Don't be these guys (two abreast in traffic)
#51
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8185 Post(s)
Liked 9,086 Times
in
5,052 Posts
I'm pretty sure I've never seen a driver flip off a funeral procession. Talk about slowing traffic--corpses are so inconsiderate.
Likes For livedarklions:
#52
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,151
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5839 Post(s)
Liked 4,458 Times
in
3,074 Posts
Or is this just sarcasm that I fail to comprehend as such?
#53
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 16,140
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9255 Post(s)
Liked 10,387 Times
in
5,285 Posts
Depends on whose funeral. I can think of some whose corpses I would flip off.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#54
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 16,140
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9255 Post(s)
Liked 10,387 Times
in
5,285 Posts
I grew up in farm country, where often a tractor or farm truck would slow traffic, but nobody flipped them off or shouted "Get off the road!" at them, like they did me on my bicycle taking up far less space on the road.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
Likes For genejockey:
#55
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8185 Post(s)
Liked 9,086 Times
in
5,052 Posts
I took your point to be that we normally need to be patient with slow-moving vehicles and I was giving an example of one we'd encounter a fair amount. And yes, there's sarcasm there, but it was aimed at OP for the "no wonder they hate us" rhetoric, not at you.
ETA--no one would post a picture of someone driving "too slowly" on the road and explain this is why everybody hates drivers. I thought that was the contrast you were drawing.
#56
Fxxxxr
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: falfurrias texas
Posts: 985
Bikes: wabi classic (stolen & recovered)
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2660 Post(s)
Liked 1,140 Times
in
866 Posts

i may be too rad but if i was on this road i'd be riding the center stripe ... most of the time it's safer than taking up a lane and p***ing people off and it's surely safer than squeezing yourself on the right side and hoping the cagers see you

__________________
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
#57
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8185 Post(s)
Liked 9,086 Times
in
5,052 Posts
I'd probably do that if the right lane were a right turn only lane, but depends on speed of traffic.
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,653
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, Univega Alpina Ultima
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 650 Post(s)
Liked 394 Times
in
234 Posts
Buckhead/in-town Atlanta at 1:30 on Sunday afternoon on a very busy road - two lanes each way with single and double turning lanes; 35 zone. Traffic was backed up for a couple blocks because of these guys. They were not making any attempt to ride with traffic - more of a chit-chat pace (12-15 mph), side-by-side... just out for a stroll with a "cars can *#@% themselves" attitude.
Next time, don't assume other people have a "screw anyone who isn't me" attitude. You could maybe even note that they're out riding on a Sunday afternoon on a multilane road that minimizes the inconvenience to other road users. No reason at all you couldn't have simply pulled into the other lane and passed them the same way you would a slow car, a mail vehicle, a trash hauler, a bus, heavy machinery, or any other road user moving slower than you.
Finally, you might vent your spleen at your fellow drivers who are driving for less than essential reasons. Is every car on the road delivering mission critical documents? Are they all on the way to the ER with a pregnant woman in the back seat? Are they all picking up life saving medications for their aging parents or newborn children? Maybe if there were fewer drivers just out for a ride, going to pick up beer, or going out to eat when they have a perfectly good kitchen at home, there's be less traffic. Maybe if more of them were riding a bike or walking, there's be less traffic. Maybe a lot of things.
Crux of the matter - the world doesn't revolve around you being able to drive the speed you want whenever you want and wherever you want. You are using public resources that are available to the public. Keep that in mind the next time, you have to slow down and change lanes for someone going slower than you, whatever kind of vehicle they prefer.
__________________
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton

