Lets talk bikes+ cars the resulting road rage
10-06-12, 12:32 PM
#51
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Lets start with some background. Way back when, when I was young and still had my license I played paintball, and if you've never played they build paintball fields out in the middle of nowhere. On the way there was this long, windy road that was well paved and a lot of cyclist would ride it every morning around the time I was on my way to the field. Unfortunately, there was only the road, there was no sidewalk and no bike lane. So, the cyclist would have to ride on the side of the road and would hug the line of the road to let cars go by.
I don't know if this is the cause of rage of most drivers, but at the time, I would attribute my annoyance to two reasons:
1. My safety, this was a winding road, in Florida, and you always have to vigilant because the drivers are morons, so when I had to move over to avoid the cyclists, if I was on a curve I wouldn't be able to see oncoming cars.
2. I didn't understand why the cyclist would put themselves in that situation. I'd see these guys and wonder why they would consistently put their lives in my hands. Courtesy is hard wired into my mind(my parents raised me right, despite my attempts to thwart them when I was young and dumb
) and I would slow down or move around, try and keep them safe, but it got annoying because I was thinking "suppose I was a new driver and wasn't paying attention? All it takes is a text message(I hate people who can't get off their phone when driving) to send me flying into a group of bikers with nothing to protect them but a bowl of Styrofoam and form fitting pants."
So, my opinion of cyclists were these morons with a death wish or too much faith in their fellow man who put the burden of their safety into my hands and it was annoying. It was like those kids who think there is no better activity to do on a jungle gym than to nose dive off the monkey bars. I wanted to put every single biker in a corner to reflect on their actions because I didn't like being put in charge of the lives of those cyclists.
So, now that I am a cyclist myself, I do everything in my power to not put other drivers in that situation and the "share the road" T-shirts kind of annoy me becomes it comes off as pretentious: "I'm on a bike and don't feel like paying attention, so you should watch out for me because I am not going to watch out for you."
So, to summarize, I think some of the rage from drivers comes from the cyclists simply not paying attention and turning their point A to point B commute into a sick game of "dodge the moron." So, to everyone who has read this far, you're as responsible for those near misses as the "*******" is driving the car, so try and give the 2 ton metal object the right-of-way at all times.
I don't know if this is the cause of rage of most drivers, but at the time, I would attribute my annoyance to two reasons:
1. My safety, this was a winding road, in Florida, and you always have to vigilant because the drivers are morons, so when I had to move over to avoid the cyclists, if I was on a curve I wouldn't be able to see oncoming cars.
2. I didn't understand why the cyclist would put themselves in that situation. I'd see these guys and wonder why they would consistently put their lives in my hands. Courtesy is hard wired into my mind(my parents raised me right, despite my attempts to thwart them when I was young and dumb
) and I would slow down or move around, try and keep them safe, but it got annoying because I was thinking "suppose I was a new driver and wasn't paying attention? All it takes is a text message(I hate people who can't get off their phone when driving) to send me flying into a group of bikers with nothing to protect them but a bowl of Styrofoam and form fitting pants."So, my opinion of cyclists were these morons with a death wish or too much faith in their fellow man who put the burden of their safety into my hands and it was annoying. It was like those kids who think there is no better activity to do on a jungle gym than to nose dive off the monkey bars. I wanted to put every single biker in a corner to reflect on their actions because I didn't like being put in charge of the lives of those cyclists.
So, now that I am a cyclist myself, I do everything in my power to not put other drivers in that situation and the "share the road" T-shirts kind of annoy me becomes it comes off as pretentious: "I'm on a bike and don't feel like paying attention, so you should watch out for me because I am not going to watch out for you."
So, to summarize, I think some of the rage from drivers comes from the cyclists simply not paying attention and turning their point A to point B commute into a sick game of "dodge the moron." So, to everyone who has read this far, you're as responsible for those near misses as the "*******" is driving the car, so try and give the 2 ton metal object the right-of-way at all times.
04-20-13, 03:25 AM
#52
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I doubt that many people, or even a few people, are angered by someone else putting themselves in danger. This is what a person might say, look at that idiot with a death wish, to rationalize his anger or inappropriate actions but that's not the cause of it. Actually believing it (which I also doubt) they would feel morbid fascination maybe. Resentment that the other person is doing something that they couldn't do or wouldn't dare. But that's not where road rage comes from.
