Rant - Bicycles not following road rules
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Originally Posted By: JOD
Originally Posted By: Trajan
Sooner or later the Darwin rule comes into play for them.
vehicular manslaughter is more like it. Funny how people are so dismissive of that...
You cut across six lanes of traffic, you deserve it when you get hit.
It isn't if, but when.
You can't do the speed limit, get off of the road. Or, get off the bike and walk it on the edge.
Originally Posted By: Trajan
Sooner or later the Darwin rule comes into play for them.
vehicular manslaughter is more like it. Funny how people are so dismissive of that...
You cut across six lanes of traffic, you deserve it when you get hit.
It isn't if, but when.
You can't do the speed limit, get off of the road. Or, get off the bike and walk it on the edge.
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Not up here. The road I am talking about has a sidewalk for strollers, in addition to the bike lane, so your excuse is lame, but thank you for assumption. As far as being treated as a vehicle, up here if you hold up 5 or more cars you get a ticket, whether you drive RV, car or a bicycle. I wish cops would enforce it more stringently, though.
Originally Posted By: Trajan
Originally Posted By: JOD
Originally Posted By: Trajan
Sooner or later the Darwin rule comes into play for them.
vehicular manslaughter is more like it. Funny how people are so dismissive of that...
You cut across six lanes of traffic, you deserve it when you get hit.
It isn't if, but when.
I'd certainly agree. I've probably ridden over 100K miles in traffic and I'm alive, so safe to say I don't spend a lot of time cutting over 6 lanes of traffic--that's not what I was referring to--but if faced with most 'bike paths' and the road, I'll take the road every time, because generally it's safer.
Originally Posted By: JOD
Originally Posted By: Trajan
Sooner or later the Darwin rule comes into play for them.
vehicular manslaughter is more like it. Funny how people are so dismissive of that...
You cut across six lanes of traffic, you deserve it when you get hit.
It isn't if, but when.
I'd certainly agree. I've probably ridden over 100K miles in traffic and I'm alive, so safe to say I don't spend a lot of time cutting over 6 lanes of traffic--that's not what I was referring to--but if faced with most 'bike paths' and the road, I'll take the road every time, because generally it's safer.
Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
Not up here. The road I am talking about has a sidewalk for strollers, in addition to the bike lane, so your excuse is lame, but thank you for assumption.
Same here. I don't see how separate facilities for bike travellers complete with underpasses and independent bridges a safe distance form the road is "hostile to bikers." The strollers and otherwise are not sharing these paths.
Vehicular manslaughter or not, you'll still be dead. And all the righteous indignation in the world won't scrape your brain up off the sidewalk and put it back in your skull.
Not up here. The road I am talking about has a sidewalk for strollers, in addition to the bike lane, so your excuse is lame, but thank you for assumption.
Same here. I don't see how separate facilities for bike travellers complete with underpasses and independent bridges a safe distance form the road is "hostile to bikers." The strollers and otherwise are not sharing these paths.
Vehicular manslaughter or not, you'll still be dead. And all the righteous indignation in the world won't scrape your brain up off the sidewalk and put it back in your skull.
Kestas
Staff member
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
People who ride their bicycles on roads when there are perfectly good sidewalks not 10 feet away (which are designed for biking) should be cited for a traffic violation.
You don't sound like an experienced cyclist. If you've ever done any significant bike riding (>10 miles per trip), you'd know where the sidewalks fail to meet the requirements for cycling. For one, the sidewalks are often uneven, with many of the squares heaved up and downright dangerous. The roads are generally smooth. Two, at the end of each block you have to jump the curb... first down, then up. Three, you have to dodge all the low branches, toys, kids, and the general population who have no idea what the sound of a bicycle bell means. All this while traveling 10-15 miles per hour makes sidewalks an impossible ride and dangerous to the cyclist and neighborhod.
People who ride their bicycles on roads when there are perfectly good sidewalks not 10 feet away (which are designed for biking) should be cited for a traffic violation.
You don't sound like an experienced cyclist. If you've ever done any significant bike riding (>10 miles per trip), you'd know where the sidewalks fail to meet the requirements for cycling. For one, the sidewalks are often uneven, with many of the squares heaved up and downright dangerous. The roads are generally smooth. Two, at the end of each block you have to jump the curb... first down, then up. Three, you have to dodge all the low branches, toys, kids, and the general population who have no idea what the sound of a bicycle bell means. All this while traveling 10-15 miles per hour makes sidewalks an impossible ride and dangerous to the cyclist and neighborhod.
I said they were made for biking. They are not normal sidewalks and they are in fact much more even than the road. They are also much wider than the standard sidewalk.
And, yeah, I've done some "significant cycling." Thanks for the assumption.
And, yeah, I've done some "significant cycling." Thanks for the assumption.
Kestas
Staff member
Not in any of the metro area I've ridden in.
Well Houston is different from Detroit in many ways. Perhaps we're less "hostile" to cyclists. Everything is bigger in Texas, you know.
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
They seem to assert whatever framework benefits their unrestricted forward progress.
This is the perfect way to put it.
John
They seem to assert whatever framework benefits their unrestricted forward progress.
This is the perfect way to put it.
John
Bicycle riders, Roller Skaters, Skate boarders and Push Scooters are the ones to look out for on the road. Most of the people I know who use this means of transportation, no longer have driving licenses.
IMO....Most have had them taken away for DUI, DWI, too many points, lack of insurance, reckless driving or mental incapacity to drive a motor vehicle.
IMO....They never have...nor will they....obey the rules of the road.
