bicyclists-vent

[maddhatir]

Come to Southern NJ- we have some of the rudest riders ever.

They think they can ride NEXT to each other on busy roads! They don't care if they back up traffic.

It is so dangerous b/c they do it on one road in particular, the road is nicknamed "snake road" for how windy it is. It is only 2 lanes. Imagine how hard it is to maneuver the curves when you have cyclist riding sometimes 2 and 3 next to each other and you are trying to get around them!

Our neighbors are in the military and move around a lot. The husband is a cyclist. He said he has lived all over the place, but he has never seen cyclist ride the way they do in our area. They are just rude.

 

[LilyWDW]

I wouldn't mind people riding their bikes around here, but sometimes I think they pick the worst roads and worst times to do it. 5:30pm on a two lane, winding, hilly, main road with blind curves and hills where the speed limit is 55 is NOT the time or place to be! I nearly hit someone this road because I came around a blind curve going up a hill at the posted 45mph (for that spot) and BAM a biker just around that curve... I was LUCKY there was no one coming in the other direction because there was traffic behind me. I mean, it was NOT a safe place for someone to be riding their bikes. We have places with paths and bike lanes that would be much safer for all involved.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I had to pass two tonight on a two lane road! It was sunset and they had absolutely no reflective gear on. I hate passing walkers/cyclists on busy roads because you don't always have a chance to pass and you have to slow way down (plus I'm always terrified they'll fall in front of my car) but I'm not begrudging them the chance to be healthier, the nervousness is my issue.

What I don't like is the ones that ride/jog abreast of each other (especially true with the cross country runners, you can barely get around them!) and when they ride/walk at night with nothing reflective on like the two tonight. If you're at travelling at a high rate of speed it gives you almost no reaction time. They didn't even have reflectors on the back of their bike, or if they did, they were covered up!

 

[RachelEllen]

w

 

[stego]

because I cycle. As a cyclist, other cyclists don't define my character. I can NOT be responsible for THEIR behavior; their lack of obeying the law. Just the same when I am driving my truck: HOW AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY!!!!!!!!!!! EXPLAIN THAT TO ME!!!!!

I have been commuting on my bicycle for years on Fridays. At stop signs I come to a complete stop, do a foot plant, look both ways, then proceed safely. I have lights, front and rear and always wear a helmet and glasses. I wear loud and reflective gear so people can see me. I see many other cyclists and vehicles NOT obeying the traffic laws, and again, how is this a reflection on my character? PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I do not shout out at people or tell them what they are doing wrong: I DON'T MAKE THE LAWS AND I DON'T ENFORCE THEM. It makes me sick to my stomach even the thought of being an advocate. We are a car culture and the traffic designers did not build the roads and path to accomodate a large amount of cyclists. We took a trip to DC last year and saw people walking everywhere...they all took buses, rode bikes, rode the metro. Don't get me wrong, I saw lots of vehicle traffic. But here in central TX, the solution is to build more roads...and many people hop in their cars. NOT ALL, because there are those who are trying to do something about it. Austin is about 30 years behind Portland and how do WE make that up. I watched a video recently in Portland and there was a reporter standing there and it was a constant stream of cyclists.

I have listened to many unhappy people complain about cyclists disobeying the traffic laws...and it doesn't help those who do. When I see a full kit roadie blow a stop sign in front of me and my son my first instinct is to shout out at him. I did that last year in DC when we were in a no biking zone: I yelled out to a lady: WHAT, THE RULES DON'T APPLY? Her response: THAT'S RIGHT, THEY DON'T. NEVER AGAIN. Gordon Ramsay says it best for me: shut it. The best advice I can give myself is to keep my big fat mouth shut because people don't want unsolicited advice.

What I have found is that we are becoming more of a self-centered society and quite frankly, I see it as a losing cause. Self entitlement & rules don't apply has become so widespread it is only a matter of time before there are more examples of civil unrest. Just this past week, East Austin created a new sport: throwing rocks through the back windshields of APD patrol cars. LOVELY.

I have created the expectation of others taking the high road 100% of the time, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

The solution quite simply for me it to keep doing what I am doing because it works for me. This past Friday was bike to work day and guess the participation from others? That's right...a big fat whopping 0%! It was just like any other day and quite it frankly has no appeal to others. So I kept my big fat mouth shut, and pedaled my happy *** home safely.

