Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy

How certain are you that said cyclist was "breaking" the law? How would you have felt, if he had lost control of his bike after you passed and honked at him?

Originally Posted by CB HI

Why not save the anger for the motorist who intentionally endanger cyclist?

Originally Posted by Kinst_VonSterga

Well I was waiting for someone to ask that question. For me, I know I shouldn't have honked after passing the cyclist, that's a gimme, and I definitely take ownership for this mistake ... especially since the "what ifs" are endless on what could have happened. So while I'm still on this topic, I guess people can continue with their judgmental comments and never disclose any wrong doings of their own, objurgating their opinions as they seem fit, which is fine with me as I have no malcontent with this thread.

But why the cyclist would ride side-by-side and chat with a friend who's riding in a bike lane to the right of him ... I don't know. How a cyclist can continue to do this for 30+ seconds, knowing that cars are piling up behind them ... I don't know. Why a cyclist can continue to ride this way even when a procession of cars finally are able to pass the two by using the opposing lane ... I don't know.

But what I do know is that the cyclist probably felt completely justified to ride the way he did, and I'm sure many people reading this see no wrong doing whatsoever. This is what baffles me after all these years, that people will quickly side one way or another, depending on if their foot is pushing a bicycle pedal versus a gas pedal.

Originally Posted by Kinst_VonSterga

Good point.

Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy

As has been asked before is this truly a marked bike lane or is it an improved shoulder? What exactly is your state law regarding bicycle lanes?

Originally Posted by CB HI

Oregon is a mandatory use law state, and Portland has the most draconian police department in enforcing that law.

Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy

That doesn't answer the question of whether or not this is/was a true bike lane or an improved shoulder.

Originally Posted by CB HI

Just answering the part of the question that I knew the answer too.

Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy

That doesn't answer the question of whether or not this is/was a true bike lane or an improved shoulder. Fortunately from conversations with the Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Coordinator the police here in St. Pete are not going to be so draconian in regards to enforcing the mandatory use law. I also got the impression that it was aimed more at the group rides that take over the roads and not the individual rider.

Also another time that I will exit the bike lane is when it dashes before a light controlled intersection. There is another bike lane near me that I do use that the light is controlled by an induction loop sensor. It does not however include the bike lane in the loop so the only way to trip it is to be in the travel lane. Also at this particular intersection the bike lane is another one of those bike lanes that after running for several blocks "disappears" on the south side of the intersection. And the lane also narrows somewhat, so that anyone on a bike who if they'd stayed in the bike lane would find themselves hugging the gutter pan/curb on the south side of the intersection.

Originally Posted by TheHen

Hmmm... so the cyclist was in the middle of the lane, likely the legal and safe place to be, and when it was clear to pass you gave a honk on the horn to express your displeasure at having to wait for a legitimate road user. Yet, you think he is the bad apple and shouldn't have been disgusted with your behavior? Let me ask this: if you were stuck behind a slow-moving car or tractor, would you have been as mad or is it an insanity you reserve for cyclists who, you seem to think, must avoid inconveniencing motorists.

Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy

Exactly, when I'm out riding, and cars are starting to back up behind me, and if I can safely turn off of the road and let them pass, I'll do so. IF I cannot safely pull over or turn off of the road I would hope that they would be patient enough to wait for me to be able to pull over or turn off of the road so that they can safely pass.

I think that making an effort to show them that we cyclists can share the road with them that it will hopefully build a better relationship between motorists and cyclists.

Originally Posted by hotbike

I posted this reply to a newspaper article:


" Despite all the raving, conflicts between bikes and cars are extremely rare. I drive everyday, and I bike two or three times a week. Bicycles don't block my path when I drive, they are always on the right edge of the road. There aren't that many bicycles most of the time.
And when I bike, I must say that practically ALL motorists pass seven to ten feet to my left. Maybe one driver in ten thousand will come within three feet.
It seems that a very small number of motorists have a vendetta against bicyclists. More and more cyclists are carrying digital video cameras, in case of a lawsuit. An aggressive driver's main advantage is that he startles the bicyclists. I always ride with a rear-view mirror, so that the occasional aggressive driver doesn't surprise or startle me. If a startled cyclist slips, and shouts a curse word, it seems the motorist, who was supposedly in such a hurry, now has all day to file obscenity charges.
I had previously suggested that someday all vehicles, cars and bikes alike, would have a GPS device to warn them of another road-user within half a mile. Now, Ford motor company is working on such a device, only it uses Wi-Fi, instead of hogging the GPS data frequencies.

Racing a bicycle is totally different from a leisurely bike ride. A bicycle can have an advantage over a pedestrian, either faster than running, or easier than walking. I raced a bit when I was younger, but I found that there are ingrates among the drivers, who don't appreciate the effort I put into doing the speed limit."

Here's the link to the original article:

https://www.vagazette.com/articles/20...t#blogcomments

Did I make my point?

Originally Posted by Kinst_VonSterga

Too many bicycle rides (even in club rides) where obnoxious drivers skirted with danger as they purposely drove their cars too close to us cyclist (and you can sense that this was their way of venting frustrations from having a bad day at work, etc). Then I found myself driving behind a cyclist who was riding in the middle of the road, knew cars were behind him but made no effort to move to the right until a stream of cars behind me built up and I had to pass in the opposite lane when the opposing traffice was clear. I honked my horn in disgust and the cyclist acted like I was inconveniencing his ride. Bad apples on both sides of the tarmac ... that rot the opinions of the majority of the riders/drivers who are considerate.

Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy

I saw a sound bite for a story on the news not too long ago about how the newer computerized cars are in danger of being hacked. We really don't need to add another layer of technology to cars that can be hacked.

Originally Posted by john gault

Yes, you made a good point. The number of incidents don't match up to all the talk.

I live in Florida, the deadliest roads in America for cyclists, but I really can't tell the difference riding here than any other city I've ridden in, quite a few since I'm retired Navy and have lived in a few places -- been commuting by bike virtually my entire Navy career.

I do hear of a lot of cycling fatalities here, but it's important to note that a significant majority are just recreational bike riders (a product of our climate) who don't know the rules of the road apply to bikes as well. Can't tell of how many stupid things I seen these people do.

Originally Posted by genec

The issues however are that when conflicts do arise, and the cyclist is a skilled operator (one who knows the rules and rides predictably), said conflict can easily result in severe injuries or death for the cyclist and no repercussions for the motorist.

Originally Posted by San Rensho

Mayberry RFD sounds like a nice place to live, but in the real world of MIami, FL, there isn't a week that goes by that I don't get yelled at, buzzed or intentionally cut off when I bike. Actually, maybe where you live is reality and Miami is the 7th level of bicycle hell.

Originally Posted by TheHen

I would say that while conflicts are rare in the sense that the proportion of problem motorists is much less than half, for people who ride as many miles as the average American drives, a day without someone putting our lives at risk is a rare gift.

Originally Posted by john gault

True, that's physics. Same holds true for drivers of those Smart cars vs. drivers of very large vehicles.

Originally Posted by San Rensho

Mayberry RFD sounds like a nice place to live, but in the real world of MIami, FL, there isn't a week that goes by that I don't get yelled at, buzzed or intentionally cut off when I bike. Actually, maybe where you live is reality and Miami is the 7th level of bicycle hell.

Originally Posted by Kinst_VonSterga

This is what baffles me after all these years, that people will quickly side one way or another, depending on if their foot is pushing a bicycle pedal versus a gas pedal.