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[parrotbeak]

I'm just shocked because I didn't realize all those times I crossed the street and a bicyclist ran the red light and almost hit me, I could have died. I just figured it would hurt a lot and maybe I'd break a leg or something.

 

[timetokill]

Watch this.

There are some insane cyclists in that video, good god, just flying all over the place.

 

[O.DOGG]

Yeah, cyclists are a problem. I accidentally knocked this guy down a couple of weeks ago. I was jogging with my headphones on, and he was riding really close behind me. Just as he was passing me by, I changed direction slightly and bumped into his bicycle. He lost control and fell down. It was an old dude too. I felt terrible afterwards. It wasn't really my fault, though.

 

[Bazhard]

Another reason i can't stand cyclists, makes me wanna chuck a bottle at one the next time i see one, but i won't, because i am a responsible considerate person who also mans up and takes responsibility unlike these pussies.

 

[Acheron]

The fine is for the bylaw infraction, not manslaughter.

 

[Stet]

Another reason i can't stand cyclists, makes me wanna chuck a bottle at one the next time i see one, but i won't, because i am a responsible considerate person who also mans up and takes responsibility unlike these pussies.

Just as all drivers are represented by Nick Hogan, so too are all cyclists represented by the man in the OT.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Another reason i can't stand cyclists, makes me wanna chuck a bottle at one the next time i see one, but i won't, because i am a responsible considerate person who also mans up and takes responsibility unlike these pussies.

Cyclists drive too. I don't know what you're getting at.

 

[Htown]

How fast do you have to be riding a bicycle to kill somebody?

And why the hell are you going that fast while you're on the sidewalk?

 

[genjiZERO]

I hate to say it, but I've has several experiences with douchy aggressive cyclists. They fly past you, just nearly missing, and then yell at you like it's your fault. I've also had them cut me off in traffic. It's bullshit. In particular, sidewalks are for pedestrians.

 

[L00P]

How fast do you have to be riding a bicycle to kill somebody?

And why the hell are you going that fast while you're on the sidewalk?

seriously. I still can't believe somebody died because of this

 

[ServBotPhil]

That sucks.

Spoiler

Would make an interesting episode of Law and Order

 

[Freshmaker]

it's the drivers fault, your always supposed to shoulder check.

You're not supposed to pass on the right and ignore stop signs.

 

[Kuro Madoushi]

My brother is an avid cyclist, and even here in Ottawa, he's pretty much putting his life on the line when he goes out for two hours just to relax. Cars don't pay attention to turning signs nor do they ever give cyclists a second thought.

And the city still doesn't feel a need to create bike paths, or a commuter train to take more cars and dangers off the road. Numbskulls.

Yeah? And, as this article points out, a lot of cyclists don't bother with the rules of the road either.

They are like the motorcycles in Korea...they think they have the rights of both pedestrian and motor vehicle.

I often see cyclists just blow past and not signal shit as well. Rules of the road? Works both ways.

edit: holy shit at that video! It's not 'quite' as bad as there here in TO, but I can imagine a future like that soon if they don't start cracking down on everyone. I've had my share of 'aggressive yields' here from motorists, and bikers not even bothering to yield and trying to dodge.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Yeah? And, as this article points out, a lot of cyclists don't bother with the rules of the road either.

They are like the motorcycles in Korea...they think they have the rights of both pedestrian and motor vehicle.

I often see cyclists just blow past and not signal shit as well. Rules of the road? Works both ways.

So you're saying "that group of people sucks too, so it evens out that your brother's life is constantly in danger."

 

[-PXG-]

The cyclists in my area are assholes. Every single one them. I fucking hate them.

 

[Mudkips]

I find cyclists, as a group, are some of most negligent road users.

Brazenly, intentionally, so.
Always for "sharing the road", but never for actually following the rules of the road themselves.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Some people don't signal because they're just little shits, but I've had people try to actually pass me on the side that I signaled to. They're interpreting my arm out as "pass me on this side" rather than "I'm turning this way." Shit gets bad really fast. So I imagine some people out there have had similar experiences and have quickly stopped doing that.

