A message to all Cyclists.
- Thread starter Gentleman_Reptile
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No, falling of a bike isn't a joke. Unlike me saying I would push someone off, which is a joke... Although clearly it's outrageous to pepper a light-hearted forum rant with a little bit of humour these days.Talaris said:
Something needs to be done about cyclists in London, it's a really big issue at the moment. As in genuinely dangerous for drivers, commuters and pedestrians alike. I'd vote for a party with the balls to deal with them, but unfortunately it's against the current spirit (what with British successes at cycling lately). Half tempted to take a cricket bat to the closest traffic lights now, and take out every cyclist that runs a red...
Dear Driver under 20 years of age.
Stop fucking texting and swerving while I'm cycling on the side of the road.I probably will have a fuckton of moneys worth of airsoft gear in my pack and I don't want to buy it all again because you can't hold a steering wheel and you NEED to check what's going on on Facebook.
It's scary when you have some dosey fuck driving their car while letting go of the wheel completely to text,Making me slam on the brakes the instant he/she/it lets go and swerve on the footpath.
Stop fucking texting and swerving while I'm cycling on the side of the road.I probably will have a fuckton of moneys worth of airsoft gear in my pack and I don't want to buy it all again because you can't hold a steering wheel and you NEED to check what's going on on Facebook.
It's scary when you have some dosey fuck driving their car while letting go of the wheel completely to text,Making me slam on the brakes the instant he/she/it lets go and swerve on the footpath.
I don't know what the laws are for your area of the globe, but this is factually incorrect in my part of Canada (and as far as I know, every other part of Canada as well). Bikes can't be ridden down the side walk, nor should they be allowed to do so.Gentleman_Reptile said:
They are road vehicles and should be ridden on the roads if there are no specified bike lanes or trails available for them. End of story.
It is illegal in many places for cyclists to drive anywhere but the road when traveling on main roadways. Driving on the side walk is illegal and for good reason, so no, they already have as much right to use the road as you do. Moreover, they are at far more risk in the event of an accident while on their bike than you are in your car if you hit them. Like it or not, that's simply how it is. Complaining about how they have no right to ride in the streets when they are legally obligated to is silly.Laughing Man said:
I can't speak for all places, but where I live it's a huge problem. I don't drive a car. I can't even drive one, I don't have a license and I don't care for one because I don't like to drive and I'm terrible at it. I look really hot in the passanger seat though.. Anyway, cyclists here are constantly putting themselves and others in danger. They refuse to use the biking roads the government spent litteral millions constructing for them, roads that even have tunnels under the road so that they don't even have to get off their bikes at zebras or wait at traffic lights... They have no respect for walking people, and because those little rining bells "look stupid" they don't have those to warn you they are comming, so you only know it when they yell "hey!" when 4 meters behind you, and then obviously have to break because your not catwoman and capable of instantly reacting and jumping out of the way... And then I get yelled at. Well, not me because I look kinda scary, but you might! And of course they wouldn't want to look 'stupid' in their $300 biking tights...
In the city it's not a problem. Traffic is practically frozen 90% of the time, and the city is pretty compact so you can basically just walk anywhere worth being within about 30 minutes. The cyclists in town are not the "professional" types you see on the roads in the outskirts, they are generally students on cheap bikes that pedal their way trough town at a reasonable pace. Even the few serious ones slow down, I guess they realize there's simply too many pedestrians around they have to "hey!" and then swear at.
Go Dutch people! *cheers*
In the city it's not a problem. Traffic is practically frozen 90% of the time, and the city is pretty compact so you can basically just walk anywhere worth being within about 30 minutes. The cyclists in town are not the "professional" types you see on the roads in the outskirts, they are generally students on cheap bikes that pedal their way trough town at a reasonable pace. Even the few serious ones slow down, I guess they realize there's simply too many pedestrians around they have to "hey!" and then swear at.
Your traffic culture much better includes bikes because EVERYONE in your beautiful flat country ride them! I have a friend there I visit frequently, and the bikes are everywhere! If they couldn't get along with the cars, all hell would break lose. You also have reasonable infrastucture to accomodate the bikers, which is good =3.Casual Shinji said:
Go Dutch people! *cheers*
Yes, we are pretty cool, aren't we? *smirk*Playful Pony said:
But don't call us "flat", we preffer "nether".
Once again I am baffled by the self-entitlement complex most cyclists have.
"Culture" < Public Safety
Car Pollution < Economic Logistics
Car break check < Bicylce break check
Cycling in major cities sounds great, but major cities have bike lanes. As a cyclist myself I stay on the shoulder
of a road without a bike lane. Considerate drivers give me a respectable distance because I'm not out in the middle of the road. If I'm on a busy road with no one on the sidewalks, then I ride on the sidewalk and no cop looks twice.
