Fu*king Cyclists

[Arno]

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.

I think it's more ridiculous to assume you can go 60 round a blind corner on a country road and that there won't be an obstruction. Doesn't have to be a bike - could be a horse, fallen tree, random road works etc

[BigDaddy]

I live in the epicenter of Boston based bikers and have to endure their asinine behavior daily. It's so dangerous on our narrow winding streets, but these douche bags insist on riding side by side, or right down the middle of the street.

I drive a Tahoe, so it's always stressful getting by them. Sometimes I'll say, "Single file please!" as I pass, but that's usually met with a raging roid enhanced response.

I respect the rights of cyclists, but cringe when I think of how poorly people drive and all the texting you see. Like most of us, I know people who were killed... just last week I saw a biker who was hit, lying on the side of the road and being attended to. It's a bad and dangerous mix in such a heavily populated area.

[Timberridge]

I subscribe to the "yield to the larger vehicle" rule. My list:

Big wheel<bicycle<motorcycle<Prius<Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat<Chevy Tahoe LT Z71<Hino box truck<Freightliner tractor going bob<Freightliner tractor w/trailer<M1A1 Abrams tank

There may be something else at play in that video...

[sb]

You caint fix stupid but sometimes stupid fixes itself.

[ex-powderbroker]

I live in the epicenter of Boston based bikers and have to endure their asinine behavior daily. It's so dangerous on our narrow winding streets, but these douche bags insist on riding side by side, or right down the middle of the street.

I drive a Tahoe, so it's always stressful getting by them. Sometimes I'll say, "Single file please!" as I pass, but that's usually met with a raging roid enhanced response.

I respect the rights of cyclists, but cringe when I think of how poorly people drive and all the texting you see. Like most of us, I know people who were killed... just last week I saw a biker who was hit, lying on the side of the road and being attended to. It's a bad and dangerous mix in such a heavily populated area.

To all the people that insist that they follow the rules of the road: cyclists should then be treated as a moving vehicle and taking up the entire lane should not be a problem no matter how you're inconvenienced.

[huckbucket]

I subscribe to the "yield to the larger vehicle" rule. My list:

Big wheel<bicycle<motorcycle<Prius<Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat<Chevy Tahoe LT Z71<Hino box truck<Freightliner tractor going bob<Freightliner tractor w/trailer<M1A1 Abrams tank

There may be something else at play in that video...

I shudder to think of the "Big wheel" "M1A1 Abrams tank" combo.

[BmillsSkier]

Those asshole kids on BigWheels never stop at the intersection. Fucking annoying.

[ex-powderbroker]

SHARE THE ROAD MOTHERFUCKERS!

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/08/...ks-man-in-car/

I'm starting to see shit like this in my nape of the way. I'm convinced cyclists are rageaholics in spandex.

Guy who lost his glasses is a douche. He honks the lady because she's going through a red light?

Also, why didn't they use the video where they allegedly crossed on Roebling? I don't see her do anything wrong making that weird turn from broadway to s5th.

[iceman]

To all the people that insist that they follow the rules of the road: cyclists should then be treated as a moving vehicle and taking up the entire lane should not be a problem no matter how you're inconvenienced.

So if I want to drive 5 mph up the long hill near my house and impede the flow of traffic that should be fine? For a car that would be illegal, why is it acceptable for a bike?

[sb]

Yeah that would be unsafe not only for the biker but for the other vehicles, but mostly for the bikers.

[sb]

I shudder to think of the "Big wheel" "M1A1 Abrams tank" combo.

like dis

[ex-powderbroker]

So if I want to drive 5 mph up the long hill near my house and impede the flow of traffic that should be fine? For a car that would be illegal, why is it acceptable for a bike?

That's why demanding "cyclists follow the rules of the road" is pretty stupid.

But it isn't illegal to be slow, I got stuck behind an old winnebago on a curvy and hilly road yesterday, dude could barely push ten up hills.

Should I have:

A) called the cops,
B) honked my horn,
C) fired a handgun into the air
D) showed 115 seconds of patience until I could pass

Highways have minimum speeds and prohibit cyclists... I think anyone who really thinks bicyclists are a problem should pedal a few miles in their shoes.

[capulin overdrive]

To all the people that insist that they follow the rules of the road: cyclists should then be treated as a moving vehicle and taking up the entire lane should not be a problem no matter how you're inconvenienced.

Rules of the road dictate bikes stay as far right as possible, and single file!

[skiing-in-jackson]

We have a couple of guys in town who insist they are "equal" with other "vehicles" on the road and take middle lanes in busy traffic and other crazy stuff. I'm not sure when common bicycle law got it's start- maybe in the 1970s, but bicycles are NOT equal to other vehicles.

The closest I've ever been to killing a cyclist was when a prominent JH goofy guy was riding in a lane of traffic on a recumbent tricycle- in a lane of traffic- in front of the art museum- at dusk. I almost steamrolled this guy, I couldn't see him at all. It was a close one. Sure he was legally equal to me, but physics dictated otherwise.

I can't help but think bicycle law has been way off course for the last thirty years- I ride a lot and I don't want to be treated as a vehicle, but rather as a glorified toy.

[BigDaddy]

To all the people that insist that they follow the rules of the road: cyclists should then be treated as a moving vehicle and taking up the entire lane should not be a problem no matter how you're inconvenienced.

I drive these roads all day, every day... super slowly and carefully. Last thing I ever want, is to hit someone. I treat every blind corner as if I will find a biker and/or dog walker half way in the street. Sometimes I'm right, but I do not mind taking it down a notch on these roads, so that bikers can enjoy them, too.

