chipcom 

You were sounding pretty interesting until you mentioned the wallet thing.

Funny thing, I ran into an almost identical situation tonight. I am crossing an intersection through a green light in the left lane, two cars ahead of me. The right lane ends within 300 ft of the intersection, so most traffic in that lane usually turn right, except for the occassional idiot who wants to get ahead of traffic by a few cars. Anyway, the first car ahead of me stops not even a car length past the intersection to turn left into a gas station. The car behind her stops as well, leaving me kind of hanging in the intersection with the light changing. So I look to my right rear, nobody coming up on the right, so I move into the right lane to pass, since oncoming traffic isn't going to let the first car turn for a bit and the second car seems content to wait. Of course I am watching the car directly ahead of me, in case he swerves right to pass too, but he doesn't. Ironically, I was thinking about the OP as I am passing the car directly to my front when, sure enough, the car waiting to make a left suddenly makes a hard right from the left lane she was sitting in to go into the gas station on the opposite corner, left blinker still on! I was able to slow enough and cut back left behind her, so I was never really in any danger, but I had to laugh...she sure enough did the stupidest thing possible. If I had been impatient and just hauled butt around the right, I might have got clipped.

baiskeli

This road was pretty wide (2 cars can fit side by side without even factoring it the white line and then the 2 foot space to the parked cars and he was in what is essentially a turning lane, leaving the lane going straight empty (I see cars driving down this road two abreast). Thats why he caught me by suprise, he pretty much swerved out of the turning lane, crossed one car width, crossed the other and then over the white lane trying to get to that parking spot. What I did is what a driver behind me would have done too.

humancongereel

oh, my two cents--if there's no cop around, screw the laws. sometimes it's safer to break them, and what matters is not getting killed by some latte-drinking hippo in a denali.

baiskeli

Come to Boston, you will see it much more often. Especially the dimwits who indicate right, swerve right and then swing round (they wanted to make a U-Turn). I never pass someone who indicates going right until I am sure that yes, they are not making a U-Turn.

I actually am more prepared for that than I am with someone turning left and then changing their mind and swerving right.

chipcom 

Yeah I hear ya, but as both a driver or a cyclist I still would not trust the guy waiting to turn and would have slowed down. Like ole Ronnie Reagan said - 'trust, but verify'!

baiskeli

baiskeli

Yup, learnt my lesson on that one.

Brian

Didn't say they weren't. But by not stopping, he leaves the clueless motorist to form his own opinion. So how does that motorist know if the guy he almost hit was merely taking evasive action, or playing a game of "Chicken" with traffic? And maybe the motorist would think twice about making a move like that if he realized that he almost killed a husband and father. But feel free to turn it around any way you like. It's a free world. Just don't look to me for any kind of apology.


I guess I missed the part where I suggested or implied that. My point was that baiskeli was commuting, he was not out dodging cars for fun.


Please explain your question. And why aren't you a moderator? I'm not trying to paint everyone in SS/FG with the same brush, but you've made that assumption. As far as the cheap thrills, you are correct. I'm sure the videos of the SS/FG guys cutting in and out of traffic, running lights and stop signs between beer stops, I'm sure that's not just about cheap thrills. So one word for you: Whatever.


Right. And what is the public perception of cyclists in NYC? The guys that aren't making those videos for "cheap thrills" have done wonders for the image of cyclists everywhere.

chipcom 

skingry

Simply classic, but I agree with you totally on the laws thing. It boils down to me surviving and doing what I need to do to live and see tomorrow.

mattface 

Her wallets just empty 'cause she spends it all on bikes and booze.

el twe

Well, that went away pretty quick-like.

Brian

Indeed. Looks like you could use a review of the user guidelines. You don't have to like me, but you have to respect Joe's rules.

mattface 

Putting aside the presumption that fixed gear riders are irresponsible, and unlikely to reproduce, I think it's asking a lot of someone who nearly got killed by an oblivious driver to stop and try and make nice like Mr. Rogers. Even if you CAN put aside your anger long enough to do it it's not neccessarily advisable.

You never know who you might be talking to. Lots of car drivers are stressed out and agressive. They see a bike they didn't know existed a moment ago whiz by an inch off their inside fender, they are likely to be angry instead of concerned, and yes some may even be violent towards the cyclist. Pulling out your wallet to show them pictures of your grandkids might not persuade them not to bludgeon you with the nearest blunt object.

Gurgus

+1. I've got the pictures in my wallet to prove it, also.

