Great Lakes - Heard Ann Arbor was great for biking

So I biked there and as I get into town there is a nice bike lane with a sidewalk next to it (so peds aren't in bike lane). I'm right behind a car trying not to unclip before the green light comes, and when it comes the driver waits, till I have to unclip, then goes. I don't know anyone that rides and generally only know the proper ettiquite (sp?) that I've read here, but this crap goes on the whole time I rode around the city. Anyone else have similar experiences or am I just a jackass cyclist?

First I heard of it. I was the Assistant Bike Coordinator for a summer there... the last time I rode in the Ann Arbor area (after being gone for an extended period of time), I was biking on what used to be a deserted country road.

The new housing developments have turned it into a commuter two lane high speed road. I had a guy chuck an empty soda can at me, had numerous people honk angrily at me to get out of the way. Biking doesn't seem quite as friendly as it used to there.

I went to college there and rode to classes etc. Came to a "T" in the road and, as I was on the horizontal part of the T and there was no traffic I went through the red light (okay I shouldn't have). A cop on the street called me over and wrote me a $10 ticket. Locals walking by applauded the cop. So, if you're riding in Ann Arbor, better obey the traffic laws!

So I biked there and as I get into town there is a nice bike lane with a sidewalk next to it (so peds aren't in bike lane). I'm right behind a car trying not to unclip before the green light comes, and when it comes the driver waits, till I have to unclip, then goes. I don't know anyone that rides and generally only know the proper ettiquite (sp?) that I've read here, but this crap goes on the whole time I rode around the city. Anyone else have similar experiences or am I just a jackass cyclist?


You are behind the car, he waits longer than you like, and you think he's done something wrong to you? It doesn't sound unfriendly -- oblivious, clueless and distracted, but not unfriendly. Or do I not understand?

It's really not a fast-moving town, IMHO. Or you could have run into our newest fad, work your text messaging as long as possible before the green light turns red.

Road Fan

I went to college there and rode to classes etc. Came to a "T" in the road and, as I was on the horizontal part of the T and there was no traffic I went through the red light (okay I shouldn't have). A cop on the street called me over and wrote me a $10 ticket. Locals walking by applauded the cop. So, if you're riding in Ann Arbor, better obey the traffic laws!


This will get worse. Motorists are writing letters to the editor about cyclists not obeying traffic laws. So far cyclists have not defended themselves well. IMHO, we should obey traffic laws, if the consequence might be that we be required to stay on the sidewalks or only to ride on bike lane-marked streets!

Road Fan

I lived in Ann Arbor for 10 years. Moved 3 years ago.

Washtenaw County in general, and Ann Arbor in particular, have the worst drivers in Southeast Michigan, hands down. And I disagree that it's just "distracted" drivers. I stopped using M-14, for instance, because of all of the passive aggressive and plain old aggressive drivers raging against each other after the road reduces to two lanes.

Ann Arbor was not a good town for cycling in my experience.

I lived in Ann Arbor for 10 years. Moved 3 years ago.

Washtenaw County in general, and Ann Arbor in particular, have the worst drivers in Southeast Michigan, hands down. And I disagree that it's just "distracted" drivers. I stopped using M-14, for instance, because of all of the passive aggressive and plain old aggressive drivers raging against each other after the road reduces to two lanes.

Ann Arbor was not a good town for cycling in my experience.

I totally agree about the passive aggressive, or just plain nasty and peevish agressive, but I think that about all of Southeast Michigan. I grew up in Chicago and learned to drive and bike there, and I felt there was an attitude where if you needed to be in a certain place in traffic, say, in the right lane so you could turn, people would let you do it! Same thing in my recent trip to Manhattan. But in SE Michigan every attempt to change lanes is seen as an affront, and people will usually move upto block you enless you butt in, taking a risk. I have missed turns as a result (grrr).

Bike content? With this level of jerky driver, I'm surprised at the level of cycling safety, at least Team Road Fan has had no injuries. The city has marked out a large number of bike lanes lately, and it at least shows drivers the score. There is some attempt to accommodate cyclists.

However, AA's cyclists are just sinking ourselves. Several days in a row there have been letters in the paper complaining about careless, rude, aggressive cyclists who do not even check traffic clearance before making moves. I can see going thru stop signs, for example, but notwhen the crossing vehicles are ready to cross within their right-of-way! That is just plain stupid.

Rant over, thx for listening!! Despite this all, I remain your

Road Fan