Drivers...

[repete86]

They really suck. I was riding my bike an hour ago, and was almost hit by another SUV driving soccer mom on her cell phone while I was in the middle of an intersection in which I had the right of way. Not only that, but this one had the balls to honk AT ME! She floored it as soon as I got out of her way and immediately pulled into the next parking lot to buy more items.

What makes it better is that the way she came from is a dead end. At the most, she only drove a maximum of 3/4 of a mile!

Amerikans have succeeded in becoming extremely wasteful people.

[kickflipjr]

Yeah seems like there are a lot of jerk drivers where i live to (it seems like most are driving trucks and SUVs). I even had one guy intentionally swerve towards me one time. I also the occasional too fast and too close driver.

[rh77]

A therapeutic way of dealing with arse drivers is the phrase, "Most People".

I'd be driving around with my wife, and we'd get cut off for not accelerating at full-throttle or something and instead of getting road-rage like I used-to, I'd say, "Argh, Some People". But it turns out that it was MOST people. So it's funny way of dealing with it.

Anymore, I've avoided either having, or creating road rage since a year or so ago when that guy pulled a knife on us in traffic for no good reason (long story and I can't find the post). LSS -- he cut us off hard, I hit the horn as a reaction when I hit the brakes, and he got all PO'd. Bad decision by the police Dispatcher to follow the guy when he tried to run us off the road.

People are capable of a lot of crap these days, and with in many States, anyone could have a gun. I just try to let it go -- it's tough anger management, as I'm sure you all know. It goes: :eek: > :mad: > :confused: > :rolleyes: > :) > :cool:

RH77

[Hockey4mnhs]

Yeah my friend had somone smash his window with a hammer out because someone he was with (in anouther car) cut that guy off. They guy jumped out of his car at a stop sighn and asked who that person was and when my friend said he didnt know the guy smashed his window

[ELF]

The best thing that could happen to USA is to have the price of gas jump to 5 or 6 dollars a gallon. this would bring about a dramatic change in the way people drive, except for a few of the really wealthy people. But, for now we have to put up with those who think there is a endless supply of cheap gas.

[repete86]

I agree. It would be great if there was a sudden gas shortage. Then city governments would have to start building public transportation, people will buy more efficient cars, and people will drive less. It would be great.

[cfg83]

Hello -

NOTE : The terms good and bad are subject to one's own interpretation. In this post, good and bad are subject to my definition.

When I hear stories like this, I default to my "people are scum" rejoinder (PAS). Now, that may sound caustic, but I don't make the assumption that a person is going to behave like me. I watch and wait and let people sink or swim in the sea of my judgement (how's that for strained metaphors!?!?!?!?).

However, that *doesn't* mean I operate with the intent to do harm. On the exterior I operate in a "help until proven otherwise" mode. If I help someone and find out that they are bad, I simply move on (I give them a PAS, so to speak ;) ). If the person becomes a problem for me or others in my circle of friends, then I take action.

Here's my people POV :

1 - Find the good people .
2 - Help them.
3 - Repeat 1 and 2.

CarloSW2

[Snax]

It's astounding at times to hear the way some of my co-workers talk about bicyclists. It's somewhat dehumanizing. My favorite is: "They think they own the road."

Hello? We pay taxes too. We do own a share of the road!

I think attitudes are slowly changing as gas prices are now over $3/gallon again in some places here. I'm seeing more cyclists, and the days I ride the bus instead, it has become increasingly crowded despite the nicer weather we've been getting.

I take solace in the fact that I am currently saving over $400/month not having a car, insurance, nor a (significant) fuel payment for the vehicle I gave up in November. So I suppose I can handle the occassional rude driver when I weigh the benefit against it.

[kickflipjr]

I recently had a school bus come really close to me when I was riding my bike. I don't think he even saw me.

[Peakster]

Cyclists have it real bad in my city. I feel sorry for them. It's no wonder when 87.8% (http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=HR&Code1=4704&Geo2=PR&Code2=47&Data=Count&SearchText=Regina%20Qu'Appelle&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=) of the people in my city take a motor vehicle to get to work each day (less than 7.4% walk or use a bicycle, and less than 4% use mass transit).

[MetroMPG]

There was a CBC report this week about traffic planning in Vancouver which was really interesting & encouraging. Their stated priorities in order of importance for planning purposes:

1) pedestrians
2) cyclists
3) public transit
4) commercial traffic
5) high occupancy private cars
6) single occupancy private cars

The message they're trying to send is clear: get out of your cars. We don't care if you sit in traffic when there are alternatives.