04-22-13, 10:45 PM
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Vital Signs, seriously -- I'm not slamming you here, I'm calling it as I see it -- you present yourself as someone with the mindset of a first-time commuter, fearful of the "big bad cars on the road", and try to cement your claim of validity by saying that you DO indeed ride your bike. I'll grant you the truth that many FL drivers are willfully and dangerously stupid (one year in that state was enough for me), but you're being extreme and hyperbolic in your assertions. It does not really matter that many drivers don't know the law about bikes, or the nuances about it; they DO know that running over another person can easily land them in jail. NOBODY but an unrepentant thug wants the police sniffing around their activities, no matter how law-abiding they consider themselves to be (the thug doesn't care). You can say all you want that drivers are just, "GET OUTTA MY WAY, I'M DRIVING HERE!", but generally, they won't just PLOW somebody...GENERALLY.
Final point: your assumption that cyclists who ride anywhere but on/over the fog line on the edge of the road are oblivious is an obvious error; just because their heads aren't on a swivel does NOT mean they're unaware -- personally, even with Army artillery-induced hearing loss, I can hear a Prius approaching me from behind, and can judge pretty handily if they're SPEEDING towards me, or just going faster. There are such things as HEARING, PERIPHERAL VISION, SPATIAL AWARENESS, and the predisposition to "be ready for stupidity" -- MANY cyclists have these in their "defense arsenal".
06-03-13, 09:48 AM
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You're the only reason I wander into A&S, I thank you for your dry wit and humor.
As for the OP, welcome, worst area of the forum for a first post but you're brave. I can see where the other posters are coming from, and I can also see what you are saying. But when I am riding down the street, I have to assume the person driving past me in a bone shattering 2 ton brick will be as respectful of my well-being and safety as I would if the roles were reversed. But if you have limited experience at it, I would suggest doing it to have a more informed opinion. I know I was rather put off by riding on the road with cars, now I do it willingly just because it is easier and at times more fun.
As for the OP, welcome, worst area of the forum for a first post but you're brave. I can see where the other posters are coming from, and I can also see what you are saying. But when I am riding down the street, I have to assume the person driving past me in a bone shattering 2 ton brick will be as respectful of my well-being and safety as I would if the roles were reversed. But if you have limited experience at it, I would suggest doing it to have a more informed opinion. I know I was rather put off by riding on the road with cars, now I do it willingly just because it is easier and at times more fun.
10-08-13, 04:56 PM
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Floridian here. Lived in Gainesville and Pensacola and occasionally bike in Ocala. Even in Pensacola generally I was fine with taking the lane. The only times I ever was hit/almost hit? When I road on the sidewalk or gave to much of the lane up.
I take the lane or else ride very slow (>5 mph) on the sidewalk.
I take the lane or else ride very slow (>5 mph) on the sidewalk.
11-09-13, 12:10 AM
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I have ridden on sidewalks in FL myself, specifically Old Scenic 98 along the coast at Mirarmar Beach. The "sidewalk" is more like a MUP alongside the road, used by lots of joggers and folks riding slowly on rented bikes. But for me that sidewalk was the WORST PLACE EVER to ride! Every hundred yards you had driveways with cars turning in or pulling out, and invariably they were looking at the road and NOT looking at what was coming from either direction on the sidewalk. Very, very dangerous. The driveways and street crossings USED to have painted crosswalks, but those have been removed and the painted STOP line is now placed AFTER the sidewalk, up at the edge of the main road. Absolutely ludicrous.
My problem with most of the OP's posts is that he incorrectly ASSumes that all road cyclists are paying no attention whatsoever to their surroundings. He ASSumes that because a cyclist is taking the lane that he MUST be oblivious. Simply not the case. I take the lane most of the time on multi-lane roads, and usually ride in the right tire track on 2-lane roads. But I use a helmet mirror, and never use earbuds, and also use very bright lights, high-vis, and reflective gear. I make myself as conspicuous and visible as possible, and am always aware of what's happening around me at all times.
THAT is how you stay safe on the roads, NOT by cowering off to the side.
My problem with most of the OP's posts is that he incorrectly ASSumes that all road cyclists are paying no attention whatsoever to their surroundings. He ASSumes that because a cyclist is taking the lane that he MUST be oblivious. Simply not the case. I take the lane most of the time on multi-lane roads, and usually ride in the right tire track on 2-lane roads. But I use a helmet mirror, and never use earbuds, and also use very bright lights, high-vis, and reflective gear. I make myself as conspicuous and visible as possible, and am always aware of what's happening around me at all times.
THAT is how you stay safe on the roads, NOT by cowering off to the side.
