A Plague of Bicyclists

[SP Cook]

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/drivers-get-rolled_766425.html?page=1

Thoughtful.

[Takumi]

* Takumi makes some popcorn

[NE2]

Even this wingnut paper believes environmental benefits are "obvious and undeniable". Discuss.

[Brandon]

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/drivers-get-rolled_766425.html?page=1

Thoughtful.

Shitty behavior isn't confined to motorists?  Shocking!

One thing I've noticed is that people walk like they bike like they drive.  Some are good; far too many are idiots and assholes.

[realjd]

There are plenty of douche bag cyclists. Similarly, there are plenty of douche bag motorists. There are also plenty of douche bag cops. There are plenty of douche bag articles, just like this one.

[Alex4897]

* Takumi makes some popcorn

Pass some over here.

[seicer]

There are plenty of douche bag cyclists. Similarly, there are plenty of douche bag motorists. There are also plenty of douche bag cops. There are plenty of douche bag articles, just like this one.

This. But we know the folks who post or write garbage like this have little regard or respect for cyclists.

[Duke87]

I'm really curious where the claim from the bikers that "they can't just stop like a car" comes from. Bikes have brakes. And I don't think any vehicle which is unable to stop on command is safe to be riding/driving on the road.

As for the in the lane versus to the side debate, riding in the middle of the lane makes sense in an urban setting on a low speed roadway because that is how you make yourself most visible to everyone else on or near the road and thus best avoid accidents. But if you're biking at 25 mph on a road with a 45 mph speed limit, you're both being a dick and creating a hazard if you're riding in the travel lane and not moving out of the way for cars.

And honestly, if you're stupid enough to blow past a cop telling you to stop and then mouth off at said cop when he later catches up to you, I sincerely hope your sorry ass gets arrested for evading law enforcement.

[SD Mapman]

But if you're biking at 25 mph on a road with a 45 mph speed limit, you're both being a dick and creating a hazard if you're riding in the travel lane and not moving out of the way for cars.

I've seen that happen on a 55 mph road, going up a hill, and with no other cars in sight. It's annoying.

[NE2]

But if you're biking at 25 mph on a road with a 45 mph speed limit, you're both being a dick and creating a hazard if you're riding in the travel lane and not moving out of the way for cars.

If you think that's being a dick, you're a dick.

[corco]

The best legislative thing to come out of Idaho:

http://www.sfbike.org/?idaho

Watch the video. Idaho Stop makes sense and creates a uniform set of laws regarding bikes and stop signs, which makes it less likely that bikes will recklessly blow through them and also makes them blend in better with the flow of traffic. Idaho has had this for 30 years now, and our bike safety record is great. Boise is a very bike friendly city with a lot of cyclists, despite what you might assume.

[froggie]

There are plenty of douche bag cyclists. Similarly, there are plenty of douche bag motorists. There are also plenty of douche bag cops. There are plenty of douche bag articles, just like this one.

THIS.

But if you're biking at 25 mph on a road with a 45 mph speed limit, you're both being a dick and creating a hazard if you're riding in the travel lane and not moving out of the way for cars.

However, because we have for too long pushed in this country for movement of cars over alternative modes, there are often cases where a cyclist has to take that lane on the 45 MPH road because there is no alternative.  I have a classic example of this (albeit on a 35 MPH road but one with 6 lanes and heavy traffic) on my bike commute.

Idaho Stop makes sense and creates a uniform set of laws regarding bikes and stop signs, which makes it less likely that bikes will recklessly blow through them and also makes them blend in better with the flow of traffic.

Concur.  But then the motorists will complain that they can't do the same thing.  Which IMO is an indicator that we have too many stop signs in this country.  But that in itself is a result of too many stupid/horrible drivers who don't understand the concept of "Yield", nevermind the overly-litigatious society we now live in.

