Had someone brake check me while on the bicycle this afternoon.

[mikeduf]

I will chime in and have been cycling since the '80s, I have ridden a bicycle all my life but in the 80s started writing a road bike with other enthusiasts of the Greg lemond era.

I'm 67 now and live in Southern California with huge bike paths on most streets. I continuously see texting motorists swerving all around the streets not paying attention. I don't even want to ride on the street any longer because I now have social security and a pension and would like to keep that and not feed the doctors or the mortician.

So now I ride mainly on River trails that can give me a good 60 mile range.
I no longer wear my leotards and spandex outfit or elf shoes! But I can still use my city clip-ons and City shorts to propel myself at a good Pace over 16 mph.

My point here is that if you're a dumb jackass that wants to ride down the middle of the road you get what you deserve. I see too many jackasses doing that and putting other people at risk of road rage.

We have very crowded Beach communities that have dedicated the only lane of traffic into a multi-use lane meaning it is shown on the road that cyclists can ride in the street double and triple wide. But these are in areas that the speed limit is well under 25 miles an hour.

Quite often I get walkers on the bike path that like to walk two and three abreast thinking they're going to slow everybody down. Just really inconsiderate and trying to police the bike path riverbeds on their own..

Walkers are another issue, if there's a sidewalk please use it Walkers; quit walking in the street!
And please stop letting your dogs crap all over peoples lawns!

Just my two cents and observations

 

[veek]

Yes, you should ride as if they are trying to kill you. We all agree that impeding traffic is unsafe. The OP was talking about someone trying to deliberately injure him, even though he was following proper cycling etiquette. I assume that you agree that the actions of the motorist were unwarranted.

Bike paths have hazards too, walkers are one, the dogs on extensible leashes are far more dangerous.

 

[mikeduf]

Yes, you should ride as if they are trying to kill you. We all agree that impeding traffic is unsafe. The OP was talking about someone trying to deliberately injure him, even though he was following proper cycling etiquette. I assume that you agree that the actions of the motorist were unwarranted.

Bike paths have hazards too, walkers are one, the dogs on extensible leashes are far more dangerous.

I've come to realize that there are so many different people that think different ways especially when on a bicycle or walking their dogs or just walking. I have this caution When approaching another car, a bicycle, a walker and or dogs roaming around to slow down and alert whatever's around me that there are other people on the road. That's why I have a freeway Blaster horn that I've put into my car and it gets attention.

And when I'm on my bike, and I get somebody that comes up behind me alerting me with a bell or a horn I appreciate that they're letting me know they're coming. I don't take offense. I at least know they see me and are paying attention.

 

[veek]

I've come to realize that there are so many different people that think different ways especially when on a bicycle or walking their dogs or just walking. I have this caution When approaching another car, a bicycle, a walker and or dogs roaming around to slow down and alert whatever's around me that there are other people on the road. That's why I have a freeway Blaster horn that I've put into my car and it gets attention.

And when I'm on my bike, and I get somebody that comes up behind me alerting me with a bell or a horn I appreciate that they're letting me know they're coming. I don't take offense. I at least know they see me and are paying attention.

Absolutely. For walkers, I find that my voice: "On your left" works well. If they acknowledge my presence, a little wave as I go by. For walkers with dogs on extensible leashes a short toot on the Delta Air Zound works wonders. I only have to deploy it about twice a month or so - max on trails.

Other things that have helped are:

1. Use front flashers on bright days. Cars will not see you if you are in the shade since drivers have been blinded by brightness.
2. At night/dusk use active and passive side lighting. My bike tire sidewalls are reflective and I have reflective tape on the spokes. At night, I use active side lighting in addition to main lights.
3. Use a helmet light at night. People aren't used to seeing vertically stacked lights. You really stand out in the visual clutter. When passing someone at night on a trail, I turn off or cover my handlebar light so as not to blind anyone.
4. Don't run flashers on trails.
5. I also use a GoPro helmet mounted camera. I find that car drivers get a bit more careful if they think they are being recorded.

 

[Ranger83]

While there is no shortage of annoying bike riders in Boston, I try to remember that at most they are holding me up about five seconds.

Motorist hostility to bicyclists has always been hard for me to understand.