11-09-13, 01:51 AM
#58
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True, the driver may be in the wrong, however, his mistake will dent his car but you will be injured and possibly killed. It's defensive driving 101, expect the unexpected. It has to constantly be on your mind that there are people out their who either don't know the laws or just don't care and since they just got a very important text message with a picture of their friend making a funny face, watching where they are going isn't on their list of priorities and they run you over. Is it their fault? Entirely and without question it is the drivers fault, however, you face the consequences of his mistake.
Take a similar scenario involving just cars, say a drunk driver is swerving down the road in his giant pickup and t-bones another driver killing him. Who's fault is it? Obviously the drunk, the other driver couldn't possibly have expected it, however, the guy is still dead.
I think it's foolish for people to assume that just because there is a stop sign that the drunk is going to stop at it or to ride your bike as if the law is going to protect you from the 2 tons of metal driven by a ******.
That is why I think those bikers are morons, because they put their lives in the hands of the irresponsible ******* in control of these vehicles. When I mount a bike I don't trust any motorist, and if I have to give up the right-of-way so those morons can go barreling down the road that is something I have to live with so I can make it home safely. When I get on a bike I accept that I may be stuck at the crossing for a few more minutes to wait for the drivers who feel the rules don't apply to them because they have a TV program that they simply can't miss or if I have to take the long way to avoid roads that don't give me the safety buffer I need I do that, if the driver wants to kill himself that is his prerogative, however he isn't taking me down with him. In the end, it doesn't matter what the law states, it doesn't matter who's fault it is, you are still dead because you put too much trust in your fellow man.
And I think the opinions that make people not like cyclists is because of their flippant attitude about the pecking order of reality.
Take a similar scenario involving just cars, say a drunk driver is swerving down the road in his giant pickup and t-bones another driver killing him. Who's fault is it? Obviously the drunk, the other driver couldn't possibly have expected it, however, the guy is still dead.
I think it's foolish for people to assume that just because there is a stop sign that the drunk is going to stop at it or to ride your bike as if the law is going to protect you from the 2 tons of metal driven by a ******.
That is why I think those bikers are morons, because they put their lives in the hands of the irresponsible ******* in control of these vehicles. When I mount a bike I don't trust any motorist, and if I have to give up the right-of-way so those morons can go barreling down the road that is something I have to live with so I can make it home safely. When I get on a bike I accept that I may be stuck at the crossing for a few more minutes to wait for the drivers who feel the rules don't apply to them because they have a TV program that they simply can't miss or if I have to take the long way to avoid roads that don't give me the safety buffer I need I do that, if the driver wants to kill himself that is his prerogative, however he isn't taking me down with him. In the end, it doesn't matter what the law states, it doesn't matter who's fault it is, you are still dead because you put too much trust in your fellow man.
And I think the opinions that make people not like cyclists is because of their flippant attitude about the pecking order of reality.
11-15-13, 05:48 PM
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After having read over the thread, I have a few thoughts.
First off, defensive driving/riding does NOT mean succumbing/allowing other motorists or cyclists to push you around on the road. It means making sure you always have a way out, and being in control of your own destiny. Be aware of people in the cars around you. What are they doing? Is she doing her makeup? Is he texting? Is he tying his tie? etc. When one of these idiots invariably makes an erroneous move, you should be able to predict and react in plenty of time. It's never a surprise to me when someone blows past me so they can make a right hand turn .2 seconds faster. Intersections and merging are where the majority of danger lies for cyclists, so you have to take charge of the situation. Look. Signal. Look. Take the lane.
Once through the intersection, get back over (Into the bike lane). If the road is wide enough for safe passing, ride so cars can pass. If not, max out your speed until it is safe for cars to pass you. Don't be a dick and ride in the car lane if it is unnecessary.
Some things I do to take charge and assert my presence on the road:
Be Hi-vis. Wear bright colors, reflectors, and lights if possible.
Be assertive with hand signals and eye contact with the drivers. Taking the lane IS safer that slowly trying to "merge." Make sure they know what you are going to do before you do it.
Sprint through dangerous intersections.
When someone is courteous to you, thank them. Smile, wave, thumbs up, what have you. When someone encroaches your lane/space or makes a dangerous movement express your discontent in a non-combative way (if possible). But if you were riding defensively, you should still have your way out.
As far as sidewalks go: Here in San Diego it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk, unsafe for pedestrians AND cyclists. Trees often have low hanging branches, and it's slow.
