I don't mind being held up for a few minutes so they could stick together as a group.
Motorcyclists blocking traffic for bike convoy
- Thread starter Mr Nice
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I don't mind it as much as I do seeing somebody on a cell phone trying to share my lane. Regardless of whether its Bikes, Bicycles, people, horses, cattle, whatever. Iv'e mellowed with age.
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I used to ride. I've been on rides where other bikers did that, and it makes me really nervous. It's asking to cause an accident. I'm not comfortable just pulling onto the road, and trusting that no one will go around. At the same time, I worry about getting rear ended if I slow or stop to look. I now try to avoid riding in large groups like that.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
I saw two motorcyclists blocking traffic last Sat on a busy 4 lane road (kind of like the way Police motorcycle cops do for a funeral) for about 2 minutes while about 60 motorcyclists pulled out from a RaceTrac gas station. I noticed some cars were driving around the two motorcyclists that were trying to block traffic.
Would you be annoyed if you were held up while the convoy of bikes were allowed to enter the busy road ?
I would be annoyed. The sense of entitlement of the bikers here in FL anymore is crazy. I had one guy cut me off on the way to work a few weeks ago then yell and wag his finger at me at the next light because I was to close. It may have escalated if he wasn't my fathers age.
I saw two motorcyclists blocking traffic last Sat on a busy 4 lane road (kind of like the way Police motorcycle cops do for a funeral) for about 2 minutes while about 60 motorcyclists pulled out from a RaceTrac gas station. I noticed some cars were driving around the two motorcyclists that were trying to block traffic.
Would you be annoyed if you were held up while the convoy of bikes were allowed to enter the busy road ?
I would be annoyed. The sense of entitlement of the bikers here in FL anymore is crazy. I had one guy cut me off on the way to work a few weeks ago then yell and wag his finger at me at the next light because I was to close. It may have escalated if he wasn't my fathers age.
It would [censored] me off.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
...Would you be annoyed if you were held up while the convoy of bikes were allowed to enter the busy road ?
Would I be annoyed, no. (and it doesn't matter if it is 60 cars with a club and I'm on my bike)
If this is the biggest problem I have it ought to shape up to be a fine day.
There are a lot of conclusions being drawn too, if it was an organized ride they may have had a permit and it might have given them some authority to control traffic. I'm not saying they did or didn't, but we don't know. It is also entirely possible that the entire group did not know the route.
That said permit or no depending on traffic and other factors it might have been the safest thing for them to do, because what happens is the group ends up completely strung out with a few cars in the middle of the group. The riders in front end up going slower than traffic (which irritates the car drivers) so the riders that fell behind can catch up, the riders in back end up riding faster than they should and taking chances they should not (which scares the car drivers). So it is better to have 5-6 slightly annoyed drivers than to have 5-6 scared drivers in the middle of 60 bikes. The drivers want to get out of the group and the group wants to get back together, it is a recipe for bad judgment.
It might have been the lesser of the available evils.
I do agree a group this large should have a police escort.
That said this is one of the reasons that I don't like going on group rides of more than a few people, most riders don't know how to ride in a group, and most drivers are impatient and distracted.
I'm also not annoyed by charity rides or walks, funerals, patriot guards or most of the other little incidents through the day.
...Would you be annoyed if you were held up while the convoy of bikes were allowed to enter the busy road ?
Would I be annoyed, no. (and it doesn't matter if it is 60 cars with a club and I'm on my bike)
If this is the biggest problem I have it ought to shape up to be a fine day.
There are a lot of conclusions being drawn too, if it was an organized ride they may have had a permit and it might have given them some authority to control traffic. I'm not saying they did or didn't, but we don't know. It is also entirely possible that the entire group did not know the route.
That said permit or no depending on traffic and other factors it might have been the safest thing for them to do, because what happens is the group ends up completely strung out with a few cars in the middle of the group. The riders in front end up going slower than traffic (which irritates the car drivers) so the riders that fell behind can catch up, the riders in back end up riding faster than they should and taking chances they should not (which scares the car drivers). So it is better to have 5-6 slightly annoyed drivers than to have 5-6 scared drivers in the middle of 60 bikes. The drivers want to get out of the group and the group wants to get back together, it is a recipe for bad judgment.
