Rant - Bicycles not following road rules

[Ursae_Majoris]

You are not entitled to be on the road, if a bicycle lane or road shoulder is present. Yet you claim you can disregard the law and ride in the car lane, because it suits you. That's entitlement mentality.

PS link to the AK stature:
http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/aac/title13/chapter002/section400.htm

 

[aquariuscsm]

The ones I HATE are the ones that "think" they`re automobiles.........they ride in the middle of the lane "with" the cars,get in the middle of the turning lane "with" the cars at major intersections,etc as if they`re 4000 lb cars! Those are the ones who basically have it coming when they get run over. Come on,it may be legal (in some states,I don`t know) BUT it`s insanely stupid! Me,I know if I were to challenge a 4000 lb vehicle,there`s a very good chance I`d lose,so therefore I use the good sense that God gave me and I stay out of the way of things that could wipe me out. It`s stupid,it`s not safe,and it shows no common sense.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
You are not entitled to be on the road, if a bicycle lane or road shoulder is present. Yet you claim you can disregard the law and ride in the car lane, because it suits you. That's entitlement mentality.

PS link to the AK stature:
http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/aac/title13/chapter002/section400.htm


I don't live in AK, I don't plan to every go there. The law where I live, and ride, is clear--I'm entitled to the road, whether there's a shoulder or bike lane present or not. So again, if I'm following the law, please tell me how I have a 'sense of entitlement'?

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
The ones I HATE are the ones that "think" they`re automobiles.........they ride in the middle of the lane "with" the cars,get in the middle of the turning lane "with" the cars at major intersections,etc


http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec2063.html

2. Riding to the right. A person operating a bicycle or roller skis upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time and place shall drive on the right portion of the way as far as practicable except when it is unsafe to do so or:
A. When overtaking and passing another roller skier, bicycle or other vehicle proceeding in the same direction; [2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD).]
B. When preparing for or making a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; [2007, c. 400, §3 (NEW).]

It is not insanely stupid to turn left from a left turn lane! How would you have them do it, and how would it be safe?

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
The ones I HATE are the ones that "think" they`re automobiles.........they ride in the middle of the lane "with" the cars,get in the middle of the turning lane "with" the cars at major intersections,etc as if they`re 4000 lb cars! Those are the ones who basically have it coming when they get run over. Come on,it may be legal (in some states,I don`t know) BUT it`s insanely stupid!


Not in my experience. At an intersection the safest place to stop is in the middle of the lane, which is exactly what I do. Once I get going and the cars reach a speed faster than I'm going, I move over if they can safely pass. Moving all the way to the right when stopped at an intersection is at times the most dangerous thing you can do.

I'm sorry you hate people abiding by the law, but there's not much I can do about that. First, people are mad that cyclists aren't following the laws which apply to them; now, you're mad if they do? As you can see, there's no winning with some people. As I said, I've put in over 100K miles on public roads and I've been in one car accident (by a woman who frankly should have stopped driving about 30 years before she hit me). So, I think I have a fair bit of common sense when it comes to riding in traffic. Then again, I chose to live in a place that isn't so hostile to cyclists, so that helps.

It seems a lot of people responding in this thread have a lot of hostility. I was simply trying to give the perspective of someone who rides a lot in traffic. Obviously, it isn't welcome.

I've had things thrown at me, been intentionally run off the road and buzzed by moron drivers-but of course, I've had all of this coming to me.... Truth is though, these incidents are pretty rare. I guess people save their rage for when they get behind a keyboard.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Sorry, should have said "one" instead of "you"
Maybe that's why we have such a problem with bicyclists up here. We get a lot of transplants from WA, and they seem to follow WA rules, not AK.

PS, if you want to nit-pick my post, please make sure to add "people obey WA law in your posts", if posters are from a state different that WA (like aquariuscsm who is from TX), their bikers might very well brake laws that you are not familiar with.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
You are not entitled to be on the road, if a bicycle lane or road shoulder is present. Yet you claim you can disregard the law and ride in the car lane, because it suits you. That's entitlement mentality.


Since it was too late to edit, here you go:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/laws.htm

"When riding on a roadway, a cyclist has all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle driver (RCW 46.61.755). Cyclists who violate traffic laws may be ticketed (RCW 46.61.750)."

