Commuting - Share the Trail

I have the most beauty bike commute. 5.5 miles from my house to my job. 90 percent of that is on a bike trail. I have to cross one busy high speed boulevard, but it is safely doable. I regularly see roadrunners and coyotes. Sometimes falcons. It is pretty cool not being exposed to belligerent motorists.

When I drive, I guess I drive with the mentality of a bike rider. It is probably obvious to other motorists since I generally have bike racks on the roof. It seems strange, but when I am driving the speed limit on a 45 mph boulevard, it is like it pisses people off. Do you guys get pissed off by someone driving the speed limit?

Motorists don't like cyclists. They don't like them because they don't like slowing down for anything or anybody. And it is getting worse. It is like there is this understanding that driving is supposed to be a competetive motor sport. The speed limit is a contemptible law. It is an oppressive tyranny.
Them bike riders should have to ride them damn things on the sidewalk.

So why am I whining when I have the worlds most beauty bike commute?

Maybe it is because yesterday I got passed by a motorcycle on the bike trail.
What the hell is a motorcycle doing on the bike trail you might ask?

Well, imagine this. Those motorists on the highway that aren't particularly polite or considerate, they buy their 12 year old kids motorcycles. Since they live close to a bike trail, oh, he can ride it on the bike trail. The cops ain't gonna say nothing. They got bigger fish to fry. If the cop says anything, hey I just tell him -- why don't you guys go after some real criminals. What you messing with my kid for.

Share the trail -- that means share it with a 60mph 12 year old.

I generally don't go the speedlimit in my car. I also don't go the speedlimit on my bicycle when possible. It's nothing to do with competition. I simply enjoy the feeling. At the same time i'm usually a very courteous driver, don't cut people off, allow people to merge, don't tailgate etc... But if the opportunity presents itself and there's no reasonable forseeable danger I like to take advantage and have some fun.

Also, is it specified that the trail is for bicycles only or is it a multi use trail? If that motorcyclist is allowed on the trail legally then you have no right to complain, it's as much his as it is yours *shrug* ... Just an opinion

The trail prohibits motorized vehicles.

Well then, be creative, i'm sure there's some way to deter him from using the trail that doesn't involve the police ;)

I think I'll catch him and put my bike lock on his motorcyclye. Then send him home barefoot.
'Course when he grows up he'll go out of his way to "accidently" kill a cyclist.

I drive the speed limit and I'm sure it gets people angry like the guy in the massive tow truck that was tailgating me yesterday. I don't like to drive and I can't imagine anything close to fun driving in a city with almost constant gridlock from 9am - 9:30pm.



But what is the speed limit for if no body obeys it including police? On the 40mph street that I commute on the cars are generally going 50+. I say either raise the speed limit or strategically place speed bumps that prevent cars from going over the speed limit.



Speed limit signs are nothing more than the epitome of hypocrisy in America.

Alex-speed limits allow states and municipalities to make money from fines and insurance companies to make money from higher rates. That is why they are set so absurdly low.

Alex-speed limits allow states and municipalities to make money from fines and insurance companies to make money from higher rates. That is why they are set so absurdly low.

I totally disagree. Speed limits are set by traffic engineers because they are the safe speed to travel for all cars and all drivers. Just because someone has a high performance vehicle and racer reactions doesn't mean they should be a hazard for normal drivers. City highways where I live are 65mph and suburban streets are 45-50mph. Folks traveling at 10mph over are putting others in danger. I see speed related accidents and close calls here all the time.

I have been obeying all speed limits for the past 3 years and find driving far more enjoyable than before when I regulary went 10-15mph over limits and jackrabbit started and hard stopped. And I did not have any life changing reasons to switch (like accident or ticket) - I just realised it was riskier, unrespectful and raised my tension levels (because of higher focus needed when speeding around cars and because of annoyance at those in my way). The feeling that you are going too slow passes after a couple of weeks as your brain readjusts your expectation of sensations. I have had almost no close calls since I changed my driving style and as a side benefit my average mpg increased a little over 20% - thats huge. And what really matters is that I get places around town in the same time as I did before (not counting long distance highway driving)

But I drive much less now since I cycle most places.

Al

Actually, statistically, less accidents occur on freeways with speeds limits over 75mph yet a very small percentage of american freeways have speed limits above 65.

Actually, statistically, less accidents occur on freeways with speeds limits over 75mph yet a very small percentage of american freeways have speed limits above 65.

Statistics are D*#n fool things. If you look at the areas where freeways have speed limits over 75 mph, what do you find? South Dakota, Montana, etc. etc. ie, the statistical relationship may not be the speed limit, but the traffic volume that is causing the accident count to be lower.

Dogboy, next time you see a motorized vehicle coming up behind you on the trail, stop with your bike perpendicular to the trail. At the very least, you'll force him off.