Brian

Not my presumption, so let's get that out of the way. I was merely making a suggestion about educating a motorist that was oblivious to a cyclist. If you want to be critical of that advice, you are more than welcome to do so, as it's only fair. I can have my opinion, and you can have yours. But it's not my fault that some members here have a huge chip on their collective shoulders. Perhaps we need a "Trackies" forum to separate the wheat from the chaff?

Matthew A Brown

This thread will only end up unanimous satisfaction.



Baiskali, good to hear your ok. Almost the worst part can be thinking about the difference 4-6 inches could have made in that whole life/limb bit.


re: SS/FG, the bikes are still just tools, like all machines. I've seen equal amounts of folks do habitually dumb **** on comfort bikes, road bikes, bmx bikes (who only have a decade+ on the FG crowd as far as videos go), recumbent trikes (har), to say nothing of actual cars (see OP). We may be the most visible and most recent, and a lot of the punk rock overlap certainly doesn't help, but I can say that most of the FG riders I know spend pretty much every second on their machine near hyper-alert. Which, while we're speaking in generalizations, does FAR more for one's and others' safety than any helmet ever will. Even the physics of it--I can pretty much guarantee a semi-skilled fixed rider with a front brake can stop faster in wet conditions than most any road cyclist. We essentially have ABS, 100% of the time.


I mean, think about it. We have the oppurtunity to raise a LOT of kids with incredible spin and a second-nature of watching and planning much further ahead than any other group of cyclists I'm aware of. Sure a lot of them are rebellious, but guess what? Most of us are early 20s. It happens, we'll grow out of it.


Curious, do most road bikers see FG riders like this, irresponsible, reckless, etc?

visitordesign

i don't know, expatriate...

your fabulously informed insight into SS/FG riders in NYC (while the OP lives in MA) and the way that our antics affect the psyche of motorists has what to do with what?

had you spent 15 minutes riding around NYC, you'd quickly notice that roadies trecking to central park in traffic on their custom carbon de rosa kings, chinese food delivery guys on duct-taped mountain bikes, kids on BMXs and SS/FG riders all ride in pretty similar fashions. in fact... add moms with carrier seats to that list.

people in NYC ride the way we do for a number of reasons. we ride fast to keep pace with traffic. we roll through lights to increase our visibility on the road by removing cars from the equation. we ride outside of bike lanes and in the center lanes of traffic because bike lanes are riddled with idling cars, potholes and doors that unexpectedly open while outermost lanes are occupied by drivers who can't decide where or when they want to turn. we dodge cars because there are few other digestible options. i've seen videos of roadies taking far riskier chances in NYC than SS/FG riders.

while your ignorance is entertaining and gives us something to post about until it bores us, it's still ignorance. it also had little to do with the OP's post which is why it's so easy for us to see as you throwing down some sort of holier than thou, self-righteous gauntlet.

chipcom 

I had them same pics in my wallet when I bought it!

chipcom 

How come I always get carried around on people's shoulders? Am I some kind of hero?

Cyclepath

I wonder if there's any relationship between such incidents & the lack of enforcement of traffic laws. In my town the cops are almost never seen on the streets, which may have something to with the fact that i've had more close calls here in one year than i had in 30 years riding in Connecticut (& Conn. is pretty bad).


There is of course no use here of the video cameras used in some countries to nail carborne criminals. Not even 4 way stops at bad intersections, & no speed bumps.

Why should drivers care if there are virtually no consequences for bad driving? Should we be lobbying for more enforcement & stiffer penalties against reckless drivers?

Brian

I find your use of the word "Ignorance" to be highly ironic. Thank you for such wonderful insight.

chipcom 

Curious, do you think some of us have been cycling all these years without having basic survival skills like planning for Murphy?

I think you all take the razzing too darn serious...every group gets dissed by the others, it's part of BF, but in the end we are all cyclists. Fixie & SS riders are not the only ones who catch it about their stereotypes - all roadies are arrogant poseurs, all commuters are car-free counter-culture types or DUI convicts, all BMXers are 10 yrs old with no sense and no fear, all 'bent riders are old wussies with roids, and all MTBers are just plain strange. Lighten up, have fun and remember, some of us didn't become OLD cyclists by not knowing how to ride and by not having a sense of humor - especially about ourselves.

visitordesign

it's ignorant to assume that SS/FG riders are the only ones riding in the manner i've described--particularly since i explain in the preceeding paragraph that it's simply not the case.

if you find that ironic, that ignorance runs deeper than i'd previously suspected.

Matthew A Brown

Expat, I think its a fair question. Do you have any experience watching people on bikes in NYC, such that you would label FG riders significantly more reckless than any other group?

Since that really is the key factor for whether "ignorant" is an accurate term or not.