Where you ride, do you feel safe? Do you enjoy it? Why? What would you like to see different?

Where you ride, do you feel safe? Do you enjoy it? Why? What would you like to see different?


I feel safe. I enoy it. Most of the roads I use have minor shoulders; some have the shoulder wider than the prevailing lane for traffic. Drivers are almost always courteous and move to the left, even when I am standing by the side of the road answering a call of nature.

I'd like to see more roads with good shoulders. In urban areas where parked cars and narrow streets make this impossible, i'd like to see a more sophisticated approach to to transportation, adopting ideas suggested by many people on these forums at one time or another. Closing some streets to traffic; making some roads one way with parking only on one side; etc.

I'd also like to see cycling more effectively marketed as a healthy form of recreation.

roughstuff

I (currently) ride in calgary, on city streets, minor arterials and MUP's. I enjoy it rain, snow or shine. What I would like to see is: a) fewer 1-way streets downtown, b) fewer on ramps and dedicated right turns where cars don't have to stop, c) better parking facilities, d) some bike cops cycling through the city - on the paths, on downtown streets, on suburban streets, and e) lots more cyclists enjoying the ride. Some of these might be harder to achieve than others, but any or all of them would improve life for me and other cyclists here (of which there are many).

I have extended my bike commute season into the fall because I continue to enjoy it, even in a little bit of cold rain. I wouldn't do it if I believed that every ride was a dance with death. So, I guess that means I feel safe, but there is a short stretch that makes me nervous.

I feel safe most of the way. About 1.6 miles is on a MUP--which is delightfully empty early in the morning, and it runs along the river and across a bridge, so it's lovely, too--and the rest is on a 2-way 4-lane arterial with a bike lane. The drivers are pretty mellow, and used to bikes, so I haven't been the recipient of any road rage or dopiness (yet--*knock wood*) on that stretch.

The 4-lane arterial dumps into a 2-lane, skinny-shouldered road for the last 1/2 mile of my commute, and that's the stretch that worries me. It's a construction zone right now, littered with debris, and traffic barrels through over the 50mph limit regularly. Plus for some reason the drivers seem more PO'd on this road than on the other. I've been buzzed a couple times. Even so, I just stay on high alert. It doesn't keep me from going through there. But if there were a way to avoid it, I would.

I feel safe taking my space in the lane cycling along with heavy traffic at rushhour. Sure, there is the occasional nutjob but they are by and large few and far between. We have no bike lanes and very few shoulders and that's fine with me. Better to have nothing than have inconsistency. It's safer and easier for everybody.

Depends on where I ride... sometimes I feel safe, and those rides are fun, other times I feel like I have to be super vigilant, and those rides are more work than fun... especially when in my vigilance I can't ride flat out fast, because I am busy watching for motorists to make mistakes.

Funny thing happened last Sunday evening. Thought I would go for a quiet, near sunset, cruise in and around my neighborhood. Figured no one would be out and I would just relax... wrong. I encountered 4 cars, three of which were doing something kinda odd. Now really it was no big deal, these are quiet residential streets, but there they were, each doing something other than just going to some destination.

One was backing up a trailer... and too engrossed to see anything else but that task. No big deal. Just watch out.

Another had just made a left turn, but probably presumed no one would be on the road, so they had made a sharp turn clipping the turn... and narrowly missing me... who was riding down the middle of the road onto which they turned. No big deal... just keep the eyes open.

And finally the last... they had pulled into curbside parking moments before I arrived, but I did not see them actually arrive, what I saw was the driver door suddenly swinging open before me. But again no big deal, I was in the middle of the road, well outside door range.

So you see, while I would love to go "whistling down the lane," one still has to keep vigilant.

Edit: "What whould I like to see different?" I'd like the roads to be in better shape, I'd like the stop lights to respond to my bicycle, I'd like the road engineers to ride bikes and see what it feels like to be a cyclist in 50MPH traffic. I'd like to see motorists treat me just like a driver of a vehicle, albeit a fragile vehicle. I'd like the motorists to treat each other with respect and to understand that inspite of Hollywood movies, there is no "reset" when you make a dumb mistake.

I'd like to see motorists actually stop at a right on red and look twice.

And I'd like to see a lot more people on bikes.

What I would like?

