honking, not yielding to pedestrians, etc. ?

My hope is it's a form of Darwinian self selection. It's hard to see that concrete wall in front of you while watching your videos

I've now seen porn twice in traffic as I walk by in the morning. And some people playing pokemon go, and shitty telenovelas, and, and.....

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Originally Posted by jamal

If I only used roads with shoulders I pretty much wouldn't be able to ride a bike.

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Not sure anyone cares about this but you.

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Originally Posted by jamal

And sorry, I'm not going to hug the edge of the dirt so I can have cars going by me with inches to spare. Without a shoulder there is not room for a bike and a passing car to fit in one lane. All I'm doing is riding maybe 2 feet from the white line, I don't think that suddenly makes me a "lane hogging traffic cop," I just want cars to give me some space and maybe slow down a bit.

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Sounds good on occasion when your safety is compromised. To do this for an entire ride is an asshole move.

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Originally Posted by jamal

Another thing, does it take longer to pass 15 bikes all in a single file line, or 15 bikes in a shorter but wider group?

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If they were in the shoulder, because group rides should pick safe routes, this is not an issue. And absolutely in some circumsatances it is faster to pass riders in a single line with no shoulder, than a pack.

My philosophy while road riding is "Just because I can, doesn't mean I should". Think about it.

Biker: Treat me like a vehicle
Me: Act like a vehicle
Biker: No

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Originally Posted by commonlaw

Me: Act like a vehicle

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Other than stopping at stop signs and not blowing lights, what does this mean? Cause acting like a vehicle means taking the lane and keeping the lane. That's not going over so well in this thread.

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Originally Posted by huckbucket

Other than stopping at stop signs and not blowing lights, what does this mean? Cause acting like a vehicle means taking the lane and keeping the lane. That's not going over so well in this thread.

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Acting like the automobile drivers means getting wasted and texting while blowing stop signs and traffic lights, if we want to get pedantic about it.

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Originally Posted by huckbucket

Other than stopping at stop signs and not blowing lights, what does this mean? Cause acting like a vehicle means taking the lane and keeping the lane. That's not going over so well in this thread.

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I was more responding to Bmills frustrations with waiting for bikes to blow stop signs. So yes, I mainly mean blowing lights and stop signs. But I would add crosswalk ignorance to the list. But to your point, if my vehicle only went 15mph in a 50 mph area, I might consider that my choice to operate it on that road was the overarching issue.

I regularly have to watch getting run over by them crossing the road at pedestrian crossings in London. Apparently they think red lights don't apply to bikes, one got his just desserts recently when I stepped out and he went over the bars as he anchored on.

Some roads really cannot take bikes and cars safely which is a real problem. Country roads with blind corners are the worst, it is ridiculous to expect cars to crawl along a 60mph road at 15mph in case there is a bike half way around the corner and an oncoming car in the other direction.

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Originally Posted by muted

My philosophy while road riding is "Just because I can, doesn't mean I should". Think about it.

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I wish this would resonate in everyone's head.

I'm not a road biker but I do ride in downtown Denver on occasion. It always amazes me when riders will ride on a one lane, one-way street with parked cars on both sides and one block over is a street with a dedicated bike lane. Nothing like going up a hill at 8-10mph with no safe way to pass because some dumbass couldn't be bothered to ride one block over.

there is certainly no right to hold an intersection to keep the group together
and
regarding pelotons, there really aren't any legal rights to use the roads as a recreational race way
so the competitive rides are basically fucked and taking their chances riding that way
smarter route planning is part of better group rides

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Originally Posted by soups818

I wish this would resonate in everyone's head.

I'm not a road biker but I do ride in downtown Denver on occasion. It always amazes me when riders will ride on a one lane, one-way street with parked cars on both sides and one block over is a street with a dedicated bike lane. Nothing like going up a hill at 8-10mph with no safe way to pass because some dumbass couldn't be bothered to ride one block over.

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this happens in my city like crazy

funny thing is the only people doing it are women

several have perished on a specific street like you describe




When im biking on city streets my top priority is getting out of cars way and giving them right of way - if they behind me i ride the curb slowly and allow them to pass - or jump to sidewalk for portions of ride

It goes both ways. This asshole was caught on camera a few weeks ago:

https://youtu.be/RuYO8Tsmhv8

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Originally Posted by digitaldeath

When im biking on city streets my top priority is getting out of cars way and giving them right of way - if they behind me i ride the curb slowly and allow them to pass - or jump to sidewalk for portions of ride

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Exact same here. My 185lb of ego and rights as a cyclist don't mean shit to a 2000lb battering ram with a possible cycle hater or clueless person behind it.

