Rant - Bicycles not following road rules

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
The way I see it, I pay vehicle registration taxes, inspection fees, plate fees, license fees and all of this so that I can use the road in my car. Bikes don't do that down here (though in some places I'm sure they do). So just because some yuppie douche wants to play spandex dress up so he can feel special and get the attention he craves by blocking traffic doesn't mean I should be late to work from being stuck behind him on the roads I helped pay for.


I might have 'thought' you were a moron, but now I'm sure. you ARE a moron.

I always find it humorous when weasels in cars taunt cyclists and then speed off down the road. they better, because in all likelihood the cyclist would kick their behinds.

 

[cchase]

Probably 99% of cyclists also own and drive a car.

Probably fewer than 1% of drivers are also "avid" cyclists.

My point is that most cyclists are well aware of how drivers behave. Most cyclists behave like motorcyclists, trying to make sure they are VERY visible.

As far as running 4-way stops, I have never seen a cyclist blow a 4-way stop when many cars are present already at the line. I have, however, seen cyclists blow 4-way stops when there is a car approaching. No vehicle I have ever run across will let a cyclist go at his turn at a 4-way stop and in my mind, the cyclist cruising through when no other vehicle is stopped and waiting avoids confrontation - something most cyclists strive to do.
Using the argument that drivers "pay" to use the roads and cyclists do not is ridiculous.

 

[andrewg]

In today's busy and crowded streets....and even on the back roads...it's best for drivers to just calm down and stop worrying about what cyclists do that annoy you. If everybody would just slow down and be more careful instead of being upset about the whole cyclist thing I think the issue is pretty minor. I used to cycle a fairly good amount. I followed ALL the rules and even went out of my way to give vehicles space to move around me. But you know what? MANY drivers just chose to get upset towards me and either yelled out the window or beeped the horn. Sometimes, in my opinion, many drivers just feel some sort of righteous power while driving down the road and figure that ANYBODY or ANYTHING that gets in the way of them (if even in a minor way) is some sort of intrusion. Sharing the road is the law where I live, and as such the ones I used to see breaking it weren't the cyclists.

 

[antonmnster]

So in the last week, I've observed an entire column of cars running a red light forcing traffic coming from the other direction panic and hit the brakes (hey, if one goes then everybody goes, right?).

Then, the next day, I saw another truck stop then charge though a red light. He just couldn't wait that 15 seconds! He was only going to the next block to the store and seemed surprised when I honked at him.

And then, the day after that, a good friend who was waiting at a red light got clipped by someone who decided to make a left turn from two lanes to the right. He smashed her Saturn and then, of course, took off. Because the drivers behind her weren't paying attention, she got rear ended. Twice. She will probably have to pay for all those other cars because someone with a huge sense of entitlement fled the scene.

My point is that for all the moaning here about cyclists, drivers (at least here in Minneapolis) are FAR WORSE.

It's also worth nothing that a bicycle running a red light will probably cause fewer deaths and destruction than a pickup.

And for those of you who are complaining about "being late to work" because of a cyclist, you're an adult, right? You should have left earlier. The days of always being right because you're in a car are gone.

 

[greenaccord02]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
I might have 'thought' you were a moron, but now I'm sure. you ARE a moron.


Oh! I am slain!

How about participating in the conversation instead of hurling your ineffectual insults like some child. There are adults talking here.

 

[javacontour]

Actually this guy calls out local knuclehead cyclists:

http://www.rogerkramercycling.org/HTML/labels/safety.php

I once lived in Belleville, and still live near there, so I know what's going on. Some of the areas he's mentioning are where I'm talking about.

Notice, he comments on the cyclists behaviors such as ignoring traffic control devices and other dangerous behavior.

I'm not saying motorists don't behave badly. What I'm saying is the cyclist has much more to lose and has to not only ride smartly, but keep his/her head on a swivel, watching out for the knucklehead motorist.

