Advocacy & Safety - Stupid Cyclist!!!!

Hi all,

I would like to have a little RANT!!!

Now, as you know, I am a keen cyclist and one thing that makes my blood boil is when I see selfish cyclists giving the rest of us a bad name :notamused:

Anyway, I was driving along a country road the other day, came to a little village with one of those traffic-calming chicane things that gives right-of way to traffic in one direction, and then the other.

So, I slowed right down to about 25 mph, came up to the first chicane and prepared to go through it. Bear in mind that (a) I was driving a car and (b) I had right of way.

Suddenly, a guy on a race bike came flying round the corner, totally ignored the great big "give way" sign on his side of the chicane and comes hurtling towards me, on my side of the road. I had just enough time to slam on the brakes and hold my hand on the horn .... and as he went past me, he shouted at me to f**k off, and gave me the finger!

I was incredibly pissed off for three reasons:

a) That guy has probably single-handedly created scores of bike-hating drivers, just because he rides like an arrogant, selfish a**hole. Therefor, when I am out on my bike, riding courteously, they hate me too.

b) It was my right of way - the highway code applies to bicycles too!

c) I was driving one-and-a-half tonnes of Ford Mondeo - if I had hit him I would have probably killed him, his family would have been distraught and I would have to live the rest of my life with the memory of his death.

So ... if you ride a bike and you don't drive, go and get a copy of the highway code and READ IT!!!!! :mad:

:popcorn

I wouldn't worry about C too much. If he lives, he lives, if he dies, he dies. Not your problem either way.

Karma will take care of everything else.

I wouldn't worry about C too much.


"C" = Just more road kill. :)

So ... if you ride a bike and you don't drive, go and get a copy of the highway code and READ IT!!!!! :mad:

It is comforting to know that there is at least one motorist out there who never goes even 1 mph over the posted speed LIMIT, stops completely at all stop signs, and never makes a judgment error behind the wheel. :lol:

There are two of us, Joey.:thumb::D

I often "run" one lane bridges, knowing full well there's more than enough room for me and a car to fit side by side. I just proceed slowly hugging the right edge of the bridge, and nobody's bothered me to date. It's no big deal.

If I came on at 25mph in the center of the lane, that might be a problem. But, I don't.

It is comforting to know that there is at least one motorist out there who never goes even 1 mph over the posted speed LIMIT, stops completely at all stop signs, and never makes a judgment error behind the wheel. :lol:

What does that have to do with anything?

Just another case of a cyclist claiming the benefits of vehicle status, while disavowing all responsibility's.

What does that have to do with anything?

Yeah, I wondered the samething.

Hi all,

I would like to have a little RANT!!!

Now, as you know, I am a keen cyclist and one thing that makes my blood boil is when I see selfish cyclists giving the rest of us a bad name :notamused:

Actually I didn't know that you are a keen cyclist nor did I know that a bad rider in somewheresville gives me a bad name. Thanks for the info!

I just had a similiar experience with a rider while I was out riding yesterday.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=9020488#post9020488

Actually I didn't know that you are a keen cyclist nor did I know that a bad rider in somewheresville gives me a bad name. Thanks for the info!

Rude, selfish riders give us all a bad name an make it harder for advocacy

iltb.....people don't notice the cyclists who follow the rules, are not rude or selfish. people notice the cyclists who ignore traffic laws, ride in a packs (training), and so on. And what people notice, people comment on and associate all in the same category has having the same behavior.

Think about Harley riders....the are all rude and crude with cutout pipes that make way too much noise, scaring babies, breaking windows, and setting off care alarms. Not a true statement, but the impression given by the noticable few applies to all.

Actually I didn't know that you are a keen cyclist nor did I know that a bad rider in somewheresville gives me a bad name. Thanks for the info!

If you had a keen sense of ESP, you'd know these things. :p

Just another case of a cyclist claiming the benefits of vehicle status, while disavowing all responsibility's.

Bingo!

I had a cyclist run a stop sign at a three-way intersection (no stop sign for my direction and speed limit of 45mph). Just about nailed the guy as the intersection conveniently included a large bush so that I could not see him until he popped out of the road and almost onto my hood.

