Cyclist v Motorist

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Replies

  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    This has to be the most American thread I've seen in a long time. Here in the UK we'll probably just call you a rhymes-with-punt and be on our way, but I'm seeing people threatening to shoot and run eachother over for driving offences.

    Although with the narrow roads here they can be frustrating sometimes, the escalation to outright violence in here is quite scary.

    Edit to add; Bike lanes are few and far between in my area, and it's illegal to ride on the pavement. In Norway, they have a much better bike infrastructure from what I've seen, including bike lanes that are at least a car wide and physically divided from both the road and the pavement with a kerb.

    Yeah uniquely American, the relationship between people and their cars in this country is pretty legendary.

    Everyone and their cousin will go on about being environmentally friendly as they plow along in their SuV's running bikers off the road they drive to the gym on.

    Europe (not so much the UK yet), seems to really be embracing bikes now though so hopefully we will catch up eventually.
    As to the UK - we have a major problem in that our road network was developed at a time when large volumes of traffic simply didn't exist, so except for modernisation programmes and wide open spaces, there really isn't room for cycle lanes without moving people's houses - hell, a lot of places there's only room for one car on a two-way street.

    Will be interesting to see how it's dealt with.
  • miss_mckenna
    miss_mckenna Posts: 18 Member
    I had this happen to me yesterday on my way to work. This girl had along side of me in traffic for several blocks, she zoomed up past me and went to parallel park AS I'M IN THE BIKE LANE. ***** almost backs into me. I yell at her and flip her off on my way past, so what's she do? FLIP ME OFF AND SMILE. I parked my bike, got off, smacked her hood like the HULK and asked her WTF her problem was. Then I proceeded to tell her that you don't flip people off when you almost hit them WITH YOUR CAR, you apologize. I scared her so bad that I don't think she'll ever park downtown again. WATCH FOR CYCLISTS and STOP TRYING TO HIT US, YOU ALWAYS WIN, *kitten*.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    This has to be the most American thread I've seen in a long time. Here in the UK we'll probably just call you a rhymes-with-punt and be on our way, but I'm seeing people threatening to shoot and run eachother over for driving offences.

    Although with the narrow roads here they can be frustrating sometimes, the escalation to outright violence in here is quite scary.

    Edit to add; Bike lanes are few and far between in my area, and it's illegal to ride on the pavement. In Norway, they have a much better bike infrastructure from what I've seen, including bike lanes that are at least a car wide and physically divided from both the road and the pavement with a kerb.

    Yeah uniquely American, the relationship between people and their cars in this country is pretty legendary.

    Everyone and their cousin will go on about being environmentally friendly as they plow along in their SuV's running bikers off the road they drive to the gym on.

    Europe (not so much the UK yet), seems to really be embracing bikes now though so hopefully we will catch up eventually.
    As to the UK - we have a major problem in that our road network was developed at a time when large volumes of traffic simply didn't exist, so except for modernisation programmes and wide open spaces, there really isn't room for cycle lanes without moving people's houses - hell, a lot of places there's only room for one car on a two-way street.

    Will be interesting to see how it's dealt with.

    0155d116-c6a2-4368-a1f1-65dbf5f54b0e-460x276.jpeg
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    DITTO!

    Cyclists should stay on the sidewalk where possible, and so should pedestrians, or on bike/walking trails. Don't think you'd be too happy about being tailgated by a car while on a bike trail, eh? I spend a fair amount of time driving from appointment to appointment, and it's really frustrating being behind someone who's going half the speed limit for recreational purposes

    To be frank, and not to attack you, but you can take the "ride your bike on the sidewalk" suggestion and stuff it. As a motorist, you need to suck it up and learn the laws that cyclists can, and do ride on the same roads that you drive your car. If you can't handle it - well, take public transportation where a professional driver is trained to interface with all modes of transportation that legally are allowed to use the roads.

    It's actually quite dangerous (and illegal in many states/communities) to ride your bike on the sidewalk. Lots of blind spots with driveways, lots of pedestrians, and lots of street crossings - all make for dangerous and poor mode of transportation via a bicycle. Not only dangerous for cyclists, but for cars as well that interface with those intersections, and driveways.