[Brandon]

Concur.  But then the motorists will complain that they can't do the same thing.  Which IMO is an indicator that we have too many stop signs in this country.  But that in itself is a result of too many stupid/horrible drivers people who don't understand the concept of "Yield", nevermind the overly-litigatious society we now live in.

People have no clue how to yield the right of way to others, not just drivers.  Ever walk around a grocery store with a cart?  I have more near misses in the store than on the road as people don't look at where they are going.  This also goes for pedestrians (more than a few get "Darwined" by crossing railroad tracks like that) and bicyclists (including the fool taking up the entire lane instead of staying to the right) as well as motorists and motorcyclists.

We have a society today where people are just rude to other people and for some reason it seems to be OK to do so.  Note the behavior of certain posters here as an example.  Motorists are rude to motorcyclists are rude to bicyclists are rude to pedestrians are rude to motorists.  It's a terrible cycle, IMHO, and it direly needs to be broken.  A little bit of courtesy would go a very long way to fixing this problem with no additional laws required.

[seicer]

You do know that it's safer for the cyclist to take up the middle or right 1/3 of the lane than to hug the curb?

[Brandon]

You do know that it's safer for the cyclist to take up the middle or right 1/3 of the lane than to hug the curb?

Um, no, it's actually safer to take up the right 1/4 of the lane, or in the should if one exists (that's where I ride, and 1/4 of a lane still is 3 feet).  Taking up the middle is just rude.  Ditto for motorcyclists.  They ought to be on the left 1/3 of the lane, not the middle (for their visibility).  As for pedestrians, they should be over as far as possible and facing traffic (with their noses out of their iPhones).

It really boils down to being courteous toward each other.  Motorists need to be patient with bicyclists in a narrow area.  Bicyclists need to stop at red signals.  Pedestrians need to be alert and not texting while walking.  If someone else is supposed to have the right of way, yield it.  Don't be an asshole whether walking, biking, or driving.  Too many are while doing all three.  Don't join them.

[NE2]

Brandon's full of shit. Dog bites man.

[Brandon]

Brandon's full of shit. Dog bites man.

As noted regarding the plague of rudeness that permeates our society today, please see NE2's comment above.  How is NE2 (with this comment) any different than the jerk who gets pissy with a bicyclist using more of the lane than usual in a narrow area?  It's this rudeness, and believing this rudeness is either funny or effective that is the problem.  It's this complete lack of couthness and courteousness that is the problem.  It's a lack of respect for our fellow humans (surprisingly from a self-described "hippie" - I thought hippies were supposed to be mellow, man) that is the problem here.

[NE2]

A Brandon is a reflex of simultaneous inhalation of air and stretching of the eardrums, followed by exhalation of breath.

[agentsteel53]

I almost killed one this morning on a residential street.  speed limit 25, he was coming down a hill at least that fast in the opposite lane.  he hit a dip, got air, landed and started fishtailing and damn near wiped out in my lane. 

wasn't wearing a helmet either.  he may very well be dead by now.

[NE2]

I almost killed a hep kitten. I was shooting at the target range and he was drunk and walked right in front of my gun.

[Takumi]

* Takumi makes some popcorn

Pass some over here.

Time to make some more.

[agentsteel53]

I almost killed a hep kitten. I was shooting at the target range and he was drunk and walked right in front of my gun.

what the fuck meme are you attempting to reference this time?

[NE2]

Hep cats are the new awesome people.

[agentsteel53]

Hep cats are the new awesome people.

I'm sure they are.  and you're the same old shit.

[Brandon]

A Brandon is a reflex of simultaneous inhalation of air and stretching of the eardrums, followed by exhalation of breath.

I almost killed a hep kitten. I was shooting at the target range and he was drunk and walked right in front of my gun.

As if on cue to demonstrate his rudeness, SPUI rises (or is that falls?) to the occasion.

This is part of what I talked about with the lack of civility and courtesy, and SPUI (aka NE2) does a wonderful job of illustrating a total and complete lack of civility.  Thank you for playing, please don't come again.