 

[zoku88]

America isn't just New England and the west coast. Many cities were tiny towns before 1950, Austin included:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin,_Texas#Demographics

And in old days, tiny towns were compact...

What are you saying that contradicts what he just said?

Some people don't signal because they're just little shits, but I've had people try to actually pass me on the side that I signaled to. They're interpreting my arm out as "pass me on this side" rather than "I'm turning this way." Shit gets bad really fast. So I imagine some people out there have had similar experiences and have quickly stopped doing that.

I don't think most people even pay attention when I signal...

That's okay, though, since when I turn, I'm usually not in a crowded place, or it's a left turn and I just dismount and use crosswalks.

There are few things in life that frighten me like trying to make a left turn on a bicycle. Either I have to turn from the bike lane or I have to try and safely merge into the left-turn lane a hundred feet before the intersection. (the latter of which is usually safer)
Either way if some driver isn't paying attention I'm screwed.

If you're afraid of left turns, just dismount and use the crosswalks. Only the dumbest of the dumb will hit you then. (so basically, watch out for drunks.)

 

[DataStream]

Some people don't signal because they're just little shits, but I've had people try to actually pass me on the side that I signaled to. They're interpreting my arm out as "pass me on this side" rather than "I'm turning this way." Shit gets bad really fast. So I imagine some people out there have had similar experiences and have quickly stopped doing that.

I try and glance back and make eye contact if i'm trying to move over into a lane or turn, I find it makes people a bit more aware.

 

[ameratsu]

I am seeing a lot of animosity towards cyclists as a group in this thread. It's easy to dole out criticism using sweeping generalizations, but what would you do to fix the cyclist problem as you see it?

 

[Captain Pants]

I'm so glad Boise is such a bike friendly town. It is legal to ride on the sidewalk and it makes sense since the sidewalks are pretty much empty unless you are downtown. We've also got an awesome greenbelt trail along the Boise River that basically serves as a bike freeway. It is way easier to get around town on my bike than to deal with other drivers and finding a place to park. We've got decent bike lanes downtown too.

 

[Htown]

I'm so glad Boise is such a bike friendly town. It is legal to ride on the sidewalk and it makes sense since the sidewalks are pretty much empty unless you are downtown. We've also got an awesome greenbelt trail along the Boise River that basically serves as a bike freeway. It is way easier to get around town on my bike than to deal with other drivers and finding a place to park. We've got decent bike lanes downtown too.

How fast do you ride when you're on the sidewalk?
Would you kill someone if you hit them?

Also, I love that the general cyclist response in this thread has been about whether or not bike laws suck where they live, and how important it is that cyclists have awesome places to ride, instead of HOLY SHIT WHY ARE YOU RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK FAST ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEONE.

 

[Freshmaker]

Also, I love that the general cyclist response in this thread has been about whether or not bike laws suck where they live, and how important it is that cyclists have awesome places to ride, instead of HOLY SHIT WHY ARE YOU RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK FAST ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEONE.

You'd understand if you rode a bike or a month or some such noise.

 

[X26]

Watch this.

aggressive yielders are the fucking worst, have to deal with so many every day when walking or out on a run. I used to just let it go, then I started doing a slight head shake to myself, then I began doing an aggressive head shake at the driver, and soon I think I'll be pulling people out of cars

 

[siddx]

I am seeing a lot of animosity towards cyclists as a group in this thread. It's easy to dole out criticism using sweeping generalizations, but what would you do to fix the cyclist problem as you see it?

Burn them.

 

[daw840]

Watch this.

God Damn...this is why everyone hates everyone. Also why I am glad I don't, and never will, live in NYC. Pure chaos.

 

[CrankyJay]

Bicyclists are the kings of double standards. They want to use the roads but don't follow the rules. Was just in NYC and they were blowing red lights while people were walking in the crosswalks.

edit: Holy shit, that video showed it all.

