Gosh all jiminy

Seems like some bike riders want the pleasures of riding without the corresponding RESPONSIBILITIES
So take the shots at me
In FTLauderdale I drive and ride my bike,not at the same time of course.......When I drive I try to give every break I can to riders cause I know its 3K pounds VS 25 for a bike and maybe 160 for the rider. No biggie for me and I'm not looking for a thank you from any rider
Still even the semi pros who ride at the beach take far more than they should; i.e. never stopping for traffic lites when they are in a file and buzzing along the beach, even peds crossing the streets give riders the right of way cause they know if they don't they will be creamed.
I NEVER see a file stop at a red lite,on the beach, NEVER, EVER!! A GOD given right?? Certainly doesn't gain any respect from motorists nor peds. And off the beach I rarely see riders stop fully at a light. Rights or IRResponsibilities?? You call it
Last week I saw a young girl get hit by a car, not seriously hurt at all cept for scareing her had the green lite and was hit by a car turning on the same green at the corner. Knocked the kid off her bike, bent the wheel but didn't hurt the rider , but she was badly frightened and I believe she will prob never ride again. I saw it happen, the kid didn't look to see if a car was turning and nor did the driver stop to let the rider thru the intersection. But thats life in FT L, Hell even peds don't get a chance to cross on the walk lites here.
There is an older gentleman who rides in my"hood", multi K $ bike, great riding gear, NEVER wears a helmet, rarely stops fully at signals, takes his section of the lane fully in the center of the lane.Defensive riding or irresponsible? your call
I ride in a totally defensive posture when I ride here, sure in blazes don't want to connect with a moving vehicle cause I know I won't win the argument

If we can't educate bike riders to obey the laws how in blazes can one expect drivers to give a break?
I rode for several months last year thruout Europe and felt far safer there than I do here. Even in Paris I never felt threatened as I do here, and I saw bike riders STOP for traffic lites there and thruout Europe. The day after the end of the TOUR a bud and I rode up the Champs to Place Etoile and the Arch de Triumphe, just to say we had done it,in Lances's tracks so to speak, prob the most dangerous traffic in all of Europe, but we used hand signals and drivers slowed and showed us consideration

I realize its virtually impossible to educate both riders and drivers to be aware of the other, every time a rider blasts thru a red lite while traffic is stopped he/she gives impresssion of.........screw you I'm on a bike...........why should I have to stop??
ON the other hand..........I rode last fall in California from SF to Malibu, my lifelong dream, accomplished, along the PCH, NEVER felt threatened by motorists even that hellacious section around Pacifica ,I think, that is always in danger of rock slides.

I can understand the defensive/offensive posture a lot of riders take vis a vis traffic, but months recovering from an accident sure don't equate with a right of way gained.
I see a lot of riders here riding in a belligerent mode, and I guess there is some justification for it, but I also see alot being VERY,VERY careful.
I don't offer any solutions........I drive carefully when I see riders, and give every consideration I can,and when I ride I always ride as responsibly as I can. I can't imagine any thing worse than being struck while riding, unless its being the driver who hits a rider.
Not offering any solutions, just observations

But a 3K pound vehicle Vs. a 25pound bike?, no contest