koger

Hi

I have been riding a bit in the states, and it seems a bit different that back home. Cars honk the horn from time to time, why is that. Are people here just not used to bikes on the road? I have noticed that there are very few fellow bike riders here. Do you guys get that too?

About dogs, I talked to some guy, who have bitten by a dog. What's that I have never heard of anything like that before, was he just unlucky or is that a risk here. How do I tackle this situation?

How do I find some good biking routes?

I live in Loganville, Georgia (20 miles east of Atlanta)

The_Convert

step #1...

get out of GA.


But seriously, just like in Europe, it matters more in what area you are riding within the country, than the country itself.

cyclezealot

koger. I bike on both continents. Some parts of America are more bike friendly than others. No few Americans cycle. You must be more cafeful here, because some Americans harbor ill will towards cyclists. I have been harassed many times in California, but so far not once in Roussillon.
To find the good bike routes, go to a bike shop , see if there is a local bike advocacy group or local cyclists magazine catering to regional cyclists. Connect with them.
I understand in Georgia , the area north of Atlanta about Helen is pretty nice bike country. No explanation. Just that Americans are like car crazy. . Reason they are among the world's more overweight.

CrimsonKarter21

Okay Mr. Roboto. People who drive in the US are priveleged and don't understand why anyone would ride a bike instead of driving a boring, manilla colored car every day. They also don't realize that it's illegal to ride on a sidewalk in most places. On top of this, wearing tight clothes are foreign concepts to them, yet college wrestling and American football are signs of machoness.

rufvelo

SOmetime to annoy/scare you, other times simply to warn you that they're passing thru - you can tell from type of honk.

No dogs in Europe? That's not what I've heard. Luckily, depending on the bite and circumstances, wonderful legal system here can ensure that you're set after bite.

Do not tackle the dog, repeat, Do not tackle the dog!

Impoliticus

Cars honk because the people inside them are extremely impatient. I ride a moped to and from work, well, I ride the moped when I'm not communiting on my bike. Anyway, people feel the need to honk because I'm "only" doing 35mph. My advice, ignore the honking cars because these people don't understand that roads are shared.

As for few fellow cyclists, the amount of cyclists depends on where you are located. I just moved to Phoenix (from Chicago) and there are WAY more cyclists in Phoenix. On my ride this Saturday, I saw at least 30 other cyclists.

Rural communities seem to have more dogs that like to chase bikes. I don't really have any advice other than keep track of where the dogs live, and a) try and avoid the dogs, or b) be ready to sprint.

botto 

where exactly are you from in europe? it's a reasonably large stretch of land. kind of a sweeping generalization to compare a continent to an area that's outside of atlanta.

cyclezealot

As I see it, the greatest threat to my life was having cars intentionally swerve at me, in an attempt to force me off the road. I'd call it attempted murder. Happened to me twice. Had cyclist friends behind me. They agreed. It had to have been intentional. All that happened over a course of ten plus years of cycling in California. Be careful. That and punks throwing fruit, tin cans, and spit my way. And, ,my area was thought to be more bike friendly than much of the US. Almost always, we had wide shoulders keeping me out of the way of cagers.
Worst I know to have happend to cyclists friends. On the coastal highway in San Diego county, a friend was hit on the backside by a baseball bat. Again, be careful. Few Americans are that nasty. Usually its just the punk high schoolers who need to grow up still.