Cyclists, Explain Yourselves

[UrieHusky]

I know that most of you do the right think and stick to your lanes and follow the rules. But like any group, it's the asshole minority that sticks out the most.

Okay, so that pretty much sums up your point but I'm going to respond anyway

As an avid cyclist I can tell you for a fact that I treat my bike as a vehicle, just as the road rules treat them as a vehicle.

If some guy has cut off two lanes with his actions he's no different to someone in a car doing that, he's not exempt from those rules.

As far as I know there's no exemption mindset in cyclists though I can guarantee there will be some, but the thing you have to remember is a lot of cyclists are intimidated.

We're on the road surrounded by cars much bigger than us on what is essentially a piece of metal with wheels.


Oh, and as for the "cherry picking where we ride" bit? some bikes are specifically designed for smooth roads and can be damaged by taking harsher pieces, so we will avoid pot holes, harsh riding surfaces, manhole covers and shattered glass or stones.

I can't speak for everyone who rides a bike but I personally find this pretty stupid, because you're saying that cyclists feel superior while then trying to say you're superior for having a car.

TLR
Both are a road legal vehicle and both have to follow the road rules, anybody who doesn't is a dick regardless of what they're riding

 

[SciMal]

So, cyclists, what do you have to say? Do you condone the actions of these morons? What would you suggest be done differently?

No, of course not. Why would you think we do?

Then again, it helps to understand that even if you follow every rule of the road, belligerent or inattentive drivers kill cyclers far more often than the other way around.

Utilizing some crazy tactics on the road - like making sure you're pissing people off or jumping onto the sidewalk for some bits - is more survival than not.

Why? Because I could ask the same of drivers that you ask of us. Those jagoffs who purposefully sideswipe cyclists, occupy bike lanes, or are generally not paying attention - do you condone those drivers? No, of course you don't.

The only difference is that seatbelts and airbags ensure people in cars survive most accidents. When your protection relies on other people knowing that you're there and a foam helmet, your habits change.

If I have to take up the entire lane because I don't feel safe, I'm doing it. If I have to use a bull-horn as I pass a long line of traffic so that some idiot further ahead won't pull out in front of me to turn right, I'm doing it. If I have to be obnoxious in any way shape or form so that it means I don't end up in the ER, I'm doing it.

I don't think it creates a very good driver-cyclist dynamic or relationship. I'd much rather have two lanes for cars, and the rest reserved for public transport and cyclists with some concrete inbetween. For old urban areas, I'd much rather have only public transport and bike roads, since IMHO - population density is becoming a serious issue and cars only work efficiently below certain thresholds.

But, really OP, the best way you can understand why some idiot cyclist might do something is to try it yourself. Spend a month cycling around town and see what happens. After biking for a year, the scant few times I do drive I really notice the cyclists who follow the rules of the road and appreciate them.

And yes, I know from experience how dangerous biking can be - even if you're following all the laws. I have a $32,000 hospital bill and two shoulder surgeries on my dominant arm to show how safe following biking laws can be as long as the driver doesn't pay attention.

 

[Aprilgold]

I'm going to cover this in two points, one from what common drivers get wrong and one that bikers get wrong.

Cyclists.
Off the bat, do not ride on the roads if you can prevent it. Sidewalks which are big enough to accomadate you and other pedestrians should be where you are, not on the highway with beasts. Also, if you have cycle lanes, use them. Try to keep to the speed limit at max and don't attempt anything dangerous. People protected by 10 tons of metal or more wreck and die all the time, you on your 100 pound bike or whatever will easily wreck and get you killed if you don't take safety before hand.

Just obey the road laws.

In the UK and I think a good portion of the EU riding on the pavement is illegal and could get me a hefty fine. Being on the road is perfectly legal, and being a careful cyclist I don't do anything 'dangerous,' it's usually the drivers that, often deliberately, don't leave me enough room so I cant pass or try to squeeze me out. Buses have full on cut me off and almost crushed me against parked cars.
There are bad cyclists and bad drivers, but only the latter kills people in swathes..

I'm talking from the US. In the US there are these fatter sidewalks meant for more pedestrians, cyclists and skateboarders.

 

[Shakomaru]

1. Need moar bicycle lanes. Not ones with f***ing parked cars all over so I have to keep dodging back into the traffic either. Painting a bike on the ground does not a bike lane make.