I work at the beach in the summer time doing kayaking tours. Kayaks are pretty much the bicycles of the ocean, and in the eyes of the law, there is no difference between a kayak and a fishing boat, and a ski-boat. They are all 'vessels' and abide by the same rules. In the same way, bikes, motorcycles, cars and trucks are all vehicles. Same road, same rules.
First off, defensive driving/riding does NOT mean succumbing/allowing other motorists or cyclists to push you around on the road. It means making sure you always have a way out, and being in control of your own destiny. Be aware of people in the cars around you. What are they doing? Is she doing her makeup? Is he texting? Is he tying his tie? etc. When one of these idiots invariably makes an erroneous move, you should be able to predict and react in plenty of time. It's never a surprise to me when someone blows past me so they can make a right hand turn .2 seconds faster. Intersections and merging are where the majority of danger lies for cyclists, so you have to take charge of the situation. Look. Signal. Look. Take the lane.
Once through the intersection, get back over (Into the bike lane). If the road is wide enough for safe passing, ride so cars can pass. If not, max out your speed until it is safe for cars to pass you. Don't be a dick and ride in the car lane if it is unnecessary.
Some things I do to take charge and assert my presence on the road:
Be Hi-vis. Wear bright colors, reflectors, and lights if possible.
Be assertive with hand signals and eye contact with the drivers. Taking the lane IS safer that slowly trying to "merge." Make sure they know what you are going to do before you do it.
Sprint through dangerous intersections.
When someone is courteous to you, thank them. Smile, wave, thumbs up, what have you. When someone encroaches your lane/space or makes a dangerous movement express your discontent in a non-combative way (if possible). But if you were riding defensively, you should still have your way out.
As far as sidewalks go: Here in San Diego it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk, unsafe for pedestrians AND cyclists. Trees often have low hanging branches, and it's slow.
I work at the beach in the summer time doing kayaking tours. Kayaks are pretty much the bicycles of the ocean, and in the eyes of the law, there is no difference between a kayak and a fishing boat, and a ski-boat. They are all 'vessels' and abide by the same rules. In the same way, bikes, motorcycles, cars and trucks are all vehicles. Same road, same rules.
Last edited by xkjzix; 11-15-13 at 06:06 PM.
12-02-13, 11:05 PM
#60
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My experience has taught me that taking the lane is far and away the safest option if you're in town. If there are more than two lanes I don't even think twice: riding far to the right is an invitation to bad behavior so far's I've seen. Most of the road rage I've heard about/been privy to has actually been on the part of cyclists who feel they were recklessly endangered (yours truly included).
It's a two-way street, though, and a post above kind of covered it, that if cyclists behave like cars sometimes, then they must behave like cars all the time, if only for predictability's sake. There are only two times I can see cyclists in the wrong, and that is when they either ride on the sidewalk (although I'm not sure how I feel about BMX bikes in this situation), or when they ride with entitlement. Having blown through my share of stop signs, I share in this latter category. But riding like a car only when it's convenient is a) glaringly inconsistent and therefore dangerous because motorists have no idea what you're doing/about to do; b) the kind of other-disregarding behavior that really sticks in people's craw. People don't get aggressive readily when they feel like something completely mundane and un-noteworthy is happening; or, they're being respected.
Yeah, I wear Lycra (and lots of it!), but I do (now) stop at all stop signs: it's a trade-off of responsibilities and privileges. And for what it's worth, I'm only ever harassed by teenagers in Audis and they're only barely human, so yeah...
It's a two-way street, though, and a post above kind of covered it, that if cyclists behave like cars sometimes, then they must behave like cars all the time, if only for predictability's sake. There are only two times I can see cyclists in the wrong, and that is when they either ride on the sidewalk (although I'm not sure how I feel about BMX bikes in this situation), or when they ride with entitlement. Having blown through my share of stop signs, I share in this latter category. But riding like a car only when it's convenient is a) glaringly inconsistent and therefore dangerous because motorists have no idea what you're doing/about to do; b) the kind of other-disregarding behavior that really sticks in people's craw. People don't get aggressive readily when they feel like something completely mundane and un-noteworthy is happening; or, they're being respected.
Yeah, I wear Lycra (and lots of it!), but I do (now) stop at all stop signs: it's a trade-off of responsibilities and privileges. And for what it's worth, I'm only ever harassed by teenagers in Audis and they're only barely human, so yeah...
10-15-14, 09:52 PM
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you assume the primacy of cars.
taint so.