It might have been the lesser of the available evils.
I do agree a group this large should have a police escort.
That said this is one of the reasons that I don't like going on group rides of more than a few people, most riders don't know how to ride in a group, and most drivers are impatient and distracted.
I'm also not annoyed by charity rides or walks, funerals, patriot guards or most of the other little incidents through the day.
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In the Mercedes club we did this all the time when going for rides.
Let them be, they are just having fun.
Let them be, they are just having fun.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Even your average jogger or bicycle rider these days block traffic and seem to feel they have the right to the road and the vehicles don't. Drives me nuts.
Careful now, as a matter of common law, pedestrians DO have the right to use the road, while motor vehicle operation is a privilege.
Provided, naturally, that everyone is following applicable laws.
Even your average jogger or bicycle rider these days block traffic and seem to feel they have the right to the road and the vehicles don't. Drives me nuts.
Careful now, as a matter of common law, pedestrians DO have the right to use the road, while motor vehicle operation is a privilege.
Provided, naturally, that everyone is following applicable laws.
Actually I don't think that they have a right to violate road rules. In other words they can't just cross the street when they feel like it or walk down the middle of the street legally.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Even your average jogger or bicycle rider these days block traffic and seem to feel they have the right to the road and the vehicles don't. Drives me nuts.
Careful now, as a matter of common law, pedestrians DO have the right to use the road, while motor vehicle operation is a privilege.
Provided, naturally, that everyone is following applicable laws.
A jogger is a pedestrian and around here that means...
Note - when I mention the term legal below it will refer to either an actual state law or a town ordinance. Both must be followed legally.
1 - when there is a sidwalk legally they must use it( i.e. not jog down the middle of the road ). When no sidewalk is present they are supposed to stay as far to the side of the road as they can. Also, they are supposed to be on the side of traffic that is oncoming( i.e. the jogger and driver look face to face )not just run wherever they choose and in the middle of the road. When in the road they are supposed to get over and out of the way for vehicles not stay out in the middle impeding the flow of traffic.
2 - when crossing the road legally they must use a crosswalk as any pedestrian would. When non is present they must yield to the vehicles going past before crossing( i.e. WAIT for no cars to be coming or have plenty of room so the vehicle does not have to stop for them while crossing )not just run across the road without looking whenever they feel like it.
Pedestrians have rules of the road as well but I almost never see them follow them.
People riding bicycles also have laws/rules they have to follow. In my state a cyclist can actually be given a moving violation summons the same as someone driving a vehicle can. You never see the police do it but they should. Cyclists around here must...
1 - obey all traffic laws( re: stop signs, traffic lights, etc... )and they must use hand signals when turning. They are not allowed to just ride wherever they want, ride through stop signs and traffic lights as if they didn't apply to them, and ride all over the road without looking or yielding the right of way. They aren't supposed to come upon a line of stopped traffic and ride up the side of it either. They are supposed to stop, just as a car coming upon it would, and wait there.
2 - when crossing the road here cyclists are actually expected to use a cross walk, when present of course, just as a pedestrian is. If there is a crosswalk the cyclist is not supposed to ride out into traffic and use lane changes and such. They are supposed to use the crosswalk. To do so they are required by law to dismount and walk the bike across. Not just come to a crosswalk and then ride on across expecting everyone to stop for them regardless of how close to the crosswalk the vehicle already was. If no crosswalk is there I guess they use the lane changes like the cars do but that is so dangerous( I see it often - crosswalk there but they won't use it ). They should wait to cross until there is time as with pedestrians.
3 - it is illegal here for cyclists to ride multiple #'s abreast down the road and impede the flow of traffic. They are supposed to stay in single file when they are on a busy road and to revert to single file when on back roads with little to no traffic and a car comes along. They are not supposed to spread about 3-4 wide and hog the road like they own it.