Better road conditions. Cracks, potholes and the like are a problem for bikes and cars alike. I can deal with bad roads, but it is much nicer to not have to.

Where you ride, do you feel safe? Do you enjoy it? Why? What would you like to see different?

The only time I feel really safe is 6:00 o'clock on a Sunday morning. All the other time, I feel kinda safe.

On Sunday at 6, I usually don't feel anything.

:)

I don't feel safe at all. I'm terrified every second of the way. Those mean bike lanes are going to get me killed. People are going to run me over because I'm not darting into their path and demanding a response. I'm so terribly irrelevant. There's no hope for me.

I generally feel safe... I would like to see fewer drivers talking on cell phones and I 'd appreciate it if they were taught cycling laws in Driver's Education.

I would like to see fewer drivers talking on cell phones

+1

... I'd like to see more roads with good shoulders. ...
On fast roads, I concur.

I'd also like to see cycling more effectively marketed as a healthy form of recreation.
... and transportation

What I would like to see is: ... fewer on ramps and dedicated right turns where cars don't have to stop ...
That would be my first priority, along with traffic controls at merges, so that I do not have cars merging from the right into my path at 50-60mph/80-100kph.

Where you ride, do you feel safe? Do you enjoy it? Why? What would you like to see different?

I feel relatively safe, but less safe than I would like. Where possible, I choose my routes, weather conditions, and travel times with an eye toward maximizing safety. I wish motorists were more attentive and less frustrated by congestion.

Where you ride, do you feel safe? Yes.
Do you enjoy it? Yes.
Why? Satisfaction and fun of traveling under my own power.
What would you like to see different? Better bike detection at traffic signals. More cyclists. Fewer pot holes. No bike lanes. Most cyclists acting like vehicle drivers rather than rolling pedestrians.

I don't feel safe at all. I'm terrified every second of the way. Those mean bike lanes are going to get me killed. People are going to run me over because I'm not darting into their path and demanding a response. I'm so terribly irrelevant. There's no hope for me.
You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back. (http://monster-island.org/tinashumor/humor/deterior.html)

Of course I feel safe. Why wouldn't I feel safe?

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back. (http://monster-island.org/tinashumor/humor/deterior.html)

It makes no sense at all...

...but yet...

Where you ride, do you feel safe? Yes.
Do you enjoy it? Yes.
What would you like to see different? Fewer pot holes. Better paved streets. Storm drains recessed under sidewalk edge. No on-street parking - then there would be fewer cars on the streets and more space for the remaining traffic.

I ride on the roads in Baltimore county mostly. I feel relatively safe.

I wish road maintenance was better here (potholes etc.), and this is an election year!

The longer I ride the safer I feel. I'm getting better at anticipating trouble. I think it's also important to ride in a way that lets the driver behind you know you're a cyclist - - and not just some guy out pedalling around for a few minutes to work off dessert. Hold your line, smooth cadence, etc.

The longer I ride the safer I feel. I'm getting better at anticipating trouble. I think it's also important to ride in a way that lets the driver behind you know you're a cyclist - - and not just some guy out pedalling around for a few minutes to work off dessert. Hold your line, smooth cadence, etc.

Why is there a difference between "official cyclist" and "some guy out pedalling around for a few minutes to work off dessert?" Are they not both a cyclist?

Why is there a difference between "official cyclist" and "some guy out pedalling around for a few minutes to work off dessert?" Are they not both a cyclist?
The latter is more likely to so something suddenly and unpredictably than the former, like briefly signal and swerve...

Would you feel safe if you approached the end of a residential street only to come upon about 10 men in their late teens/early 20s, each one wearing one piece of Raiders paraphrenalia, each one wearing Raiders colors, and one of them stands directly in your path? Where would you position yourself then?

I was run over by a truck recently, so...no, I don't feel "safe" at all. But I don't just ride for emotional reasons.

There's a beautiful logic to what I do as well.

i feel safe.
i am careful.
i am pretty much done with this forum.
same old arguments over and over.

Would you feel safe if you approached the end of a residential street only to come upon about 10 men in their late teens/early 20s, each one wearing one piece of Raiders paraphrenalia, each one wearing Raiders colors, and one of them stands directly in your path? Where would you position yourself then?