 

[Greenbeforeblue]

We'd be better off discussing religion and politics.

 

[TiGeo]

A cyclist's haiku:

ring your bell often
watch out for everyone else
conceal carry

 

[veek]

A cyclist's haiku:

.....
conceal carry

I assume that this is trolling ;-). I certainly would not do it, since it would not make me any safer.

 

[MRC01]

... I think everyone should be safe on the road, and share the road, but I also believe its incredibly unsafe to let anything on the road way that cannot achieve and maintain an appropriate speed. It is simply unsafe in every way for everyone around it. I agree with another poster that mentions bicycles should not be allowed on a public roadway, he is absolutely correct! Its really the exact same theory as to why Amish buggies or hoarse drawn buggies are not allowed on highways, because it is UNSAFE FOR ALL INVOLVED.

To clarify, you're saying no bicycles on any public road at all? Or no bicycles on high speed roads like highways and freeways?
If the first, anyone who owns a road bike should throw it away because he shouldn't be using it?
If the second, that is already the law.

 

[#18FAN]

I commute close to 150 miles everyday, so I see allot on the road. The one thing that society seems to have an issue with (in many ways) is self accountability. Sorry, if someone beeps at me or utilizes any other roadway alerting methods, my first thought is "****, what am I doing that is unsafe"... My first thought is NOT to just throw a finger or be defensive. I guess I take that position in every aspect of life, if someone is pointing something out I immediately take a self inventory! If I cant rationalize myself as being in the wrong then I try to begin understanding the motive. We all pay taxes.... We all have our pound of flesh stollen from us from big brother, at some point we have to focus on what's better in the big picture ourselves, not just for me. "Macro not micro".


It would have been very simple and much more safe to just move over and allow the 2.5 ton mechanism have its space... A vehicle obviously has the ability to move much faster than a bicycle, and I would consider it rather arrogant to impose a slower speed upon them while they are trying to go about their day, just because someone wants to exercise or utilize their hobby. Sorry its that cut and dry for me... Maybe they were in the midst of an emergency. I would not be able to live with myself if I made and defended a cognitive choice to hold someone up that needed to get somewhere, my arrogance would quickly be forced from my mind and replaced with something that never leaves..

I think everyone should be safe on the road, and share the road, but I also believe its incredibly unsafe to let anything on the road way that cannot achieve and maintain an appropriate speed. It is simply unsafe in every way for everyone around it. I agree with another poster that mentions bicycles should not be allowed on a public roadway, he is absolutely correct! Its really the exact same theory as to why Amish buggies or hoarse drawn buggies are not allowed on highways, because it is UNSAFE FOR ALL INVOLVED.

How many hrs do you spend on the bike back and forth to work since it done every day you should have it down to the minute almost.

 

[#18FAN]

Hmm... these smart trainers have gotten really good.

View attachment 257554

Absolutely love mine ride Zwift all winter an absolute blast and a community on its own. You lift you are toast riding 240. watts

 

[KYMISTWALKER]

Maybe that Mossberg Home Defense pump would look nice residing in a sling mounted to your bike. They could have killed you or worse.

Excellent, I hope you have a Camera of some kind also, I would pack a pistol for my own safety

 

[barryh]

An issue with dangerous cycling in the UK is that cyclists have until recently been almost immune from the law. Even in extreme cases where they have injured or killed pedestrians there has been little or no legal recourse. The most recent example was cyclists conducting time trials in a public park where a speed limit of 20mph was in force to protect the roads mixed use of pedestrians cyclists and cars. The cyclists could easily exceed that speed down hill but no prosecution could be brought even when a pedestrian was killed because there is no legal requirement for cyclists to observe the speed limit as there is no requirement for a cycle to have speed indication.

After several fatalities and many injuries to pedestrians caused by cyclists and illegal e-scooters and electric bikes, a new law has been brought in which essentially means that, if a cyclist or e-scooter rider injures or kills another road user because of dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate cycling, they will face the same penalties as drivers and motorcyclists who cause serious incidents. This means that any cyclist convicted could now face up to 14 years in prison.

Everyone has the same right to use a public road whether they be pedestrians, cyclists or drivers. The problem has been that some haven't taken their responsibilities seriously enough because they were mostly outside of the rules and regulations for using that road. There is still no requirement for cyclists to observe speed limits but there are now consequences if they cause injury or death when they do.