"Riding Side by Side - Cyclists may ride side by side, but not more than two abreast (RCW 46.61.770"

"Shoulder vs. Bike Lane - Cyclists may choose to ride on the path, bike lane, shoulder or travel lane as suits their safety needs (RCW 46.61.770)."

So again, I'm going to ask where I've demonstrated in this thread a 'sense of entitlement' which is makes people angry towards cyclists?

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
Sorry, should have said "one" instead of "you"
Maybe that's why we have such a problem with bicyclists up here. We get a lot of transplants from WA, and they seem to follow WA rules, not AK.

PS, if you want to nit-pick my post, please make sure to add "people obey WA law in your posts", if posters are from a state different that WA, their bikers might very well brake laws that you are not familiar with.


OK, fair enough. To the best of my knowledge, MOST states have similar laws (though I'm not sure about the 2-abreast). Though I'll admit, I'm only really familiar with the regulations in WA, CA and VA/MD.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Riding more than two abreast is allowed only on bike paths up here. If one does ride two-abreast, one may not impede traffic, ie one must move over if a car honks.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Have a beer on me.

I think it all boils down to the lack of common courtesy (in society as a whole), on both side of the debate and the lack of road rule knowledge. Unfortunately, it is jack**** that we all remember. Many cyclists moved over for me, but some do not. I suspect many "cagers" gave JOD a wide berth, but those driving too close are more likely to be remembered.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: JOD
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
The ones I HATE are the ones that "think" they`re automobiles.........they ride in the middle of the lane "with" the cars,get in the middle of the turning lane "with" the cars at major intersections,etc as if they`re 4000 lb cars! Those are the ones who basically have it coming when they get run over. Come on,it may be legal (in some states,I don`t know) BUT it`s insanely stupid!


Not in my experience. At an intersection the safest place to stop is in the middle of the lane, which is exactly what I do. Once I get going and the cars reach a speed faster than I'm going, I move over if they can safely pass. Moving all the way to the right when stopped at an intersection is at times the most dangerous thing you can do.

I'm sorry you hate people abiding by the law, but there's not much I can do about that. First, people are mad that cyclists aren't following the laws which apply to them; now, you're mad if they do? As you can see, there's no winning with some people. As I said, I've put in over 100K miles on public roads and I've been in one car accident (by a woman who frankly should have stopped driving about 30 years before she hit me). So, I think I have a fair bit of common sense when it comes to riding in traffic. Then again, I chose to live in a place that isn't so hostile to cyclists, so that helps.

It seems a lot of people responding in this thread have a lot of hostility. I was simply trying to give the perspective of someone who rides a lot in traffic. Obviously, it isn't welcome.

I've had things thrown at me, been intentionally run off the road and buzzed by moron drivers-but of course, I've had all of this coming to me.... Truth is though, these incidents are pretty rare. I guess people save their rage for when they get behind a keyboard.


So,here you are,on your bicycle going from point A to point B. Only way between said points is an 8 lane interstate,complete with a wide shoulder and a feeder road. Would you ride on the interstate *with* traffic because you have the *right* to,or would you either stay in the shoulder or (better yet) use the feeder? And trust me,there`s no rage "hiding" behind the keyboard here bro.

 

[eljefino]

And remember when you see your first biker of the day, a cyclist's nerves are probably already on edge from 50 motor vehicles that passed at a speed and distance where if something happened the cage would be way more maneuverable in the necessary second than the bike.

They hate you more than you, them.

Incidentally, a cyclist is more likely to pay attention to the road, not an ipod, GPS, radio etc. (Except maybe the OUI cyclist.) Given his limited power and skinny tires, he has a more technical journey than any car.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
Have a beer on me.

I think it all boils down to the lack of common courtesy (in society as a whole), on both side of the debate and the lack of road rule knowledge. Unfortunately, it is jack**** that we all remember. Many cyclists moved over for me, but some do not. I suspect many "cagers" gave JOD a wide berth, but those driving too close are more likely to be remembered.


I agree. Funny thing is, I have literally hundred times more positive interactions with drivers than negative ones--mainly because I ride in a courteous manner and most drivers are courteous as well.