One problem they face is the surrounding municipalities don't share their priority order, so they keep building sprawl, and roads, and feeding more and more private cars into Vancouver's road system.

[zpiloto]

I ride quite a bit and the problems I see are that there are not enough bike lanes and the ones here we do have the sweepers sweep all the glass and road garbarge there. Also most offices don't have place you can clean up once you get there which in the South is a problem.

I have to admit that bikers don't help their cause with the gerneral public when they don't follow the laws and blow through stops signs and run red lights which seems to be the rule and not the exception here.

[repete86]

It's the rule here because under Florida Law, bikes always have the right of way. I love being the priority on the road regardless of whether soccer moms like it or not.

[zpiloto]

It's the rule here because under Florida Law, bikes always have the right of way. I love being the priority on the road regardless of whether soccer moms like it or not.

I guess I'm not understanding. So in Florida you can run stop signs and red lights on a bike?

[Snax]

I doubt that. More likely it's a simple occupancy issue where a bicyclist in the lane essentially owns the right of way for that lane as much as any other vehicle and are legally owed the same respect.

Obeying signals and the rules of the road is one thing that I adhere to fairly well. When bike lanes are present, I use them, and I only resort to the sidewalks when I feel my safety demands it.

[repete86]

I guess I'm not understanding. So in Florida you can run stop signs and red lights on a bike?

Don't know the details. I read in a few places that bikes have the right of way, including at the DMV when I was registering The Green Machine. I run lights and stop signs when it's safe to do so and haven't been hassled by any cops yet. I also ride in traffic when there is no bike lane (most of Lee County) regardless of how busy the road is. I get alot of honks, yells and dirty looks, but nothing has been done about my habits yet.

[Snax]

I think around here allot of drivers are just happy when a lone cyclist is not participating in some ridiculous Critical Mass ride -
"Hey let's go out and block traffic during rush hour, infuriate people with bicyclists in general, and get a few cops ticked at us as well!"

It's absolute idiocy that probably makes matters worse for the rest of us.

[repete86]

I do critical mass. In my opinion, it raises awareness. We don't block entire roads, just one lane. It's only once per week anyway.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

I guess I'm not understanding. So in Florida you can run stop signs and red lights on a bike?

I know in CA you can. I've run reds right in front of cops and seen others do it. As long as you're not a complete moron and cautiously check to make sure there's no traffic, I don't think they bug you.

[The Toecutter]

In St. Louis, cops will arrest you for riding a bicycle without a license, even though the state had stopped issuing bicycle licenses somewhere back in the 1930s. Anything they can do to carry out the city's wishes of stopping a group of protestors from exercising their right to free speech and free assembly...

[Snax]

I do critical mass. In my opinion, it raises awareness. We don't block entire roads, just one lane. It's only once per week anyway.
My apologies for being insulting. But if somebody who has commuted on his bicycle on a regular basis like myself still can't see the wisdom of critical mass rides, is this really the kind of 'awareness' bicyclists should be after?

Like I've stated, I don't care if drivers get pissed at me when I'm following the rules, but when you start pissing drivers off by not following the rules, that's when enforcement becomes a real issue. Even commuting bicyclists spotted in the vicinity of critical mass rides have been harrassed and cited for minor infractions by the police for this reason - and that is something I would truly like to avoid, because I don't follow the rules ALL of the time, and I'd like to not get a mark on my driving record for it.

Further, when drivers start assuming that riders are critical mass participants, their lack of respect makes it more dangerous for bicyclists in general. It becomes as sinister as racial prejudices where the actions of a few become the representative trait for the many.

[zpiloto]

But if somebody who has commuted on his bicycle on a regular basis like myself still can't see the wisdom of critical mass rides, is this really the kind of 'awareness' bicyclists should be after?

Like I've stated, I don't care if drivers get pissed at me when I'm following the rules, but when you start pissing drivers off by not following the rules, that's when enforcement becomes a real issue. Even commuting bicyclists spotted in the vicinity of critical mass rides have been harrassed and cited for minor infractions by the police for this reason - and that is something I would truly like to avoid, because I don't follow the rules ALL of the time, and I'd like to not get a mark on my driving record for it.

Further, when drivers start assuming that riders are critical mass participants, their lack of respect makes it more dangerous for bicyclists in general. It becomes as sinister as racial prejudices where the actions of a few become the representative trait for the many.


I think you're right on the money here. The effects of a critical mass ride linger for days afterward. Driver don't need any more reason to disrespect riders.

