Another danger that I noticed upon moving to Cali, and before I started riding again:

Drivers turning right onto the street aren't conditioned to look for traffic coming from their right. I almost clipped wrong-way kids a couple of times with my car, before I trained myself to look down the sidewalk to my right, before turning right.

That is one of the main reasons usually given why wrong-way cycling is horribly dangerous. Bikes where motorists don't expect them is also one of the main reasons why cycling on the sidewalk is dangerous.

I'm an a__hole, if I see a runner or a cyclist heading against traffic while I'm training I head straight for their ass. As they wobble or stumble out of my way I shout "go with traffic so you don't get run over."

Wrong-way cyclists are "doing what they feel safest doing."

Well i feel safest walking around with a gun but going against traffic and pocketing my gun are wrong,stupit,being a dumb *****,putting others in danger,did i leave anything out?

I'm an a__hole, if I see a runner or a cyclist heading against traffic while I'm training I head straight for their ass. As they wobble or stumble out of my way I shout "go with traffic so you don't get run over."
It was my impression that runners were supposed to run against traffic, while cyclists went with traffic. I'm not making an argument for that, but it's what I've heard.

If Spanish is required I shout 'hay un partido en mis pantalones'.

Only if they're female and attractive!!!!!!!

L8R

Only if they're female and attractive!!!!!!!

L8R

Exactly, that's the law!!

Hey guys, get off your high horses or golden wire donkeys or whatever you're on. The wrongwayers are ignorant, and should be encouraged to change their practices, but yelling insults or severe rebukes, isn't going to do it. Ride on the other side of the street for a bit along side of them and briefly point out the danger. Some won't want to listen, but others will be grateful for the advice from more experienced cyclists.

Hey guys, get off your high horses or golden wire donkeys or whatever you're on. The wrongwayers are ignorant, and should be encouraged to change their practices, but yelling insults or severe rebukes, isn't going to do it. Ride on the other side of the street for a bit along side of them and briefly point out the danger. Some won't want to listen, but others will be grateful for the advice from more experienced cyclists.

Sure, and if the offending rider can't see for themselves that perhaps they are creating a hazard me holding their hand and talking nice nice probably won't help!

nice or not isnt the issue....it's them being an a-hole by riding teh wrong way, not only putting themselves at risk, but putting drivers and cyclists at risk....it's a no-win situation.

If I had the time, I would prolly be an a-hole too , and play chicken with them all...but I don't have the time, so I just have to hope they get themselves a chance at this year's darwin awards, preferable soon.

Actually my favorite was telling a guy he was going to hit someone riding on the sidewalk (i was on the road like any rider should be)....this ****** was going about 25mph (my computer and the fact I was neck and neck with him in speed said so :) )....said ****** like a block later hit a cop who was walking back to his car...I didn't slow down to see what happened after, but it prolly wasn't very pretty.

When I approach wrong-way cyclists, I move to the left of the shoulder, closer to traffic. I figure they are new to cycling and are uncomfortable with traffic. I am happy to see new riders and don't want to discourage them. I usually smile. They are usually young riders without helmets on *mart bikes or older riders on comfort bikes. Figure someone should have yelled at them already.

When I approach wrong-way cyclists, I move to the left of the shoulder, closer to traffic. I figure they are new to cycling and are uncomfortable with traffic. I am happy to see new riders and don't want to discourage them. I usually smile. They are usually young riders without helmets on *mart bikes or older riders on comfort bikes. Figure someone should have yelled at them already.

You dont have to be new to cycling to know the right way and wrong way to travel. You shouldnt,going and doing the right thing go out into the traffic,get hurt and they go about there marry way,doing the wrong thing.

Sure, and if the offending rider can't see for themselves that perhaps they are creating a hazard me holding their hand and talking nice nice probably won't help!

Exactly. Call it "tough love."