Have a nice happy, shiny and sunny Disney day.

 

[yoopermom]

I appreciate this thread, because I REALLY want to get back to biking, but our rural area is a total and complete DANGER ZONE for bikers, with car drivers far exceeding the speed limit on back country roads where there's no where for a biker to go except the ditch. Guess I'll just have to strap on my helmet and pray...

Terri

 

[maddhatir]

because I cycle. As a cyclist, other cyclists don't define my character. I can NOT be responsible for THEIR behavior; their lack of obeying the law. Just the same when I am driving my truck: HOW AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY!!!!!!!!!!! EXPLAIN THAT TO ME!!!!!

I know how you feel- We have a Harley. I hear people complain about motorcycles and some of the stupid things they do.

However, DH drives slow, obeys all laws and is a very safe driver. We all get lumped together too But we are not all the same.

There are rude drivers no matter if it is 2 or 4 wheels they are on. But then again, you have stupid people that cannot even maneuver a shopping cart

 

[ols386]

because I cycle. As a cyclist, other cyclists don't define my character. I can NOT be responsible for THEIR behavior; their lack of obeying the law. Just the same when I am driving my truck: HOW AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY!!!!!!!!!!! EXPLAIN THAT TO ME!!!!!

Of course you are NOT responsible for the behavior of other cyclists. Did someone say you were? Or did someone define YOUR character by other cyclists? Your post seems like a bit of an exageration.

 

[Darsa]

There are rude drivers no matter if it is 2 or 4 wheels they are on

Truest words on this whole thread!

 

[blissventure]

When bicyclists insist on riding on regular roads I wonder what they're deeply inhaling into their lungs. I just can't imagine spending an hour or two (or more) breathing a lot of automobile exhaust.
In the past 3 years, I've known two (non smoking) bicycle enthusiasts that came down with lung cancer. One died, the other isn't doing well. Their families wonder if there is a connection.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

It's illegal to travel on the shoulder regardless of vehicle.

 

[ckay87]

When bicyclists insist on riding on regular roads I wonder what they're deeply inhaling into their lungs. I just can't imagine spending an hour or two (or more) breathing a lot of automobile exhaust.
In the past 3 years, I've known two (non smoking) bicycle enthusiasts that came down with lung cancer. One died, the other isn't doing well. Their families wonder if there is a connection.

Where are they supposed to ride? Maybe you live in an area where there is an abundance of bike paths, but I don't.

I see your point, but I don't think it's limited to cyclists. There are plenty of people living 24/7 right next to highways or busy roads. They've gotta be breathing that stuff also.

Maybe people need to drive less.

 

[blissventure]

Where are they supposed to ride? Maybe you live in an area where there is an abundance of bike paths, but I don't.

I see your point, but I don't think it's limited to cyclists. There are plenty of people living 24/7 right next to highways or busy roads. They've gotta be breathing that stuff also.

Maybe people need to drive less.

I wonder if there have been studies done about this. I was shocked when these two guys became ill, they were amazingly healthy before. Their diagnosis started a lot of conversations about what exactly is in car exhaust. (And is it possible it contributed to their illness?)
More to your point, I think there is a big difference between living "next" to a busy road, and constantly deeply inhaling car exhaust from autos that are less than 5 feet away.
I do understand enthusiasts love to ride on roads, though. We have bike paths in our area that are rarely used.

 

[jrmasm]

It's illegal to travel on the shoulder regardless of vehicle.

Are you sure that's true? When a bicylist skidded across the hood of my husband's car he didn't get a ticket. He was riding on the shoulder. My husband got the ticket.

 

[monkey68]

because I cycle. As a cyclist, other cyclists don't define my character. I can NOT be responsible for THEIR behavior; their lack of obeying the law. Just the same when I am driving my truck: HOW AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY!!!!!!!!!!! EXPLAIN THAT TO ME!!!!!

.

I never said you were responsible for the other bikers, and nobody else did either. When people vent about teachers, does that mean all teachers are bad? Or people in wheelchairs that demand no one else use the handicapped stall mean all people in wheelchairs are like that? Of course not. Nobody is demanding that somebody take responsibility on behalf of the millions of people that might fall into that category.