What I find so completely infuriating, is their treating these roads like they're bike paths. I'd appreciate the same sort of respect and for them to at least hug the right side when I pass. I'm on the roads working, going from job to job. Most of the bikers are off work and out for a pleasure cruise. We have many parks and designated recreation areas nearby, so why do I have to endure this complete disregard of commerce? I've encountered two side by sides already today... I'd start taking some pictures, but not sure how safe that would be.

Unfortunately, it's a fact of life here, but that doesn't mean I can't bitch about it...

[jono]

Guy who lost his glasses is a douche. He honks the lady because she's going through a red light?

Also, why didn't they use the video where they allegedly crossed on Roebling? I don't see her do anything wrong making that weird turn from broadway to s5th.

This. Carefully edited rolling interaction that led to honking and this is the most damning footage he had? He's a pussy who hid in his cage and was shocked when the person whose life was on the line got disproportionately pissed. She's pissed in proportion to her risk, Lochte. That happens when someone is in a heightened state of alert because of the way you're interacting for five blocks. Tends to get real when that interaction has the potential to kill them and you're driving indicates you might "act out" with your vehicle. Apparently it didn't get real for him until the glasses got pulled off his face.

It's hard to drive a big vehicle, though. Worrying about other people's safety is stressful. Just not remotely as stressful as it is for the people who are worrying about their own.

[From_the_NEK]

More food for thought. What happens when driverless cars start to become commonplace?

While I was in grad school, on a daily basis, I used to ride one of the busiest roads in Vermont between Burlington and Winooski. I was commuting on my MTB so my top end speed on a flat was less than 30mph. The layout of the traffic lanes meant that I had to ride in a middle lane across a bridge into a large stoplighted intersection. I knew that I had to HAMMER across that bridge to prevent impeding traffic. I was always successful and I think the drivers appreciated it. I never got honked at or otherwise harassed. I also never tried to run the red light. After the red light is a long steep hill with roadside parallel parking. There was no way to keep from impeding traffic on that hill so I opted to ride up the sidewalk. It all worked out well and I never had an incident (other than me gently rear ending and old shitty truck that had non-functioning brake lights on the bridge).

[summit]

-Speed limits in town need to be lowered. The difference between 20 miles per hour and 35 mph is huge for the safety of kids and adults, on foot, on bike and in cars. Lower speeds make places quieter and more appealing for everyone. We just need to accept that driving inside city limits on most (but not all) roads is going to take a little longer. The tradeoffs are more than worth it.

That is just asinine rationalization backed by a massive sense of entitlement.

"Cut speed limits virtually in half so that I can ride my bike! Fuck everyone else's time. It isn't as valuable as my biking."

[ex-powderbroker]

Rules of the road dictate bikes stay as far right as possible, and single file!

I'm not a lawyer or advocate but I don't think that's the law in most places or where i'm from. Not saying that bikers should take up a lane, but the bad apple drivers that want to "teach someone a lesson" or get impatient is not in proportion with the crime of someone minding their business on two wheels. That's all.

[Flea]

After about 30 years of commuting a shit ton in all kinds of weather and on some pretty congested crazy roads, I stay as far to the right as possible whether it's a bike specific lane or not. Cars are big and heavy. Ya I've been hit a couple of times, but I've been hurt way worse crashing on my MTB. This is common sense shit. STAY OUT OF THE ROAD.

[ex-powderbroker]

That is just asinine rationalization backed by a massive sense of entitlement.

"Cut speed limits virtually in half so that I can ride my bike! Fuck everyone else's time. It isn't as valuable as my biking."

depends on the town and place but lowering the speed limit in towns absolutely saves lives and makes streets a more pleasant place to walk and live.

[summit]

Bicycles as a form of travel are literally 1% of trips in the US. So yea, when we talk about entitled cyclists blocking traffic, this is literally the 1% crapping on the 99%. When we are talking about bikers on mountain passes and the like, we are almost certainly talking about people using public roadways for exercise rather than travel.

I'm all for bike lanes and bike paths. I have plenty of friends and family who have been hit on the roads. Riding on roads scares me. I feel safer on dirt.

But the statistics are that bike and ped fatalities are DECREASING! 720 deaths in 2014.

There is one cyclist killed per yer per 450,000 Americans... or rather cyclist deaths are 0.028% of all deaths in the US per year.

Is it a coincidence that 77% of cyclist deaths are males 20 years and older?

Is it a coincence that 50% of cyclist deaths occur between the hours of 6pm and 6am?

Those numbers include all types of cyclists (Mtb). I guarantee you that the majority of people ride their bikes during the day, not at night. I guarantee you there are statistically insignificant number of night mtbers.

Most road cyclist deaths are men biking in the dark. I'd bet anyone $100 that alcohol is a major factor in cyclist deaths.

You want to cut half the fatalities out, how about banning biking at night. Eliminating say 10% of bike trips will cut fatalities in half, far more effective than cutting the speed limit in half for 99% of road users. I'm not actually advocating such a silly notion, but illustrating to those who want to cut speed limits that these discussions aren't about evidence and effective intervention. They are about entitlement and personal interests.

[Sirshredalot]

So if I want to drive 5 mph up the long hill near my house and impede the flow of traffic that should be fine? For a car that would be illegal, why is it acceptable for a bike?

I'm pretty sure that's not illegal and it is done regularly by farm and construction equipment, people towing trailers, the mailman or ups truck, etc. etc. etc.

[snoqpass]

I'm pretty sure that's not illegal and it is done regularly by farm and construction equipment, people towing trailers, the mailman or ups truck, etc. etc. etc.

You'd be wrong
http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.427

[pepperdawg]

^^fuckin mail carriers