 

[Snuggles]

My home town is full of sidewalks and dedicated bike paths, but I still have to deal with a lot of cyclists who think it's OK to ride in traffic. I've always found it kind of odd that it's legal for them to basically disrupt the flow of traffic, that shit's dangerous. If you can't match the speed limit, stay out of the way.

Plus, I don't like to look at saggy middle-aged ass packed into ultratight spandex. Now THAT should be illegal.

 

[dojokun]

Bicyclists are the kings of double standards. They want to use the roads but don't follow the rules. Was just in NYC and they were blowing red lights while people were walking in the crosswalks.

edit: Holy shit, that video showed it all.

That's what happens when an entire demographic is treated as an afterthought by the law and by city planners. If the roads and laws were designed with cyclists in mind from the beginning, they wouldn't act this way. Things being as they are, the law treats them as half car, half pedestrian. So they act like it.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Watch this.

The summary under the video is stupid. How do we know that they are all jaywalking? All "modes of transportation" were acting absolutely stupid in that video. All that shows is every group does stupid things no matter what.

Some people don't signal because they're just little shits, but I've had people try to actually pass me on the side that I signaled to. They're interpreting my arm out as "pass me on this side" rather than "I'm turning this way." Shit gets bad really fast. So I imagine some people out there have had similar experiences and have quickly stopped doing that.

Ya, maybe it's because it's more rural where I am but the amount of people who don't know the difference between the turn signals for a cyclist makes my brain hurt.

 

[FyreWulff]

I hate to say it, but I've has several experiences with douchy aggressive cyclists. They fly past you, just nearly missing, and then yell at you like it's your fault. I've also had them cut me off in traffic. It's bullshit. In particular, sidewalks are for pedestrians.

Sidewalks are for not-car traffic.

You do realize that what they're called is region specific, right? South Africans call sidewalks "pavements". Which is a term we use for streets here in the US. In India, they just call them "platforms".

I think of it this way

Sidewalk - for traffic between 0-15mph. Average human running speed is 15mph, which is also a comfortable speed for a bike. And a Segway. And a scooter. Anybody not walking should slow or stop for pedestrians, automatically. On a bridge you should dismount if encountering a pedestrian.

Road/Street - Traffic from 15-45mph (we do have streets around here with 45mph limits and they're not a highway). Cars, trucks, construction equipment, tractors, and cyclists that want to maintain a >15mph speed consistently.

Highway - Traffic from 50mph to 75mph - Cars, trucks, semis, and motorcycles only. Bikes, low speed motorized scooters, construction vehicles and slower vehicles not allowed. Pedestrians definitely not allowed.

Everywhere: cyclists should decide if they're a pedestrian or a vehicle, but not both. I seriously hate the ones that think they can skip red lights at their will. Heck, I don't even cross against reds while I'm walking, it's not worth the risk. I can wait the freaking 18 seconds for the light to switch.

 

[Prez]

The problem is that most US cities were not designed with foot or cycle traffic in mind.

I'm pretty sure that most US cities are designed with pedestrians in mind. Not cyclists though.

 

[Freshmaker]

That's what happens when an entire demographic is treated as an afterthought by the law and by city planners. If the roads and laws were designed with cyclists in mind from the beginning, they wouldn't act this way. Things being as they are, the law treats them as half car, half pedestrian. So they act like it.

Shame they have no self control or personal responsibility.

 

[FyreWulff]

I'm pretty sure that most US cities are designed with pedestrians in mind. Not cyclists though.

New suburb developments are now starting to be developed with only cars in mind. Hate every suburb I see with pointlessly windy roads and zero sidewalks. Mail carriers must hate those neighborhoods.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Sidewalks are for not-car traffic.

You do realize that what they're called is region specific, right? South Africans call sidewalks "pavements". Which is a term we use for streets here in the US. In India, they just call them "platforms".

I think of it this way

Sidewalk - for traffic between 0-15mph. Average human running speed is 15mph, which is also a comfortable speed for a bike. And a Segway. And a scooter. Anybody not walking should slow or stop for pedestrians, automatically. On a bridge you should dismount if encountering a pedestrian.