If you like cycling, that's great. Road cycling is not my preferred form of exercise, because I'm too nervous to get near the cars, but I'm not going to knock others that do. I understand that bikers have every right to the road, but that doesn't mean I have to like driving on a high speed road with them. And for them actually riding in the lane, personally, I would think that would be even more dangerous, especially if there are blind turns or hills, not because it's a bicycle, but because they cannot go the 55 mph speed limit, and if a car is, they may not have the time to slow down. Which could end up starting a whole chain reaction of events. Other people answered earlier on that the cyclists have to deal with debris and stuff further into the shoulder, and I admitted I didn't know about that, which can make sense for them riding closer to the lanes. But just because I can understand it, doesn't mean I have to like it, but I have to just deal with it.

 

[FireDancer]

I cycle and always on the road. I stay as far right as practicle but there are roads that you have to cycle into the lane. What is supposed to happen is an approaching car travels behind you until it is safe to pass. If that means they have to go slow for a mile than that is how it is.

I did a week of cycling in Tuscany last year and they know how to drive with cyclists much better than my experiences here. A lot of those roads are single lane in each direction and very windy. There were many times while riding that a truck or car was stuck behind us a good mile or more (well, Kilometer or more) an no one ever beeped or gave me a dirty look. Most of them even waved or said chao as they eventually passed. I do the same here when I come up on a cyclists. If I have to do 25 or even less for a little while that is fine, I will pass him when it is safe for me.

 

[goofy!]

I cycle and always on the road. I stay as far right as practicle but there are roads that you have to cycle into the lane. What is supposed to happen is an approaching car travels behind you until it is safe to pass. If that means they have to go slow for a mile than that is how it is.

That is how it is here too. And if the current proposed bill passes, then it will be illegal for a car to pass a bicycle unless they have at least 3 feet of clearance.

The responsibility is being put directly on the automobile, not the bicycle. If you cannot pass with 3 feet of clearance, you will not be able to pass. So, if there are oncoming cars, or a windy road where it would be unsafe to go into the oncoming lane, you have to wait until you can provide the bicycle at least 3 feet between the bicycle and your car.

The bill will make it so much safer for bicycles on our roads.

 

[manning]

Close encounter of the bicycle kind.

I had one the other day that was a heart stopper, and it would have been for the clown riding the bike if I wasn't fast enough. It was a four lane road, I was in the inner lane, he on the outer. Speed limit 25MPH. He is ahead of me. At the last minute he decides to make a left hand turn right in front of me. All I can say is thank you dad for your advise of 50 years ago. "break first, sound horn second." Of course there wasn't time for the horn. The look on his face when he saw this big Mercury stopped a few feet from him. He should be thankful I still have quick reflexes.

Then I get this look from him that said 'you fool you could have killed me'.

 

[stego]

with over 219K registered members, you figure?
I never said you were responsible for the other bikers, and nobody else did either. You are right. I am oversensitive when it comes to cycling; and even in other aspects of my life. That doesn't excuse my assumption, and I apologize for that.
After some reflection time, I can conclude that the original poster was refering to roads NOT built for cycling as commuting/excercise. THAT I understand...especially here in TX: wide open spaces. There are many such roads out of town, and urban sprawl is the norm. Think of the many athletes who train on the mountain passes in Europe. Those roads were NOT created for cyclists, and yet those athletes train on them, for years now, to replicate racing conditions.
It just so happens that today is the national ride of silence at 7pm, in many cities across the USA. All the riders will ride at the same time. This was started in Dallas and has increased in awareness and participation each year.
I do hope that the legislation passes for the safe passing bill...but I must continue to ride safely and remain teachable.
There have been many times I have been harrassed while choosing a bike as transportation. One time someone threw an object at me from a passing car. I almost lost it one time when I was waiting for a stop light to change and a kid in a school bus was taunting me...because I choose to ride my bike. There were 20 other cars around me and he was not taunting them...just me (because I am so special!) How I react is completely up to me and I am responsible for that. I've lost track of the "HEY LANCE" catcalls while riding (and really, how do I respond to that?). A 2 ton or larger vehicle will ALWAYS win. ALWAYS.

 

[Kit'smommy]

Duplicate post.