Dogboy, next time you see a motorized vehicle coming up behind you on the trail, stop with your bike perpendicular to the trail. At the very least, you'll force him off.

a bit touchy aren't we? I never said I thought motorized vehicles should be on the trail, I was just refuting the implication in the statement "Actually, statistically, less accidents occur on freeways with speeds limits over 75mph yet a very small percentage of american freeways have speed limits above 65."
That implication being that if they raised the speed limits, accident counts would drop.

a bit touchy aren't we? I never said I thought motorized vehicles should be on the trail, I was just refuting the implication in the statement "Actually, statistically, less accidents occur on freeways with speeds limits over 75mph yet a very small percentage of american freeways have speed limits above 65."
That implication being that if they raised the speed limits, accident counts would drop.

Apart fromt he number of accidents, we must also consider the severity of each accident. I think I know how speeds will affect that one.

The 25-30 miles of bike trails in Fort Collins mostly wind their way through a series of little parks and natural areas. The 'rangers' (I guess that's what they are...) are *very* good about keeping ALL motorized vehicles off the trails, including the little scooters with the chainsaw engines on them.

I'd check to see who patrols the trials in your area, because they might care more than you think. Just with Pedestrians, cyclists, and bladers, the 5 miles of bike trial I ride on my 12 mile (1-way) commute are by FAR the most dangerous...I can't imagine throwing a twelve-year-old riding a motorcycle into that mix. Yikes!

Re: speed. If i remember correctly, in Europe at least, the number of road accidents on freeways/motorways/autobahns is inversely proportional to the speed limit. Italy, which has the lowest speed limit, has the most accidents, whereas Germany, which has the highest limit has the least. That said, when an accident occurs on the german autobahns they're generally speaking much more severe.

Paul

Re: speed. If i remember correctly, in Europe at least, the number of road accidents on freeways/motorways/autobahns is inversely proportional to the speed limit. Italy, which has the lowest speed limit, has the most accidents, whereas Germany, which has the highest limit has the least. That said, when an accident occurs on the german autobahns they're generally speaking much more severe.

Paul

This is a very difficult comparision, I've driven on autobahns and they are engineered for high speeds. Also if I recall getting a license in Germany is much more difficult that in USA (I know you are not comparing to USA) and you have to be 21. There is also a better understanding of rules of driving at high speed in Germany. As far as comparisions to Italy one needs to be sure that one is comparing the same type of roads, not speed limit differences. My experience in driving in Italy (as a passenger) was on windy narrow roads at terrifyingly high speeds, very different than on the German autobahn, which was higher speeds, but not terrifying.

Al

a bit touchy aren't we? I never said I thought motorized vehicles should be on the trail, I was just refuting the implication in the statement "Actually, statistically, less accidents occur on freeways with speeds limits over 75mph yet a very small percentage of american freeways have speed limits above 65."
That implication being that if they raised the speed limits, accident counts would drop. Touchy? No, just a case of mistaken identity. My post was meant to be in reply to dogbro, who started this thread having actually encountered a motorized vehicle on a bike/ped trail/path. It was not related to your "statistically..." sub-thread at all. Oy, having a "TrekRider" and a "Trek Rider" is confusing enuff....

BTW, my wife and I were on our tandem on the Southwest path last year, going over the Beltline overpass, when we hear that all-too-familiar-in-Madison irritating "whiiiiiiiiiinnnnne" of one of those infernal Spree scooters (licensed here, bafflingly enough, as "mopeds") COMING UP THE OVERPASS! So I just stopped the bike crossways (a tandem spans most of the path width) and stood there. Poor guy had to go all the way back down the overpass and exit the Hammersley off-ramp, and cross with the rest of the motor vehicles on Midvale.

Apart fromt he number of accidents, we must also consider the severity of each accident. I think I know how speeds will affect that one.


I keep pulling this thread sideways. But a properly restrained motorist in a car with airbags/curtain airbags etc... will probably not suffer much more severe injuries in a crash at 75 mph than they will in a crash at 65 mph.

Touchy? No, just a case of mistaken identity. My post was meant to be in reply to dogbro, who started this thread having actually encountered a motorized vehicle on a bike/ped trail/path. It was not related to your "statistically..." sub-thread at all. Oy, having a "TrekRider" and a "Trek Rider" is confusing enuff....

ok, I thought you were suggesting that I sacrifice myself to an oncoming motorcycle because you disagreed with me. I guess that means I'm the one that's touchy! :D

I keep pulling this thread sideways. But a properly restrained motorist in a car with airbags/curtain airbags etc... will probably not suffer much more severe injuries in a crash at 75 mph than they will in a crash at 65 mph.

And what about everyone else in the accident?