Joggers, Runners & Bikers....please explain?

[mhsjax]

I love the charity or fundraiser rides that get some road or lane closures. It makes for a much better riding experience.



Unfortunately a lot of people zip down their driveways, past the sidewalks, but stop at the street to look for other cars before continuing. In the best case scenario they see the cyclist or runner and wait for them to pass. In the worse case you see them and can begin to stop or more over to avoid a collision. While they should be smart enough to stop and look before the sidewalk I don't trust my fellow man nearly enough to put my life in their hands while flying down the sidewalk at 20+ mph.

This is another situation where it is best to be a bit further from the curb. Not only could trees on the treelawn obstruct your view or the reversing motorists view but a motorist who is looking for another car will look more center on the lane and if you are cycling there as opposed to right against the curb you are more likely to be seen.

I guess I didn't realize that roads where made for your riding experience.. Wow, I thought they were for cars, getting people to where they needed to be. I must have been misinformed. Sorry, but bikers are a real pet peeve of mine.

 

[FireDancer]

I guess I didn't realize that roads where made for your riding experience.. Wow, I thought they were for cars, getting people to where they needed to be. I must have been misinformed. Sorry, but bikers are a real pet peeve of mine.

You were misinformed. The roads are for any vehicle that is allowed to use them per the city or state laws. In most cases that includes both cars and bikes. In other cases it includes horse and buggies or tractors.

Ok. let me rephrase that. If it clogs up any highway that is used fairly regularly, I am against it. Sorry. If it is a road that pretty much no one uses, then yep I am fine with it. Where live you can divide us into 2 groups, the bikers and the bike haters. That pretty much sums it up.

Fortunately city officials see the benefit in making the route as safe as possible for riders and runners in local events. I do road races (running) all summer long and almost all of them have at least a lane closed to traffic for the duration of the race. I don't do a lot of organized rides but the ones I do all get at least a lane and in some cases whole roads.

The majority of cities around here are great in supporting local races and riding events.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry, but if it slows lanes up on a major highway for an extended period of time, I wouldn't support it. There are other ways to raise money without inconveniencing others.

You don't have to.

However, I have to caution--that many events take place that require lane closures. It is up to the group to obtain proper permits to be able to legally do that.

Roads get closed for parades, races, charity events--all the time.

It just seems a pretty selfish stance for you to take if the group has fulfilled all of their legal obligations.

Do you stop going to Disney forever since they do close lanes, roads for their road races a few times per year?

Where I used to live, one side of the bridge is closed a few times a year for an event. They have proper permits, they are within their rights. It is a public road that serves a public service. They even close the bridge on the 4th of July for fireworks. They figure the inconvenience is better than something going off course and landing on your vehicle.

 

[mhsjax]

You were misinformed. The roads are for any vehicle that is allowed to use them per the city or state laws. In most cases that includes both cars and bikes. In other cases it includes horse and buggies or tractors.



Fortunately city officials see the benefit in making the route as safe as possible for riders and runners in local events. I do road races (running) all summer long and almost all of them have at least a lane closed to traffic for the duration of the race. I don't do a lot of organized rides but the ones I do all get at least a lane and in some cases whole roads.

The majority of cities around here are great in supporting local races and riding events.

Well misinformed or not, I don't like it, never will. sorry, but I can't and won't like bikers in any shape or form. I have seen too many nasty riders out there including one actually cuss a friend out, and threaten him physically after he (the biker) ran the stop sign and all of this in front of a child. So yep, legal or not, I don't agree, and if I had my way, riding on the road would be outlawed and nothing anyone can say will change my mind. The are rude, arrogant and just plain nasty when it comes to the road. I see the license plates that say "Share the road" yeah, right, I think maybe they need to learn the meaning of share. RANT over.

PS. Glad I don't live where you do. Not a whole lot of that going on around here. HOw about this, when biker lose their attitude and their thinking they own the road and are untouchable, I will lose my attitude about them.

 

[mhsjax]

You don't have to.

However, I have to caution--that many events take place that require lane closures. It is up to the group to obtain proper permits to be able to legally do that.

Roads get closed for parades, races, charity events--all the time.

It just seems a pretty selfish stance for you to take if the group has fulfilled all of their legal obligations.

Do you stop going to Disney forever since they do close lanes, roads for their road races a few times per year?

