This is a shame. When I was younger, motorists were aware of us kids riding our bikes along the side of the road and just watched out for us. And us kids also knew enough to watch out for cars coming at us and from behind. For some reason, drivers no longer operate with the care necessary for safety for themselves and others. And as for those riders with the light-weight ten speeds, wearing helmets and neoprene riding suits, for some reason, they challenge drivers with a chauvinistic attitude that they are going to demand their share of the road, even if you have to hit them! This legislation wasn\’t needed in the past but the future will see more where members of society no longer take responsibility for themselves but rather make demands of others!
I agree with these remarks totally. Drivers everywhere seem to be more agressive and less courteous. If I get there first I win attitude. On the other side, I once had one of those fancy dressed bikers pull out in front of my car in a small town and when I honked my horn he started swearing at me as if it was my fault he wasn\’t paying attention. Why can\’t we all just get along?
I wish they would put legislation here (Louisiana) that the bicyclists cannot ride on highways. We have bicyclists that hog up an entire side of two way highways where vehicles are allowed to go 55 mph. Seems to me they should not be there. It\’s a danger to everyone.
I know drivers in vehicles can be aggressive and discourteous, but the bicyclists act like they own the highways.
They have very nice bike paths here, but they are too good for that. They might have to brake, unlike the vehicles driving on highways.
There are places where cyclists don\’t belong. They are banned on turnpikes and parkways, but other highways involving speed limits of 55mph or more have no restrictions. The fact is, some cyclists aren\’t content with hugging the shoulder. They drift into the driving lane (not cycling lane). On more than one ocassion I was driving a two-lane country highway,came over a ridge in the road, and found a cyclist in the center of my lane. I work in lower Manhattan where traffic is very congested. I\’m amazed by the number of fools who cycle and think they are the same as an automobile. There\’s no quick fix for this except common sense and courtesy on the part of drivers and cyclists.
I\’ll tell what a quick fix for this is. Motorists should start plowing these bike riding, hippie commie \”I\’m saving the world by not polluting on my bike\” make me want to barf idiots right into the blacktop! Then, the City should give the motorist a medal for a job well done.
Ok, now you have touched a nerve, but where do I begin… First, why must you refer to us cyclists as those fancy dressed bikers? Is that because you feel threatened by our level of fitness and, due to your own dismal level of fitness, wouldn\’t be caught dead in the same clothing? I don\’t refer to you people as those uppity, suit wearing insurance nerds. (I work in marketing so that doesn\’t apply to me.) Second, I think drivers are less conscious of bikers, than bikers are conscious of drivers. Me on a bike vs. you in a car? That is one battle I don\’t want to try, so don\’t think for a second that I believe I \”own\” the road and you have to fall in behind me. Trust me, I know you are there! Just be polite and pass with care. Slowing down for a quarter of a mile isn\’t going to make you late. Finally, share the road, as the law requires. Can\’t tell you how many times I have to lock up my wheels because some moron is too impatient and turns right in front of me, rather than wait five seconds for me to pass.
Ok, it\’s 3:00 on Friday and I am stepping down from my soapbox. I look forward to your responses!
TPG – I don\’t think I understand your statement regarding the auto turning right in front of you. If you are behind, do you not have to stop/slow while they turn as you would in a car?
In general, I agree, drivers need to be more aware of cyclists. If we can\’t do it on our own (and it doesn\’t seem we can) then it must be legislated.
I like the outfits… improves the view while I follow patiently behind.
If I am riding thru a green light at an intersection, many times cars will speed up to quickly make the right turn in front of me. Since I am going straight and have the right of way, the cars should wait until I am thru the intersection. Hope that explains it.
And for those of you who think you are being witty as we both wait at a red light… No, I don\’t have any Grey Poupon.
Not sure if we need more legislation. Common sense would work in this and many other situations.
The dressed comment was sarcasm. Some bikers spend more on outfits and bikes than I spent on my car. My fitness has nothing to do with anything. Some bikers, such as your superiorness, have a look down their nose attitude. My real comment was on the fact that bikers are just as bad as drivers in ignoring the rules of the road. I was 10 feet from the biker traveling on the side of the road when he decided to swerve into the middle of the street. He was lucky that this was in town with a 25 mile an hour speed limit and that I do obey the speed limits. I don\’t care if you get on your high horse, just don\’t see yourself as some superior being because you want to be fit. We all have a right to the highway and should just observe common sense in dealing with others. I have always been of the opinion that bikers should be extra careful. I am protected by a couple tons of metal so if I make a mistake I get a scratched car, the biker visits his or her ancestors. Seems like a real important reason for bikers to be extremely observant of traffic around them. I\’m not on one side or another, just an observation.