    The road, unless posted that it is not allowed, is legal for cyclists to ride.

    http://bikeleague.org/content/state-bike-laws-0
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    The difference is that in Europe, cars are tools. In America, they are status symbols.

    Obviously, that doesn't apply to all and is just a broad generalization.

    I'm pretty sure that there are tools driving Ferraris in both places.
  • zenhiker2014
    zenhiker2014 Posts: 84 Member
    Where would you be going on a bike in the middle of nowhere? Literally at least 20 miles to any sort of "town" or business either direction.

    A long training ride?

    I have a 20 mile circuit route from the end of my driveway that is all on roads with a 60mph limit.

    I'll do that then jump off for a 5Km run

    20 is a fairly short ride

    This.^^ 20-30 miles is a run of the mill, ordinary ride, and I'm not even very hard core. I rode 70 miles last Saturday. About 60% of my rides are for transportation purposes (commuting etc.) and 40% are for health and fun. People who don't ride don't seem to understand that it's not only possible, it's entirely reasonable to ride more than a few miles at a time.

    And for those who think bicycles belong on sidewalks, I echo those who replied that a) it's illegal where I live b) it poses a danger to pedestrians and c) it's far more dangerous for the cyclists. I know of a community in my home state (not where I live, but where I vacation) that has lovely bike paths but no sensible cyclist uses them. I asked the local bike shop why that was the case, and they said it's because it's a good way to get hit by a car. Every intersection, driveway, exit from a gated community, etc is a hazard spot. Cars are looking at the street, not the sidewalk/multi use path, and a cyclist coming down that path not going to be seen by drivers.

    Where I live, State code says cyclists have a right to use the road AND a responsibility to obey all traffic laws. Granted there is room for improvement on both sides of this debate, but telling cyclists to get off of roads is not the answer.
  • Archon2
    Archon2 Posts: 462 Member
    Below is a link to a video that I really wish everyone who has spoken negatively about cyclists watch. It is a video of a cyclist in Australia who always rides in the bike lane (legal), obeys traffic laws and you can see what a cyclist faces out on the road when riding legally in a bike line.

    This pretty much represents what riding a bike is like (a bad video game with near death experiences) in whatever country - even when riding in the legal bike lane. The lane is usually on the right side in the US, but not always. And the same stuff happens in the US legally riding along in the provided bike lane to all of us on a daily basis...

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152137540937647

    Interesting video. I'm usually sympathetic to the cyclists POV, but this guy ignored a yield sign (0:36) that lead to that near collision. Also, the truck that moved in his lane to make a left had to get over for a left turn too....the cyclist should have had some more awareness of need for large vehicles that might want to turn left there and cooperated with the driver to allow room for the maneuver.

    The collision at the end was the fault of the car driver. But I get the impression this cyclist has the attitude of: I expect drivers to see me and follow the rules of the road, so I can fly along at 25mph through busy intersections! I think cyclists should also be prepared for the unexpected at all times. As been pointed out, the cyclist may be right, but what does that matter if that puts you under a moving vehicle? Slow down, be prepared for cars to rudely make mistakes. It is your cyclist's body that is going to pay no matter who is at fault.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I just bought a bike a few months ago after probably not riding one since I was 16. I rode it on the sidewalks in my neighborhood mainly b/c the main streets are very busy with no bike lanes. There are very few pedestrians on the sidewalks, but one day I did encounter one who was bouncing (literally...running on these springy things) right in the middle of the sidewalk with headphones on. I yelled twice "passing on the left" and she didn't budge from the center. I ended up yelling again and startling her as I was so close by the time she heard me. Yep...I should have just stopped and tried to walk quickly around her...my fault. The next day I posted in a forum here asking what the etiquette was and that is when a lot of people let me know that I shouldn't have been on the sidewalk at all. That was truly news to me. I ended up calling the Police Department in my town and asked about it. He said that I should ride on the sidewalk and that he would rather I startle a few pedestrians or runners rather than getting hit by a car. So yes, all places are different. I am only on the sidewalk for a little while though as I generally head over to a business park area that on the weekends is practically empty. I can ride in the bike lanes there and through parking lots for hours at a time and maybe see one or two cars.

    I do agree with others though that it is both the responsibility of driver and the cyclists to make sure everyone is safe. Look for bikes on the road and on the sidewalk that might be passing in front of you when exiting a parking lot or street.

