Commuting - Those OTHER bicyclists

-- Well it happened again yesterday. I was bicycling down a main street, very light traffic, and as I was approaching a side street... ZOOM a cyclist blew through his stop sign and I had to brake to avoid a collision. I have had more close calls with errant cyclists than I have had with motorists. Apparently, as they approach the intersection, if they do not hear any traffic coming they just blow on through.

This is, yet again, another reason to take the center of the lane when there are no cars behind me. From the center, I can see "around" the corner better and spot reckless cyclists approaching. And they can spot me too, I hope.

-- Well it happened again yesterday. I was bicycling down a main street, very light traffic, and as I was approaching a side street... ZOOM a cyclist blew through his stop sign and I had to brake to avoid a collision. I have had more close calls with errant cyclists than I have had with motorists. Apparently, as they approach the intersection, if they do not hear any traffic coming they just blow on through.

This is, yet again, another reason to take the center of the lane when there are no cars behind me. From the center, I can see "around" the corner better and spot reckless cyclists approaching. And they can spot me too, I hope.

And you know, if you challenge their errant, unlawful ways, they have the cheek to turn around and abuse *you* as though you were the perpetrator. A bit like motor vehicle drivers.

-- I am going to re-post this thread under the "Safety and Advocacy" forum.

And you know, if you challenge their errant, unlawful ways, they have the cheek to turn around and abuse *you* as though you were the perpetrator. A bit like motor vehicle drivers.

We all need to admit the only difference between motorists and cyclists is that a motorist is a jerk sitting on a ton of steel and a cyclist is a jerk sitting on twenty pounds.

Just as there are jerk off drivers there is the same percentage of jerk off cyclists.

I really really hate it when I see bikers run stop signs and red lights.

I heard on the news today that 70% of fatal motor vehicle accidents are caused by a male driver between the ages of 16 and 35...who are about 25% of all drivers.

And, about 100% of my "scary" experiences with other cyclists have been with males ages 16 to 25...20% of all cyclists, but, basically, a group that includes all of the cycling "jerks".

Last week, I was slowly for a stop sign. A car was approaching the intersection from my left. I did not hear of see anyone coming from behind me. Then, there was a "blur" to my left, as "Joe Jerk", age 20something, went past me at high speed, and skidded his bike to the left, sliding past the approaching car, and then racing off. Missed me by inches. Missed getting hit by the car by a couple of feet.

Of course, the GOOD news was, he was not wearing a helmet. With any luck, "Joe Jerk" will kill himself before he kills someone else, or reproduces and infects society with a new generation of jerks.

I heard on the news today that 70% of fatal motor vehicle accidents are caused by a male driver between the ages of 16 and 35...who are about 25% of all drivers.

And, about 100% of my "scary" experiences with other cyclists have been with males ages 16 to 25...20% of all cyclists, but, basically, a group that includes all of the cycling "jerks".

Last week, I was slowly for a stop sign. A car was approaching the intersection from my left. I did not hear of see anyone coming from behind me. Then, there was a "blur" to my left, as "Joe Jerk", age 20something, went past me at high speed, and skidded his bike to the left, sliding past the approaching car, and then racing off. Missed me by inches. Missed getting hit by the car by a couple of feet.

Of course, the GOOD news was, he was not wearing a helmet. With any luck, "Joe Jerk" will kill himself before he kills someone else, or reproduces and infects society with a new generation of jerks.

Hey now. It's okay to hate teens but when you start hating on the non helmet ridnig twenty somethings you're opening a can or worms you don't want to touch there mister.

Is there a reason why this is crossposted?


It's okay to hate teens but when you start hating on the non helmet ridnig twenty somethings you're opening a can or worms you don't want to touch there mister.

It's ok to stereotype one age group but not another? Ok there.

Is there a reason why this is crossposted?



It's ok to stereotype one age group but not another? Ok there.

Irony is often used for comedic effect.

-- Well it happened again yesterday. I was bicycling down a main street, very light traffic, and as I was approaching a side street... ZOOM a cyclist blew through his stop sign and I had to brake to avoid a collision. I have had more close calls with errant cyclists than I have had with motorists. Apparently, as they approach the intersection, if they do not hear any traffic coming they just blow on through.

This is, yet again, another reason to take the center of the lane when there are no cars behind me. From the center, I can see "around" the corner better and spot reckless cyclists approaching. And they can spot me too, I hope.

Maybe you shouldn't be such a weenie.

We all need to admit the only difference between motorists and cyclists is that a motorist is a jerk sitting on a ton of steel and a cyclist is a jerk sitting on twenty pounds.

Just as there are jerk off drivers there is the same percentage of jerk off cyclists.

For your information, some of us non-helmet wearing, stop light running twenty something jerks ride sub-20lbs bikes.

-- I am going to re-post this thread under the "Safety and Advocacy" forum.