I\’m learning here! You have the right of way? If you\’re riding on the street? Believe me, I actually am one that would let you pass. I lived in Chicago for many years; walking to and from work daily I became very aware of what it\’s like to be on the offensive. I didn\’t know that you had the right of way when riding on the street however. I would have thought you were held to the same laws as cars. Regarding the jerks speeding up to turn right, karma is all I have to say.
If only common sense was the rule rather than exception, the world would be a much nicer place.
Aunti,
My comments were also sarcastic. But being a cyclist, the first thing people say is \”how do you wear that stuff\”, so I am sure you can understand my defensive nature.
But in all seriousness, we bikers are well aware that we have to share the road with 1000 lb masses of metal speeding by within a few feet of us. What\’s the worst that would happen to you in an accident? You scratch your paint job. The outlook for me is much worse, so I try my best to hug the shoulder and stay our of your way. But I that think knowing what the consequences of risky riding are, you will find the crazy cyclist to be the exception, not the rule.
Kay,
As you would yield the right of way to a pedestrian, you should also yield to a cyclist. And karma doesn\’t do me much good when I am a pancake on the road.
Bikes are foreign objects on a road designed for automobile travel. In spite of what cyclist think car drivers \”should\” do to be courteous, it isn\’t going to happen 100% of the time and they had better accept that. They\’re assuming the risk, not the car driver. In the battle between a cycle and a car……..bet on the car. Unless the public want to pay more taxes for bike lanes, the situation isn\’t likely to change.
TPG- I\’m really not trying to press the issue or cause disagreement as you and I are of similar opinion – people need to be curteous. However, pedestrians are within the cross walk, not coming up behind me in the roadway. I\’m just curious regarding the current laws of the road as respects your right-of-way. I plead ignorance of the laws…
It\’s not you and your particular mindset, which I applaud by the way. It does seem that the majority of bike riders do exactly what you try to avoid. Like the majority of drivers that try to be safe & courteous, I\’m sure the majority of bike riders are the same. What gets all the press is the small vocal group that do think they own the road whether on two wheels or four & cause problems for the rest of us.
is there nothing you can do while drunk anymore? ;-) just kidding…well if there isn\’t, i\’ll just get hammered and have that st. louis cardnial baseball players dad sue on my behalf.
although, i\’d rather have someone hop on a ten speed while intoxicated than in a car. but i digress, i have no idea how many people die yearly from drunken biking.
and no one is jealous of ANYONE who chooses to wear spandex….that\’s your fashion faux paus to make, not mine. plus, what else would i giggle at?
Well, I am in agreement that we should be courteous when driving; I have to say that I do not particularly care for the cyclists on the roadways, as they cause problems by being somewhere that was designed for motorized vehicles. If the cyclists have so many in support of cycling, then they need to lobby to their state government to put in bike lanes for the peddlers. They can pay for the registration on the bikes to help cover the cost of maintenance to those lanes. I would suggest that any road with a speed limit of 35 mph should not have bicycles mixed with cars, unless in a neighborhood area with no access to interstates, state highways, etc….
I hope that we can all play together when we can but in reality, not everyone needs to be in places where the play is to dangerous! I know it would hurt me deeply to hit a bicycle with my car, even if I didn’t kill or mangle the rider, I would have serious problems behind it – so stay out of my way & don’t drive in front of me just because you think you should be able to – wait until it’s safe to do so!!!!
I drive 20 mph or less in my neighborhood so the kids can see me & have time to pull over out of the roadway & then as I pass slowly, I wave to them & they smile & wave back – they are good kids, but they know their place on the neighborhood streets, so please cyclists, learn your place on the roads too!