Where I used to live, one side of the bridge is closed a few times a year for an event. They have proper permits, they are within their rights. It is a public road that serves a public service. They even close the bridge on the 4th of July for fireworks. They figure the inconvenience is better than something going off course and landing on your vehicle.

I stay away from Disney when anything special is going on, such as Pop Warner, and also the WDW marathon. I am also willing be bet, that even though they may close one lane, those bikers take up both lanes. That is what they do around here. Stop the world, the bikers are coming through, as far as they are concerned, they OWN the road.

 

[Poohforyou]

Well misinformed or not, I don't like it, never will. sorry, but I can't and won't like bikers in any shape or form. I have seen too many nasty riders out there including one actually cuss a friend out, and threaten him physically after he (the biker) ran the stop sign and all of this in front of a child. So yep, legal or not, I don't agree, and if I had my way, riding on the road would be outlawed and nothing anyone can say will change my mind. The are rude, arrogant and just plain nasty when it comes to the road. I see the license plates that say "Share the road" yeah, right, I think maybe they need to learn the meaning of share. RANT over.

Those who are against their local laws should start a grass roots effort to get them overturned. In the meantime please just realize that as a car driver you will always be able to win in the battle of car vs. bike. Your really are making broad statements based on a few unfortunate encounters.

 

[FireDancer]

Those who are against their local laws should start a grass roots effort to get them overturned. In the meantime please just realize that as a car driver you will always be able to win in the battle of car vs. bike. Your really are making broad statements based on a few unfortunate encounters.

Not to mention I would bet anyone who has gotten yelled at by a cyclist has gotten the same more often from other drivers of cars. You also don't remember the 50 smart cyclists who you pass, just the 1 that makes a scene. I know way more cyclists that obey the laws then don't because it is their lives they are playing with. A car hitting a bike will just about always hurt the cyclists (or worse) so most make sure they keep the odds of it happening as low as possible.

 

[mhsjax]

Those who are against their local laws should start a grass roots effort to get them overturned. In the meantime please just realize that as a car driver you will always be able to win in the battle of car vs. bike. Your really are making broad statements based on a few unfortunate encounters.

And that is the problem, I do realize that I will always win in a battle, and the last thing I want to do is hurt of kill someone.

This is not a few unfortunate encounters. ARound here, it is almost a daily encounter, to have bikers, about 20 - 50 of them in rush hour traffic. They ride 3 and 4 across, they com out of their lane. There is a path that they take, that they will literally go and cut across traffic and force the whole 3 lane highway during rush hour, to come to a stop so they can cross. This ins't a crossing with a light, they will just see a small break in the traffic and go. And you better damn well stop or else. They repeatedly run stop signs. They will also ride so slow in neighborhoods and so far across that you can't pass. So you explain to me, how this is fair and following the rules and sharing the road. If you can give me a decent explanation, I will listen.

 

[declansdad]

Ok. let me rephrase that. If it clogs up any highway that is used fairly regularly, I am against it. Sorry. If it is a road that pretty much no one uses, then yep I am fine with it. Where live you can divide us into 2 groups, the bikers and the bike haters. That pretty much sums it up.

You must hate marathons and triathlons then.

 

[FireDancer]

And that is the problem, I do realize that I will always win in a battle, and the last thing I want to do is hurt of kill someone.

This is not a few unfortunate encounters. ARound here, it is almost a daily encounter, to have bikers, about 20 - 50 of them in rush hour traffic. They ride 3 and 4 across, they com out of their lane. There is a path that they take, that they will literally go and cut across traffic and force the whole 3 lane highway during rush hour, to come to a stop so they can cross. This ins't a crossing with a light, they will just see a small break in the traffic and go. And you better damn well stop or else. They repeatedly run stop signs. They will also ride so slow in neighborhoods and so far across that you can't pass. So you explain to me, how this is fair and following the rules and sharing the road. If you can give me a decent explanation, I will listen.

That doesn't sound legal and definitely not safe even if it technically isn't against the law. If what they are doing is against the law then the police should be out ticketing the riders in the same way they ticket cars that don't follow the rules of the road and I guarantee there are more moving violations every day by cars than bikes.

 

[declansdad]

And that is the problem, I do realize that I will always win in a battle, and the last thing I want to do is hurt of kill someone.

