I saw it, and I believe it

[LittleBigMan]

guy on bike heading down far left side of 7-lane road against traffic, cuts across 3 lanes. rides along yellow line left of stopped traffic for 50 feet or so. hits intersection on red. cuts off three lanes and finally ends up in far right lane, just as traffic starts moving on green.

if anyone thinks motorists are impulsive, here's a case where they held their breath.

[Bekologist]

sounds like he knew how to ride a bike like a whirling derverish.

yeah, and what of it?

[randya]

sounds like he knew how to ride a bike...

:lol:

:beer:

[JRA]

guy on bike heading down far left side of 7-lane road against traffic, cuts across 3 lanes. rides along yellow line left of stopped traffic for 50 feet or so. hits intersection on red. cuts off three lanes and finally ends up in far right lane, just as traffic starts moving on green.

if anyone thinks motorists are impulsive, here's a case where they held their breath.
Big deal. Do you think that kind of cycling talent is unique to where you live?

If it comes to a contest, my money is on St. Louis cycling scufflaws over Atlanta cycling scufflaws, any day.

Plus, the Hawks are ours (I'm old enough to have actually attended St. Louis Hawks games) and the Braves belong in Milwaukee.

And the Rams should have never left Cleveland.

I'm still a St. Louis Cardinals football fan -- the Rams have always been punks (except for Marshall Faulk and the Greatest Roman of them All, Roman Gabriel :D) And, yes, I'm old enough to remember when the Gabe (my favorite player ever) was a rookie (you do the math).

Your cycling scufflaw stories don't impress me one bit.

[dynodonn]

What? And not one motorist tried to collect on what would have been a ton of Death Race 2000 points for a moving adult male target? :D

[skiffrun]

... Plus, the Hawks are ours (I'm old enough to have actually attended St. Louis Hawks games) and the Braves belong in Milwaukee. ... I'm still a St. Louis Cardinals football fan ...
And the football Cardinals bounced between St. Louis & Chicago a couple times.

(NW Illinois native)

[ghettocruiser]

I attempted to take the lane Wednesday night going downhill at 55 kph in a 60 zone, and had an angry SUV driver pass me on the right using the right tire track and a bus stop turnout.

There were two empty lanes available to the left of us.


If anyone thinks motorists are impulsive, you're right.

[LittleBigMan]

sounds like he knew how to ride a bike like a whirling derverish.

yeah, and what of it?
I just felt like criticising stupidity.

What of it? :D

[Brian Ratliff]

I just felt like criticising stupidity.

What of it? :D

Ah, stupidity to one is all in a day's work to another. I mean, really, a large percentage of the population genuinely thinks that we are stupid for riding our bikes vehicularly in traffic.

[genec]

Ah, stupidity to one is all in a day's work to another. I mean, really, a large percentage of the population genuinely thinks that we are stupid for riding our bikes vehicularly in traffic.

No that can't be... there are vc advocates here that tell me that motorists are fully understanding cyclists riding vehicularly in the streets... surly they can't be wrong... after all, "cyclists fare best..." and all that.

[ghettocruiser]

I'm sure that SUV driver would have colourful terminology to describe my apparent intelligence level for riding my bike in the middle of a lane.

[LittleBigMan]

Ah, stupidity to one is all in a day's work to another. I mean, really, a large percentage of the population genuinely thinks that we are stupid for riding our bikes vehicularly in traffic.
I have taken my 12 year-old daughter out on rides, vehicularly, in traffic.

What I saw yesterday, I would not recommend to my daughter. Would you?

[LittleBigMan]

sounds like he knew how to ride a bike like a whirling derverish.


Interesting comment, coming from someone who claims vehicular cyclists are "chestbeaters." Now you are recommending riding against traffic, riding on the centerline, running stoplights, and cutting off several lanes of traffic "like a whirling dervish?"