Likes For bbbean:
#59
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,151
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5839 Post(s)
Liked 4,458 Times
in
3,074 Posts
Besides, I feel like my chances of encountering a motorist P.O.'d enough to wish to cause me harm from riding in the center of my lane less a risk than the chances I'll encounter a motorist that is simply unaware of how close they are coming to me when they try to squeeze by if I'm on the left or right edge of the lane. Especially the ones pulling trailers that are wider than they are.
Likes For Iride01:
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 38,093
Mentioned: 209 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17729 Post(s)
Liked 14,044 Times
in
6,672 Posts
Sorry - I'm calling BS. Sunday afternoon, 4 lane road, 35 mph speed limit and traffic was backed up for blocks because two cyclists were riding in a lane? If traffic was actually backed up for blocks, its because there's a lot of traffic, not because someone was doing less than the speed limit.
#61
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,151
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5839 Post(s)
Liked 4,458 Times
in
3,074 Posts
I took your point to be that we normally need to be patient with slow-moving vehicles and I was giving an example of one we'd encounter a fair amount. And yes, there's sarcasm there, but it was aimed at OP for the "no wonder they hate us" rhetoric, not at you.
ETA--no one would post a picture of someone driving "too slowly" on the road and explain this is why everybody hates drivers. I thought that was the contrast you were drawing.
ETA--no one would post a picture of someone driving "too slowly" on the road and explain this is why everybody hates drivers. I thought that was the contrast you were drawing.
I was being sarcastic to the OP. In essence I was wondering why the cyclist should PO anyone any more than a slow car. When I'm driving my car, slow motor vehicles hinder my progress more often than a cyclist ever has.
Likes For Iride01:
#62
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,151
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5839 Post(s)
Liked 4,458 Times
in
3,074 Posts
I've driven the city streets of Atlanta and traffic never moves well enough for me anytime I've been there. And it might only be me and one other car on the street.
#63
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8185 Post(s)
Liked 9,086 Times
in
5,052 Posts
No, I think we're completely on the same page. I was agreeing with you, and I just illustrated your point with an example I thought would be funny if a driver acted with the hostility impatient drivers display towards cyclists. Somewhere, you got the impression I was trying to refute you, but the opposite was my intent.
#64
Happy With My Bike
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,882
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 723 Post(s)
Liked 1,904 Times
in
914 Posts
I have always found it best to take personal responsibility for my safety and not rely on others to observe laws. There are some roads I only ride at certain times of the day and some I don't ride at all. There are times I know when it is safe to go through a red light and there are intersections that aren't marked with lights or stop signs and I damn well know I better stop at them no matter what. Were I planning to ride in another state, I would however verse myself with the laws if I were riding open roads. But when I travel I usually just run for my exercise.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
Likes For Chuck M:
#65
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,530 Times
in
3,157 Posts
Buckhead/in-town Atlanta at 1:30 on Sunday afternoon on a very busy road - two lanes each way with single and double turning lanes; 35 zone. Traffic was backed up for a couple blocks because of these guys. They were not making any attempt to ride with traffic - more of a chit-chat pace (12-15 mph), side-by-side... just out for a stroll with a "cars can *#@% themselves" attitude.
Yes - they're allowed to. Yes - they're "vehicles" with the right to the lane. But if that were a car going 14 mph in a 35 zone, would you think "Oh hey, it's cool - you do you. We'll hangout back here til you get where you're going". This is a city of 6 million people. We have plenty of roads that don't go through the heart of town. THIS is why motorists hate us.
Don't be these guys. And yeah, they ran this light... of course they did.

Yes - they're allowed to. Yes - they're "vehicles" with the right to the lane. But if that were a car going 14 mph in a 35 zone, would you think "Oh hey, it's cool - you do you. We'll hangout back here til you get where you're going". This is a city of 6 million people. We have plenty of roads that don't go through the heart of town. THIS is why motorists hate us.
Don't be these guys. And yeah, they ran this light... of course they did.

So if it were a bus in the lane ahead of you, and it stopped every few blocks... would you complain about that too? Or just pass on the left?
Likes For genec:
#66
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,151
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5839 Post(s)
Liked 4,458 Times
in
3,074 Posts
No, I think we're completely on the same page. I was agreeing with you, and I just illustrated your point with an example I thought would be funny if a driver acted with the hostility impatient drivers display towards cyclists. Somewhere, you got the impression I was trying to refute you, but the opposite was my intent.
Likes For Iride01:
#67
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8185 Post(s)
Liked 9,086 Times
in
5,052 Posts
The funny thing about your post about patience with slow drivers was that I was just about to say something very similar because the OP in a follow-up post did the "how would you feel if a driver..." rhetorical question bit. Like every time I see one of those, I had the thought "I don't specifically recall how I felt the last hundred or so times I experienced that in the past year, but it really didn't seem to be a big deal to me or anyone else." Having to slow down because of the vehicle in front of you is really not a remarkable experience, yet people like OP seem to find it incredibly aggravating and hateful if it's because of a cyclist. Easily, 99% of my significant slowdowns as a driver are caused by one form of motor vehicle or another. Cyclists and pedestrians aren't even remotely close, unless you include stopping for a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,818
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3238 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
608 Posts
This reminds me of cyclist reporting that police have given them a ticket for "blocking traffic" on a 4 lane road. How is that possible???
#69
Dont fix whats not broken
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 302
Bikes: Steelman Stage Race, Dura-Ace 9s
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 94 Post(s)
Liked 166 Times
in
93 Posts
Wait the OP is doing it all wrong...he didn't get out of his car and tell these two hooligans that they were riding incorrectly?

#70
Cop Magnet
#72
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 771
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 471 Post(s)
Liked 270 Times
in
152 Posts
Holy #*@&. If I'd know so many of you guys would come out swinging (the internet is funny), I'd have given way more detail... no... wait. I'd probably had just not posted anything. But, here we are.
Okay. I'll type slowly so it's easy for you to follow.
Okay. I'll type slowly so it's easy for you to follow.
- 35 zone
- Two lanes with center/painted turning lanes and single and double turning lanes at intersections
- Busy, but not Atlanta busy, i.e., a couple blocks behind and immediately in front of the cyclists, the traffic was moving at or near the speed limit
- As cars in the right lane approached the riders, they had to brake and start looking to move left. Depending on the gaps, for some, that meant slowing to the pace of the riders... which made shooting into the left lane that much more difficult - the 20 mph difference. That led to more cars slowing... more.
- The left lane moved largely unaffected unless forced to slow a bit for a car jumping in from the right lane.
- So again, once past the two riders, the road opened up, cars spread out and sped up.
Likes For making:
#75
Senior Member