This is not a few unfortunate encounters. ARound here, it is almost a daily encounter, to have bikers, about 20 - 50 of them in rush hour traffic. They ride 3 and 4 across, they com out of their lane. There is a path that they take, that they will literally go and cut across traffic and force the whole 3 lane highway during rush hour, to come to a stop so they can cross. This ins't a crossing with a light, they will just see a small break in the traffic and go. And you better damn well stop or else. They repeatedly run stop signs. They will also ride so slow in neighborhoods and so far across that you can't pass. So you explain to me, how this is fair and following the rules and sharing the road. If you can give me a decent explanation, I will listen.

Maybe more people should use bikes.

 

[mhsjax]

That doesn't sound legal and definitely not safe even if it technically isn't against the law. If what they are doing is against the law then the police should be out ticketing the riders in the same way they ticket cars that don't follow the rules of the road and I guarantee there are more moving violations every day by cars than bikes.

I am not interested in the amount of moving violations of cars vs bikers. What I see is bikers who think they own the road, stopping everyone else, expecting everyone else to tip toe around them. NOw, if 2 cars get into a fender bender because of some moving violation, someone may be a bit beat up, maybe a scratch or 2. Now same scenario only with a car and a biker. I bet the biker gets killed or at the very least critically injured. Now, they are riding 3 and 4 across, I have a car right beside me, and this poor fool hits a rock, or the biker next to him hits a bump and whammo, they all fall right into traffic, I get sued, all because these guys, think they own the road and there is no where for us poor car drivers to go. AGain, how is this a good thing, and if you can give me a reasonable explanation, I will listen. so far no one has been able to. Everyone scream about rights, what about my right to not have to hit one of these fools because they choose to ride at dangerous times and on dangerous roads and do dangerous things. But, hey I guess we all the the right to be STUPID. I just refuse to get sued, or be responsible for hurting someone, when they were to stupid to not put themselves in that situation. And yes, the example I gave has happened to me numerous times, only without anyone falling. Thank God for small miracles.

 

[mhsjax]

Maybe more people should use bikes.

Um yeah. I guess I should lug my 3 kids around on bikes to their Tae Kwon do and Soccer and the grocery store. HOw about less people use bikes. ALso what I am talking about is the "real" bikers. The speed and endurance bikers. Not the casual out for exercise bikers. They aren't usually aren't on our major road here, that everyone has to take to get anywhere.

 

[golfgal]

Everything is better in Minnesota!

 

[Poohforyou]

And that is the problem, I do realize that I will always win in a battle, and the last thing I want to do is hurt of kill someone.

This is not a few unfortunate encounters. ARound here, it is almost a daily encounter, to have bikers, about 20 - 50 of them in rush hour traffic. They ride 3 and 4 across, they com out of their lane. There is a path that they take, that they will literally go and cut across traffic and force the whole 3 lane highway during rush hour, to come to a stop so they can cross. This ins't a crossing with a light, they will just see a small break in the traffic and go. And you better damn well stop or else. They repeatedly run stop signs. They will also ride so slow in neighborhoods and so far across that you can't pass. So you explain to me, how this is fair and following the rules and sharing the road. If you can give me a decent explanation, I will listen.

Have you tried calling the police when you see it? They ought to be able to do something.

That's an awful lot of riders out together on a daily basis. Is it a club? Perhaps you could call the club organizers and let them know how their riders are putting themselves in danger.

 

[declansdad]

I am not interested in the amount of moving violations of cars vs bikers. What I see is bikers who think they own the road, stopping everyone else, expecting everyone else to tip toe around them. NOw, if 2 cars get into a fender bender because of some moving violation, someone may be a bit beat up, maybe a scratch or 2. Now same scenario only with a car and a biker. I bet the biker gets killed or at the very least critically injured. Now, they are riding 3 and 4 across, I have a car right beside me, and this poor fool hits a rock, or the biker next to him hits a bump and whammo, they all fall right into traffic, I get sued, all because these guys, think they own the road and there is no where for us poor car drivers to go. AGain, how is this a good thing, and if you can give me a reasonable explanation, I will listen. so far no one has been able to. Everyone scream about rights, what about my right to not have to hit one of these fools because they choose to ride at dangerous times and on dangerous roads and do dangerous things. But, hey I guess we all the the right to be STUPID. I just refuse to get sued, or be responsible for hurting someone, when they were to stupid to not put themselves in that situation. And yes, the example I gave has happened to me numerous times, only without anyone falling. Thank God for small miracles.