Can't say I would have felt too bad, to be honest.

Hi all,Now, as you know, I am a keen cyclist and one thing that makes my blood boil is when I see selfish cyclists giving the rest of us a bad name :notamused:

a) That guy has probably single-handedly created scores of bike-hating drivers, just because he rides like an arrogant, selfish a**hole. Therefor, when I am out on my bike, riding courteously, they hate me too.

Don't you worry about it. Most drivers are reasonable and are aware that there is actually more then one cyclist on the road and that they are all different.

I get buzzed by some drivers purposefully inches appart at a high speed and yet I don't think they are all evil a**holes.

1=1
1=2 or more (fail)

Actually most drivers are pretty cool people and know the basic math.

It is comforting to know that there is at least one motorist out there who never goes even 1 mph over the posted speed LIMIT, stops completely at all stop signs, and never makes a judgment error behind the wheel. :lol:

+1 over here too, though of course nobody can claim to never have made an error in judgement.

I do treat the speed limit as an UPPER limit though, and stop signs as STOP signs. I take my share of heat for it; I get tailgated when driving 60 in a 70 zone, and often nearly rear-ended when I actually stop at stop signs.

What does that have to do with anything?

Because he figures that if everyone else does wrong, it entitles him to do the same.

Despite what we tell 4 year olds, that "two wrongs don't make a right." A million wrongs don't create any rights either.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/catfoodrob/choppers/images/yellchopper.jpg

"LOOK MA, I'M A COURTEOUS CYCLIST!"

-Kurt

What do you guys expect from Raleigh Chopper? He rants about buses, pedestrians, lycra and now another cyclist. I am beginning to think this is more of an anger management problem rather than actual problems caused by others.

I have to question post from anybody who list his Honda scooter and Ford Mondeo sedan as BICYCLES!
"About Raleigh Chopper
Bicycle(s):
Giant XTC Composite '06 :: Giant FCR C '08 :: Honda SH125i-08 :: Ford Mondeo TDCi 2.0 Zetec"

Oh jezus f'n christ....

Can we somehow create a subforum for poseurs?

Because he figures that if everyone else does wrong, it entitles him to do the same.

I am always amused when lawbreakers preach to me about the law. The hunchback can see everyone's hump but his own.

Rude, selfish riders give us all a bad name an make it harder for advocacy

iltb.....people don't notice the cyclists who follow the rules, are not rude or selfish. people notice the cyclists who ignore traffic laws, ride in a packs (training), and so on. And what people notice, people comment on and associate all in the same category has having the same behavior.

Think about Harley riders....the are all rude and crude with cutout pipes that make way too much noise, scaring babies, breaking windows, and setting off care alarms. Not a true statement, but the impression given by the noticable few applies to all.

loud pipes save lives its hard to ignore the rapping of a Vtwin

There's a distinction between rude/selfish and lawbreaking that people don't seem to be making.

Speeding within reason, say 50mph in a 45, is lawbreaking, but not necessarily rude or selfish unless road or surrounding conditions dictate otherwise. Rolling a stop sign (for cars and bikes) or running a red light is lawbreaking, but not rude or selfish unless they cut someone off.

As such, a cyclist who runs a yield sign, cuts someone off and forces the other person to slam on their brakes is rude and selfish but should not be grouped with lawbreakers in general.

If you had a keen sense of ESP, you'd know these things. :p
That's it, I don't have a keen sense for mind reading, BUT-
My crystal ball tells me there will be a mighty Lion victory this fall that might make you cry.

Oh jezus f'n christ....

Can we somehow create a subforum for poseurs?

You, sir, need to visit SS/FG and Road Cycling.

You, sir, need to visit SS/FG and Road Cycling.

Are you trying to say that SS/FG cyclists as well as road cyclists are poseurs? If so, why?

+1 over here too, though of course nobody can claim to never have made an error in judgement.

I do treat the speed limit as an UPPER limit though, and stop signs as STOP signs. I take my share of heat for it; I get tailgated when driving 60 in a 70 zone, and often nearly rear-ended when I actually stop at stop signs.