[Bekologist]

I'm not recommending anything. I do not condone or condemn the bicyclists' actions, only that it sounds like he knew how to ride the bike.

the chestbeating is in this forum, dude. figure it out. the "I can ride on narrow laned highway speed roads, so that's all a community needs to encourage bicycling....."

lil' big man, never rode on the wrong side of the double yellow? rank amateur...

[LittleBigMan]

I'm not recommending anything. I do not condone or condemn the bicyclists' actions...
I guess I misunderstood your meaning, then.


the chestbeating is in this forum, dude. figure it out. the "I can ride on narrow laned highway speed roads, so that's all a community needs to encourage bicycling....."
That's your inference, but not necessarily the meaning intended by vehicular cyclists who suggest that such a road can be ridden safely by a bicyclist.


lil' big man, never rode on the wrong side of the double yellow? rank amateur...
Wait--let me take my shirt off and beat my chest--yes, I have--and that means absolutely nothing in regard to the context of my original post.

[Bekologist]

I believe the inferences from the vc camps' chestbeating are abundantly clear in the Bike Forums Advocacy and Safety forum.


why bring up all the internet chestbeating anyway? a pretty lame advocacy platform, by the way.

are you complaining about the bicyclists advanced bike handling skills and lawlessness, or praising it?

what gives? a guy decides to ride breaking some traffic rules to advance on traffic. maybe he was a messenger....do you have bike messengers in Atlanta?


mad because he wasn't exercising 'same roads same rules' edict of the vcist camp? (have had that quoted to me out of a car window by a 'bicyclist'- I retorted- "You're not a bicyclist, you're driving a car!"

[Brian Ratliff]

I dunno, LBM. The riding part of VC isn't difficult, it is the decision making part which requires maturity. Would you have your daughter out riding VC in traffic without supervision? On all roads or only on some of them? Does it matter the traffic volume? If so, why? If any of these matter, you've proven my point.

I was riding VC in my neighborhood roads when I was little, unsupervised. But there was, perhaps, only a single car every half hour going 10 mph... We'd have basket ball games in the street too.

I'm not sure why people get their panties up in a bunch about these things. Yea, their techniques are not to be recommended to anyone, and most people understand why. But then again, I can admire their skills while knowing that I don't do that sort of thing and to have everyone doing such things won't work. But then, it isn't my job to enforce laws. Society frowns on vigilantes too.

Think of the snowboarders or downhill skiers (or professional bicycle racers, for that matter): think of how many bones they've broken and how many scars they must have from injuries. But it's their body to injure, and I can still admire the pretty loops they make in the air or the 100mph screams they make down the mountains. And the argument that "society pays for their injuries so everyone has a stake in a single person's behavior"? It's the price you pay for living in a civil society. Everyone complains this system until it is them who are stuck with medical bills they cannot pay for. And besides, if you take this to the extreme, then we'd not be allowed to ride our bikes because, as you well know, a collision with a motor vehicle, even a minor one, results in major injuries to the cyclist, and you know, we cannot be paying for that as a society just because someone thought he could get uppity and ride his bike to work.

[LittleBigMan]

Hey, I just noticed a guy doing something asinine on a bike, so I posted it publicly.

What's the big rush to defend a cyclist you've never seen? You all know you'd flip one to any motorist who did that. I doubt we'd hear comments like, "Hey, he drives like Dale Earnhardt."

And why mix the defence with comments like==

"mad because he wasn't exercising 'same roads same rules' edict of the vcist camp?"

"Would you have your daughter out riding VC in traffic without supervision? On all roads or only on some of them? Does it matter the traffic volume? If so, why? If any of these matter, you've proven my point."

"More information is needed: How are her bike handling skills? Does she have good situational awareness? Does she have enough driving experience so that she can accurately judge traffic gaps, the timing of light cycles, etc.?"

(That one makes me wonder if she should read a book about cycling, it sounds pretty complicated, and especially the part about "does she have enough driving experience," well, probably not enough, since she's 12, like, you already knew that,)

All these comments from those for whom their seemingly favorite pastime is to duel with "VC-ists" on BikeForums.