    I would check your city ordinances before trusting a cop just answering off the cuff.

    And I don't mean disrespect to police- but there are a lot of laws that get kicked around by people who forget or don't actually know and they just "think" they know.

    http://www.floridabicycle.org/resources/pdfs/PEGLEG_2012.pdf

    werd-just as a suggestion to follow it up.. glad you did!!!
    The collision at the end was the fault of the car driver. But I get the impression this cyclist has the attitude of: I expect drivers to see me and follow the rules of the road, so I can fly along at 25mph through busy intersections! I think cyclists should also be prepared for the unexpected at all times. As been pointed out, the cyclist may be right, but what does that matter if that puts you under a moving vehicle? Slow down, be prepared for cars to rudely make mistakes. It is your cyclist's body that is going to pay no matter who is at fault.

    didn't watch- but you nailed it.

    As a motorcyclist it's the same concept and I have found by being proactive- assertive- not aggressive- not defensive- but being aware and running through common issues you can avert some really bad situations.

    two vehicles travelling in the middle lane- second vehicle- pumping his brakes and tailgaiting- odds are he's looking to dart to the right or left to get around the vehicle in front. You start watching traffic behavioral patterns- and learning to watch and see what they do before they do it- you can avoid A. being irritated- and B being dead. which as I have learned- are both good things to avoid!!!
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    The difference is that in Europe, cars are tools. In America, they are status symbols.

    Obviously, that doesn't apply to all and is just a broad generalization.

    Lol. Obviously doesn't understand the Germans and their car-love.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Lol. Obviously doesn't understand the Germans and their car-love.

    How true. At least Germans stop for pedestrians in cross walks and are used to sharing roads with cyclists.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Is it OK to kill cyclists?

    Great read here for everyone involved in this debate: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/opinion/sunday/is-it-ok-to-kill-cyclists.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    The difference is that in Europe, cars are tools. In America, they are status symbols.

    Obviously, that doesn't apply to all and is just a broad generalization.

    I'm pretty sure that there are tools driving Ferraris in both places.

    Hence, the second sentence of my statement.
  • Archon2
    Archon2 Posts: 462 Member
    Is it OK to kill cyclists?

    Great read here for everyone involved in this debate: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/opinion/sunday/is-it-ok-to-kill-cyclists.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

    Good read, thanks for the link. :)
  • tristan299
    tristan299 Posts: 2,537 Member
    Is it OK to kill cyclists?

    Great read here for everyone involved in this debate: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/opinion/sunday/is-it-ok-to-kill-cyclists.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

    Very good article that. Since I stated this thread a week ago I have bought myself a helmet cam and changed my weekend ride to early morning (5:30am) to avoid traffic. This, so for, is working for me although I still ad 2 cars fly passed me at about 60 mph on one of the roads I was on. Needless to say I got off it as soon as I was able to.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Is it OK to kill cyclists?

    Great read here for everyone involved in this debate: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/opinion/sunday/is-it-ok-to-kill-cyclists.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

    Very good article that. Since I stated this thread a week ago I have bought myself a helmet cam and changed my weekend ride to early morning (5:30am) to avoid traffic. This, so for, is working for me although I still ad 2 cars fly passed me at about 60 mph on one of the roads I was on. Needless to say I got off it as soon as I was able to.

    I don't know if these jersey's work, give driver's pause, or what - but for some it could be worth a shot.

    http://www.3feetplease.com/
  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member

    I don't know if these jersey's work, give driver's pause, or what - but for some it could be worth a shot.

    http://www.3feetplease.com/

    Cool :glasses:
  • tristan299
    tristan299 Posts: 2,537 Member

    I don't know if these jersey's work, give driver's pause, or what - but for some it could be worth a shot.

    http://www.3feetplease.com/

    Cool :glasses:

    They look the dogs do dah's. Need to get myself shirt and shorts if you can get them in the UK
  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member

    I don't know if these jersey's work, give driver's pause, or what - but for some it could be worth a shot.

    http://www.3feetplease.com/

    Cool :glasses:

    They look the dogs do dah's. Need to get myself shirt and shorts if you can get them in the UK

    I agree.

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