Ultimate Advocacy Poll

[randya]

Here it is.... :eek: ;) :rolleyes: :D :)

[Dogbait]

I checked hybrid which I take to mean that riding style changes to meet the immediate situation.

Dogbait

[teiaperigosa]

Vc?

[The Seldom Kill]

I ride fairly close to VC on arterial roads, no doubt HH would find any number of faults with my practice. Off of the main roads I can become a little more cavalier depending on what's out there. As with driving the rules become a bit more negotiable, saving that rule which says don't be the cause of an accident.

[2wheeledsoul]

Hybrid. There's some rarely used rail trails and kid cut singletracks I use as shortcuts. Sometimes I'll hop on a bus. Along one part of my route, the cars are speedhappy and won't cut any slack, but the sidewalks go unused.
In case of maniac or plain stupid cagers, survival comes first while VC gets momentarily put on hold.

[oldguy52]

I ride the roads in a manner that fits the situation/conditions at the time. I also don't mind riding a trail if there happens to be one going my way.

Fortunately, I don't have to put up with the big city traffic problems that some on this forum live with every day.

[ken cummings]

Vc?
I think they mean Vehicular Cycling (VC). Something like operating as if you were a car. With all the rights and responsibilities of one. In California bikes are legally vehicles and are required to follow the vehicle code. Note: Not MOTOR Vehicle Code, just vehicle code. Except where inherently inapplicable. In my ill-informed ignorance (followers, please correct me) VC as a movement was started by some LAW (oops LAB) members splitting from the LAB (League of American Bicyclists) over some practice and policy differences.

[chipcom]

I ride safely as conditions dictate, I don't need any third-party proprietary branding attached.

[-=£em in Pa=-]

No Rules.....
Roads, sidewalks, bike lanes....whatever it takes to stay out of
peoples and cars way. Without impeding or inconviencing anyone I
do what I need to do to stay safe and have an efficient ride.

[ItsJustMe]

Hybrid. I follow traffic laws, stop at stop lights, ride only on roads (never sidewalks, etc) but I'll ride bike paths if they're there, I roll through some stop signs on back alleys where I can see well down the side street, and on the extremely busy street that I follow for 2 miles, I ride the nice 3 foot shoulder if possible (sometimes not due to heavy rutted snow on the shoulder).

[Juha]

Hybrid here too.

--J

[sbhikes]

I ride VC all the time using bike lanes and bike paths whenever they are present. Bike lanes are always present on "arterials" in my area.

[Portis]

What the hell are you talking about?

[slagjumper]

Since I do not ride on the roads 100%, I put hybrid. When I am on the roads, I will occasionally blow off a late night red light.

[bmike]

Roads. No bike paths where I live.
Not many stoplights either!
Most stop signs in my part of the world are there for a reason - usually 4 way or T intersections on busy roads.

[genec]

Whatever is needed. I ride vc in arterial streets all the time. That is probably a good 80% of my riding. I take bike lanes when they work... I take paths if they exist.

I really like quiet... so quiet side streets or paths are my favorite, as well as long open country roads.

But ya gotta do what you gotta do to get where you are going.

The only thing that really bugs me is being forced into ped mode... bad intersections, and poorly planned paths all do this.

[DataJunkie]

Hybrid. I ride as conditions permit. Most of my commute through Denver and the Southern Suburbs are on the street. In my suburb of thornton I avoid the main arterial my commute parallels. Instead I take a combination of MUPs and parallel streets. The main MUP is technically an offset sidewalk the city calls a MUP.
No one in their right mind rides 120th ave in the street. You would die a painfull death under the wheels of a soccer mom's SUV.

[noisebeam]

I ride vehicularly pretty much all the time, but perhaps not to perfection ;)
Riding vehicularly also allows for the use of BLs, so there is no need to call it hybrid.

Al

[MicheleC]

The only thing that really bugs me is being forced into ped mode... bad intersections, and poorly planned paths all do this.

Me, too. Yesterday, to get where I had to go, I had to take the side bike path that runs along Sierra Highway. For anyone who knows it, Sierra Highway is a 4-lane, nondivided highway that has a speed limit of 65. There are railroad tracks that run parallel to the road. The bike path is between the road and the tracks. The bike path is for both directions, north and south, and has broken lines dividing it. At each intersection, you have to get off your bike, walk over to the button to push to get the walk signal for the light, then walk across the intersection.