BUI’s have been around for some time now and should not exactly be considered something new. I went to Arizona State and rode my bicycle everywhere and yes, I got a BUI one time coming home from a bar. You can still be a danger to your self and others operating a bicycle under the influence…
This is a shame. When I was younger, motorists were aware of us kids riding our bikes along the side of the road and just watched out for us. And us kids also knew enough to watch out for cars coming at us and from behind. For some reason, drivers no longer operate with the care necessary for safety for themselves and others. And as for those riders with the light-weight ten speeds, wearing helmets and neoprene riding suits, for some reason, they challenge drivers with a chauvinistic attitude that they are going to demand their share of the road, even if you have to hit them! This legislation wasn\’t needed in the past but the future will see more where members of society no longer take responsibility for themselves but rather make demands of others!
I agree with these remarks totally. Drivers everywhere seem to be more agressive and less courteous. If I get there first I win attitude. On the other side, I once had one of those fancy dressed bikers pull out in front of my car in a small town and when I honked my horn he started swearing at me as if it was my fault he wasn\’t paying attention. Why can\’t we all just get along?
I wish they would put legislation here (Louisiana) that the bicyclists cannot ride on highways. We have bicyclists that hog up an entire side of two way highways where vehicles are allowed to go 55 mph. Seems to me they should not be there. It\’s a danger to everyone.
I know drivers in vehicles can be aggressive and discourteous, but the bicyclists act like they own the highways.
They have very nice bike paths here, but they are too good for that. They might have to brake, unlike the vehicles driving on highways.
There are places where cyclists don\’t belong. They are banned on turnpikes and parkways, but other highways involving speed limits of 55mph or more have no restrictions. The fact is, some cyclists aren\’t content with hugging the shoulder. They drift into the driving lane (not cycling lane). On more than one ocassion I was driving a two-lane country highway,came over a ridge in the road, and found a cyclist in the center of my lane. I work in lower Manhattan where traffic is very congested. I\’m amazed by the number of fools who cycle and think they are the same as an automobile. There\’s no quick fix for this except common sense and courtesy on the part of drivers and cyclists.
Bill,
I\’ll tell what a quick fix for this is. Motorists should start plowing these bike riding, hippie commie \”I\’m saving the world by not polluting on my bike\” make me want to barf idiots right into the blacktop! Then, the City should give the motorist a medal for a job well done.
Why the drunk biking provision?
Ok, now you have touched a nerve, but where do I begin… First, why must you refer to us cyclists as those fancy dressed bikers? Is that because you feel threatened by our level of fitness and, due to your own dismal level of fitness, wouldn\’t be caught dead in the same clothing? I don\’t refer to you people as those uppity, suit wearing insurance nerds. (I work in marketing so that doesn\’t apply to me.) Second, I think drivers are less conscious of bikers, than bikers are conscious of drivers. Me on a bike vs. you in a car? That is one battle I don\’t want to try, so don\’t think for a second that I believe I \”own\” the road and you have to fall in behind me. Trust me, I know you are there! Just be polite and pass with care. Slowing down for a quarter of a mile isn\’t going to make you late. Finally, share the road, as the law requires. Can\’t tell you how many times I have to lock up my wheels because some moron is too impatient and turns right in front of me, rather than wait five seconds for me to pass.
Ok, it\’s 3:00 on Friday and I am stepping down from my soapbox. I look forward to your responses!
TPG – I don\’t think I understand your statement regarding the auto turning right in front of you. If you are behind, do you not have to stop/slow while they turn as you would in a car?
In general, I agree, drivers need to be more aware of cyclists. If we can\’t do it on our own (and it doesn\’t seem we can) then it must be legislated.
I like the outfits… improves the view while I follow patiently behind.
Kay, I agree with you 100% on the view. I live off of a 2 lane country road, and alsmost always slow down to enjoy the view from behind.
Kay,
Glad you enjoy the view! I try my best!
If I am riding thru a green light at an intersection, many times cars will speed up to quickly make the right turn in front of me. Since I am going straight and have the right of way, the cars should wait until I am thru the intersection. Hope that explains it.
And for those of you who think you are being witty as we both wait at a red light… No, I don\’t have any Grey Poupon.
Not sure if we need more legislation. Common sense would work in this and many other situations.
The dressed comment was sarcasm. Some bikers spend more on outfits and bikes than I spent on my car. My fitness has nothing to do with anything. Some bikers, such as your superiorness, have a look down their nose attitude. My real comment was on the fact that bikers are just as bad as drivers in ignoring the rules of the road. I was 10 feet from the biker traveling on the side of the road when he decided to swerve into the middle of the street. He was lucky that this was in town with a 25 mile an hour speed limit and that I do obey the speed limits. I don\’t care if you get on your high horse, just don\’t see yourself as some superior being because you want to be fit. We all have a right to the highway and should just observe common sense in dealing with others. I have always been of the opinion that bikers should be extra careful. I am protected by a couple tons of metal so if I make a mistake I get a scratched car, the biker visits his or her ancestors. Seems like a real important reason for bikers to be extremely observant of traffic around them. I\’m not on one side or another, just an observation.