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

there is certainly no right to hold an intersection to keep the group together
and
regarding pelotons, there really aren't any legal rights to use the roads as a recreational race way
so the competitive rides are basically fucked and taking their chances riding that way
smarter route planning is part of better group rides

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All true and the reason why many towns have laws prohibiting more than two-wide. I remember a really stupid road race years ago where the organizers limited us to two-wide or risk getting kicked out.

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Originally Posted by commonlaw

if my vehicle only went 15mph in a 50 mph area, I might consider that my choice to operate it on that road was the overarching issue.

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i understand where you're coming from, but

this same logic would say to keep farm equipment off developed roadways...sorry farmers!

or that not only could a peloton blow down the road in front of a school at 25mph, but that that is exactly where they should ride.
think of all the 35mph or less roadway environments and confine recreational racers to those streets...i don't think that would go over well

it's notable that we don't have minimum speed limits

i don't believe you're arguing it that way, but i also think you may not have considered it as fully as you might




it definitely falls back to treating people fairly on the road -- it goes both/all ways

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Originally Posted by narc

I regularly have to watch getting run over by them crossing the road at pedestrian crossings in London. Apparently they think red lights don't apply to bikes, one got his just desserts recently when I stepped out and he went over the bars as he anchored on.

Some roads really cannot take bikes and cars safely which is a real problem. Country roads with blind corners are the worst, it is ridiculous to expect cars to crawl along a 60mph road at 15mph in case there is a bike half way around the corner and an oncoming car in the other direction.

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i'm amazed that cyclists are able to share the road at all in the UK given the roadway widths. even without shoulders, US roads are huge in comparison (and, well, vehicles are too).

i did a drive through scotland that had my american passengers cringing at how close other vehicles were to us on rural two lane highways

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

i understand where you're coming from, but

this same logic would say to keep farm equipment off developed roadways...sorry farmers!

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The same logic doesn't apply to farmers at all. They are trying to get a job done, driving short distances from one field to another. If they were riding side-by-side chatting it up, then that's different. Or riding in the middle of the road instead of trying to be as far right as possible...safely.

And I want to eat their vegetables.

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

it goes both/all ways

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Stop it. This is TGR damnit and if you don't take a side and irrationally defend it at all costs then you're ruining it for the rest of us.

Looks like I'm going to have to cook up a banger of a vegan-commercial farming-wolf-reintroduction-paleo-Subaru thread.

What I've learned in this thread is that bike nazis don't realize that it's a cyclists obligation not to impede traffic, most "cyclists" are self centered cunts and lack a self preservation instinct. I'm looking at this from a decades long perspective as a bike commuter(10+ years in the Bay Area alone) and recreational road cyclist. I can't believe the choices I see road bikers making on route selection when there is almost always a safer and more pleasant option. They must be lazy, stupid or both.

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Originally Posted by soups818

Exact same here. My 185lb of ego and rights as a cyclist don't mean shit to a 2000lb battering ram with a possible cycle hater or clueless person behind it.

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average car weight is more like 4000lbs

only came to this thread after seeing a soups818 post

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

i'm amazed that cyclists are able to share the road at all in the UK given the roadway widths. even without shoulders, US roads are huge in comparison (and, well, vehicles are too).

i did a drive through scotland that had my american passengers cringing at how close other vehicles were to us on rural two lane highways

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Yeah, our country roads also have loads of bends and corners with no slightlines (hedgerows/trees) which all make cycling them pretty hazardous especially as car sizes just get bigger and bigger and people's SUV fetish continues. Many of our residential roads we can't get cars going in opposite directions past at once due to parked cars which tends on panic US drivers! Our motorway lanes are also being reduced in width in widening measures to get additional lanes in.

My cousins learned to drive in the US (Colorado) and when they moved back here all had to basically start from scratch with lessons they were so scared of how packed in the traffic was.

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

a banger of a vegan

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http://www.amys.com/images/uploads/p...rge/000926.png

Are they gluten free though?

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Are they gluten free though?

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You'll have to weigh in on the next thread to find out!

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Originally Posted by narc

Yeah, our country roads also have loads of bends and corners with no slightlines (hedgerows/trees) which all make cycling them pretty hazardous especially as car sizes just get bigger and bigger and people's SUV fetish continues. Many of our residential roads we can't get cars going in opposite directions past at once due to parked cars which tends on panic US drivers! Our motorway lanes are also being reduced in width in widening measures to get additional lanes in.