Um yeah. I guess I should lug my 3 kids around on bikes to their Tae Kwon do and Soccer and the grocery store. HOw about less people use bikes. ALso what I am talking about is the "real" bikers. The speed and endurance bikers. Not the casual out for exercise bikers. They aren't usually aren't on our major road here, that everyone has to take to get anywhere.

Are you this angry when you drive as well?

There are plenty more bad car drivers on the road than cyclists. As many people have told you, cyclists are allowed on the road. If they do not follow the rules of the road, they should be fined just as the many bad drivers should.

 

[mhsjax]

Are you this angry when you drive as well?

There are plenty more bad car drivers on the road than cyclists. As many people have told you, cyclists are allowed on the road. If they do not follow the rules of the road, they should be fined just as the many bad drivers should.

NOpe not as angry, only when cyclists come up and we have to avoid hitting them and to have people tell me over and over, that it is their right to be there. It is my right to not injure people and they are putting themselves in harms way and I guarantee you that if one of them were to get hurt, they would sue. Unfortunately, they aren't fined, I guess cops aren't around to see them, of when they do, they aren't really breaking the law, just inconveniencing everyone. AGain, if 2 cars get into a wreck someone may get hurt, If I hit a biker, I can guarantee you he will. I will end up being sued. Yep it pisses me off. Where does his right to be there on the road over rule my right to not be sued by him when he is being unsafe. Do you have a clue whagt it is like to be traveling down a 6 lane divided highway that is very crowded at almost all times of the day, the speed limit is 45 mph. YOu have 20 or more bikers riding along in their lane, 3 and 4 across and they are coming out of their lane and into yours. There is a car right beside you, they are inches from you and you have no where to go. One wrong move or rock or bump and they could all come crashing into you. YOu can't move over because of the car beside you, so your only choice is to go miles, and yes literally miles, well under the speed limit or wait until there is room for you to move over into the next lane. Also this highway involves a bridge.

We all know that not everyone that speeds gets a ticket, so most bikers don't. And the one that did, sure gave the cop a big attitude. He was the laughing stock of the area. We all were practically celebrating. He thought he was above the law, as most of them do.

PS We all get this angry around here. It is a major PITA.

 

[si-am]

I don't mind bikers sharing the road as long as they follow the same rules we have to in our cars.

For example: stop signs. Bikers never stop at them. And at red lights, they like to pass everyone stopped and slide right up to the front, so that when it turns green, you have to pass them ALL over again.

 

[declansdad]

NOpe not as angry, only when cyclists come up and we have to avoid hitting them and to have people tell me over and over, that it is their right to be there. It is my right to not injure people and they are putting themselves in harms way and I guarantee you that if one of them were to get hurt, they would sue. Unfortunately, they aren't fined, I guess cops aren't around to see them, of when they do, they aren't really breaking the law, just inconveniencing everyone.

We all know that not everyone that speeds gets a ticket, so most bikers don't. And the one that did, sure gave the cop a big attitude. He was the laughing stock of the area. We all were practically celebrating. He thought he was above the law, as most of them do.

PS We all get this angry around here. It is a major PITA.

Maybe your anger is part of the problem. If you looked for ways of sharing the road instead of wanting all cyclists off it, you may be able to co-exist.

 

[mhsjax]

Maybe your anger is part of the problem. If you looked for ways of sharing the road instead of wanting all cyclists off it, you may be able to co-exist.

Um, yeah sure. Me, in my city of over a million people, my anger is the problem. Hate to tell you but no one around here likes them. See above poster that says as long as they obey the rules we will be fine. THEY DON"T. That is why the one got a ticket and then tried to argue that the cop couldn't give him one because he wasn't a car, he was a biker. The cop sure3 was pissed off, he understood. Can;t have it both ways sweetie. If a car was doing things that bikers do, they would get a ticket for obstructing traffic, this is what the biker got a ticket for. Even the wife of one of the bikers told her DH that she couldn't keep defending them because they were actin like jerks and causing problems for everyone.