 

[wsar10]

So if I am a rural cyclist, I can only ride mountain bikes? Frankly, if you commute 150 miles a day, and you can maintain 25 mph (not trivial at all on a commute bike), you are riding 6 hours a day with zero stops. So, do you have your own road with no cars on them to commute on?

Color me skeptical.

You're kind of forcing me to color you more illiterate rather than skeptical.... And say that maybe you should re-read the post.

 

[wsar10]

How many hrs do you spend on the bike back and forth to work since it done every day you should have it down to the minute almost.

I spend ZERO hours on a bike.... And if you commute then you would know there is no such thing as knowing the minute you will arrive, vehicle or bike.... Why is reading and comprehension so difficult these days both you and the other guy above were so quick to push your opinion that you didn't even take the time to understand the post. This is yet another characteristic that is the same mindset as people who ride a bike in the middle of the road and don't move for something 100x their weight. Come on guys, lets be real!

 

[wsar10]

To clarify, you're saying no bicycles on any public road at all? Or no bicycles on high speed roads like highways and freeways?
If the first, anyone who owns a road bike should throw it away because he shouldn't be using it?
If the second, that is already the law.

To clarify;
ABSOLUTLEY! IF you can not achieve the speed limit, you are creating a MAJOR safety problem for everyone else and yourself. Sorry, but we have a ton of outdoor powersports equipment, I would much rather see ATV's on the road than a bicycle! I know for sure that my ATV will go beyond the speed limit and get there very quickly in case I need to power out of a bad situation. But I still wouldn't even if I could.... Because it is still unsafe.

Not my place to say when someone should sell their road bike or other property, it is my place to speak to the safety of a roadway that I rely on along with my family for daily function.

If a bike can easily and effortlessly get to and maintain a speed of 35 on a 35mph roadway and respect the majority on the roadways, then ok, MAYBE I could get behind that. My question then would be, who would ever want to jeopardize their own safety in a scenario like that.... No matter how you look at it, its just a very unsafe situation because some individuals feel as though they are entitled to do anything they want, no matter who foots the bill. Unfortunately from 08-12 we had an administration that gave people with that mindset national recognition and credibility....

Its just crazy some of the stuff mentioned in this thread and its a perfect example of how so many Americans have been conditioned. I mean people are actually proud to say "I paid a registration for my bicycle", Listen to yourself.... You paid to ride a bicycle in an unsafe environment, just so you could say "its my right". Can you image if Americans would have been that narcissistic in 1942?

I have a cyclist friend that constantly talks about the overburden on our healthcare system, but then goes and dances with 5 ton objects on the roadway on a bicycle... I constantly remind him of the hypocrisy! And he is quick to do the same when he can.

If you need a ride, give me a call.... Id rather you get there safely even if we disagree. If you want to run along side the car for that exercise, you can, but beware that I WILL be safely doing the speed limit... LOL!

 

[#18FAN]

I spend ZERO hours on a bike.... And if you commute then you would know there is no such thing as knowing the minute you will arrive, vehicle or bike.... Why is reading and comprehension so difficult these days both you and the other guy above were so quick to push your opinion that you didn't even take the time to understand the post. This is yet another characteristic that is the same mindset as people who ride a bike in the middle of the road and don't move for something 100x their weight. Come on guys, lets be real!

I have 40 and 50 mile routes on the road bike i can tell you for a fact I can give you the arrival time within 5 minutes

 

[wsar10]

I have 40 and 50 mile routes on the road bike i can tell you for a fact I can give you the arrival time within 5 minutes

Blanket statements are dangerous and presumptive...

Wow, if you are ever looking for work, shoot me a msg.
I could use someone that can tell the future or that has a working crystal ball to offset our AI learning project!

Amazing, to be able to predict every inch of traffic, weather, construction, accidents, idiots on the roadway, and every other variable over a 50+ mile trip, that is truly nothing less than amazing!

I have made this drive for several years and I clearly know based on history, that some days I can do it in an hour, if its a summer evening and clear no cars and I can set my cruise at 90 I can do it in roughly 50 minutes, then other days it takes an 1.5 hours, it has taken as long as 3. So if you have the ability to consider every metric and itemize this all into a 5 minute variable, please send me your CV.