My cousins learned to drive in the US (Colorado) and when they moved back here all had to basically start from scratch with lessons they were so scared of how packed in the traffic was.

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How does the UK produce so many world class cyclists?
Maybe it is because the ones that survive are able ride at the same speed as the cars? :)

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

i'm not sure you can claim ROW at 50mph when approaching an intersection
imagine standing in front of a judge saying that

All you can do is drive responsibly and know that other road users won't be predictable



i totally understand the frustration
i drive around groups of cyclists too

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You've combined two of my posts that aren't discussing the same roads or situations.

Road I was on where I was seeking input to right of way is posted 50mph. There is no change/reduction posted as you approach that particular intersection which, as I noted is essentially a "T" with no signage what-so-ever. I was traveling along the top of the "T" the cyclists were perpendicular to me. It is in eastern Washington.

The other discussion was about a road in western Washington in the Snohomish Valley that is particularly hard to navigate even when it's doesn't have multiple modes of transportation moving along it.

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Originally Posted by MultiVerse

Most of the folks frothing over cyclists breaking the law break the law themselves. It's just that sometimes cyclists break the law in different ways than drivers do. Are cyclists doing things like rolling though stop signs disproportionately versus cars speeding, texting, honking, not yielding to pedestrians, etc. ?

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Didn't your mother ever tell you two wrongs don't make a right? ;)

On road 1 where you're continuing in a straight line and they are nearing the end of their section and have to turn onto yours, you have the ROW. Two reasons; it's the law AND you're driving a large farm truck at 50 mph and they're on bicycles. I'm a cyclist and would abide by reason #2, personally.

I've been involved in a bike/car collision and it's not fun for the cyclist, i.e., me. Woman went past me then made a right hand turn (no signal) right in front of me. I hit her rear quarter panel and went over the trunk of her car, splatting on pavement. Fortunately for her, my impact didn't do any damage to her car. I, on the other hand. had road rash all up my left leg, left arm and shoulder, and a chipped bone in my elbow. Her reasoning was that she thought she could beat me around the corner. Wrong! I am always leery of stupid drivers, now more so than ever but I also pretty much quit road riding after that and stick to the dirt. Hence, my belief that reason #2 above should be heeded.

What is the real world opinion on Stop signs and traffic signals for cyclists when clearly there is no traffic coming that will cause an issue?

Two examples: A stop sign with good visibility and no cars: I'll go through.

A red light where the cars with the right of way are all through and there are no more cars coming. Clear line of sight as well. I'll go through.

I do both pretty much on a daily basis, but make sure I'm not impeding another vehicle's right of way.

These road bike threads go over like ton of bricks, no matter what kind of forum.


Not sure how to handle underage riders, but IMHO bikes for 16 years of age and above should be required to have tags and the riders should have to have a license. Take a test and know the laws, and be held to those laws.


So siily I can't legally ride a few miles of pavement connecting trails on my dirt bike that will go the speed limit or faster, yet any assclown can get on the road with a bike.

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Originally Posted by abraham

My hope is it's a form of Darwinian self selection. It's hard to see that concrete wall in front of you while watching your videos

I've now seen porn twice in traffic as I walk by in the morning. And some people playing pokemon go, and shitty telenovelas, and, and.....

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I once saw someone doing a crossword puzzle on their steering wheel (paper & pencil!) while making the merge from I-90 west to I-405 North. This is a freeway interchange that has both the east and west bound traffic funneling into one lane. Weeeeeeeeeeeee! Glad I was on the bus!

Another time I was driving into work on 520 around 7am and saw the guy in the lane next to me leaning forward, both arms wrapped around the steering wheel up to his elbows with a crack pipe in one hand and a lighter in the other toking away.

KQ- you had the ROW, any time you're crossing a lane of travel (like they had to, to get onto new rd) you are the yielding vehicle.

For the cyclists in here, I see some hudge medical bills coming your way. If you want to be douchey bike riders in traffic or on busy roads, you're going to get hit. Even if you're in the "right" when a car hits you, you lose.

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Originally Posted by KQ

Another time I was driving into work on 520 around 7am and saw the guy in the lane next to me leaning forward, both arms wrapped around the steering wheel up to his elbows with a crack pipe in one hand and a lighter in the other toking away.

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You got a better way to smoke crack while driving?