Bonehead on a Bike

[oilfreeandhappy]

I was stopped, heading Southbound, at a major intersection this evening. The green left turn arrow came on. The North-bound traffic also had the green arrow. A helmetless cyclist on the opposite side of the street started crossing the road towards me, Northbound, in the West (wrong side) bike lane. He went right in front of two cars making a left turn. The front car rightly honked at the cyclist. The unlawful cyclist road by me, and I didn't say anything. I probably should have. Instead, I gave the car a half-hearted wave, as a kind of an apology from the cycling world.

[Roody]

It's like I say. If it wasn't for cagers, a lot of us would be dead. Thank God most of them are alert and watchful of cyclists.

[slagjumper]

It is a bit shocking to see such dangerous behavior from cyclists. I really don’t care that motorists might stereotype this type of thing and to some extent extend this to a general dislike or stereotype all cyclists as idiots. My primary concern is that the fool would get killed or seriously injured in a nasty accident. There is a pretty steep learning curve if you wait for experience to be your teacher in a bike – car accident. I don’t care how young you are a shattered hip is going to mess up your cycling enjoyment.

[Jj51Biker]

I am always stunned by the number of cyclists that just blow through stop signs and red traffic signals when I'm out riding in my area. They just seem to ride right on without looking, slowing down. This past Saturday, I saw a women with an infant in a stroller crossing the street in the crosswalk almost get spiked by a cyclist who made a right turn on red with out evening slowing down.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I am always stunned by the number of cyclists that just blow through stop signs and red traffic signals when I'm out riding in my area. They just seem to ride right on without looking, slowing down. This past Saturday, I saw a women with an infant in a stroller crossing the street in the crosswalk almost get spiked by a cyclist who made a right turn on red with out evening slowing down.
"Boneheads" is an appropriate term for so-called cycling advocates who think there is a significant risk created for pedestrians, other cyclists and/or motorists by cyclists who allegedly don't follow the traffic laws to the letter of the law. Guess all those pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists injured and killed every day are failing to stay out of the way of lawless, reckless, inattentive, careening cyclists.

[webist]

I really don’t care that motorists might stereotype this type of thing and to some extent extend this to a general dislike or stereotype all cyclists as idiots. My primary concern is that the fool would get killed or seriously injured in a nasty accident.


I see these in reverse order. I do care about the attitude the cyclist's behavior might engender in motorists. I care little about the consequences of bad behavior on this individual cyclist.:D

[flipped4bikes]

"Boneheads" is an appropriate term for so-called cycling advocates who think there is a significant risk created for pedestrians, other cyclists and/or motorists by cyclists who allegedly don't follow the traffic laws to the letter of the law. Guess all those pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists injured and killed every day are failing to stay out of the way of lawless, reckless, inattentive, careening cyclists.

Uh, did you even read the post? I'll bend the rules when it's prudent to do so, but seems to me this wasn't the case. I would say the cyclist was being reckless and inattentive, if not disobeying the law...

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Uh, did you even read the post? I'll bend the rules when it's prudent to do so, but seems to me this wasn't the case. I would say the cyclist was being reckless and inattentive, if not disobeying the law...
Yep, one or two anecdotes about a pedestrian "endangered" by "lawless"cyclists is a real serious problem in comparison to the bliss of cycling/walking/driving amongst motorized traffic:rolleyes: . The anecdotes from cyclists who feel that the greatest threat to their personal safety comes from reckless and inattentive riders only makes me wonder if they restrict their cycling to recreational trails and seldom are riding in REAL traffic.

[flipped4bikes]

Yep, one or two anecdotes about a pedestrian "endangered" by "lawless"cyclists is a real serious problem in comparison to the bliss of cycling/walking/driving amongst motorized traffic:rolleyes: . The anecdotes from cyclists who feel that the greatest threat to their personal safety comes from reckless and inattentive riders only makes me wonder if they restrict their cycling to recreational trails and seldom are riding in REAL traffic.

OK, I see where you are coming from. But that still doesn't excuse the cyclist for doing what s/he did...right?

[I-Like-To-Bike]

OK, I see where you are coming from. But that still doesn't excuse the cyclist for doing what s/he did...right?
Correct, a cyclist riding recklessly is reckless; but let's not get carried away about the relative risk of "reckless" or "lawless" cyclists to the public.

Let the first motorist (or cyclist "educator") whose nose gets out of joint at the sight of a "lawless" cyclist testify that cyclists are a real big problem, as all the motorists on the road follow the letter of the law religously and never present a significant hazard to anyone else.

[Helmet Head]

Correct, a cyclist riding recklessly is reckless; but let's not get carried away about the relative risk of "reckless" or "lawless" cyclists to the public.

Let the first motorist (or cyclist "educator") whose nose gets out of joint at the sight of a "lawless" cyclist testify that cyclists are a real big problem, as all the motorists on the road follow the letter of the law religously and never present a significant hazard to anyone else.
Can't disagree with ILTB on this one.

The "serious problem" with scofflaw cyclists is not that they endanger others, but that the high percentage of them gives all cyclists a scofflaw reputation.

[flipped4bikes]

Correct, a cyclist riding recklessly is reckless; but let's not get carried away about the relative risk of "reckless" or "lawless" cyclists to the public.

Let the first motorist (or cyclist "educator") whose nose gets out of joint at the sight of a "lawless" cyclist testify that cyclists are a real big problem, as all the motorists on the road follow the letter of the law religously and never present a significant hazard to anyone else.

Agreed. :)

[I-Like-To-Bike]

The "serious problem" with scofflaw cyclists is not that they endanger others, but that the high percentage of them gives all cyclists a scofflaw reputation.
Just like the high percentage of poor women drivers (or pick some other stereotype) gives all women drivers ( or other type) a bad reputation.:rolleyes:

People see what they want to see and often what their biases, prejudices, and stereotypes program them to see. A dumb donkey motorist (or a high and mighty cycling know-it-all promoting an education program) might see "scoflaws" everywhere and paint all others with the same gross generalization brush; doesn't mean much; maybe another letter to the editor by the local dingy bigot, or another post on an Internet Forum.

[Roody]

I see meathead cyclists terrorize and endanger others all the time. They concern me personally when they ride the wrong way without lights, forcing me to choose between hitting them or swerving. I bet this happens once a month on average on my late night commute.

Running into another cyclist can hurt just as much as running into a car. But funny, I never see cars driving on the wrong side of the damn street!

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I see meathead cyclists terrorize and endanger others all the time. They concern me personally when they ride the wrong way without lights, forcing me to choose between hitting them or swerving. I bet this happens once a month on average on my late night commute.

Running into another cyclist can hurt just as much as running into a car. But funny, I never see cars driving on the wrong side of the damn street!
You seem to have just the analytical abilities required to be a risk analysis guru for Effective Cycling™ HQ.

Running into another cyclist can hurt just as much as running into a car? Yeah sure, I can see where you are coming from. Funny? Indeed.

[2manybikes]

But funny, I never see cars driving on the wrong side of the damn street!

Or cars without lights or reflectors....:)

[Roody]

You seem to have just the analytical abilities required to be a risk analysis guru for Effective Cycling™ HQ.

Running into another cyclist can hurt just as much as running into a car? Yeah sure, I can see where you are coming from. Funny? Indeed.
As always, you missed the point. Yawn.