4 - when there is a dedicated bike path, just as with sidewalks for pedestrians, legally they are supposed to use it. NOT ride in the road anyway.
5 - When riding at night all bicycles need to have rearward facing reflectors and a forward facing headlight so they can actually be seen at night in areas without street lights.
All of the things I talk of above are ignored every day in my town and the surrounding ones. We actually have morons here who will go out in a raging blizzard, or right after it, and run down the middle of the road because the sidewalk isn't plowed or has some snow/ice on it. They do it in the middle of summer too. Sidewalk right there but they run down the middle of the road. If the sidewalk is blocked due to bad weather DON'T run there. It is very common for those walking/jogging here to just cross the road where ever they are, even if a crosswalk is right there near them, and to do so without looking. They do this fully expecting you to stand your car on end to stop in time when they walk right in front of you. They also believe that because pedestrians in the crosswalk have the right of way that means at anytime and under any circumstance. In other words I know a car is going 25 MPH and is less than 20 feet from the crosswalk but I am going to run out into it in front of them anyway because I have the right of way. NOT. They still have to wait before using it to make sure it is safe to cross. A vehicle has to be given adequate time to stop.
Bicycle riding is HUGE around here. Everything from a single person to groups rides of 30+. NONE of them follow the laws or even common sense safety. They ride down the middle of the road, multiple riders wide, and refuse to single up and move right to let cars go past. No one actually has reflectors and headlights for night riding. It is very common in the summer months to be on a back road at night( rural NH )and come around a corner and all of a sudden have a cyclist appear in your headlights about to become a hood ornament. They actually yelll at you when you jam on the brakes because you almost hit them. It is like hitting a deer. It happens so fast you can't stop even if going the posted speed limit. They are breaking the law and also acting unsafe, not you, yet they and the police, blame you if an accident happens. Constant problem here with cyclists not using the crosswalks, or using them properly, in the busy sections of our town as well. They either just change lanes/cross the street with no warning, totally ignoring the corsswalk and proper procedure, or, they suddenly ride out into the crosswalk in front of you instead of dismounting and waking it across like they are supposed to. Can't count the times I have seen a cyclist almost creamed in this town because of how dangerously most of them ride. I actually have seen 2 cyclists hit by vehicles. 1 was the driver's fault( in part anyway ) but the other clearly the cyclists.
The pedestrians( walking/jogging )and cyclists think they own the roads around here. The arrogance and entitled attitude they display is so aggravating it is beyond words to describe. The police do NOTHING about it either desppite actual laws and town ordinances being broken. A few years back a teen ran out in the road to cross the street, between 2 crosswalks less than 100' apart, right in front of a car that was so close it had NO chance to stop and got hit. Instead of that kid getting a jaywalking ticket the vehicle operator got in trouble for hitting him. Despite witness after witness stating the kid ran right in front of him, he was not speeding, and that he tried to stop imiediately when the kid appeared in front of him. THAT is the mentallity the local LEO's have for this stuff.
I have had cyclists and joggers cut me off so many times, and almost get hit, it is not funny. I should not have to exert additional caution when driving near them above and beyond normal caution if they followed the laws of using the road they are supposed to. That and use some common sense themselevs. Please don't lecture me about the rights of pedestrians and such. They have rights true but they also have responsibilities to using the road themselves and they seldom if ever follow them.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Even your average jogger or bicycle rider these days block traffic and seem to feel they have the right to the road and the vehicles don't. Drives me nuts.
Careful now, as a matter of common law, pedestrians DO have the right to use the road, while motor vehicle operation is a privilege.
Provided, naturally, that everyone is following applicable laws.
A jogger is a pedestrian and around here that means...
Note - when I mention the term legal below it will refer to either an actual state law or a town ordinance. Both must be followed legally.
1 - when there is a sidwalk legally they must use it( i.e. not jog down the middle of the road ). When no sidewalk is present they are supposed to stay as far to the side of the road as they can. Also, they are supposed to be on the side of traffic that is oncoming( i.e. the jogger and driver look face to face )not just run wherever they choose and in the middle of the road. When in the road they are supposed to get over and out of the way for vehicles not stay out in the middle impeding the flow of traffic.
