I know this topic has been argued before, but this article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/21/MNU3VOB22.DTL) is an interesting--and somewhat sad--read.
I like the idea of the red & black bracelets (toward the end). I don't own/wear a yellow LiveStrong one, but I might be tempted to own one of these.
I like to obey all traffic laws and generally ride just like I was driving a car. It is tough to do, though, when in large packs (Montrose). I understand and agree with the governing concept: the front of our pack was already in--or past--the stop light when it turned yellow/red so the following riders went through, just like a single vehicle would. But unfortunately, I'm sure it still ticks off a few drivers who don't understand (although I bet a few also find it an interesting sight). And on some smaller rides, riders might swarm a car waiting to turn at a light, or ride right up in front of them and "cut in line" just like kids do in lunch lines. That ticks me off and I'm sure the motorist too.
Now I'll sit back and watch the hornets nest I probably stirred up.
Psydotek
03-27-08, 08:37 AM
But i already obey all traffic laws in my car and on my bike*... So i dunno...
* - Except when it's 4:15AM and i'm sitting at a red light and there is nobody in sight for like 4 or 5 city blocks.
alicestrong
03-29-08, 09:44 AM
Yesterday someone in a car yelled at me while I was on the bike..."Thank you for riding in the street"...
I sure see a lot of cyclists who seem to have no idea whatsoever that they are suppose to obey traffic laws. How do you suppose they can be reached? In elementary school education?
Condorita
03-29-08, 09:53 AM
And here I thought late-'50s/early-'60s Garden Grove was a backwater. Yes, we were taught (in school) that bicycles are vehicles and are to obey the traffic laws.
cjbruin
03-29-08, 09:59 AM
Interesting that they mentioned the Santa Clarita incident...isn't that the one where the deputy fell asleep, swerved across to the other side of the road, and killed the cyclists. The article fails to mention that part.
All in all, I do agree that there are a lot of ******bags out there who seem to think that traffic laws don't apply to them. Sadly, they seem to be the most experienced riders.
Terror_in_pink
03-29-08, 11:13 AM
the only black bracelet i would wear is the livewrong.
East Hill
03-29-08, 11:14 AM
the only black bracelet i would wear is the livewrong.
That's because you are a Terror in Pink!
East Hill
iamtim
03-29-08, 11:50 AM
the only black bracelet i would wear is the livewrong.
I used to wear the Livestrong bracelet* but my wrists are too big which makes the bracelet snap. So I bought a set of Nike 10/2 bibs which have a yellow band around the bottom of the left leg.
~~~~~
* My mom is a cancer survivor (three times over) so I have a lot of respect and admiration for the Livestrong organization.
Terror_in_pink
03-29-08, 01:13 PM
btw, im not knockin' on livestrong, i think it's a good thing.
i liked the punk rock sentiment behind livewrong.
iamtim
03-29-08, 02:39 PM
btw, im not knockin' on livestrong, i think it's a good thing.
It wasn't my intent to insinuate you were knockin' on Livestrong. I just used your post as a jumping-off point. :)
cradduck
03-30-08, 11:03 AM
But you're not a single vehicle, you are a group of vehicles. Everywhere I go I commute by bike and I still don't agree with this, so it isn't just drivers that don't understand this.
Scootcore
03-31-08, 12:42 PM
the only black bracelet i would wear is the livewrong.
+1
DScott
03-31-08, 02:19 PM
I wouldn't wear one. Being a responsible cyclist isn't about following traffic laws to the letter, IMO.
From the article:
Bicyclists were twice as likely as drivers to be at fault in the nearly 2,000 collisions that killed or severely injured Bay Area bike riders in the past decade, an analysis by The Chronicle shows.
This was reflected in the attitude of the Culver City policeman who yelled at me for blowing through a stop sign and riding on the wrong side of the road a while back. It was just a short distance, and IMO was better than trying to get across a busier section of the road. My choice, and I accept the consequences.
So it goes.
mkadam68
03-31-08, 03:13 PM
But you're not a single vehicle, you are a group of vehicles. Everywhere I go I commute by bike and I still don't agree with this, so it isn't just drivers that don't understand this.
You need to ride in a fast-moving group, and you'll understand. It is very much like a living organism--an amoeba, perhaps--that is constantly in a state of change. Riders move forward, backward, inside, outside, quickly, slowly. Unlike automobiles, we ride very close to each other. A sudden stop would result in carnage which would slow down automobile traffic even more than if they watch us go by.