The worst are the wrong-way cyclists in Central Park. They get on my nerves! Those I will consistently yell at (so they hear me!). "Wrong way!" or "Wrong way moron!" depending on how I feel is the usual fare. :)

As others have stated, when I was a kid, it was taught that you should ride against traffic. And when the older folk get back on a bicycle, that is what they remember. Young kids feel safer when they can see traffic and move out of the way. Even seasoned cyclists that ride rural roads and paths find it difficult to ride in traffic. I say, cut them some slack. There is a learning curve. I recently had a birthday and decided to get a motorcycle endorsement while at the Secretary of State's office. I failed the written test the first time, and barely passed the second time. Although I bicycle, the rules are not the same as motorcyling. As an example, and I think this is true even in bicycling: When you approach a railroad track that does not cross the road at a 90 degree angle, you should either change lane position or lanes in order to cross the track at a 90 degree angle. Well, because of cyclists and motorcyclists being hit by automobiles, the "current" correct way is to either walk the bicycle across the tracks, or go slow. The motorcyclist should proceed slowly and stay in their lane. Another question I missed was, "At what speed is eyewear legally required?" The choices were a) 5 mph b) 15 mph and c) 35 mph. The correct speed was 35 mph. The State of Michigan has determined that only at that speed does an insect impair your vision. However, as a cyclist, I have had debris, or insects get in my eyes at speeds from 5-15 mph that hinder my eyesight. So the "current" law changes. Have a little mercy on the new people.

Cut them slack,BS. Then it gets worst. Right and wrong and wrong gets others hurt. I was never taught to ride against traffic,never. Ya got people riding on the wrong side of the street,ya got people walking in the middle of the street,ya got dump ***** people walking thru red lights,lets cut all of them slack while others get hurt and killed. I say bull sh$t,ticket them now and every time until they figure it out,were are not a 3rd world slum yet.

I'm sorry, outashape. I have to disagree. I'm all for waving and welcoming new riders to the wonderful world of cycling, but this is a deadly serious safety issue and there's no slack to be given.

Yes, the law has changed. It's changed because the old way was dangerous. If older folk get back on a bicycle they should follow the new rules. If even seasoned cyclists find it difficult to ride in traffic, that argues for all of us to ride on the correct side of the road. First, so we'll be where motorists and other cyclists expect to see us. Secondly, so no Wrong Way Riegel runs into me, smashes my shiny bike, and possibly catapults me into the path of a bus!

Wrong way cycling is dangerous and in almost all cases illegal. If the opportunity arrises to kindly correct folks who don't know or don't care, fine - do it. But one can not police the streets and nasty rude corrections are not very helpful in changing behavior.

Where I live I've never seen a wrong way rider on the street. I do see them on the sidewalk where 90% of them are riding like pedestians (meaning low speed around 10mph, etc.). It really doesn't bother me much - in fact I think of it as two modes of using a cycle - like a vehicle on the road at speeds >15mph , or more like a pedestrian assist on the sidewalk going either way.

Al

OK, I vote we chase them down and beat them bloody with our pumps, if that does'nt kill em we can smash them with their own bike frame!!!!!

I tell them they are going the wrong way they do not change their ways.

Where I live I've never seen a wrong way rider on the street. I do see them on the sidewalk where 90% of them are riding like pedestians (meaning low speed around 10mph, etc.). It really doesn't bother me much - in fact I think of it as two modes of using a cycle - like a vehicle on the road at speeds >15mph , or more like a pedestrian assist on the sidewalk going either way.

Al
Pedestrians walk at 3 or 4 mph so a bike on the sidewalk at 10 mph is a hazard of collisions with pedestrians, or cars exiting from driveways. A bike cruising at 4 mph is a hazard because it is in danger of losing control (I have never seen a cyclist doing a trackstand on the sidewalk).

I'm sorry, outashape. I have to disagree. I'm all for waving and welcoming new riders to the wonderful world of cycling, but this is a deadly serious safety issue and there's no slack to be given.

Valid point though that may be, I have to ask one question. Have you ever convinced anyone to change their ways by yelling at them? I had a driver yell at me to get off the road this morning, and he had about as much chance of convincing me of doing that as I have of winning the TdF next year (pass me that yellow jersey will you?). I think the same principle applies here -- abusing people for something is only going to make them more defiant, that's not the outcome we want.

Hopefully, they'll discover for themselves that cycling against traffic is dangerous. If not, let's just let darwinism take care of it.

Well i feel safest walking around with a gun but going against traffic and pocketing my gun are wrong,stupit,being a dumb *****,putting others in danger,did i leave anything out?
I agree that if you ride against traffic it's dangerous.

You have taken my comments out of context. Please re-read them.

You make a good point, Chris. I guess I assumed that these wrong-way cyclists are at least semi-rational and if everytime they encounter one of us we yell at them, then eventually they'll figure it out.

But no, I don't have any evidence that any of these yahoos listens.

Pedestrians walk at 3 or 4 mph so a bike on the sidewalk at 10 mph is a hazard of collisions with pedestrians, or cars exiting from driveways. A bike cruising at 4 mph is a hazard because it is in danger of losing control (I have never seen a cyclist doing a trackstand on the sidewalk).