Ave O-8 and Sierra doesn't have a 4-way intersection, but does have a light, a crosswalk across Sierra and another crosswalk across O-8. The signs say that bicycles must use the crosswalks. Since I'm getting used to new cleats, pedals, and shoes, I didn't even bother riding into the parking lot after crossing the street, I just stopped, pulled out my walking shoes, and walked the bike the rest of the way to the meeting.

Sierra Hwy Bike Path (http://tinyurl.com/ag62y)

[ghettocruiser]

As the crow flies. Fence your yards.

[Da Tinker]

I ride safely as conditions dictate, I don't need any third-party proprietary branding attached.
+1

There is one marked bike lane in my area. Other than that, I ride as a legal vehicle on public roads.

[Helmet Head]

Vc?
Click on the VC link in my signature.

[bmike]

Vc?


VC = highly debatable, politically charged, emotionally invested way of riding a bike, and discussing said riding, whilst in traffic, town, or on a country road.

:D

To each his own!

[Helmet Head]

I ride safely as conditions dictate, I don't need any third-party proprietary branding attached.

[JRA]

I'm as free as a breeze
And I ride where I please
Saddle Tramp, Saddle Tramp

[LittleBigMan]

I said "hybrid," assuming it means obeying all traffic laws most of the time, but not to the letter, for example, slow rolling stops.

[budster]

I said VC, but there are exceptions. I pretend I'm in Idaho if I'm the only one at the intersection. http://www.lostrivercycling.org/idcode.html (sec 49-720)

Always, always -- I reserve the right to do whatever it takes to preserve my safety.

[LittleBigMan]

I said "hybrid," assuming it means obeying all traffic laws most of the time, but not to the letter, for example, slow rolling stops.
Oops. I guess it means road/path/bike lane. Sorry.

:D

I pretty much ride like a road vehicle, but since I'm not a car driver when I'm on my bike, there are certain things which don't apply. For example, a driver doesn't really have to pay much attention to lane position, and dooring is more the worry of the one who opens the door.

[sggoodri]

Vc?

VC means vehicular cycling, i.e. operating a bicycle according to the ordinary rules of the road applicable to drivers of vehicles, as they apply to bicyclists in all 50 states. Riding on sidewalks instead of the roadway would not be considered vehicular cycling, nor would riding against traffic, running red lights, or cycling at night without a headlamp.

A cyclist operating in a vehicular manner may or may not use bike lanes, or off-road paths in their own right of way, depending on his or her priorities and the conditions present. When using such special-purpose facilities, the vehicular cyclist will generally treat them like a narrow traffic lane or a miniature road, taking whatever extra care may be necessary to use them safely, and again not violating the basic traffic rules of traffic negotiation that apply to drivers of vehicles. If the vehicular cyclist determines that a special facility creates greater inconvenience or danger than using an ordinary travel lane or roadway, the vehicular cyclist will typically use the ordinary travel lane or roadway instead.

-Steve Goodridge

[N_C]

You need to have an "A combination" as a selection. Which is what I do & would select. Everytime I ride, my rides are on arterial roads, which is VC, then I turn onto side streets, but I still follow the rules of the road, and my rides also include a trail or 2. About the only one I would not select is Hybrid, unless I had a clearer description as to what it means. So alas I was unable to select any of the options.

[Brad M]

Roads are so inefficient.

[Roody]

I Roody-Ride (TM). First party proprietary branding firmly attached.

I follow road rules on the road (well, mostly :)) I like trails. I hate bike lanes and ignore them.

I don't need your stinkin categories!

I am my own category. A Roody-Rider.(TM)

[Roughstuff]

While it seems like a bit of a cop-out, I have to say I adjuct my riding to road and traffic conditions. Listening to writers on this and other boards has improved my awareness of how to ride in heavier traffic, narrower lanes, and zones where dooring might take place. Who knows how much this will help me in the future? On the other hand most country roads give ya alot of choice of riding styles. In any case...GET OUT AND BIKE!

roughstuff

[chipcom]

I Roody-Ride (TM). First party proprietary branding firmly attached.

I follow road rules on the road (well, mostly :)) I like trails. I hate bike lanes and ignore them.

I don't need your stinkin categories!

I am my own category. A Roody-Rider.(TM)

:roflmao: You'll shoot your eye out kid!

