urbanknight

On my way to the gym this afternoon, I was about to turn left when I saw a cyclist racing off the sidewalk into the crosswalk. Unfortunately for him, the car turning right in the other direction didn't see him and he bounced off her fender, taco-ing the wheel. By the time I parked and walked over to see if they needed anything, he was already getting in her car and waved me off. I don't even know the laws around here regarding bicycles on sidewalks, but you have to keep in mind nobody's expecting somethig to be travelling 15+ mph on the sidewalk.

So I tell this story to my wife, who then tells me that earlier today, she stopped at a stop sign and then proceeded when the only thing she saw was a cyclist coming up towards the stop to her side. He never slowed or stopped, and then had the nerve to hit the back of her car. She's not a hot head, but I told her I would have been more than happy to discuss the laws as they apply to bicycles with him. These idiots give us all a bad name!

Just had to vent. Thanks for reading.

patentcad

>>Idiot cyclists<<

Redundant.

Reaper0Bot0

Sorry, dude, I was in a hurry.

RacerOne

You guys in CA have more cyclists hit, run over, yelled at and who knows else than I have seen in my area all year. I'm not sure which is better.

nycphotography

Try NYC. Cycling is a full contact sport here.

roadiejorge 

I never thought I'd say this but I actually don't miss riding in the city. Between the stop and go of traffic lights and the cars I find my rides on the quieter roads more enjoyable.

nycphotography

I absolutely agree. The traffic is annoying... its a necessary evil that has to be endured to get to more open roads. And there are very few of those.

urbanknight

That's true. I've watched videos of commuting in NYC and it's more exciting than the World Series.

tradtimbo

You drove to the gym? to work out? Where's your bike?

roadiejorge 

I used to have a blast racing messengers up 6th avenue, weaving in and out of traffic etc. Surprisingly I didn't have too many bad encounters with motorists but nowadays I'm older and have a daughter to think about, last thing I want to be is the idiot dad who died because I was still up to the same antics as if he were in his 20s.


The defining moment for me was when I found myself literally stuck in traffic, the cars were so close together I couldn't get around and had to wait. What I liked about riding in the city was being able to get around quickly, once that was gone the prospect of standing between cars inhaling fumes wasn't too pleasant. I still commute to work every so often and it's a welcome change of scenery from my 9W morning rides, going down Riverside Drive into Midtown isn't too bad at all.

ok_commuter

I did it for 3 years, but I didn't truly start enjoying it until my commute was from Carroll Gardens, BKLYN to lower Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge.

jdott

It's definitely a problem. I guess they were taught to ride on the sidewalk when they were kids, and when they get the DUI, they keep riding the same way.

Quijibo187

Watching paint dry is more exciting than the World Series too.

I wonder if there's YouTube videos of that.

yogi13

Lord knows there seem to be almost as many idiot cyclists as drivers in SoCal. There was one commuter that used to travel the same route as I did in my car for about four blocks from my home. He typically did at least 3-4 illegal, erratic and potentially dangerous maneuvers in that distance. He ran into me at a stop sign once when I stopped and he didn't.

urbanknight

I want to ride to my gym, but it's in a not-so-good part of town and the bike rack is out of view from everyone. I have yet to see anything other than a crappy Walmart special locked to that rack... until today, when someone rode up on a Scattante road bike. It's got me thinking, but I don't know just yet.

urbanknight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PjUvZm-6PU

Quijibo187

thank you. I now have something to do in october

woodrow5

same situations are always happened in Seattle, WA!

skunkdesign

Ever tried Central London before the congestion charge?
I have never cycled central NYC at rush hour but in central London it is such a demanding thing.
Speed is the key. If you are slow you are dead. Buses are your mates.

It used to be a though guys only game before the c. charge. It was in 2001 when I first saw a guy on a track bike - no brakes, single gear. I coud not keep up with him and lost track.
It is a lot more people on bicycles now.

monporn

it's quite sad when people do things that are not safe for them. on my commute to work a fellow rider rode straight through a roundabout when he should not have been (i wonder what you call the equivalent of a 'boy-racer' on a cycle??). he did bounce off the side of a skidding car. thankfully he was not hurt and was the very picture of contrition when being schooled on the laws of the road.
that said, London has improved vastly for cyclists in my view. cars are slightly more mindful, and i guess cyclists could also do with being more mindful, like my race roadie whom i just described..

patentcad

Like USCF bicycle racing?

monporn

in that context? no. just like i suppose i would not call a skydiver a saddo!

but if you were Zabriskie then i'd say you need to ease up on the accidentiness!

blacksquid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN2zc...eature=related

lukasz

NYC during rush hour is fairly safe most of the time because cars aren't actually moving.

Longfemur

There are as many "idiot cyclists" as there are idiot motorists and idiot pedestrians nowadays. We live in a degenerate civilization where people who follow the normal rules of law and civility are ridiculed, and rule breakers are celebrated. Riding in the city most of the time, I find I have to be extra vigilant to protect myself against all three: other cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. I often use transit buses as a kind of shield against other vehicles in many situations, because they are big and predictable. I also find that speed is an essential defence, more than it was in the past. You have to accelerate fast, stop fast, go fast, for which reason I now set up my road bike with a bias for speed over comfort. My bike set-up as actually become more aggressive now than when I was younger.