I'd position my front tire in a direct line with his crotch, dial it up to 600 watts and go out in a blaze of very high pitched screams. :D

or, considering how bad the Raiders are this year, offer to be their quarterback and give em dibs on my kid as a draft choice.

Raiders paraphrenalia on one side of town. Lakers on the other. I don't think it's about the games.

Raiders paraphrenalia on one side of town. Lakers on the other. I don't think it's about the games.

Of course not, silly, the Raiders play hockey and the Lakers play soccer. Goils, I swear. ;)

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back. (http://monster-island.org/tinashumor/humor/deterior.html)

heh- thats from Gary Owens (laugh-in)
Used to have one of his albums ; "Put your head on my finger"

Im old :)


Heres a song of mine

(sung to "Row, row, row, your boat")

Ride, ride, ride your bike.
screaming off a cliff...
merrily merrily merrily merily
take a great big biff...

ride ride ride along
ride down to the bar...
merrily merrily merrily merrily
smash into a car...

most times i feel safe.
today, though, i almost was almost clipped by NJ Transit bus (got the operating #, reported to police, and have drawn letters to local/reginal office to present tomorrow).
when i pulled over to write bus #, i again got close call by 2 cars passing on the right of other cars.
today felt out of ballance!

Where you ride, do you feel safe?
Pretty much I feel safe, yes. I have the normal female fears of course.

Do you enjoy it?
Of course I do!

Why?
Well, for one thing I have three different bikes to choose from each day: recumbent, upright and trike. It's healthy good exercise. I save money. I have cool gadgets on my bikes to play with. If I take long enough coming home I don't have to make dinner. I get to enjoy the outdoors, the smells, the sounds, the critters, the smell of flowers in the air so strong starting in January and going until March that sometimes you can barely breathe. I ride in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

What would you like to see different?
I would like to see less fog. And I would like to see Ortega Hill Road closed to through traffic -- local traffic only.

Of course I feel safe. Why wouldn't I feel safe?

"Is it safe?"

--Sir Lawrence Olivier as Christian Zell in "Marthon Man."

"Is it safe?"

--Sir Lawrence Olivier as Christian Zell in "Marthon Man."

Who cares if it's fun. :)

Who cares if it's fun. :)

"Is it fun?"

--Chipcom

:)

I felt safe until the other day, riding home in the dark about 1/4 mile from home. Its a few miles up into the hills, no street lighting & pitch dark but for my headlamp. A pickup travelling in the other direction slows down and stops on the other side of the road. Now what? I thought to myself...

Guy in Pickup: "you might want to watch out, I just saw a mountain lion cross the road a short way back"
(interesting the use of the word *might* in that sentance :( )

Me: "Oh, err, thanks mate, I'll watch out"

Guy in pickup: "Yep, he was right back where you're headed"

Me: "OK I'll watch out, thanks"

Do I feel safe? Well, when I used to commute to work in the UK, I only had to worry about motorists and the occasional ice patch. Now I move to sunny California there is the possibility of meeting deadly wildlife.

Do I feel safe? Well, when I used to commute to work in the UK, I only had to worry about motorists and the occasional ice patch. Now I move to sunny California there is the possibility of meeting deadly wildlife.

Eh, well... we like to keep things interesting here...

Did you hear about that mountain biker who was attacked by a mountain lion a couple years ago? I think it was a woman who was attacked, but I'm fuzzy on the details. The cat had her head in its mouth and her partner was trying to scare the cat off by throwing rocks at it. Awful. I think she died.

Did you hear about that mountain biker who was attacked by a mountain lion a couple years ago? I think it was a woman who was attacked, but I'm fuzzy on the details. The cat had her head in its mouth and her partner was trying to scare the cat off by throwing rocks at it. Awful. I think she died.

There was a death in the LA area a couple years ago...

It is a fact of life that we are not exactly the top of the food chain everywhere. There are lions, tigers, and bears out there... oh my.

Personally I like to ocean swim... and I have seen my share of large ocean critters out there. Keeps it real.

"Is it fun?"

--Chipcom

:)


Yepper!

most times i feel safe.
today, though, i almost was almost clipped by NJ Transit bus (got the operating #, reported to police, and have drawn letters to local/reginal office to present tomorrow).
when i pulled over to write bus #, i again got close call by 2 cars passing on the right of other cars.
today felt out of ballance!