Id love someone to respond to this that lives in LA or Dallas that commutes....

 

[MRC01]

ABSOLUTLEY! IF you can not achieve the speed limit, you are creating a MAJOR safety problem for everyone else and yourself. Sorry, but we have a ton of outdoor powersports equipment, I would much rather see ATV's on the road than a bicycle! I know for sure that my ATV will go beyond the speed limit and get there very quickly in case I need to power out of a bad situation. But I still wouldn't even if I could.... Because it is still unsafe.

Interesting perspective, I see the logic. Our highways & freeways already work like this: vehicles that can't safely sustain the speed limit are prohibited. But our laws say the rest of roads are free to use for pretty much anyone. It's an intriguing thought experiment to imagine how it might be otherwise, but we all have to share the road - whether on the freeway with other cars & trucks & motorbikes or local roads with bicycles too - and courtesy goes a long way toward safety.

Its just crazy some of the stuff mentioned in this thread and its a perfect example of how so many Americans have been conditioned. I mean people are actually proud to say "I paid a registration for my bicycle", Listen to yourself.... You paid to ride a bicycle in an unsafe environment, just so you could say "its my right". Can you image if Americans would have been that narcissistic in 1942?

The narcissism goes both ways, such as drivers who already have the freeways & highways to themselves yet still resent sharing local roads with cyclists or others. When I'm in my car I don't mind giving the guy in the big slow truck a break when he slows down for corners, or the motorbike splitting lanes, and I don't mind slowing down or giving room for cyclists or others. It's part of being a courteous safe driver. However, this too goes both ways. Cyclists should be as far to the right as practical not hogging the center of the lane. But drivers shouldn't take advantage of that to make unsafe passes around blind turns.

I have a cyclist friend that constantly talks about the overburden on our healthcare system, but then goes and dances with 5 ton objects on the roadway on a bicycle... I constantly remind him of the hypocrisy! And he is quick to do the same when he can.

With most of the common forms of disease and health care expenses related to sedentary lifestyle choices and rampant obesity (heart disease, diabetes, etc.), the cyclist is saving the healthcare system (and his own health of course). And if he gets hit by a car he could be squished like a bug which means few health care expenses there either.

 

[IndyIan]

To clarify;
ABSOLUTLEY! IF you can not achieve the speed limit, you are creating a MAJOR safety problem for everyone else and yourself. Sorry, but we have a ton of outdoor powersports equipment, I would much rather see ATV's on the road than a bicycle! I know for sure that my ATV will go beyond the speed limit and get there very quickly in case I need to power out of a bad situation. But I still wouldn't even if I could.... Because it is still unsafe.

Not my place to say when someone should sell their road bike or other property, it is my place to speak to the safety of a roadway that I rely on along with my family for daily function.

If a bike can easily and effortlessly get to and maintain a speed of 35 on a 35mph roadway and respect the majority on the roadways, then ok, MAYBE I could get behind that. My question then would be, who would ever want to jeopardize their own safety in a scenario like that.... No matter how you look at it, its just a very unsafe situation because some individuals feel as though they are entitled to do anything they want, no matter who foots the bill. Unfortunately from 08-12 we had an administration that gave people with that mindset national recognition and credibility....

Its just crazy some of the stuff mentioned in this thread and its a perfect example of how so many Americans have been conditioned. I mean people are actually proud to say "I paid a registration for my bicycle", Listen to yourself.... You paid to ride a bicycle in an unsafe environment, just so you could say "its my right". Can you image if Americans would have been that narcissistic in 1942?

I have a cyclist friend that constantly talks about the overburden on our healthcare system, but then goes and dances with 5 ton objects on the roadway on a bicycle... I constantly remind him of the hypocrisy! And he is quick to do the same when he can.

If you need a ride, give me a call.... Id rather you get there safely even if we disagree. If you want to run along side the car for that exercise, you can, but beware that I WILL be safely doing the speed limit... LOL!

I believe regular state and local 2 lane highways are free for everyone to use, be it walkers, bikers, even farmers driving cattle. Freedom of movement shouldn't require a vehicle, and I think that right is far more important than your minor inconvenience of passing someone safely and responsibly.