I\’m learning here! You have the right of way? If you\’re riding on the street? Believe me, I actually am one that would let you pass. I lived in Chicago for many years; walking to and from work daily I became very aware of what it\’s like to be on the offensive. I didn\’t know that you had the right of way when riding on the street however. I would have thought you were held to the same laws as cars. Regarding the jerks speeding up to turn right, karma is all I have to say.
If only common sense was the rule rather than exception, the world would be a much nicer place.
They only have one traffic law in Chicago, I get there first I win.
Aunti,
My comments were also sarcastic. But being a cyclist, the first thing people say is \”how do you wear that stuff\”, so I am sure you can understand my defensive nature.
But in all seriousness, we bikers are well aware that we have to share the road with 1000 lb masses of metal speeding by within a few feet of us. What\’s the worst that would happen to you in an accident? You scratch your paint job. The outlook for me is much worse, so I try my best to hug the shoulder and stay our of your way. But I that think knowing what the consequences of risky riding are, you will find the crazy cyclist to be the exception, not the rule.
Kay,
As you would yield the right of way to a pedestrian, you should also yield to a cyclist. And karma doesn\’t do me much good when I am a pancake on the road.
Bikes are foreign objects on a road designed for automobile travel. In spite of what cyclist think car drivers \”should\” do to be courteous, it isn\’t going to happen 100% of the time and they had better accept that. They\’re assuming the risk, not the car driver. In the battle between a cycle and a car……..bet on the car. Unless the public want to pay more taxes for bike lanes, the situation isn\’t likely to change.
TPG- I\’m really not trying to press the issue or cause disagreement as you and I are of similar opinion – people need to be curteous. However, pedestrians are within the cross walk, not coming up behind me in the roadway. I\’m just curious regarding the current laws of the road as respects your right-of-way. I plead ignorance of the laws…
It\’s not you and your particular mindset, which I applaud by the way. It does seem that the majority of bike riders do exactly what you try to avoid. Like the majority of drivers that try to be safe & courteous, I\’m sure the majority of bike riders are the same. What gets all the press is the small vocal group that do think they own the road whether on two wheels or four & cause problems for the rest of us.
is there nothing you can do while drunk anymore? ;-) just kidding…well if there isn\’t, i\’ll just get hammered and have that st. louis cardnial baseball players dad sue on my behalf.
although, i\’d rather have someone hop on a ten speed while intoxicated than in a car. but i digress, i have no idea how many people die yearly from drunken biking.
and no one is jealous of ANYONE who chooses to wear spandex….that\’s your fashion faux paus to make, not mine. plus, what else would i giggle at?
is it time to go home yet?
Well, I am in agreement that we should be courteous when driving; I have to say that I do not particularly care for the cyclists on the roadways, as they cause problems by being somewhere that was designed for motorized vehicles. If the cyclists have so many in support of cycling, then they need to lobby to their state government to put in bike lanes for the peddlers. They can pay for the registration on the bikes to help cover the cost of maintenance to those lanes. I would suggest that any road with a speed limit of 35 mph should not have bicycles mixed with cars, unless in a neighborhood area with no access to interstates, state highways, etc….
I hope that we can all play together when we can but in reality, not everyone needs to be in places where the play is to dangerous! I know it would hurt me deeply to hit a bicycle with my car, even if I didn’t kill or mangle the rider, I would have serious problems behind it – so stay out of my way & don’t drive in front of me just because you think you should be able to – wait until it’s safe to do so!!!!
I drive 20 mph or less in my neighborhood so the kids can see me & have time to pull over out of the roadway & then as I pass slowly, I wave to them & they smile & wave back – they are good kids, but they know their place on the neighborhood streets, so please cyclists, learn your place on the roads too!
BUI’s have been around for some time now and should not exactly be considered something new. I went to Arizona State and rode my bicycle everywhere and yes, I got a BUI one time coming home from a bar. You can still be a danger to your self and others operating a bicycle under the influence…