Yes, I know that, but was not clear why I decided to use the foot down stop instead of a track stand. Putting my foot down lets the drivers know that I am really serious about stopping. It seems like it reduces the amount of confusion with motorists trying to wave me through when they have the right of way.

Yah, calling Eugene a "bike town" was a bit of a stretch:)

After almost getting creamed by a full-sized SUV this past December (totally my fault by the way), and very badly re-injuring my right hamstring, I decided, with much prodding by my family, that I had many other options and bike paths on which to ride. As such, except for very short, 1/4 mile or less, quiet streets/roads, I stay off venues where there is vehicular traffic.

I have to admit that although there is one back road route that I miss, I've been very happy just being on the bike, and riding both safety and worry-free.

Best regards

Really? Happened to me all the time.

Well, I own 3 pickup trucks (only one diesel 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive with lift kit), and ride a bicycle daily...not sure exactly what I would be classified as, but then again, don't much give a damn either...I enjoy my trucks and my bicycles, don't much care what other folks do...or say as they speed by....

The few times folks have yelled negative comments and/or thrown an object, I was between towns touring with a fully loaded bike. In Delaware, on a wide road with a wide shoulder (which we were on), teenage boys in a pickup threw a soft drink bottle at my daughter and me on a tandem. Fortunately, they missed.

On another tour, up in South Dakota, some drunks in a car yelled obscenities at my colleague and me, but that was the last we saw of them.

More often, I have had folks slow down, or even stop, to say nice things about my two daughters and me on the triplet, or to ask about the recumbent. Interestingly, the folks that seem to "dis" me/us whether on the triplet or 'bent are the "serious" road bike riders (wannabe racers), who, I guess, feel that I am / we are not serious enough.

Where ever the disrespect, hurled objects, profanity etc. comes from I just have a hard time understanding it. Is it because they are in a vehicle (car OR truck) that can go faster than the bike? Do these people not like seeing others having a good time or being fit? Is it the "loud" clothing a lot of cyclists wear? It's pretty sad when people feel they need to harass cyclists just because they can. Go harass something that has a cause behind it. BTW I have a full size pickup too. Around these parts if you're going to see lowlifes, more often than not they are in a pickup. I have no idea why this is, I can only guess that somehow, owning and driving a pick up gets you in the good ole boys club, driving a Prius does not

If you're riding through town, maybe use this as a sprint interval to catch up to them for a talk at the next light. I've done this quite a few times. When the people calling me names realize they get to see me again at the light, their attitudes usually change. Sometimes with a rolling up of the windows, other times with a good debate on road usage. It's real fun when I tell them they are on camera. Even though I can't 'get them' for anything, the look on their faces is usually priceless. Especially when it's an adult, with their teenagers that have slung the verbal assaults. Last time I caught up to one of them was last week. I asked them what they said back about a mile ago. They said 'nu uh we didn't say anything to you', not looking at me in the eyes. Then I said, 'you sure? well, we will let the video decide that'. They drove off and turned off of some side road. I don't think they wanted to continue the conversation at the next light. Just idiots doing stupid things. I've got a growing video file of people throwing items, insults, dangerous passes, etc... I'd say at least 5 out of 20 times I catch up to them at some point.

It's even more annoying when it's pouring rain or falling snow. It's like people don't like seeing others biking in bad weather. It's a hit on their excuses to not lead an active lifestyle, and lowers their self esteem even more.

I ride my bent on the paved mups we have locally. No exhaust fumes...

I ride my Mountain bike on the many single track trail systems we have locally. No exhaust fumes,,,
The tree's do jump out and hit me now and then but I usually see them coming and tuck, or at mtb speeds I can miss them entirely, usually,, well sometimes :P

I carry My folder with me to work and get In a short ride around a local park now and then..

You can have your bike lanes and 5,000 pound missles being piloted my texting careless fools..

Roadie gets killed, Dummy driving the car makes up an excuse, and gets to drive another day....

I choose to stay alive,
besides breathing real hard near max heart rate in the tunnel most roads form between homes buildings and trees
where many many cars roam constantly pumping poisons out Is not a very healthy way to breathe...

Frankly I'm scared to death riding the generous shoulder of the state road that is the only way out of our development. It's a very busy road with a 45mph speed limit but most are going 60+mph. We do take the bikes to destinations for bike path riding but I've lately been feeling the need to ride every day or at least every other day and the only way to get my fix is to risk riding the shoulder of the state road. I need to ride that road for a mile before I get to a far less travelled county road that still has a good paved shoulder. My neighbor thinks I have a suicide wish and says he'd NEVER ride the shoulder of the state road.

I ride along state and US (US 29) highways every day, no problems with this if you pay attention to what you are doing. these both have good well maintained bicycle lanes that I find easy to use. If you are really uncomfortable, then stay off of them, by all means. Riding where you are very nervous doesn't accomplish much. Not every one is scarred of them, however, and most of us are very much alive, last time I checked.

If the MUP or mtb/trails suits you best, then get the bicycle, and equipment, that you need, and enjoy every minute of your riding. Spending time putting other's riding choices down is pretty juvenile, and counter-productive, time better spent riding, IMHO.

