italktocats

sorry what?

i was listening to this new album i got in, while doing my daily shopping

and i did not only listen to music, i rode nohanded, with big cushy headphones on! i must be blessed!

italktocats

who cars about facts, we got a story!

I-Like-To-Bike

Hey, mix and match the words accident, distracted, and cell phone; voilą a story!

Better yet, on A&S, a news clip/story doesn't even need to include the buzz words accident, distracted and/or cell phone; fear-monging, cell phone obsessed posters will add the missing words and fill in their guesswork as to the back story.

Cyclist0383

No, your not blessed, you're just really inconsiderate of others that you share the road with.

I-Like-To-Bike

I like headphones too, makes listening to audiobooks while riding a real pleasure and adds to the enjoyment of riding, even in unpleasant environments. Just counted 'em up today. 370 audiobooks listened to in the past 7 years via mp3 player, at least 5/6ths while cycling. Previously I listened on Discman and Walkman but did not keep track of the book titles back then.

Listening to books, radio broadcasts or music while cycling is not recommended for those who have difficulty simultaneously chewing gum and riding, or have other similar difficulties.

howsteepisit

What is "really inconsiderate" and whats your proof that italktocats is really inconsiderate.....not your opinion "because they ride with headphones" but some specific incidents. Videos would be best.

Cyclist0383

Ever try to warn another rider with headphones that you are coming up behind them quickly? Ever try to audibly signal one that you are trying to pass them as they are weaving all over the place? Ever reach a four way stop with inattentive cyclists with headphones who don't notice you and can't hear you? All of those things are inconsiderate in busy cycling thoroughfares.

howsteepisit

Ever realize that its not the person being overtaken responsibility to get out of the overtakers way? Sounds to me like you have a bad attitude towards other users. And can you demonstrate that italktocats rides in the manner described? Hard to paint with any broader brush than you do.

Cyclist0383

Do you realize that a lot of people ride in the middle of the cycle path, and some even weave all over the place? Do you realize that many cyclists fly down the sidewalk, headphones blearing and can't hear doors open or pedestrians trying to communicate with them? I frequently encounter these situations, and where I live it's a huge problem and the subject of public debate. Just because you are a cyclist doesn't mean that other cyclists don't ride like idiots.

howsteepisit

Just because you want other cyclists out of your way does not mean they are idiots either. Fact is you have accused a specific cyclist of being really inconsiderate based on their use of equipment you do not approve of. No other evidence is presented or likely.

jputnam

So, by your reasoning, two-lane roads were invented some time after tar macadam paving was introduced, since you can't paint stripes on gravel?

The law disagrees, for what it's worth. Stripes can more precisely define lanes, but you can still be cited for lane violations on roads without stripes.

Gravel roads are the most obvious, but plenty of two-lane city streets have no center stripe, too. This is a two-lane commercial street near downtown Seattle, for example. While there's no center line, there are shared lane markings centered in the travel lanes, outside the parking lanes, and the stop bars extend to the center of the traveled way. Lane positioning laws do apply, even without lane lines.

Well-centered sharrow by joshua_putnam, on Flickr


Yes, *if* the overtaking driver has properly signaled to the slower operator, then the overtaken driver has a duty to give way to the right.

If the overtaking driver fails in his duty to signal to the overtaken driver, the overtaken driver is under no special burden to facilitate the pass.

Cyclist0383

You pedantic types in A&S are a hoot! I answered your questions, yet you simply ignore my response and ankel bite.

A question for you; do you frequently cycle on roads or cycle paths full of other cyclists using headphones?

As for the way I'd like people to cycle, there are actually laws governing cycling where I live, and a license is needed. If you want the same rights as a car, then accept the same responsibility.

Cyclist0383

How do you signal to someone who can't hear you?

Sorry for the lack of post quote. Lousy mobile version won't let me quote.

howsteepisit

I do cycle on paths, but generally avoid them because of the multitude of users who are not clued in to the suggestion that if I signal thay are to get out of my way. there are cyclists, runners, joggers, dog walkers, walkers, and a host of other users. some of them wear headphones and some don't some are considerate and some are not. I do not brand all wearers of headphones as inconsiderate as in my observation more than half of them simply go about their business with some degree of consideration of others.

You, on the other hand, take a broad brush and paint all users of headphones on public streets as really inconsiderate, while you just go on honking and beeping for everyone to get out of you self-important way. I think I know who is really inconsiderate here.

As to signaling whose who cannot hear... if they cannot hear of fail to respond to your signal then it's incumbent on you to finds a way or time to pass safely.

jputnam

Do you honestly think the problem there is the headphones?

Anyone riding fast on a sidewalk is already demonstrably unconcerned with other users.

Anyone riding fast where it matters whether they can hear car doors opening is clearly not concerned with safety.

You really think headphones are the issue?

I-Like-To-Bike

No thanks, don't want the right to need a license to ride a bicycle, nor the responsibility to conform to your standards of what is/is not "considerate."

jputnam

Yes, around 5,000 miles/year (8,000 km) sharing streets and paths with other cyclists using headphones. (Including me, something over 25 years of commuting with headphones and not a single accident as a result.)

No problems, cycling with headphones is explicitly legal here, but doesn't excuse a rider from obeying traffic laws. Most cyclists with headphones are as predictable as any other cyclist.

Cyclist0383

Sadly that's not the case where I live. People ride all willy nilly, and being able to communicate with them is essential.

jputnam

Interesting. The last I knew, extensive research hadn't found any country where cyclists were legally required to be licensed.

The official Latvian tourist information bureau has quite a few publications encouraging bicycle touring around Latvia, including Riga, and makes no mention of a license requirement.

Can you provide more background on this license requirement?

I-Like-To-Bike

Ya mean the licensing requirement has no effect on the willy nilly cycling behavior of cyclists?

Cyclist0383

Here's some info from the DMV, in Latvian. Couldn't find anything in English, but Google Translate should work for you.
Velosip?da vad?t?ja apliec?ba - CSDD - Ce?u satiksmes dro??bas direkcija

It's selectively enforced, and used to tack on more charges when someone causes an incident or is caught drunk cycling. A buddy of mine gets pulled nearly every spring, made to pass a Breathalyzer, and asked for his license. They also check for them at drunk cycling checkpoints. A car drivers senescence works for a cycle as well.

Cyclist0383

Um, no. It's not inconsiderate to pass someone on a cycle road. It's utilizing infrastructure. Cycling in the city center is for transport, not exercise like in the US. It's people going places. There's plenty of room for passing if someone isn't riding in the middle of said cycle road. Ringing a bell to warn them of you overtaking isn't rude at all, nor is overtaking. They are willfully shutting themselves off from contact with other road users. That's both rude and dangerous. Go ride in the countryside if you want to listen to music, not in an urban area with thousands of other cyclists.

prathmann

The law deals just fine with driving rules for unlaned roads - such as requiring drivers to stay on the right side and pass on the left. On roads without lane lines one can be cited for violating these rules, but the road is still an unlaned road.
There is also the rule that you not deviate from your previous path when doing so is unsafe "The driver of any vehicle upon a highway before starting, stopping or turning from a direct line shall first see that such movement can be made in safety ..." Veering to the left when you are already being passed is not something that can be done in safety.

jputnam

So, by your definition, a four-lane gravel highway simply cannot exist?

What do you call a road that carries two lanes of traffic in each direction, which has no lane stripes?

kickstart

I agree with everything you posted except this,

It doesn't matter how or what another road user does, we always have the obligation to do whats safest for all parties involved.