Need to put the Trek in the garage.:) Nice ride.

[MorningGaser]

I know in CA you can. I've run reds right in front of cops and seen others do it. As long as you're not a complete moron and cautiously check to make sure there's no traffic, I don't think they bug you.

Nope, In California, you cannot....sure, 9 times out of 10 you'll not get stopped by an observant cop, but that just means the laws are not enforced.

In California, a bicyclist has no more or less right to cars...only pedestrians have more rights....

[MorningGaser]

Whether you're on a bike or driving a car too slowly, as to impede normal traffic flow, it is wrong, and immoral. Just because one is following the rules does not mean one should do so in such a way as to impede traffic...doing so is rude, and inconsiderate. And this "critical mass" or "en-mass" riding we see sometimes, dozens or more bikers blocking a lane or more, is plain immoral, wrong and disrespectful to car drivers...

I ride a bike to work 3-5 days a week, by the way.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Nope, In California, you cannot....sure, 9 times out of 10 you'll not get stopped by an observant cop, but that just means the laws are not enforced.

In California, a bicyclist has no more or less right to cars...only pedestrians have more rights....

Even peds don't have anything more legally compared to motorists. The whole "right of way" number is BS, it's just so that motorists are very cautious when around peds, iirc CA and NV basically have the same ped laws. By stating cyclists can run reds/stops, I didn't mean that it's not illegal, I meant that it's not enforced. And it's not enforced on a much larger scale than 9 out of 10. More like 99 out of 100 for reds/stops, and 999 out of 1000 for riding on the sidewalk. I think cops also target recreational cyclists more, so if you dress a little on the ratty side, they'll assume you're poor/homeless and not even think twice about it imle. :thumbup:

[trebuchet03]

Whether you're on a bike or driving a car too slowly, as to impede normal traffic flow, it is wrong, and immoral. Just because one is following the rules does not mean one should do so in such a way as to impede traffic...doing so is rude, and inconsiderate. And this "critical mass" or "en-mass" riding we see sometimes, dozens or more bikers blocking a lane or more, is plain immoral, wrong and disrespectful to car drivers...


While I agree about the CM stuff (really, it's proven other ways work better) -- I will not only ride on the road, but I take my lane. So one bike, or 20 - it's still one section of that one lane a car will not be able occupy. And this year, Florida passed extra laws in favor of cyclists. I can now report someone that tries to pass in my lane and altercations (2 for me thus far - neither reported) have a greater severity for drivers that think they have a sole right to the road. And believe me, I've made a few reports - especially for the guys that I catch up to at a red light after zipping around me :p

It's illegal for me to ride on the sidewalk (should one be around) and it's very dangerous to ride on the MUP because it's rarely cleaned (despite my letters). I stopped riding on the MUP after I had a blowout and wiped out :/ I did some phone calls - and legally, I'm allowed to ride on the road even if the MUP is available.

I don't find it immoral one bit. I pay my taxes, I share the road - I use proper signaling and will even talk with people (99% friendly and wishing they were commuting as I was) at the red lights I stop at. If I didn't get pulled over for drafting a truck, I'd continue to do so (and thus be able to go a lot faster). So, instead - I ride at a comfortable cruising speed (somewhere around 20-25).

Not sharing the road is disrespectful to everyone and against the law ;) And on the subject of disrespect... I had to leave the country (joining the 18% of Americans that do) to discover just how disrespectful we (in the US) have become. Cyclists are the least of our respect problems.

PS I ride just about every weekday - but that really doesn't matter :thumbup:

[Snax]

Frankly, I'd rather avoid sharing the road with cagers at all. It's not so bad at 7:15 in the morning, but by quitting time at 4:00 PM, the fumes from the cars and diesel trucks is overwhelming at the roadside. So whenever possible, I will ride a mile or more out of my way for the less travelled route or dedicated path.

[trebuchet03]

... the fumes from the cars and diesel trucks is overwhelming at the roadside.

I agree :thumbup: Unfortunately for me... there isn't an alternate route with better air :thumbdown:


One thing I did forget to mention.... If you're on the road... Taking your lane is MUCH safer for everyone. I'll look for the stat. but more people (% wise) get hit where sidewalk/path intersect road compared to riders on the road.

[repete86]

I have the same problems with exhaust. I was riding the other day when a line of SUV's drove by me. I felt like throwing up afterwards. It's so sickening, especially when it's windy and you don't see it coming until you're in a patch of exhaust. Of course, none of them had more than one person riding in the car.