(this feels wierd responding to my own post) but news about this post is relevent!
last night, there was a police response to my 911 t/c reporting this stupid bus driver, officer took report.
this morning at usual 4 way stop, there were 2 unmarked police cars parked across from crossing guard post, honked horns and i waved.
later i was in the left only lane of a traffic light and one these police officers were next to me, going straight(red lite).
he seemed to be overweight and was in question af route distance of my commute. i told him 4 miles, each way, and added that i have lost about 30 lbs since 2006 start. he stated thinking about starting to do the bicycle cop beat. light changes, "have a good day". (a seed planted!)
there are levels of risk that we all face. sometimes i think before i ride too much about the perceived risks, but when i get out and confront the cars, weather, etc, i become lost in the commuting moment.
just go (with traffic, helmet, lights, rain-gear, mirror, gloves, etc!)
just do it!

You've lost 30lbs riding 8 miles a day? Wow! I'm jealous. I've gained about 20lbs riding 17 miles a day. Getting older sucks.

Where you ride, do you feel safe? Do you enjoy it? Why? What would you like to see different?

Yes to the first 2 questions. As far as why, well because I do I guess. I ride as safely as I can to keep myself safe. I think this helps make for an enjoyable ride. One of the things I'd like to see differant is better motorist education regarding interaction with cyclists. One of the ways it can be made better is to make it required.

safe compared to what?

I felt 'safer' when I used to be a luge racer.

there was a lot of crashing going on there, even at the olympic level.

there are safer times on the bike than others. i fear no road conditions but combine a poor road with fast cars and angry drivers and it isn't like a ride in the park.

anyone who has gotten hit by a car and survived to tell about it (RIP Suzanne 9/29/2006) even when you weren't doing anything improper, gotten anything thrown at them, road raged, run off the road, threatended with a gun or worse can attest the feeling of "safety" is nebulous.

Yep ... I'd have to say that about 99% of the time I feel safe.


My biggest concern in the past couple years has been cougars ........... but fortunately I've only seen the one, so they seem to be relatively rare.

It depends on the time of day and which road/street I'm riding on. Although the majority of the streets I commute on the drivers tend to go 55-65 mph instead of the posted 35 mph, the "parking lanes" are usually empty. That being said, there are some streets where crossing the street and using the sidewalk on the other side is the safest way to transverse that section (one stretch is about 2-3 miles) of road. Can't tell you how many close calls I had using that lane before I decided to use the sidewalk. No sidewalk is available on that side of the road either. The freeway under pass is another tricky section and has no sidewalks...so you are in traffic and have to fend for yourself. There are a lot of railroad tracks that I have to cross, so it's careful and slow manuvering when I get to those hazards, esp if the tracks are near parallel to or split off to a side track.

As far as time of day, the worst time period I've noticed is when the local schools get out until dinner time (say 2-5 pm). That's when you run into the baddies that are just hanging out and bored. One more reason to stay as long as possible at work or on the main streets until the last minute or time it when everybody seems to get home at the same time. I used to work a lot of swing and midnight shifts and never had a problem...but on day shift, one sees a lot more unsavory activity/situations that have to be avoided, if possible. If you know your neighborhood and the surrounding areas that you commute in, alternate routes can be planned out at any point, even if it's for an escape maneuver, so one doesn't get trapped in. Also, there's no need, if possible, to take the exact route everyday either.

I feel pretty safe. Drivers around here are used to seeing bicycles out on the road so there are few problems with them and I only have a mile or two (depending on the route) of moderate to heavy traffic to deal with.

Did you hear about that mountain biker who was attacked by a mountain lion a couple years ago? I think it was a woman who was attacked, but I'm fuzzy on the details. The cat had her head in its mouth and her partner was trying to scare the cat off by throwing rocks at it. Awful. I think she died.

..Yes, I did hear that story, as my wife lives & works in LA. It was round-about the second thing that went through my mind after I heard the phrase mountain lion . Owing to forum rules, I can't record here the first thoughts that went through my mind...

Still, its all part of life's rich tapestry ;)

Ed

Where you ride, do you feel safe? Do you enjoy it? Why? What would you like to see different?


1.Safer, nothing is safe.
2.What is my alternative to getting there?
3.I arrive.
4. Better Mass Transit.