Road/Street - Traffic from 15-45mph (we do have streets around here with 45mph limits and they're not a highway). Cars, trucks, construction equipment, tractors, and cyclists that want to maintain a >15mph speed consistently.

Highway - Traffic from 50mph to 75mph - Cars, trucks, semis, and motorcycles only. Bikes, low speed motorized scooters, construction vehicles and slower vehicles not allowed. Pedestrians definitely not allowed.

Everywhere: cyclists should decide if they're a pedestrian or a vehicle, but not both. I seriously hate the ones that think they can skip red lights at their will. Heck, I don't even cross against reds while I'm walking, it's not worth the risk. I can wait the freaking 18 seconds for the light to switch.

I don't understand the point of your post. Bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks, it is the law. I'm not sure what you're made up classification is supposed to prove.

 

[FyreWulff]

I don't understand the point of your post. Bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks, it is the law. I'm not sure what you're made up classification is supposed to prove.

Bicycles being legally allowed on sidewalks is city by city. It is nowhere near universal.

Until I actually get arrested for riding on the sidewalk (hint: this will never happen), I'll continue to value my own safety and other people's safety over being forced to ride amongst semi trailers and dump trucks that can't see me over their massive engine block.

 

[entremet]

NYC is really not the greatest example. For example, I'm an avid cyclist, but I stick to the West Side bike path and other bike only paths. Many cyclist do the same. When I do venture to the streets, I follow the rules of the road.

Moreover, NYC is full is bike messengers and bike restaurant delivery people as well, not just bike commuters.

 

[immy]

Cyclists>Motorists

Cycling is a steady form of exercise and non polluting form of transport. Roads should be redeveloped in favour of the cyclist in city's. Alot of the shit behaviour from cyclists is due to be treated like shit by motorists.

 

[NervousXtian]

There's certain roads I stay off of in Portland just because of cyclists. So many of the riders just assume I'm watching them and can anticipate everything they do.

When I ride, I never assume what a driver is going to do.. I give as much leeway as possible. Then again, there is real contempt with cyclists and motorists in Portland.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Bicycles being legally allowed on sidewalks is city by city. It is nowhere near universal.

Until I actually get arrested for riding on the sidewalk (hint: this will never happen), I'll continue to value my own safety and other people's safety over being forced to ride amongst semi trailers and dump trucks that can't see me over their massive engine block.

Again, I'm not seeing the point of your post. In this instances and in many others it is in fact illegal. I'm not sure what you're own classifications of what it should be have to do with it being illegal. I also don't see why having to be physically arrested for something has to do with anything. There's plenty of things people aren't arrested for but are still illegal. Most people don't care because as long as you're not acting like an asswipe most people will allow bikes on if there's no lane or a shitty one that it's safer on the walkway. The cyclists people complain about are obviously those who don't act respectively towards others on the sidewalk and pretend like they can ride like they were still on the road rather than a possibly congested sidewalk.

Cyclists>Motorists

Cycling is a steady form of exercise and non polluting form of transport. Roads should be redeveloped in favour of the cyclist in city's. Alot of the shit behaviour from cyclists is due to be treated like shit by motorists.

So? So that gives someone the right to be petty and a bother? Just because you don't feel you were treated right doesn't mean you get to take it out on others.

 

[FyreWulff]

There's certain roads I stay off of in Portland just because of cyclists. So many of the riders just assume I'm watching them and can anticipate everything they do.

When I ride, I never assume what a driver is going to do.. I give as much leeway as possible. Then again, there is real contempt with cyclists and motorists in Portland.

My #1 rule of riding: if the driver hasn't made eye contact with me, they haven't seen me.

So many people will just look in the direction of oncoming traffic when they turn into a street.

 

[immy]

So? So that gives someone the right to be petty and a bother? Just because you don't feel you were treated right doesn't mean you get to take it out on others.

I don't do it, but thats why lots of people I know don't really give a shit when there on the road. Motorists take the piss tbh. They get away with all kinds of shit because at the end of the day they know the only one getting hurt is the cyclist if somthing goes belly up.