A million times this. I don't want to keep dodging parked cars, steer too far, fall down and almost get hit by a bus ever again. Where I live, there are "bike lanes" but only in some places, I usually just end up using the sidewalk whenever it's empty.. or better yet, make it so people don't have to park their cars so four feet of the road is taken up on either side.

 

[Nikolaz72]

To be honest it's the power plants and cows that appall me, coal plants in particular are like a big gaseous dickhead to the environment. The sooner people grow up and stop being terrified for nuclear power the better.

Cheers!

Personally I'm more about performance than sound, if a hybrid car or even full electric etc (think the Tesla) can outperform an equivalent full petrol engine car then I know which one I'd be more interested in owning.

If it sounds like that I will buy it in a heartbeat. I don't care if it's the slowest, worst handling car ever to be sold to the public if that's the soundtrack to my daily commute.


It's simply impossible to sell me on an electric or hybrid. I just won't buy one. I'd rather walk or ride than buy one. They don't sound like that and they don't have manual transmissions, two absolute dealbreakers for me when buying a car.

What about all the kids?

They shouldn't be on public roads. They have no business there. They're too young to know how to safely ride there and too small to easily see. They should stick to their yards.

No wait. You're American.

Come back without this condescending bullshit and I might find it in my schedule to tell you just how wrong you are regarding the rest of your post. Until then, dealing with you would be stepping down several rungs, and I refuse to do that.



I will tell you that I don't see why bicycles get a free ride on so much. I have to carry insurance, I have to follow all these rules, why the fuck are cyclists exempt when they're on the same roads? They shouldn't be. They should have to carry liability insurance just like I do if they want to use the same roads, and they should have to follow the same rules I do. They shouldn't get a free pass because their vehicle lacks an engine.

You also breath heavier whilst running, should we make a pavement tax for walkers and joggers?

And I'll give you the time of day when you go find where I suggested a pavement tax for walkers and joggers.


I will say that I'd be for yanking the road tax if the budget funded the maintenance and repair of said roads from other sources.

You are a really hateful human being, what I meant by "You're American" Was. You have a different biking culture, a vastly different one. Than most European nations, where its not just normal. But run-of-the-mill that kids take a bike to school, all the way down to 7 of age after they have learned how to behave in traffic. That is not so in America, few. If any kids gets taught proper safety on how to behave on bikes (They are lucky if they even get a class on how to act as a pedestrian) And 'that' was what I meant about you being American. Your people lacks education on the area, as such a lot of people are bound to simply be ignorant of the laws on the area and 'as such' its a lot more dangerous for everyone in traffic. Including Cyclists.

But let me put it like this, the world wasnt made for cars. If you dont want them driving on the road, make them their own side-roads. It worked over here, it will work over there. Seriously.

 

[lRookiel]

"GET OVER YOU WANKERS!"

It pisses me off SO MUCH when they ride along side eachother, do they have a death wish?!

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Cycling is generally for the good, we need more cycling lanes, yada yada yada. It's all true.

But holy shit, I hate cyclists too. I fucking HATE them.

If cyclists had to adhere to the rules of the road the same way motorists do, 75% of them would be behind bars. Woo woo, I'm a fucking cyclist, I go where I please! I'm on the sidewalk motherfuckers! Better get out of my way! Red light? Who cares! I'm a cyclist! Look out car, I'm weaving all over the lanes! Try to guess which way I'll go next! No signals for me! I'm a fucking cyclist!

I propose a law where we can hit one scofflaw cyclist a month with our car doors. Keep em honest.

I do my best to follow the rules of the road but to be honest the reason i find it hard is that basically NO driver follows this one rule:

When you overtake me, give me half a lanes space. Seriously. I dont WANT to cycle on the pavement. But if youre going to brush me when you overtake that really rubs me the wrong way. I dont want to die. I feel petty damn unsafe cycling on roads because drivers overtake me VERY close and rather fast. The other thing is at trafic lights i do stop at the red light. I do. But THEN. Then i have to pull away. Up hill. And my terrible lack of acceleration means im going a bit slow. Then the honking and the hate begins.