My whole point in posting was simply trying to explain why sometimes a cyclist is riding in the middle of the road. They may be a rude idiot, but it may be an brief act of self-preservation, and they'll move as soon as it's safe to pass. And while a lot of derision has been directed at bike racers (or racer wannabes), my experience is that serious bike racers are generally the safest and most courteous riders. But again, the few idiots color the opinions of many.

Overwhelmingly though, my riding is trouble-free. The biggest thing that scares me isn't rude drivers, it's texting--but that's a whole different issue...

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Originally Posted By: JOD
The biggest thing that scares me isn't rude drivers, it's texting--but that's a whole different issue...

+10 They are oblivious to EVERYBODY.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm

So,here you are,on your bicycle going from point A to point B. Only way between said points is an 8 lane interstate,complete with a wide shoulder and a feeder road. Would you ride on the interstate *with* traffic because you have the *right* to,or would you either stay in the shoulder or (better yet) use the feeder? And trust me,there`s no rage "hiding" behind the keyboard here bro.


It's certainly not legal to ride on the interstate in the traffic lane in WA; nor is it safe. So in that situation I'd ride in the shoulder--though to be honest, I'd do neither and stay on the arterial. I can legally ride on the interstate here and I think I've done so once, for one exit, when I was lost...

I always chose the least traveled roads if they're an option and not outrageously out of the way. I'm not out searching for busy roads to ride on, nor am I out to get in people's way. I don't think most cyclists are, either. But often times I am faced with riding on a road adjacent to a bike path, and on the rare occasion I'll get yelled at to "get on the bike path"--never mind I'm going to speed limit (or within 2-3mph) on my bike, and not impeding traffic flow. If the path is safe to travel at speed and I'll take it, but typically they aren't.

 

[rpn453]

I plan my routes to avoid busy streets. I stick to the bike paths and side streets. It's far more enjoyable. Bicycles just don't fit in with much larger and faster vehicles. It often makes for a longer ride, but that's not an issue because I'm out there for the fresh air and exercise as much as the efficient transportation anyway. If there's no way to get somewhere without riding on a busy street, I'll drive instead.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
Originally Posted By: JOD
The biggest thing that scares me isn't rude drivers, it's texting--but that's a whole different issue...

+10 They are oblivious to EVERYBODY.


Yep how i got a new car.... and a bad back

18 year old rearended me while texting

said I "suddenly slammed on my brakes"
well if you dont look at the road for 10seconds while texting.. I guess just about anything is "sudden"

 

[hattaresguy]

What drives me nuts is how they totally disobey all traffic rules.

For example if their is a stop light they go right threw it, or if their is a 4 way stop again they go right threw it.

I have lost count at the number of times I'm trying to make a right at a stop and they just ride right up along side me ignoring my blinker, so I'm stuck.

Now I make it a game, when I see Lance Armstrong coming in his jump suite I see how close I can get to the curb. If he wants to run the light and screw me up taking a right I want to make him work for it at least.

The really serious Armstrong's who are obviously to concentrated on winning the race, bang the gutter when I'm trying to make a right with the dump truck and trailer...which is cool because you actually can't see them, trucks have blind spots... I guess what they are doing is so important that risking getting run over by a trailer with a 30k machine on it isn't that important.

Car's do it to, I once saw a Camry try to sneak around a fully loaded tri axle that was taking a right out of a truck stop. The truck ran over the Camry and crushed it flat from the windshield forward. The driver had to be flagged down because he thought he just clipped the curb. Didn't realize he made a Toyota pancake.

 

[sciphi]

Just goes to show that the single idiot makes life hard on the rest of the population, be they pedestrians, motorists, or cyclists of both pedal and motor power.

Sometimes the person on the bike or the pedestrian really does have it coming due to poor decision-making and ignorance of traffic laws.

When people want to have a positive interaction, they generally do. It does take a touch more planning, and results in much more happiness by all.

 

[cchase]

There's a whole lot of stupid floating around in this thread.

I don't think I've ever felt it necessary to resort to that kind of a statement on this board before, but some of the posts in here are ridiculous.

Cyclists being stupid for being in a turning lane? For riding on the road period? "having it coming to them" for waiting at lights in the correct lane?

Give me a break.

EDIT: Comment was not directed towards you, sciphi.