Originally Posted by
Wolfwerx
Nobody here would suggest playing chicken with a car. But the reality of the situation is that being on a bike requires a whole different outlook on the road than being in a car. Yes, a bike has "as much right to the road as" you do, even more than that, they are often legally required to be on the road.
When a bike is taking "the whole lane when there's no reason for them to" they may be avoiding the door zone of parked cars, or maybe that stretch of road has poor conditions on the shoulder, etc. Or, maybe, they feel that the car behind them is being squirrelly, so they are blocking that car from doing something dangerous.
Not sure what your interest is in this forum. Hopefully it's to educate yourself. Maybe I'm picking up a tone that isn't there, but you seem to be trolling.
Ah, Ok I thought you were responding to a different part of my post. Yes, I see your point about why cyclists may take the whole lane when there's no apparent reason, but I've seen them do it on straight flat newly paved roads with nothing on the side to avoid and no one behind them but me driving a straight line patiently, or sometimes not so patiently, waiting for them to move over.
Not trolling at all, I was just perusing all the forums and came across this thread and wondered what the OP was giving up and why. Once I read some of the thread I had to throw my 2 cents in, more about the gun suggestion than anything else, but once I got started I had to speak my mind on the whole issue as I see it. Not that I'm anti-gun, just that in this scenario it seems a totally inappropriate response. I really wish I could commute by bike to one location for work every day. It would be great exercise and save some money at the same time, but its not feasible. And yes, cyclists here are required to use the roadways if they are over 12 years old. I think that age is a little low, I'd think 16 would be the proper age since that's when they can start driving. I personally feel they should be allowed to use the sidewalks when its safe for them to do so, ie: not crowded with pedestrians.