IMO....Most have had them taken away for DUI, DWI, too many points, lack of insurance, reckless driving or mental incapacity to drive a motor vehicle.
IMO....They never have...nor will they....obey the rules of the road.
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Here there are bike lanes on almost every street. I know police officers that have written tickets to bikers for riding on the sidewalk and not following red lights and walking their bike across streets.
I know it wasn't right, but when I had my Mustang with offroad exhaust, think 115dB when the legal limit is 96.5dB, I would buzz them downshifting when they would block the road.
I know it wasn't right, but when I had my Mustang with offroad exhaust, think 115dB when the legal limit is 96.5dB, I would buzz them downshifting when they would block the road.
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I know it wasn't right, but when I had my Mustang with offroad exhaust, think 115dB when the legal limit is 96.5dB, I would buzz them downshifting when they would block the road.
wow...
I hope this comment gives some insight into the sort of felony behavior a cyclists has to deal with. Hopefully, you've grown up.
I know it wasn't right, but when I had my Mustang with offroad exhaust, think 115dB when the legal limit is 96.5dB, I would buzz them downshifting when they would block the road.
wow...
I hope this comment gives some insight into the sort of felony behavior a cyclists has to deal with. Hopefully, you've grown up.
"Felony behavior"
You're a riot.
It's not rape, he downshifted his car.
You're a riot.
It's not rape, he downshifted his car.
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
"Felony behavior"
You're a riot.
It's not rape, he downshifted his car.
I guess you missed the part where he admitted to "buzzing cyclists". One foot the wrong way and he needs a new fender--the cyclists pays with this life...
I guess having both friends and loved ones injured or killed by the felony behavior of others gives me a different perspective. You've made your perspective clear; anyone riding a bike on the roads gets what they deserve. Point taken.
"Felony behavior"
You're a riot.
It's not rape, he downshifted his car.
I guess you missed the part where he admitted to "buzzing cyclists". One foot the wrong way and he needs a new fender--the cyclists pays with this life...
I guess having both friends and loved ones injured or killed by the felony behavior of others gives me a different perspective. You've made your perspective clear; anyone riding a bike on the roads gets what they deserve. Point taken.
I think "entitled" means knowing the rules, being able to quote them in response to OPs assertion that rules were not being followed.
If this were a horse riding forum, you'd find lots of on-road equestrians complaining about motor vehicles. Fun fact: Horses and pedestrians have *rights* to the road, going back to common law times, while motor vehicles have *privileges*. Cyclists and other non-powered wheeled vehicles have a hybrid system where they have to follow some but not all laws.
If this were a horse riding forum, you'd find lots of on-road equestrians complaining about motor vehicles. Fun fact: Horses and pedestrians have *rights* to the road, going back to common law times, while motor vehicles have *privileges*. Cyclists and other non-powered wheeled vehicles have a hybrid system where they have to follow some but not all laws.
I live just off a rural country road with a few 4 way stops. I've yet to see one of the "professional" cyclists stop at any of the four way stops. I believe in IL if you are riding on the road, you have to follow the rules of the road.
It's that sort of behavior that has motorists rightfully upset at the bicyclists. If they would stop at the 4-way, just like the cars have to there would likely be fewer incidents.
But as someone else said, there are bicyclists that choose the rules to best benefit them. They claim rights to ride on the road, but then act as a pedestrian when they come to a four way stop.
But the law is pretty clear in IL, you must follow all traffic control signs and signals and ride in the direction of traffic when riding on the road in IL.
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a143.pdf
The sad thing is if one of the bicyclists gets hit running the four way, they will try to go after the motorist, blaming the driver for the cyclists failure to follow the rules.
My animosity is not against those who choose to ride, it's against the unwillingness to follow the rules they expect others to follow.
It's that sort of behavior that has motorists rightfully upset at the bicyclists. If they would stop at the 4-way, just like the cars have to there would likely be fewer incidents.
But as someone else said, there are bicyclists that choose the rules to best benefit them. They claim rights to ride on the road, but then act as a pedestrian when they come to a four way stop.
But the law is pretty clear in IL, you must follow all traffic control signs and signals and ride in the direction of traffic when riding on the road in IL.
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a143.pdf
The sad thing is if one of the bicyclists gets hit running the four way, they will try to go after the motorist, blaming the driver for the cyclists failure to follow the rules.
My animosity is not against those who choose to ride, it's against the unwillingness to follow the rules they expect others to follow.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
The sad thing is if one of the bicyclists gets hit running the four way, they will try to go after the motorist, blaming the driver for the cyclists failure to follow the rules.
Charges will probably not be filed against the cager. (Sorry, didn't see you)
I know it's a motorcyclist, but the premise is the same.
The sad thing is if one of the bicyclists gets hit running the four way, they will try to go after the motorist, blaming the driver for the cyclists failure to follow the rules.
Charges will probably not be filed against the cager. (Sorry, didn't see you)
I know it's a motorcyclist, but the premise is the same.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
The entitled attitude of some of the bike riders on this site in this thread is EXACTLY the attitude that turns so many against them out on the road.
Could you please provide a specific example of this 'entitled attitude' presented in this thread?
If your example is that I claim to be entitled to the road--well, I AM ENTITLED TO THE ROAD. The law says so in every state. It that gets people mad, then they seriously need to seek professional help.
The entitled attitude of some of the bike riders on this site in this thread is EXACTLY the attitude that turns so many against them out on the road.
Could you please provide a specific example of this 'entitled attitude' presented in this thread?
If your example is that I claim to be entitled to the road--well, I AM ENTITLED TO THE ROAD. The law says so in every state. It that gets people mad, then they seriously need to seek professional help.
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