 

[greenjp]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
How about participating in the conversation instead of hurling your ineffectual insults like some child. There are adults talking here.

You're not one of them. I quote post #2320715:
"So just because some yuppie douche wants to play spandex dress up so he can feel special and get the attention he craves by blocking traffic doesn't mean I should be late to work from being stuck behind him on the roads I helped pay for."

Real mature. keep it up

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: javacontour


I'm not saying motorists don't behave badly. What I'm saying is the cyclist has much more to lose and has to not only ride smartly, but keep his/her head on a swivel, watching out for the knucklehead motorist.


Now that is very true. I have been hit while on a bike. and very, very, lucky that all I lost was the front wheel.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
The way I see it, I pay vehicle registration taxes, inspection fees, plate fees, license fees and all of this so that I can use the road in my car.


I was waiting for this argument since page one and it finally came up! Governments since Roman times have been making roads "for the good of the people" and the country's defense. It is one of their basic duties.

Since road wear goes up by the fourth power of vehicle weight, a 200 lb bike with cyclist should pay pennies for a lifetime registration. The bureaucracy to process this would more than eat the income.

 

[jcwit]

Read this whole rant.

Some of you should try living in Northern Indiana Amish country and try putting up with the horse and buggies and whats left all over the underside and sides of your vehicle after squishing the road apples.

Ah, the smell of the country air when one steps into their 2 stall garage on a hot humid morning.

Then we also have the amish folks on bikes without helmet's, thank God they don't wear spandex. I can picture it now, a fat old amishman with barndoor spandex, with 6 or 8 kids 8 yrs old and younger peddling along behind.

 

[Trajan]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/philadelphia...-180626908.html

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
Read this whole rant.

Some of you should try living in Northern Indiana Amish country and try putting up with the horse and buggies and whats left all over the underside and sides of your vehicle after squishing the road apples.

Ah, the smell of the country air when one steps into their 2 stall garage on a hot humid morning.

Then we also have the amish folks on bikes without helmet's, thank God they don't wear spandex. I can picture it now, a fat old amishman with barndoor spandex, with 6 or 8 kids 8 yrs old and younger peddling along behind.


No different than our own Lancaster county. Though I haven't hit any road apples.

The Walmart in that area even has a stall for the Amish.

 

[jcwit]

Pray tell me how you manage to miss the road apples? Around here the cover the road.

And Yes I know about WalMart and the hitching rails, all of the WalMarts here have them and even have opensided sheds fot the horses protection from the weather.

Hey, back to the bikes.

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
Pray tell me how you manage to miss the road apples? Around here the cover the road.

And Yes I know about WalMart and the hitching rails, all of the WalMarts here have them and even have opensided sheds fot the horses protection from the weather.

Hey, back to the bikes.


I drive slow and stay 50 feet behind until I can pass safely giving them a wide berth.

God bless them, living they way they do.

 

[oilboy123]

I follow all traffic laws on my road bike. But people are still mean............

Oh I remember.....they are just hostile!
These threads are always the same. The hostile people never bike on the roads. So therefore they can't imagine what it's like to get buzzed by large vehicles............

They look at it from the perspective of "Oh they are slowing me down for 5 seconds". So then the buzz you for what? To get home is sit in front of the tube.......?
It's never any emergency that prevents people from being more patient. I admit I get impatient on the road driving cars as well. But not to the point of getting angry, or impatient, and endangering bicycle riders. Even disrespectful stupid ones.

Nobody on the "mean" side ever gets it..........

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I might have 'thought' you were a moron, but now I'm sure. you ARE a moron.


Oh! I am slain!

How about participating in the conversation instead of hurling your ineffectual insults like some child. There are adults talking here.

I have already. try post #2320704. and your post is still pretty stupid (ooh, there's another ineffectual insult!)

 

[KrisZ]

Quote:
I follow all traffic laws on my road bike. But people are still mean............



Yep, and this thread is a perfect example of that.