2 - when crossing the road legally they must use a crosswalk as any pedestrian would. When non is present they must yield to the vehicles going past before crossing( i.e. WAIT for no cars to be coming or have plenty of room so the vehicle does not have to stop for them while crossing )not just run across the road without looking whenever they feel like it.
Pedestrians have rules of the road as well but I almost never see them follow them.
People riding bicycles also have laws/rules they have to follow. In my state a cyclist can actually be given a moving violation summons the same as someone driving a vehicle can. You never see the police do it but they should. Cyclists around here must...
1 - obey all traffic laws( re: stop signs, traffic lights, etc... )and they must use hand signals when turning. They are not allowed to just ride wherever they want, ride through stop signs and traffic lights as if they didn't apply to them, and ride all over the road without looking or yielding the right of way. They aren't supposed to come upon a line of stopped traffic and ride up the side of it either. They are supposed to stop, just as a car coming upon it would, and wait there.
2 - when crossing the road here cyclists are actually expected to use a cross walk, when present of course, just as a pedestrian is. If there is a crosswalk the cyclist is not supposed to ride out into traffic and use lane changes and such. They are supposed to use the crosswalk. To do so they are required by law to dismount and walk the bike across. Not just come to a crosswalk and then ride on across expecting everyone to stop for them regardless of how close to the crosswalk the vehicle already was. If no crosswalk is there I guess they use the lane changes like the cars do but that is so dangerous( I see it often - crosswalk there but they won't use it ). They should wait to cross until there is time as with pedestrians.
3 - it is illegal here for cyclists to ride multiple #'s abreast down the road and impede the flow of traffic. They are supposed to stay in single file when they are on a busy road and to revert to single file when on back roads with little to no traffic and a car comes along. They are not supposed to spread about 3-4 wide and hog the road like they own it.
4 - when there is a dedicated bike path, just as with sidewalks for pedestrians, legally they are supposed to use it. NOT ride in the road anyway.
5 - When riding at night all bicycles need to have rearward facing reflectors and a forward facing headlight so they can actually be seen at night in areas without street lights.
All of the things I talk of above are ignored every day in my town and the surrounding ones. We actually have morons here who will go out in a raging blizzard, or right after it, and run down the middle of the road because the sidewalk isn't plowed or has some snow/ice on it. They do it in the middle of summer too. Sidewalk right there but they run down the middle of the road. If the sidewalk is blocked due to bad weather DON'T run there. It is very common for those walking/jogging here to just cross the road where ever they are, even if a crosswalk is right there near them, and to do so without looking. They do this fully expecting you to stand your car on end to stop in time when they walk right in front of you. They also believe that because pedestrians in the crosswalk have the right of way that means at anytime and under any circumstance. In other words I know a car is going 25 MPH and is less than 20 feet from the crosswalk but I am going to run out into it in front of them anyway because I have the right of way. NOT. They still have to wait before using it to make sure it is safe to cross. A vehicle has to be given adequate time to stop.
Bicycle riding is HUGE around here. Everything from a single person to groups rides of 30+. NONE of them follow the laws or even common sense safety. They ride down the middle of the road, multiple riders wide, and refuse to single up and move right to let cars go past. No one actually has reflectors and headlights for night riding. It is very common in the summer months to be on a back road at night( rural NH )and come around a corner and all of a sudden have a cyclist appear in your headlights about to become a hood ornament. They actually yelll at you when you jam on the brakes because you almost hit them. It is like hitting a deer. It happens so fast you can't stop even if going the posted speed limit. They are breaking the law and also acting unsafe, not you, yet they and the police, blame you if an accident happens. Constant problem here with cyclists not using the crosswalks, or using them properly, in the busy sections of our town as well. They either just change lanes/cross the street with no warning, totally ignoring the corsswalk and proper procedure, or, they suddenly ride out into the crosswalk in front of you instead of dismounting and waking it across like they are supposed to. Can't count the times I have seen a cyclist almost creamed in this town because of how dangerously most of them ride. I actually have seen 2 cyclists hit by vehicles. 1 was the driver's fault( in part anyway ) but the other clearly the cyclists.