It pisses me off when some smug jackass on a bicycle assumes his 50 lbs of metal moving at best 10mph (if he's an Olympic medalist) makes him equal to a 2-ton car moving (at the slowest) 30mph. No you are not the same, not physically, not legally. You are causing accidents. I think its going to take a bunch of YouTube videos to illustrate my point, because all most cyclists want to do is ***** ***** *****.
"Culture" < Public Safety
Car Pollution < Economic Logistics
Car break check < Bicylce break check
Cycling in major cities sounds great, but major cities have bike lanes. As a cyclist myself I stay on the shoulder
of a road without a bike lane. Considerate drivers give me a respectable distance because I'm not out in the middle of the road. If I'm on a busy road with no one on the sidewalks, then I ride on the sidewalk and no cop looks twice.
It pisses me off when some smug jackass on a bicycle assumes his 50 lbs of metal moving at best 10mph (if he's an Olympic medalist) makes him equal to a 2-ton car moving (at the slowest) 30mph. No you are not the same, not physically, not legally. You are causing accidents. I think its going to take a bunch of YouTube videos to illustrate my point, because all most cyclists want to do is ***** ***** *****.
NO they don't but way to miss the point. Just because it is illegal for them to cycle elsewhere does not automatically mean they have as much right to use the road as someone WHO FUCKING PAYS TO UPKEEP IT.
The best they can hope for is tolerance but hearing a cyclist complain at a car driver, well that takes the fucking biscuit. When they pay road tax and insurance then they can complain about the car drivers till the cows come home, but until that point they are using a service that is paid for by the guy their stupid slow arse is holding up.
So, I assume their is a point but I fail to see what you're trying to say...
...no, my response to that one is meh and so?
I just have one question.
How is it safer for cyclists to be in the street than on the sidewalk? It has been stated in this thread that it is to protect the safety of people walking on the sidewalk. Couldn't the cyclist, who is clearly the faster one in this hypothetical situation, simple ride in the grass/dirt/area directly on either side of the sidewalk as he approaches the pedestrians on foot, and then return to the sidewalk once the way is clear?
It seems like a rather simple solution to me. That way everybody is happy. Cars don't have to worry about bikes, and cyclists don't have to worry about cars.
How is it safer for cyclists to be in the street than on the sidewalk? It has been stated in this thread that it is to protect the safety of people walking on the sidewalk. Couldn't the cyclist, who is clearly the faster one in this hypothetical situation, simple ride in the grass/dirt/area directly on either side of the sidewalk as he approaches the pedestrians on foot, and then return to the sidewalk once the way is clear?
It seems like a rather simple solution to me. That way everybody is happy. Cars don't have to worry about bikes, and cyclists don't have to worry about cars.
What I can't stand is when cyclists have a way to be out of the way of motorists but don't take it. There is a "state road" that I have to drive on occasionally that is frequented by cyclists because it is used for an annual bike race, so people practice on it.
The thing I can't stand is that a majority of the section I drive has a shoulder, but those dimwitted cyclists even though they have a shoulder to move over on if a car comes up behind them, they don't. So what if the shoulder 5% less smooth compared to the main road. Move over or become a pancake.
The thing I can't stand is that a majority of the section I drive has a shoulder, but those dimwitted cyclists even though they have a shoulder to move over on if a car comes up behind them, they don't. So what if the shoulder 5% less smooth compared to the main road. Move over or become a pancake.
Dear cyclists,
Don't treat red lights as suggestions and stop signs as nonexistent and we're fine.
Oh, also if you're on a poorly maintained rural road full of blind curves and hills and you're just biking for the hell of it, it would be better for everyone involved if you chose somewhere else for your fun.
You're braver than I am for biking everywhere, but don't cross the line between brave and reckless.
Don't treat red lights as suggestions and stop signs as nonexistent and we're fine.
Oh, also if you're on a poorly maintained rural road full of blind curves and hills and you're just biking for the hell of it, it would be better for everyone involved if you chose somewhere else for your fun.
You're braver than I am for biking everywhere, but don't cross the line between brave and reckless.
They lied to you, all your life. XDlacktheknack said:I'm IN Canada... which province are you in? Or have I just been LIED to all my life?AwesomeWunderbar said:
(Not that it matters, because helmets should always be worn anyhow, as we agreed.
I'm in Ontario so it might be different. But I know here if you are over 18 you don't have to wear one.
If you calmly pass a slower traffic on the left and provide safe distance you rarely run into issues. If there's not room to pass then don't pass. A bike is a vehicle, just pass it like you would any other vehicle and you're fine.
