Myths you found out were false when getting into biking but wish were true:

A good bike couldn't go for more than about 300 bucks, right?

Myth: Road signs make the roads safer.

A 30-speed bike should be able to go 60 mph on flat ground. It's funny how many non-cyclists believe that having more gears means you automatically go faster.

Or that online discussions inevitably degenerate into flame wars. It's been a lot of fun trading barbs with you, GriddleCakes. :)

I don't recall if it's been mentioned in this thread, but there's something like the converse of this myth: namely, that bikes travel so slowly on the streets that a motorist has oodles of lead time to merge, make turns, etc. I know I'm not the only one who has to deal regularly with drivers and pedestrians making this miscalculation.

LOL! I think we have a winner.

A 'Bike' is always a motorcycle.

When people assume that my 'Bike' is a motorcycle I correct them "Not a motorcycle - a REAL bike"

"As far right as practicable" doesn't mean "right next to the curb all the time," and the cyclist is the one to determine what is practicable. My gf and I were on a stretch of road where the right of the lane was literally destroyed; were talking tire-width splits, loose concrete, potholes, the works. She was struggling over it to stay far right, saying she felt like she was in the way. My response: don't ride in that crap! You have the right, and they have to go around you.

I did get to yell at a guy today who passed me with literally 3 inches to spare, and parked cars on my right (cars do own the road, after all). I like stop lights when they stop a driver who needs to be yelled at. I'm pretty sure he passed me very closely on purpose, judging by his change in lane position immediately after he passed me.

Basically, if we (drivers and cyclists) followed traffic laws we'd all be safer, but no one thinks the law matters or applies to them, which is why people ***** and moan about getting tickets. I'm not talking about cases where the spirit of the law is met, but when someone is caught drunk driving or blowing a stop light, they have no right to complain. In reality, the punishments should be much stiffer for most moving violations.

For example, why shouldn't speeding punished more harshly? It isn't like it's something you don't have control over, and if it you aren't in complete control of your vehicle, that's a very dangerous thing. Either you did it intentionally, or you're an incompetent driver; in either case, you don't have any business behind the wheel. This extends to all moving violations. Wielding a dangerous weapon should not be taken so lightly.

Don't take away only the license. Take their cars. Incarcerate them. Whatever. Not my problem. If you can't drive, don't.