General Cycling Discussion - Help ! I'm turning into one of them...

I caught myself grumbling about how pedestrians slow me down on my commute if I take the cycle paths after I'd happily slowed the progress of the odd car cycling on narrow country lanes...

I'm worried that I'm developing a car driver mentality on a bike :o

Richard

Richard - your progress is coming on leaps & bounds!!

Only a few weeks ago you were posting about your first commute and asking advice about kit - and now you're on the verge of killing peds!

Its time to take the next step- forsake cycle paths and mix it with the traffic full time. :D

Stew

Sometime, I'm tempted to go as a walker on a bike path just so I can loudly yell at each passing bicyclist, "GET ON THE ROAD!";) (I generally dislike cycling on bike paths and think that my place as a bicyclist is on the street.)

Planners often put very little thought into sidewalks, and even less thought into bike paths.

Well, bike paths are called that for a reason.

But ... you simply have to move to the Netherlands. Remarkably civilized about bikes, they are.

Cheers...Gary

I recall riding in the late fall on a bikepath on Cape Cod. It was virtually deserted, but I eventually did catch up with a family of five, walking, completely blocking the path. Oh yeah, and the obligatory dog on a long chain stretched across the path. Had to come to a complete stop to let them clear. As I started off again, I turned slightly, looked straight at "dad", and just SPIT on the path in front of them. Sort of like marking territory. Allowed me to vent a little anger without blurting out obscenities.

Originally posted by stewartp
Richard - your progress is coming on leaps & bounds!!

Only a few weeks ago you were posting about your first commute and asking advice about kit - and now you're on the verge of killing peds!



When I read this post, I laughed so hard the Pizza I'm eating almost came out of my nose.

Originally posted by stewartp
Its time to take the next step- forsake cycle paths and mix it with the traffic full time. :D


THis is actually a valid serious suggestion. I forsook the "shared paths" long ago, and it was the best move I've ever made. I conservatively estimate that, at cycling in excess of 15,000km per annum, the move has literally doubled my life expectancy.

If I was king of the world, the first thing I'd do for cycling is plough all these things underground. I've never yet seen a situation where the road is not a better option (and I've ridden six-lane highways with no shoulder).

I crashed into some kid getting off the school bus once, I was in the road, and he just ran across like he owned the durn thing.

If the Bus still had it's red flashing lights on and/or it's stop-sign out, you were a very, very bad boy.

Ride Legal
Pat

Originally posted by pat5319
If the Bus still had it's red flashing lights on and/or it's stop-sign out, you were a very, very bad boy.

Ride Legal
Pat

Nah, it had pulled in the stop sign and was driving off.

Originally posted by fubar5
I crashed into some kid getting off the school bus once, I was in the road, and he just ran across like he owned the durn thing.
fubar, shame on you for riding your bike on the bus, the kid probably didn't even see you coming down the steps! :D