 

[FyreWulff]

Again, I'm not seeing the point of your post. In this instances and in many others it is in fact illegal. I'm not sure what you're own classifications of what it should be have to do with it being illegal. I also don't see why having to be physically arrested for something has to do with anything. There's plenty of things people aren't arrested for but are still illegal. Most people don't care because as long as you're not acting like an asswipe most people will allow bikes on if there's no lane or a shitty one that it's safer on the walkway. The cyclists people complain about are obviously those who don't act respectively towards others on the sidewalk and pretend like they can ride like they were still on the road rather than a possibly congested sidewalk.

They're not my own classifications. Nebraska law states that sidewalk travel on any sort of vehicle may not exceed 10-15mph. As long as I stay under that speed limit, it's not illegal. Nobody should really be doing more than that on a sidewalk anyway.

As I've said before, I've had police yell at me to get back on the sidewalk when riding my bike.

That banned list for highways? I copied that directly from the "THESE ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE NEBRASKA HIGHWAY" signs posted at about every highway on-ramp around here.

Heck, car drives barely respect motorcyclists as it is, and they weigh tons more and are a bigger presence than cyclists. Especially people that think they can stop at a light 2 feet behind a cyclist or motorcyclist. If somebody rear-ends them, you're dead.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

I don't do it, but thats why lots of people I know don't really give a shit when there on the road.

No, I understand I'm just saying it's not right that people do it. You can also understand then why motorists get pissed at cyclists with the stupid shit some of them do but again, it's not right to take it out on cyclists just because of that.

They're not my own classifications. Nebraska law states that sidewalk travel on any sort of vehicle may not exceed 10-15mph. As long as I stay under that speed limit, it's not illegal. Nobody should really be doing more than that on a sidewalk anyway.

As I've said before, I've had police yell at me to get back on the sidewalk when riding my bike.

That banned list for highways? I copied that directly from the "THESE ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE NEBRASKA HIGHWAY" signs posted at about every highway on-ramp around here.

Ok? Maybe I missed a post then because that seemed like a random response to quote Nebraska law to the guy you quoted. Maybe I missed something then.

 

[immy]

No, I understand I'm just saying it's not right that people do it. You can also understand then why motorists get pissed at cyclists with the stupid shit some of them do but again, it's not right to take it out on cyclists just because of that.

Yeah man I get what your saying, the road rules need to be updated tbh.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Yeah man I get what your saying, the road rules need to be updated tbh.

Or people just have to be more mature. The idea that people still can't grasp the concept that not every person is like the one person they encountered and you're not always the most important thing and have to be respectful of others is ridiculous.

 

[immy]

Or people just have to be more mature. The idea that people still can't grasp the concept that not every person is like the one person they encountered and you're not always the most important thing and have to be respectful of others is ridiculous.

I think the issue is there are alot of idiots in the world.

 

[gburgess10]

In NYC (the city proper, not Long Island, almost no one uses sidewalks there to walk (or walks anywhere at all)), if a cop even sees you riding a bike on the sidewalk (even only for a second), minimum $60 ticket (I think mine was much higher), court summons, and possible felony charge. I know from experience.

 

[zoku88]

How fast do you ride when you're on the sidewalk?
Would you kill someone if you hit them?

Also, I love that the general cyclist response in this thread has been about whether or not bike laws suck where they live, and how important it is that cyclists have awesome places to ride, instead of HOLY SHIT WHY ARE YOU RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK FAST ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEONE.

I love how the general response in this thread from non bikers is to ignore anyone who doesn't fit their preconceived notions of bikers and only focus on those who are jerks.

Well, it makes it easy to pick out which ones are probably are probably the jerky drivers.

It's somewhat funny how people act like you can fully separate motorists and bikers, as if most bikers didn't drive too.

 

[parrotbeak]

Or how about those inconsiderate wheel chair bound people? One dude I saw while shopping the other day kept reversing fast instead of just turning around. He almost ran over my foot.