[spandexwarrior]

Hybrid. With all the yards :eek: of bike lanes available in my locality and the fact that none are on my commute route, I rarely use them. I kind of do the "invisible cyclist" where traffic is tricky. I also am keen on that style at night when I've been out too long and didn't want to go back up the hill to get my light gear.
On winding roads I ride VC in the center of the lane, so I am more visible to motorists. When I have good speed and space, I ride in the right wheel rut.
When space is tight, I weave through like a messenger. When going up hills and I'm just not in the mood to sprint the whole way up in the door zone, I just cruise the sidewalks. Closer around UC I ride the sidewalks- sometimes- and then sometimes in the road- it's a mood thing. Generally, I use hand signals. Very infrequently (I mean like doing this 1x/year) I will break rules such as going the wrong way down a street. But that is only when there is a totally abandoned parking lane. If I'm running late I take the roads- no matter what- nor what manic is tailgating me along the stretch I hate. If someone does a t-bone cut off of me when they are turning left into my path, I will blend my direction of travel with theirs, stepping off the line of attack. If cut me off in such a way that is rude and dangerous, and if I have positioned myself by their passenger side window by proper execution of this bikido technique, I will raise my fist ominously towards the glass, to show what I might do if the stakes had been higher.
Inflexibilty can be fatal.

[LCI_Brian]

I am my own category. A Roody-Rider.(TM)
You can't have your own category until you can learn how to do the "TM" in superscript. Could ILTB offer some advice? ;)

[LCI_Brian]

I pretend I'm in Idaho if I'm the only one at the intersection.
Then you're your own private Idaho .... he he.

[randya]

OK, so hybrid is a little bit of everything, for those that weren't sure. Ride the arterial and take the lane, use the bike lane or path, use the backstreets or ride in an alley - whatever works for you and gets you there safely. Lights and reflectors a definite plus, helmet as warranted, follow the rules to the extent your safety depends on it; break the rules at your own risk. That's how I voted.

[chicbicyclist]

Mostly VC, in that I follow all the rules and laws of the roads, obey traffic signs, change right curb proximity depending on the situation, etc. The only non-VC thing that I do is when I use the sidewalk on really busy intersections and freeway bridge overpasses.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

You can't have your own category until you can learn how to do the "TM" in superscript. Could ILTB offer some advice? ;)
In a Windows program press and hold ALT Key then type 0153 on the number pad. It works directly in the reply box on BF when I previously used Microsoft Internet Explorer as my Browser. Now that I use Mozilla FireFox I have to do it in Word or Notepad and cut/paste into the reply box; takes about two seconds.
As a post Holiday treat listed below are the ALT+ num codes for the ANSI Character Set:

Press ALT + 0XXX Code on the number pad

128 € Euro
129 � unused
130 ‚ baseline single quote
131 ƒ florin
132 „ baseline double quote
133 … ellipsis
134 † dagger (single)
135 ‡ dagger (double)
136 ˆ circumflex
137 ‰ per mil
138 Š S caron
139 ‹ left single guillemet
140 ΠOE ligature
141 � unused
142 Ž unused
143 � unused
144 � unused
145 ‘ open single quote
146 ’ close single quote
147 “ open double quote
148 ” close double quote
149 • bullet (large)
150 – en dash
151 — em dash
152 ˜ tilde
153 ™ unregistered trademark
154 š s caron
155 › right single guillemet
156 œ oe ligature
157 � unused
158 ž unused
159 Ÿ Y diaeresis
160 non-breaking space
161 ¡ Spanish inverted !
162 ¢ cents
163 £ pounds
164 ¤ intl. monetary symbol
165 ¥ yen
166 ¦ broken bar
167 § section symbol
168 ¨ diaeresis
169 © copyright
170 ª feminine ordinal
171 « left double guillemet
172 not
173 * soft hyphen
174 ® registered trademark
175 ¯ macron
176 ° ring (also degrees)
177 ± plus/minus
178 ² superscript 2
179 ³ superscript 3
180 ´ acute
181 µ micro symbol (or mu)
182 pilcrow (paragraph symbol)
183 · bullet (small)
184 ¸ cedilla
185 ¹ superscript 1
186 º masculine ordinal
187 » right double guillemet
188 ¼ one-fourth
189 ½ one-half
190 ¾ three-fourths
191 ¿ Spanish inverted ?
192 À A grave
193 Á A acute
194 Â A circumflex
195 Ã A tilde
196 Ä A diaeresis
197 Å A ring
198 Æ AE ligature
199 Ç C cedilla
200 È E grave
201 É E acute
202 Ê E circumflex
203 Ë E diaeresis
204 Ì I grave
205 Í I acute
206 Î I circumflex
207 Ï I diaeresis
208 Ð Icelandic Eth
209 Ñ N tilde
210 Ò O grave
211 Ó O acute
212 Ô O circumflex
213 Õ O tilde
214 Ö O diaeresis
215 × multiply symbol
216 Ø O with oblique stroke
217 Ù U grave
218 Ú U acute
219 Û U circumflex
220 Ü U diaeresis
221 Ý Y acute
222 Þ Icelandic Thorn
223 ß German sharp s
224 à a grave
225 á a acute
226 â a circumflex
227 ã a tilde
228 ä a diaeresis
229 å a ring
230 æ ae ligature
231 ç c cedilla
232 è e grave
233 é e acute
234 ê e circumflex
235 ë e diaeresis
236 ì i grave
237 í i acute
238 î i circumflex
239 ï i diaeresis
240 ð Icelandic eth
241 ñ n tilde
242 ò o grave
243 ó o acute
244 ô o circumflex
245 õ o tilde
246 ö o diaeresis
247 ÷ divide symbol
248 ø o with oblique stroke
249 ù u grave
250 ú u acute
251 û u circumflex
252 ü u diaeresis
253 ý y acute
254 þ Icelandic thorn
255 ÿ y diaeresis