The pedestrians( walking/jogging )and cyclists think they own the roads around here. The arrogance and entitled attitude they display is so aggravating it is beyond words to describe. The police do NOTHING about it either desppite actual laws and town ordinances being broken. A few years back a teen ran out in the road to cross the street, between 2 crosswalks less than 100' apart, right in front of a car that was so close it had NO chance to stop and got hit. Instead of that kid getting a jaywalking ticket the vehicle operator got in trouble for hitting him. Despite witness after witness stating the kid ran right in front of him, he was not speeding, and that he tried to stop imiediately when the kid appeared in front of him. THAT is the mentallity the local LEO's have for this stuff.
I have had cyclists and joggers cut me off so many times, and almost get hit, it is not funny. I should not have to exert additional caution when driving near them above and beyond normal caution if they followed the laws of using the road they are supposed to. That and use some common sense themselevs. Please don't lecture me about the rights of pedestrians and such. They have rights true but they also have responsibilities to using the road themselves and they seldom if ever follow them.
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Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
The pedestrians( walking/jogging )and cyclists think they own the roads around here. The arrogance and entitled attitude they display is so aggravating it is beyond words to describe.
I couldn't agree more with the entirety of this post. I would add that the ability of non-motorists to use the motorways without personal or liabity insurance is a major injustice to motor vehicle owners in the event of an accident, which makes their devil-may-care behavior all the more aggravating.
The pedestrians( walking/jogging )and cyclists think they own the roads around here. The arrogance and entitled attitude they display is so aggravating it is beyond words to describe.
I couldn't agree more with the entirety of this post. I would add that the ability of non-motorists to use the motorways without personal or liabity insurance is a major injustice to motor vehicle owners in the event of an accident, which makes their devil-may-care behavior all the more aggravating.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Would you be annoyed if you were held up while the convoy of bikes were allowed to enter the busy road ?
No, we call that Bike week.
I'm ok with cruisers, but crotch rocket riders (organ doners) are another story.
Would you be annoyed if you were held up while the convoy of bikes were allowed to enter the busy road ?
No, we call that Bike week.
I'm ok with cruisers, but crotch rocket riders (organ doners) are another story.
This [censored] me off a lot. I just wait until they're gone then call the police because it's pretty likely at least one of them has a gun somewhere on them, and they're the kind of scum that would shoot you for calling the cops.
Edit: or just dial and set it to speakerphone or use bluetooth if i was in a car that had integration
Originally Posted By: Chevys_n_Hawgs
Another question is - How often does this happen? Once a day? Once a week? month? year? I bet you can count one one hand, how many times this has happened to you in your lifetime. It's really not a big deal. I'd rather have a large group of bikes all together, rather than to have them sprinkled out through traffic. It's much safer for you, and the motorcyclist. It really couldn't of taken more than 5 minutes, anyways. I really wouldn't sweat the petty stuff, or for that matter, pet the sweaty stuff.
I bet you can count on one hand how many world wars there were, or how many hitlers there were, or how many times the police have raided your house.
So does this mean nothing that can be counted on one hand is significant?
Edit: or just dial and set it to speakerphone or use bluetooth if i was in a car that had integration
Originally Posted By: Chevys_n_Hawgs
Another question is - How often does this happen? Once a day? Once a week? month? year? I bet you can count one one hand, how many times this has happened to you in your lifetime. It's really not a big deal. I'd rather have a large group of bikes all together, rather than to have them sprinkled out through traffic. It's much safer for you, and the motorcyclist. It really couldn't of taken more than 5 minutes, anyways. I really wouldn't sweat the petty stuff, or for that matter, pet the sweaty stuff.
I bet you can count on one hand how many world wars there were, or how many hitlers there were, or how many times the police have raided your house.
So does this mean nothing that can be counted on one hand is significant?
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