mobs of cyclists

[lindalinda]

Has anyone else had this happen a lot lately? I live in a rural area with narrow curvy roads with no shoulder whatsoever. Double yellow lines through most areas as well. Lately it seems like my area has been inundated with some sort of cycling clubs. It is a nightmare! There will be groups from anywhere from 10 to 20 bikes on these narrow roads with traffic backed up for miles! It really scares me. There is very little room to pass these large groups, but people are trying, speeding up and passing on curves to try to get around them. Today was the worst. A large group was traveling on a busy road, traffic in both directions, and the entire group made a left turn, barely missing the oncoming traffic! I thought sure 3 or 4 were gonna be taken out! These are adults, not kids, all decked out in sophisticated riding attire. I know we have to share the road, I'm not arguing that point, but it has really been frustrating lately.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I know what you mean. Although I don't see groups of bicyclists very often where I live, yesterday as I was turning left in an intersection there was a bicyclist riding in front of me. I know we have to share the road with them, but he was going really slow on a very busy road.

 

[airhead]

I also live in a rural area and there are lots of riding clubs that use the back roads here. I love the flash of colors that whizz by us! I think its so awesome.

 

[Chattyaholic]

We have to endure the bicyclists every year just before Labor Day. They start in Lansing and ride up to the Mackinaw Bridge and they go right through our town. Many of them ride the way they're supposed to, single file. But some of them think they own the road and they ride 3 and 4 wide taking up the entire lane and cars behind them can't get by. They refuse to move over, even when traffic is backed up trying to get around them. On my way home the other day there were hundreds of bikers in the other lane and I felt very sorry for the vehicles (including 18-wheelers) trying to get by them.

I think they are just annoyances and really do not belong on roads that vehicles are on. I would be more than happy to pay a few $$ more per year in taxes so that bike paths could be added to the sides of the roads so the bikes have THEIR space and the vehicles have THEIRS.

 

[Sleepy]

We don't encounter mobs of them, but close by my house is one of Italy's most dangerous interstate roads. Why cyclists can't find a safer place to bike, I have no idea, but they come off my road, which is a country road. That road spills off onto an interstate and that interstate immediately splits. It;s a dangerous place to get on and unless you are going in a certain direction, you have to cross 4 lanes of very fast traffic that is total chaos most of the time. The cyclists are obviously going slow and they act like they have the right of way. Why can't they just find a nice back road for biking and drive a car on dangerous roads?

 

[Val]

Being in a university town we have several groups who ride....one group in particular ride on Sunday mornings and we often have to "dodge" them on the rural roads on the way to church. Funny thing is, they are so regular with their times we can tell how late we are by where we pass them!

 

[lesroi]

I think they are just annoyances and really do not belong on roads that vehicles are on. I would be more than happy to pay a few $$ more per year in taxes so that bike paths could be added to the sides of the roads so the bikes have THEIR space and the vehicles have THEIRS.

OMG. I know this is a "rag on cyclists" thread, but you people do know it is the LAW for you to SHARE THE ROAD, right? You mentioned it at least.

They have as much right to be on the road as you do! What everyone in America is in such a hurry for, I'm not sure.

As a big cycling fan (who has been to see the Giro!) I think it's a great thing to see when motorists actually do share.

Perhaps you all should get a bike and maybe you could get somewhere faster since you're in such a hurry! I personally won't ride my bike on a main road as I am afraid of how you all drive!

Tracy

 

[clarabelle]

Although I can understand your frustration especially with the people who ride 3 or 4 abreast. It is soo difficult to find somewhere to ride. I don't mean ten miles -I mean a long ride.
I rarely ride on the road and when I do I hug the shoulder. People still get angry -go as fast as possible , yell and whistle.
It is the law that we are supposed to share the road. Cycling is healthy and saves gas. I wish people could be a bit more tolerant and I wish some cyclists could be a bit more considerate.
Also if you live in a rural area where their are lots of organized big rides consider that most of these are for charity and also bring revenue into the area (hotel, restaurants etc...)

 

[Sleepy]

They have as much right to be on the road as you do! What everyone in America is in such a hurry for, I'm not sure.
I personally won't ride my bike on a main road as I am afraid of how you all drive!

Tracy

It's not just an American thing.
Also, around here, I am afraid to drive in my SUV because of the way the people drive. You just would not believe some of the things I see on a daily basis. Adding a slow cyclist to the mix in traffic that goes 70-100mph is a deadly combination. Even seeing a motorcyclist on the road makes me cringe.

 

[LilyWDW]

Yes, we do have to share the road, but sometimes I do not believe that people think about where they are riding their bikes. I live in an area that is mostly blind curves and hills for the back roads. This means there are cars coming over that hill at 45-55 depending on the road (and yes that IS the speed limit btw, so I am not talking about speeders here), on a two lane road, with little to no shoulder... yet people still bike on these roads. I come over that hill at the speed limit and I may not see them until I am at the top, which may be too late to slow down when you are talking a bike here.

We provide areas for people to bike in, including bike lanes (though when they put the one along the interstate enterance I will never understand. Cars have to cross into it to get into the turn lane to get on the interstate.) and many nice natural areas.

I have no problem sharing the road, really I don't, but I just wish the bikers would sometimes think about the hazard they are causing. By picking some of the roads they do, they are putting not only themseleves at risk, but the drivers on the road as well. I know in many states you can get ticketed for obstruction of traffic because you are actually going too slow... why can bikes obstruct the traffic when a car can not?

(edit note: typed bike path, meant bike LANE so wanted to change it to clear up!)

 

[Planogirl]

In Holland, there were always tons of cycling paths along roads and I really do wish that the US had more of these. There's no question that cyclists are allowed to share the roads but there's also minimum speeds posted and I doubt that the cyclists are getting to those. It makes the situation very dangerous IMO.

 

[floridafam]

We have a TON of cyclists around here-including my DH

We are fortunate to have a great bike lane on A1A. My DH couldn't use a bike path. He trains for Ironman triathlons and often rides for 30 or more miles and he can't do that on a bike path with kids on it.

I agree about the big groups. Usually, they will have a vehicle escort if they are big enough around here. This helps cut down on accidents and such and I don't mind it.

 

[paigevz]

I don't mind it, but it worries me.................the cyclists seem to be staying as far to the edge as they can, and sometimes cars will take big chances to get around them...........I'm always worried they'll hit a car coming the opposite direction head-on, and take out the nearest cyclists in the aftermath of the collision.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Also if you live in a rural area where their are lots of organized big rides consider that most of these are for charity and also bring revenue into the area (hotel, restaurants etc...)

Actually the owner of the restaurant where I work would rather the bicyclists didn't stop at her restaurant!! Hoards of them come in all together and they don't order much, but require lots and lots of water. She hates it when they come in right at noon and then the regular customers can't find a place to sit.