Have at it guys. :D

[Brian Ratliff]

I generally assume the side of the "assinine" character when someone is taking pot shots at him anonomously on a forum behind his back. It's as bad as those fellas in the road bike forum who brag about how they "dropped" a "poseur" in a full bike kit on their 30 lb commuter bike going up a hill. With them, it's always the same formula. They caught up to the guy going up a hill. The put on the extra effort. They thought they saw the guy struggling to keep up in this race going on in their head. And, of course, they won.

The OP is just another way of bragging about how well you bike and know the "rules of the road" and the "proper" way to ride a bicycle. Same formula. See person doing something "assinine". Say, OMG, their going to get themselves killed. Then brag about how many "rules of the road" violations they racked up and how they'll eventually end up as road kill. You see the pattern here?

Learn some respect. It's not just about being nice and pleasant, as we all know you are and you never fail to be. It's about withholding judgement. Even if you have to do so indefinitely.

[rando]

yeah, I believe it...but, increasingly I care less and less about what others do and focus more on what I'M doing. works best for me.

[LittleBigMan]

You were the fruitloop that brought your daughter into the discussion in a vain attempt at making some kind of point.
Reaching, again?

Shall I help you find the hot-button?

[LittleBigMan]

I generally assume the side of the "assinine" character when someone is taking pot shots at him anonomously on a forum behind his back.
You are free to do so.

[LittleBigMan]

Nope. Just the facts.

"I have taken my 12 year-old daughter out on rides, vehicularly, in traffic.

What I saw yesterday, I would not recommend to my daughter. Would you?"
Would you? You never answered the question.

[LittleBigMan]

Would you? You never answered the question.
Nevermind, I don't expect you to.

This is the kind of fun that keeps me up arguing with someone who has nothing important to say.

[Brian Ratliff]

I did. First you cannot understand it; I explained. I guess you understand now?

[rando]

I'm so confused.

but then, I'm hitting the sauce myself.

[LittleBigMan]

In order to answer the question of whether I would recommend that your daughter do what you saw yesterday, I would need more information about her riding skills and riding experience.


Enough said.

I now know the extent of your wisdom.

[LittleBigMan]

Really, all this vituperative banter over my criticising another bicyclist.

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

:D

[Bekologist]

i'm still believing the rider knew exactly what he was doing, and knew how to ride that bike like a whirling derverish.

[LittleBigMan]

Translation:

You still don't understand the question that you so sloppily posed so you'll just keep posting non sequiturs.

FIREWATER BAD!
Is this really what you call fun, staying up all night posting off-topic?

:lol:

[LittleBigMan]

Hey, you'll have to excuse me, I've things to attend to other than kids who crave attention.

Don't forget to turn off the tv.

[LittleBigMan]

Rip

You like food fights, right?

[LittleBigMan]

Another non sequitur.

For someone who alleges that I like to "stay up all night" posting "off-topic" it's pretty funny that you were sitting there in Atlanta at 1:38 am typing this off-topic post. Your hypocrisy is delicious.
Enjoy.

[LittleBigMan]

I don't care about you criticizing another rider. Your criticism speaks volumes about you, but the criticism does not bother me.


Yes, I can see that. :D

[Bekologist]

see any scofflaws today, lil big man? did you get upset at their extravehicular bike handling skills?

[CommuterRun]

The sad part is, that even if there was a LEO in the area, the bike rider was most likely correct in assuming that he wouldn't be cited.

[LittleBigMan]

see any scofflaws today, lil big man? did you get upset at their extravehicular bike handling skills?
You're funny. If said "scofflaw" was a "cager," you'd be pissing your pants about it.

Get real.

"Oooh, the evil cagers..." :)

[Bekologist]

no, i expect red light runners. what's wrong little big man? that biker was applying advanced bike handling skills to advance on a line of stopped traffic from the other side of the street. no big deal, dude.

that guy sure sounds like he knew how to ride that bike!