Look, I understand what you are saying and agree. However I find that rights and wrongs with cycling and how to approach what to do vary quite a bit depending on environment. I think this has much to do with disagreement on how to do things right.

Where I live it is hot and very much an auto centric city. Streets are 45-50mph posted and typically 5 lane (one center turn lane), with drivers going up to 60mph. Due to heat and poor pedistrian use of city, sidewalks are basically empty of people and there are no residential driveways off of main roads. You will find perhaps 1 or 2 peds per mile stretch when away from downtown or the university (which is a different story.) There are some streets with bike lanes or that have outside lanes made wider for bikes. There are also quite a few streets with lanes that are only wide enough for a car, for example the street that I need to go on to get out of my neighborhood if I want to go east or west. By principle I ride on this street and have had several close calls when taking the lane (the only choice) - With conditions like this and empty sidewalks I see no reason why the 10mph cyclists should ride in the street. For my commute to work I don't need to ride on this road and an lucky that the 5 lane road I do ride on has a wider outside lane so I feel much more comfortable as I don't have to take the lane with 60mph traffic bearing down on me and doing last miniute merges and hard braking to avoid me.

Let me ask this question - when I leave my neighborhood during rush hour and want to go east I need to get on a 5 lane street with east bound traffic going 55mph, because of rush hour there is never a long enough brake in traffic to cut in front of a car and get up to 20mph - it would be suicidal. In a car I see a small opening and gun it, how would one do this on a bike? Guess what - in this case I do take the sidewalk for 1/2mi until I can turn off this road.

Al

I encountered a wrong way rider recently who was weaving back and forth erratically and I thought for sure he would mow me over. I gave him a disdainful look and as he passed me he said (in a high pitched voice, presumably imitating me) "YOU MORON!" Well, he was right about that! I think a lot of them know perfectly well what they are doing but don't care.

I really dislike wrong way riders... I ride 8 hours a day at work so lets tell you why.

I have had 2 collisions with people in the communities that I work, both were going the wrong way on a street or riding on the sidewalk. Both times the person ignored warnings from me and they ended up clipping my front tire as I evaded sending them flying off the bike, neight time was I hurt.

When Isee them coming I will try and yell to your right wrong way which usually gives them the hint of what is going on. Most people think that it is ok when they are in the residential areas to ride the wrong way, it is not. My job is to patrol and the bike is just another peice of equipment I use on the job. I do not have time to deal with wrong way riders. I ride fast > 17 MPH on patrol sometimes and when someone is riding the wrong way or stoped bad things can happen...

If I stop them I will give them a little safety advise on the bike. I am very well respected in the community and people generally listen when I tell them. Of course there is the ocassional person who won't and is not listening, they are the ones who fall in collisions.

I spend lots of the time telling kids to "wear you helment" or ride on the "right side of the street". If they do not believe me I show them a photo I have of a bike that was mangled after being with by a car head on. Usually gets the point across.

I can admit thought I would not ride on the right side of the road at first (years ago) until I learned safety then I always ride on the right side...

Figures, this happened today. He was the roommate of one of my video gaming buddies.


Bicyclist killed in head-on crash (http://www.dailyherald.com/lake/main_story.asp?intID=3825313) :(

Wrong way, no helmet.

My usual: "We drive on the right in this country."

Are you speaking of the US? If so then you are partially wrong.

I live in the US Virgin Islands and we drive on the left.

However the "Kmart" bikes are usually whereever they want to be while the "cyclist" ride on the left with traffic.

The last time this happened, I think I yelled "Right side! This is not England!"

(Which makes me wonder whether any of our UK, Oz, NZ, etc., friends yell "This is not America!")

I can confirm from oz that some of us do!! Not just for the road.. escalators, anywhere you're meant to stay on the left..

As a rider in Manhattan, you see wrongwayers constantly. It sucks. But I have a question:

Why do delivery guys almost ALWAYS ride the wrong way? I have been watching to make sure I wasn't just using selective memory. The wrong way delivery guys far outnumber the right way ones. Is there an explanation for this, other than ignorance?

Figures, this happened today. He was the roommate of one of my video gaming buddies.


Bicyclist killed in head-on crash (http://www.dailyherald.com/lake/main_story.asp?intID=3825313) :(

Wrong way, no helmet.


Notice the story comments that cyclists may use a bike path in that area, but does not mention the proper way to ride in the road.