Sounds like we're pretty similar. I don't think most people realize that them tailgating me only makes me go slower, usually for no other reason than spite.

Sounds like we're pretty similar. I don't think most people realize that them tailgating me only makes me go slower, usually for no other reason than spite.I go slower because they are leaving less margin for error. Thus the only way to ensure my safely is to slow down.

I'm not aware of one-way traffic calming devices. Sounds like a really bad idea. My observation of one lane bridges, which are common in Eastern Pennsylvania, is that they reward aggressive driving and don't slow aggressive drivers down at all. Similarly, traffic islands only slow down timid drivers and encourage motorists overtaking a cyclist to try to beat the cyclist to the island.

I'm not aware of one-way traffic calming devices. Sounds like a really bad idea.

I believe the OP is referring to a chicane similar to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:One-lane_chicane_1.jpg

(Fortunately) We have nothing like that in Denver (to my knowledge at least). I couldn't comment on whether or not they would actually work.

My observation of one lane bridges, which are common in Eastern Pennsylvania, is that they reward aggressive driving and don't slow aggressive drivers down at all.

+1, though I'd think the curviness of a chicane would at least somewhat deter such behavior.

the chicane would slow people down, but I'm guessing that cyclists would invariably end up not being yielded to. Seems like on a one way street, it wouldn't have been hard to put a 3' bike lane through the chicane in the link

Are you trying to say that SS/FG cyclists as well as road cyclists are poseurs? If so, why?

SS/FG cyclists whack as much off their bike as possible to make it lighter, while road cyclists try to put as much on their bike as possible while trying to keep it light.

-Kurt

SS/FG cyclists whack as much off their bike as possible to make it lighter, while road cyclists try to put as much on their bike as possible while trying to keep it light.

-Kurt

:D:roflmao2:

I love the truth

:D:roflmao2:

I love the truth

Of course. Only us who obsess over vintage steel have any sense.

:lol:

-Kurt

That's it, I don't have a keen sense for mind reading, BUT-
My crystal ball tells me there will be a mighty Lion victory this fall that might make you cry.

Nice kitties. :p

the chicane would slow people down, but I'm guessing that cyclists would invariably end up not being yielded to. Seems like on a one way street, it wouldn't have been hard to put a 3' bike lane through the chicane in the link

My experience with jogged one lane bridges (such as this one) (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=40.378341,-75.239428&spn=0.001892,0.004828&z=18) is that cars are usually going so slowly, there's no issue simply riding past on the right.

For a traffic calming device, though, I agree a bike lane should've been in place.

I would have given you the bird too had you layed on the horn at me. People make mistakes, laying on the horn only makes things worse. Scares the crap out of me when I hear a horn. If you're so concerned about his wellbeing, you're lucky you didn't scare him into traffic.

SS/FG cyclists whack as much off their bike as possible to make it lighter, while road cyclists try to put as much on their bike as possible while trying to keep it light.

-Kurt

Lol, whack off their bike

Such high drama from a small incident.

Lol, whack off their bike

Always a dirty mind in the group, eh?


Such high drama from a small incident.

It'll be out in paperback next month.

-Kurt

I kind of misunderstood what the op was referring to. I thought it was a roundabout, of which we have several recently installed as a traffic calming measure on La Jolla Blvd in San Diego.

Of course, this being Southern California, drivers have no clue how to use these and pretty much ignore the four way yield and just haul ass through them as fast as they can, often running up and over the raised center curb of the island, or squealing tires, skidding and sliding around the outside edge as they do their best Formula 1 imitation...

The fact that they are particularly narrow make them exceptionally dangerous to the cyclist that does not take the lane. Pretty interesting article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout) about these on Wikipedia, specifically the section on Roundabouts and Cyclists. I always take the lane in these, which is kind of sketchy but a lot less sketchy then getting ran into the outside curb or far, far worse. I have only been honked at once so far, and of course, I just ignored them :)

These days, "loud pipes lose rights."

loud pipes save lives its hard to ignore the rapping of a Vtwin