You can contact the admin and have them remove this thread. I have when I made a mistake...

just my

.02

kb0tnv

For your information, some of us non-helmet wearing, stop light running twenty something jerks ride sub-20lbs bikes.

Yeah, and don't forget, that helmet is an 8 oz battering ram! That 20something jerk is being altruistic, risking his own saftey for your sake. Give those guys some love...

Were they wearing team jerseys, spandex, and riding a $4000 road bike? I hate racers. They give us all a bad name.

To be "perfectly clear". About 100 % of the cyclists that I see doing stuff on the streets that puts the well being and lives of OTHER cyclists at risk are young males. That is NOT to say that ALL young male cyclists ride in a reckless and dangerous manner. SOME young male cyclists stop at stop signs and stop lights, slow for pedestrians, ride on the correct side of the road, use bright flashing lights front and rear after dark...

But, the fact remains, if you have a "near death" experience with another cyclist, that "other' cyclist is not going to be a female, and is not going to be a fifty year old male.

I have had near death experience with a female cyclist, but it was unusual. She came flying around a blind corner into narrow railway underpass (actually a steel culvert with a concete bottom. She almost hit me head on, paniced, and locked up her front brake, launching her over the bars. She then tried to make it seem like it was somehow my fault. Must have had an extra Y chromosome in there somewhere.

Maybe you shouldn't be such a weenie.
What would a non-weenie do? Reach out an arm and spill the offender into oncoming traffic?

I think the original poster's choice of using brakes to avoid an accident was a much better move that benefited both riders. Then again, I'm a weenie

Paul

The only time I had a near collision with a cyclist it was with a 40-50 year old male commuter who blew through a stop sign and nearly broadsided me as I was turning left on a busy 4-way stop sign junction. it wasn't exactly 'near death' since he was going quite slowly and all I had to do was accelerate in front of and around him. I don't know if he just didn't see me or he just didn't judge my speed very well.

I have had near death experience with a female cyclist, but it was unusual...

Me too, well not quite the same. what I thought was someone looking for a riding partner was someone with a ticking timebomb of a biological clock looking for the Perfect sucker/slave...err I mean husband. Within a week it was like a horror movie waiting to happen.

On the serious note, my friend blows stops sings. The first time we rode together he picked on me for stopping. The next 4way stop we came to, he nearly became a FORD Excursion hood ornament. He has since changed he habits and apologized for my stopping at stop signs.

[QUOTE=SpiderMike]Me too, well not quite the same. what I thought was someone looking for a riding partner was someone with a ticking timebomb of a biological clock looking for the Perfect sucker/slave...err I mean husband. Within a week it was like a horror movie waiting to happen.

But you could have had what so many of us only dream of: a significant other that actually rides! You fool!:)

And, about 100% of my "scary" experiences with other cyclists have been with males ages 16 to 25...20% of all cyclists, but, basically, a group that includes all of the cycling "jerks".

Out of curiosity: alan, were you an ******* when you were my age?

sincerely,

a male in his early 20's

i would get an air zounds if i saw such people here. i would zoundify their asses!!! :mad: ya!!

Out of curiosity: alan, were you an ******* when you were my age?

sincerely,

a male in his early 20's

Yup.

-- Well it happened again yesterday. I was bicycling down a main street, very light traffic, and as I was approaching a side street... ZOOM a cyclist blew through his stop sign and I had to brake to avoid a collision. I have had more close calls with errant cyclists than I have had with motorists. Apparently, as they approach the intersection, if they do not hear any traffic coming they just blow on through.

This is, yet again, another reason to take the center of the lane when there are no cars behind me. From the center, I can see "around" the corner better and spot reckless cyclists approaching. And they can spot me too, I hope.

Alot of newbies are like new drivers, see who they can pass, which laws are OK to break. I'm thinking things will get better as more people cycle. However the trend toward cycling seems to be waning here in Seattle. Spring will be the real test

[QUOTE=SpiderMike]Me too, well not quite the same. what I thought was someone looking for a riding partner was someone with a ticking timebomb of a biological clock looking for the Perfect sucker/slave...err I mean husband. Within a week it was like a horror movie waiting to happen.

But you could have had what so many of us only dream of: a significant other that actually rides! You fool!:)

Well true I could have, but I have rules. When I hear " you remind me of my ex" that generally means that they are still hung up on an old relationship. What I also didn't mention was I found out that she had already got a date to something she told me not to get tickets for....ON Valentine's day. Insert OLD 97's song Valentine here.

Of course, the GOOD news was, he was not wearing a helmet. With any luck, "Joe Jerk" will kill himself before he kills someone else, or reproduces and infects society with a new generation of jerks.
I think the "jerk" property is more an affect of age than of inherited intelligence, so with any luck, he will outgrow it. Who knows, he may have a life-changing near-miss, start wearing a helmet and stopping at stop signs, marry, have children, and teach them all to be model cyclists. (Which education they will of course ignore until they are themselves 35 or have their first near-miss.)