So sometimes when i feel like ill hinder at a red light i take to the path. To avoid the hatred. But NO. Im forbidden from doing this too! It seems im punished for my lack of money. My family isnt very rich. We cant afford the insane insurance fees to get me a car at the age of 18. Its cycle or nothing. Since some things are very far away and i cant always afford the train.

I seem to be damned if i do and damned if i dont. What the fuck can i do? Surely i dont deserve to be so royally hated just because i cant afford a goddam car.

 

[Nikolaz72]

You are a really hateful human being, what I meant by "You're American" Was. You have a different biking culture, a vastly different one. Than most European nations, where its not just normal. But run-of-the-mill that kids take a bike to school, all the way down to 7 of age after they have learned how to behave in traffic. That is not so in America, few. If any kids gets taught proper safety on how to behave on bikes (They are lucky if they even get a class on how to act as a pedestrian) And 'that' was what I meant about you being American. Your people lacks education on the area, as such a lot of people are bound to simply be ignorant of the laws on the area and 'as such' its a lot more dangerous for everyone in traffic. Including Cyclists.

IT doesn't change the fact that saying that makes you an arse, and I refuse to deal with arses. Come back when you don't use shit like that. There's asshats in every country, a point you're proving quite nicely with your generalizations.

My generalizations? Really? REALLY? Fuck---- r...

Anyway. No, you are refusing to argue because of the fact that your point is just shit. Bikes is a cheap (and if properly handled) safe way to commute to and from, for example. Schools. But you refuse to recognize that because.... Well. Because you are American, its simply the best reason there is. You are ignorant of it ever working well because you simply dont live in a place with a biking culture.

And by refusing to argue against you maybe just not 'knowing' Everything. And by (Reads up) judging by your former post. Lying to prove your point. You are making my point for me.

 

[evilneko]

Cyclists in suburban areas should get the fuck on the sidewalk. There aren't any pedestrians to worry about anyway.

 

[CCountZero]

Well, over here in Holland we have cycling lanes, the same as every other moderately developed country.

And on the few roads without these lanes we simply keep to our right side of the road where motorists can easily spot us.

..............................

I kind of fail to see the problem here.

See, you're following the rules. I'm just annoyed as all hell by the idiots who think they are above the rules.

I live in Guelph Ontario. They have bike lanes everywhere. And yet this moron insisted on slowly crossing a six lane highway because he couldn't be assed to stay on the road, so he took the sidewalk.

Don't moan about cyclists then. Moan about people who think they are above the rules.

Honestly, I think you'd find more of those in cars than on bikes.

 

[Liberaliter]

I don't even drive and I hate cyclists.

 

[Fluffythepoo]

In my (very) small town (in the goddamn mountains) we have a similar problem with deers.. the solution was to have the passenger hit them with the car door as you drove by (now for the most part they rightly fear cars like good animals). I would recommend a similar approach for your cyclist problem, if you drive alone consider carpooling; plus carpooling saves on gas/money/carbon foot print.. i see no downside to this.

 

[Latinidiot]

AN ZAT IS VY ONE MUST FOLLOW ZE RULES!
No seriously, if everyone follows the rules, and keeps to them, there'd b no problem. So basically your anger is directed at arsehole traffic users, some of which are cyclists.

That's just plain Mode-Of-Transportism. how inconsiderate!

But to be perfectly honest, when I look at the cyclists in the states, they own a mountainbike (made for offroading), or a hightech racing bike(made for going really fast without having to swerve for traffic). no-one actually has a gentlemans bike, which is made just to get you from A to B.

 

[devotedsniper]

Cyclists...enemy number 2...oh how i wish i could run you down sometimes...

As you can tell i'm not a big fan, they slow everyone on the road down when you can't overtake them because of constant oncoming traffic, they don't pay road tax (you don't pay then you don't deserve to be on it! I don't care if you pay for your car, thats for your car), they ride right by you at traffic lights to get to the front so they can continue to slow you down again,and then theres those ones who ride in the middle... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

For those curious enemy number 1 is idiots crossing roads without looking (or doing it on purpose)...oh how i wish it was legal to run down idiots and cyclists....

 

[Bertylicious]

Blatantly the way forward is to make some roads cyclist only, in the same way some roads are pdestrianised in urban centres. With fuel costs rising the way they are and all of us getting poorer and poorer then this is clearly the way forward.