Bill

As this thread has progressed I've looked back over my relatively brief cycling "career". I'm not counting the knock about the neighborhood riding as a kid.

The result is that I can't remember any more rectal orifice encounters on the bike than in a motor vehicle. In the ambulance I've had people ignore the lights and siren, race me, cut me off and countless other things. In the car or truck it is pretty routine for people to duck around from behind to in front to make an immediate right turn. Depending on the community deliberately attempting to cause a collision is pretty common.

But I've only had one serious personal injury. That was when another bike hit me head on. We made eye contact and he kept it until we coillided.

Bottom line: For me rectal orifices are such no matter the transportation mode. A person can drive/ride defensively. But sooner or later someone is very likely to get hurt. So, don't even think of the small stuff. It just wastes energy that could be used staying alive.

... I didn't think I was putting down anyone's riding choices? I admire those that have the courage to ride on the shoulder of busy state roads. I don't have the nerve, at least not yet

Not you, DBrown, that is directed at those that like to berate other's choices. You are seeming to be a good contributor here, you have lots of good questions, that need to be answered, when someone is getting back into riding, at our ages. I should have been clearer, but personal attacks are a bannable (sp?) offense.

Bill

I suffer the most regular, routine abuse on what was formerly a country road that now conveys upper middle class commuters to and from their bedroom communities on the outskirts of northern VA-DC sprawl. They're lined up on one side of the road, shouting at me that I should be riding on the paved path with the other recreationalists. I prefer the road.

Shouts each time I ride this road now. It's sad. I suppose one day I'll be run off this road and killed... Oh well.

I started doing this a long time ago as well. Don't actually put my foot on the ground unless I have to stop. Often when they see my foot off the pedal, hovering above the ground, the car having the right of way will go on. This speeds up the process instead of waving at each other like the 2 toon gophers;

"Please, you go first."
"Oh no, you first."...

As with most anything people are engaged in, there will be the 2% of malcontents, the anti social types that hate everything and everybody. Life is easier if you try to pay no attention to them if you can.

About 20 years ago when I lived in the Boston area I took my mountain bike out for a ride in the neighborhood during a massive blizzard. Huge fluffy flakes were falling at a ridiculous rate, accumulating at over 2"/hour. It was kinda fun. But practically every driver that passed me felt compelled to roll down their window and yell "Get off the road!" or "You're crazy!" at me.

I'm a born and raised redneck who was taught courtesy and respect for all. I believe the people being discussed here are just "good for nothing rude jerks and jerkettes."

Yea, we've chatted about this, eh? I think it's all pretty much bullying behavior, ultimately rooted in the perpetrator's insecurities/frustrations.

For me:

1. The most courteous demographic award goes to the manual laborers heading to work with their lawnmowers and stuff in the back of their beat up pick up truck.

2. The least courteous demographic award goes to the 20-30yo males in their $40K full-sized pickups.

I've noticed an inverse correlation between income and courtesy. I dunno if wealthier people are in more of a hurry, more type-A, more entitled, or what.

The wealthy are less likely to actually throw things at you or confront you. Sure they may honk the horn or shout something but usually they are cowards and know they'd end up losing in an actual fight. If you say "bring it" to a bunch of rednecks in a truck, you might just get your wish. :)

Was I dissed or complimented? The other day a passing motorist (well, actually, the passenger) shouted out his car at me: "Nice bike, you a-hole!" I had to agree... It is a nice bike!

200 yards from home last weekend, after one of the best rides of my life, some redneck kid in a 4x4 pickup shouted out of the passenger window, "NICE ASS!" On the same ride I got the diesel black cloud treatment about 20 miles out. It's one thing if you're coasting, quite another if you're climbing and already gasping for every last molecule of o2. If I had video I might've tried to sue, that's a form of assault, IMO. But the GoPRO was left home that day.

In 1987 I narrowly missed being hit by a half-full beer can spinning and sailing past my head. Got lots o' suds though. This was before I wore a helmet, so it was kind of nice to cool down a little.

199/200 vehicles give me more than enough room when they pass, they're courteous, and a couple even wave. Most rides are uneventful. Sometimes weeks go by without a close call. We always remember the idiots.

Regular Boston suburban commuter here. I'm fortunate enough to have some good bike paths and trails to commute on. I do however have some side roads to ride on as well. Rudeness abounds , I try hard to ignore. Sometimes I wave, other times I may say, " Jesus loves you" It catches them off guard I hope. My mirror helps a lot. I had one car driver, sitting in stopped traffic shout" Get a car" I turned around told him that it only takes 15 minutes more to pedal home the 18 miles than it does to drive. I pedaled away, leaving him to his thoughts, stopped in traffic. Go figure.

I agree with this. Being a jerk has a lot to do with the person and has little to do with economics.

Some time ago, I had some high school kids drive by and throw a hand full of change in my face. Fortunately I was wearing glasses or the results could have been a disaster. My daughter, then a high school senior, happened to be at school that day when some kids were bragging about doing this to cyclists in general. She promptly tore into them over their behavior. My understanding is that when junior boys are called out by senior girls, social standing is seriously impacted. I loved it. Karma.

J.