Also "Charmap.exe" a Windows 3.1 program (that works fine on a Windows ME computer) will allow cut and pasting of all special characters in all available fonts.

[LittleBigMan]

In a Windows program press and hold CTRL Key then type 0153 on the number pad.
Wow, that's so cool!

Stanley, it didn't work for me, though...

Ok, ALT + 0153 works--™

:D

Thanx,

LBM™

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Wow, that's so cool!

Stanley, it didn't work for me, though...

Ok, ALT + 0153 works--™

:D

Thanx,

LBM™
You are correct it is the ALT key, not the CTRL key; must have been this dang obsolete Windows ME program that caused the confusion. The OP has been corrected.

[sbhikes]

There is also the Character Map in Programs > Accessories > System Tools. But don't pick a fancy font. Mac has a whole host of special characters built in if you know the key combos, and it also has a primitive program (Key-something) you can use, but it's way too small for me to see any of the characters. Stupidest Mac program ever made.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Stupidest Mac program ever made.
"Stupid" associated with products from Cupertino in the same sentence? Huh? Tell me it ain't so! That's the exact opposite of the "Elegant Design" hype that emanates from the media flacks and Steve Job devotees. Must have been those dastardly fellows from Microsoft upseting the Apple Cart.

[sbhikes]

I'm the biggest Mac fan (my poor baby is in the shop :cry: --how many PC folks get theirs repaired vs just toss 'em out and get a new one?) but yes, they do not always hit the mark.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I'm the biggest Mac fan (my poor baby is in the shop :cry: --how many PC folks get theirs repaired vs just toss 'em out and get a new one?) but yes, they do not always hit the mark.
My experience: Never took my 1992 computer to a shop because it never failed; in 1999 or 2000 the HD started acting up and I wanted to get the Internet so I bought a Compaq; no shop time either since then. I have replaced several monitors though.

I presume I could buy 2 or 3 new PC's for the price of an Apple/MAC product.

[bmike]

I'm a Mac boy trapped in a PC's man's world.

Forced into the PC with AutoCad and third party apps for my "industry".

[sbhikes]

My experience: Never took my 1992 computer to a shop because it never failed; in 1999 or 2000 the HD started acting up and I wanted to get the Internet so I bought a Compaq; no shop time either since then. I have replaced several monitors though.

I presume I could buy 2 or 3 new PC's for the price of an Apple/MAC product.
Yeah, but it'll be only $100 to repair my 5 year old Mac that only gets turned off every 6 months or so and runs at least 3 operating systems.

[2wheeledsoul]

My PC has never been in the shop. I'm enough of a geek to fix it myself. :)
Now after five years, it's been upgraded, hotrodded, geeked and tweaked so much, it can't be considered anywhere near stock. :D
Say Macheads, PCs have a vast selection of off the shelf components to upgrade with. Still wanna gloat?
How did this thread drift OT to computers, anyway?

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Say Macheads, PCs have a vast selection of off the shelf components to upgrade with. Still wanna gloat?
How did this thread drift OT to computers, anyway?
When an Ultimate Advocate (in his own mind) made OT smarmy remarks about not using Windows machines.

Anyway why not? Don't we have enough posts about what REAL advocates do? Now we can read what REAL computer-cyclist geeks do.