JoeyBike

I have absorbed a lot of grief on this board over the years about my riding style in New Orleans. I've been called paranoid among other things. I try to keep my speed above 20mph and never stop for red lights unless I absolutely have to. I ride on THIS street 10 times a week minimum during my commute. I have been targeted twice but avoided both attempts by NOT riding in the bike lane but flowing with traffic.

It's easy to say how others should cycle and obey the law to the letter when you live in a civilized country. And if you ignore the facts on the ground in NOLA you might get a baseball bat in the chops.

Random Attacks On Cyclists With Baseball Bats in New Orleans

This stuff happens all the time but very rarely makes headlines here. This is small potatoes compared to the crime here on a regular basis.

njkayaker

BS excuse.

Two attacks reported. One attack at 2:00 AM and the other "later that morning".

It's not likely that riding above 20mph is really going to be a magical way of avoiding being attacked.

spivonious

Maybe the attackers thought the riders were "that guy who speeds through red lights at 20mph".

FBinNY

As you point out, you get grief form the folks here.

Personally, I never speak to other people about how they ride, since it's not my problem, but why post in a way to draw grief, then whine about it?

JoeyBike

Why ask "why"? Go about your biz since it's "not your problem".

FBinNY

It was rhetorical question.

Enjoy the grief.

scott967

I've never ridden in NOLA, but it's pretty safe to say I would never be riding on Esplanade at N Robertson at 2:00 AM. Hell, you wouldn't find me past Rampart. Even in a car I wouldn't sit around at lights. I remember when the "temporary" casino was down there and they had watch towers in the parking lot, like in a super max prison. I think I would stick to Canal.

scott s.
.

02Giant 

"it's all because of like the intrusion of wealth into this area"
Really?

mconlonx 

Every time a rider blows a stop sign in NOLA, drivers get angry at me in ME.

Bandera

Paranoid sounds reasonable.
What are the "other things"?
Can we guess?

-Bandera

JoeyBike

That would all depend on where you live and how you get home from work or play at that hour. Keep in mind NOLA is a 24 hour city so 2:00am here is like 8pm almost anywhere else. There are plenty of people heading home from their shifts, concerts, bars, clubs, parties, or just visiting friends. So many service workers are night shift people. I do agree that more shenanigans of this sort generally occur during wee hours and/or under cover of darkness. And if you live right off Esplanade it wouldn't be safer to traverse the French Quarter for 14 blocks, then down Canal Street, then 14 blocks back through the heart of a bad neighborhood on terrible surfaces and even worse lighting.

The sort of assault that I posted happens here all the time. The only reason it hit the news is because there is a shiny new bike lane on Esplanade Ave, and new pristine tarmac which is drawing a lot more volume of cyclists to that main artery. Without the bike path any NOPD called to the scene would likely have asked the victim "Why are you cycling on THIS street?"

-=(8)=-

I rode the same way in South Florida. Riviera Beach to be exact. You always had to be vigilant of hoodrats running out of nowhere, or if you heard "HEY, THATS MY BIKE", ride like your life depends on it, 'cus it does. Giving hand signals was very dangerous, too. In that environment, I ultimately ended up on SS beaterbike and dressed like a homeless crackhead for my ride home everyday. Worked pretty well, relatively speaking.

aubiecat

Move.

scott967

Which is why my Dad now lives on the West Bank. But that doesn't seem like so great cycling either. A lot of roads are iffy (too much traffic for road size). I guess there is a bike path / MUP under the Westbank Expressway, but the way it's routed seems a bit of a pain at the cross streets.

scott s.
.

SnowJob

You think you got it rough? We have people throwing molotov cocktails at us up here in Minneapolis.

Fact is, every major city is gonna have some psychos in it. Just gotta be vigilant.

Hlxdrummer

Joking aside, I would do the same thing you are doing.

koolerb

Friggin scary.

spdracr39

I already know what you are going to say but If my life was in jeopardy in an area I was compelled to travel frequently for whatever reason I would move. If you have a low paying job causing you to have to stay in this region well those jobs are plentiful so no problem there. If you have a high paying job that can't be replaced then you can afford to move to a better area. Rather than whining and risking your life go somewhere else!!! If you choose to continue to stay then it is by your choice and I don't feel for you.

-=(8)=-

Be happy you've done your part to elevate the species, today

3alarmer 

...I think I speak for all the people angry at you in ME, when I say that New Orleans has little to do with it. It's just you.

Astrozombie

Wouldn't 20mph make a bat clothesline more painful?.........
Hope the OP lives in a free state where that is allowed.

AdrianFly

Joeybike! Keep up the incredible cycling!


What happened to your webpage?

JoeyBike

Way more trouble than it was worth. I killed it. Sorry.

Just removed the link from my BF profile. Thanks for reminding me.

DogBoy

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

AdrianFly

You need to repost the article on people who lean on the Throttle.