When you ride your bike on a sidewalk things are less predictable. Vehicles tend to move in straight lines, pedestrians are comparatively erratic. You also make yourself less visible at driveways and intersections, and you'll be going faster than anybody else on the sidewalk. Because of this your chances of an accident increase dramatically.
The only risk you mitigate while riding a bike on a sidewalk is the risk of being hit from behind by another vehicle, but that's not a big risk in the first place. The number one risk is turning vehicles, and by riding the sidewalk that risk sky rockets.
A huge of driving any vehicle safely is maintaining visibility and predictability; if others can see you and know what you're doing then your risk of an accident is very low. Conversely if you're unnoticed you're risk goes up and if you're unpredictable your risk goes up. If you ride a bike in the roadway and you're obeying the laws as well following the general ideas of vehicular cycling you're going to be very visible and very predictable. Plus, if all other vehicles are following the laws they will be visible and predictable. So when nobody is being an asshole the risk is pretty low.Z of the Na said:
When you ride your bike on a sidewalk things are less predictable. Vehicles tend to move in straight lines, pedestrians are comparatively erratic. You also make yourself less visible at driveways and intersections, and you'll be going faster than anybody else on the sidewalk. Because of this your chances of an accident increase dramatically.
The only risk you mitigate while riding a bike on a sidewalk is the risk of being hit from behind by another vehicle, but that's not a big risk in the first place. The number one risk is turning vehicles, and by riding the sidewalk that risk sky rockets.
I always follow these rules as a cyclist:MasterOfHisOwnDomain said:
If i am on the road and it becomes dangerous and impractical to continue i will find a lay-by or indicate i am pulling over. I then move into said space of off to the side of the road and get off my bike before pulling it onto the pavement. I will walk it if i can see another pedestrian period. If i cant and its a country verge with grass/mud ill cycle on that instead. Should the need arise to come back onto the road ill do so from a driveway like a car and pull out as i would in a car (obviously not in reverse). Joining the back of traffic light queues when you are CERTAIN no other car is about to come up seems also acceptable to me. In an inner city ill likely just walk the bike.
That said i sometimes dont wear my helmet. Im not sure why. I just sometimes either forget or decide my route is so safe and empty (i live where there are a LOT of fields to go through instead) i just dont bother. I know this is bad. Ill probably try and fix it in future.
I feel that as a cyclist you CAN become a pedestrian when you wish because you can ALWAYS walk your bike instead on the pathway. However for the love of jegus PLEASE transition clearly and safely in the same way a car would park ie NOT AT AN INTERSECTION. If youre making it ambiguous you suck. Seriously. Its nice to get to pick but you have to transition in a way that other drivers will find familiar.
I just wonder how the hell the Germans got this right and the US chooses to be willfully ignorant of how these things are done. Bicycle lanes should be part of an extended sidewalk, and where there is no bicycle lane, cyclists should be expected to use the edge of the road, allowing for plenty of room to pass.
Of course, we've also got this destructive culture where everyone thinks their mode of transport is the only one that should be allowed on any given road, so you've got drivers who refuse to cross a yellow line on an empty road to go around a polite cyclist, and you've got cyclists (usually in skin-tight colorful lycra pretending they're in the Tour de France) who ride side-by-side down the center of a lane, ignoring the presence of cars (usually slowly enough that I wind up passing them on my mountain bike... it is kinda satisfying to shout "pull over, ya douchebags!" when that happens).
This from someone who has lived on three continents, cycled and driven on all of them (hell, I still have 5 different driver's licenses). America, we're doing it wrong. Very wrong.
Of course, we've also got this destructive culture where everyone thinks their mode of transport is the only one that should be allowed on any given road, so you've got drivers who refuse to cross a yellow line on an empty road to go around a polite cyclist, and you've got cyclists (usually in skin-tight colorful lycra pretending they're in the Tour de France) who ride side-by-side down the center of a lane, ignoring the presence of cars (usually slowly enough that I wind up passing them on my mountain bike... it is kinda satisfying to shout "pull over, ya douchebags!" when that happens).
This from someone who has lived on three continents, cycled and driven on all of them (hell, I still have 5 different driver's licenses). America, we're doing it wrong. Very wrong.
lechat said:
YESSS, WTF IS THIS? Either ride on one or the other, you don't get to be BOTH.
Cyclists: Obeying Road Rules. When It Suits Them.
I live 45 minutes away from the nearest town. There are no passenger trains that run within 300 miles of my home. What else to you suggest I do oh high-and-mighty environmentalist hippie?manic_depressive13 said:
OT: Seriously, if you must ride on the road, you do NOT have the right-of-way. I could accidentally kill you before I even realize you're there, so pay attention and ride defensively, if not for my convenience, for your won safety.