I don't have a fancy bike or fancy gear, I bike to get at least some exercise. I do it in the late evenings so that the traffic is less and obey stop signs and red lights and I stay as far to the right as possible. I guess a fit the "yuppie" definition perfectly

.

BTW, the guys I see with fancy bikes and gear seem to be the serious types, always biking in a row (if in group) and keeping a pretty good pace. They also seem to choose quieter roads. So I can't see where people get the idea that these guys are just posers.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: Blaze
No way would I ride a bike near a road with motor vehicles. They are currently building a 20 plus mile rails to trail bike-walking only path near me and seriously thinking of purchasing a bike for that and start riding again.


Too many idiots driving large pickup trucks or SUVs who will not see you and run you over.

 

[oilboy123]

Saw where California just passed a tougher law protecting bicycles from autos.

 

[jmac]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
The way I see it, I pay vehicle registration taxes, inspection fees, plate fees, license fees and all of this so that I can use the road in my car. Bikes don't do that down here (though in some places I'm sure they do). So just because some yuppie douche wants to play spandex dress up so he can feel special and get the attention he craves by blocking traffic doesn't mean I should be late to work from being stuck behind him on the roads I helped pay for.

However, I am happy to report that just this morning I saw a nice contingent of bright yellow Lance Armstrongs speeding along the bike bridge, next to the road. They seemed happy, and were certainly unimpeded by the quality of the bridge. I've seen these guys riding before, and they're generally on point with the hand signals and attuned to stop signs when they're on the road (which is in places were there are no bike friendly alternatives). I actually commented to my wife the other day when we saw these guys riding that they were the only cyclists I've ever seen who signal their intentions and respect road signs.


Quote:

In the state of Texas a bicycle is considered equivalent to a motor vehicle and subject to the same laws that apply to motor vehicles, with a few exceptions where special rules apply to bicyclists. In most cases, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists and are subject to the same citations a motorist would receive for violating traffic laws. This means that cyclists should stop at all red lights and stop signs, signal when turning and stopping, yield right-of-way when law requires it - and by all means, NO SPEEDING! Most regular cyclists would agree with John Forester, author of "Effective Cycling" that cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. As a general rule, you should not do anything that you would not do when you are driving your car. Make yourself as visible as possible and be predictable in your actions. Making eye contact with drivers of other vehicles can help you establish your position and communicate to them what your intentions are.

CITY OF HOUSTON ORDINANCES





Section 45-302

No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in the City of Houston within a business district or where prohibited by sign. A business district is defined as "the territory contiguous to and including a roadway when, within 600 feet along such roadway, there are buildings in use for business or industrial purpose which occupy 300 feet collectively on both sides of the roadway". Also, bicyclists are required to yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal to pedestrians when riding on approved sidewalks. (In general, bicyclists are permitted to ride on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinances, although experienced cyclists usually agree that it is much safer to ride on the street and follow the laws as they apply to any other vehicle.)



Section 45-311

This ordinance requires all bicycles to be registered. Owners of non registered bicycles can be ticketed and fined $5. Bicycles can be registered for a fee of $1.00 at many Houston fire stations.



Article 6701.d. Section 182

Requires that a bicycle ride with the flow of traffic. Riding with the traffic makes the cyclist more visible and predictable, especially at intersections.



City Ordinance No. 95-813

Children under the age of 18 who operate or ride on a bicycle or any side car, trailer, child carrier, seat or other device attached to a bicycle must wear a bicycle helmet.


http://www.houstonbicycleclub.org/Pages/SafetyBikeLaws.aspx

Quote:

Sec. 551.103. Operation on Roadway.

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless:


(1) the person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction; [or]

(2) the person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway; [or]

(3) a condition on or of the roadway, including a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard prevents the person from safely riding next to the right curb or edge of the roadway; or

(4) the person is operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is:
(A) less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane; or

(B) too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.

(b) A person operating a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway.

(c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.


http://bicycleaustin.info/laws/tx-bike.html
http://bicyclesafe.com/