[joejack951]

no, i expect red light runners. what's wrong little big man? that biker was applying advanced bike handling skills to advance on a line of stopped traffic from the other side of the street. no big deal, dude.

that guy sure sounds like he knew how to ride that bike!

Add to LBM's story that it was night time and the guy had no lights/reflectors. What's your assessment of his skill level now? Is he ultra-extreme-situational awareness man for being able to pull that off? After all, he can obviously navigate the roadways while being about as invisible as humanly possible.

[Bekologist]

was it nighttime?

joejack, some riders got the juice, and some are convinced they need to get stuck in traffic under the 'same roads same rules' edicts.

are you a 'get stuck in traffic' kind of bicyclist?

[LittleBigMan]

p.s. Good luck attending to cracking open the next bottle of firewater.
:lol:

I remember your website.

One of your "artistic pics" showed a bottle of "firewater" in the context of bicycling.

Really cool. Are you through, hypocrite?

[LittleBigMan]

was it nighttime?

joejack, some riders got the juice, and some are convinced they need to get stuck in traffic under the 'same roads same rules' edicts.

are you a 'get stuck in traffic' kind of bicyclist?
I agree that a cyclist doesn't need to get stuck in traffic. There are ways around the putrid mess, and any "cager" would do the same, if their car was as narrow.

Still, you're trying to put a political spin ("same roads, same rules, same rights") on what would otherwise be, in the "cager" sense, bad driving.

And you're trying to sell this as "advocacy?" Please, Beko, how can you sell this to the motoring majority? Please, explain your political platform to me.

How are you going to convince so many millions of Americans that this kind of bicycling will work in traffic? Huh?

"Bike lanes should be integrated into the traffic flow." Ya, rite, dude. Unless you want to leave the bike lane and zig-zag around a hundred annoyed motorists who graciously avoid you so as not to send you to the hospital (which was only a block away--you call this skill, I but I say the "evil cagers" covered this dude's ass.)

So integrating cyclists into the traffic flow is what you're all about?

[dynodonn]

I seen how some of the motorists treat bike riders who supposedly have the "juice", I personally have quite a few more years of bicycling left in me, and I'm going to keep it that way.

[Bekologist]

i'm not selling anything as advocacy in this thread, little big man - what does bicycling infrastructure have to do with your original post?

i'm commenting on your criticism of another bicyclist that sounds like he knew how to move on two wheels.

[CB HI]

No Bek, you are just implying that it is cool to cycle stupid.
As well as act like you are some superior cyclist with your "got the juice" absurdity.:rolleyes:

[Bekologist]

never ridden across the double yellow, eh?

[Bekologist]

it sounds like the rider was across the street facing a big backup on a multi lane road. decided to time his crossing, then rode on the other side of the double yellow to get to the front of the line, and destination positioned to the right lane in time with the light.

i don't know. sounds pretty legit to me. ballsy, but appropros. i'm not suggesting to anyone else to ride like that unless they use the edict of "safety first"

[CB HI]

You really do think that cycling stupid is some badge of honor, that you get to brag about to the 12 year old friends.

[Bekologist]

i find it interesting the calling out of this riders' transgressions.

what would you have done, little big man, in the cyclist's shoes? was there a lot of traffic and a timing issue to get to the correct side of the road? would you have weaseled your way into the lanes of traffic from where the other cyclist was coming from? would you have dutifilly waited for all traffic to clear in both directions before crossing the road?

would you have been stuck at an intersection, waiting to cross the busy multi lane arterial if you had?

[Bekologist]

CBHI, your criticism of my take on the situation is just a personal vendetta, admit it. I'm a very safety first, situationally aware bicyclist that takes advantage of the unique operating characteristics of my bicycle.

I rode 115 miles today, and can't think of too many rules I broke. oh, I think I did a little lane sharing and such.

are you a 'get stuck in traffic' kind of cyclist, CBHI?