Streets are part of the commons.
Assuming the primacy of cars suggests thugs and bullies have more rights than anyone else.
If you don't, they won't.
taint so.
Streets are part of the commons.
Assuming the primacy of cars suggests thugs and bullies have more rights than anyone else.
If you don't, they won't.
04-01-15, 05:06 PM
#62
Senior Member
Lets start with some background. Way back when, when I was young and still had my license I played paintball, and if you've never played they build paintball fields out in the middle of nowhere. On the way there was this long, windy road that was well paved and a lot of cyclist would ride it every morning around the time I was on my way to the field. Unfortunately, there was only the road, there was no sidewalk and no bike lane. So, the cyclist would have to ride on the side of the road and would hug the line of the road to let cars go by.
I don't know if this is the cause of rage of most drivers, but at the time, I would attribute my annoyance to two reasons:
1. My safety, this was a winding road, in Florida, and you always have to vigilant because the drivers are morons, so when I had to move over to avoid the cyclists, if I was on a curve I wouldn't be able to see oncoming cars.
2. I didn't understand why the cyclist would put themselves in that situation. I'd see these guys and wonder why they would consistently put their lives in my hands. Courtesy is hard wired into my mind(my parents raised me right, despite my attempts to thwart them when I was young and dumb) and I would slow down or move around, try and keep them safe, but it got annoying because I was thinking "suppose I was a new driver and wasn't paying attention? All it takes is a text message(I hate people who can't get off their phone when driving) to send me flying into a group of bikers with nothing to protect them but a bowl of Styrofoam and form fitting pants."
So, my opinion of cyclists were these morons with a death wish or too much faith in their fellow man who put the burden of their safety into my hands and it was annoying. It was like those kids who think there is no better activity to do on a jungle gym than to nose dive off the monkey bars. I wanted to put every single biker in a corner to reflect on their actions because I didn't like being put in charge of the lives of those cyclists.
So, now that I am a cyclist myself, I do everything in my power to not put other drivers in that situation and the "share the road" T-shirts kind of annoy me becomes it comes off as pretentious: "I'm on a bike and don't feel like paying attention, so you should watch out for me because I am not going to watch out for you."
So, to summarize, I think some of the rage from drivers comes from the cyclists simply not paying attention and turning their point A to point B commute into a sick game of "dodge the moron." So, to everyone who has read this far, you're as responsible for those near misses as the "*******" is driving the car, so try and give the 2 ton metal object the right-of-way at all times.
I don't know if this is the cause of rage of most drivers, but at the time, I would attribute my annoyance to two reasons:
1. My safety, this was a winding road, in Florida, and you always have to vigilant because the drivers are morons, so when I had to move over to avoid the cyclists, if I was on a curve I wouldn't be able to see oncoming cars.
2. I didn't understand why the cyclist would put themselves in that situation. I'd see these guys and wonder why they would consistently put their lives in my hands. Courtesy is hard wired into my mind(my parents raised me right, despite my attempts to thwart them when I was young and dumb
) and I would slow down or move around, try and keep them safe, but it got annoying because I was thinking "suppose I was a new driver and wasn't paying attention? All it takes is a text message(I hate people who can't get off their phone when driving) to send me flying into a group of bikers with nothing to protect them but a bowl of Styrofoam and form fitting pants."So, my opinion of cyclists were these morons with a death wish or too much faith in their fellow man who put the burden of their safety into my hands and it was annoying. It was like those kids who think there is no better activity to do on a jungle gym than to nose dive off the monkey bars. I wanted to put every single biker in a corner to reflect on their actions because I didn't like being put in charge of the lives of those cyclists.
So, now that I am a cyclist myself, I do everything in my power to not put other drivers in that situation and the "share the road" T-shirts kind of annoy me becomes it comes off as pretentious: "I'm on a bike and don't feel like paying attention, so you should watch out for me because I am not going to watch out for you."
So, to summarize, I think some of the rage from drivers comes from the cyclists simply not paying attention and turning their point A to point B commute into a sick game of "dodge the moron." So, to everyone who has read this far, you're as responsible for those near misses as the "*******" is driving the car, so try and give the 2 ton metal object the right-of-way at all times.
I don't know how many cyclists are "hard ass" or "hard line"... I don't wear Lycra (unless you count my leg warmers , I wore shorts all winter, and had to don leg warmers)... I don't try to do any speed limit anymore, I was bitterly disappointed to find that drivers are Ingrates, and fail to appreciate the effort it takes a cyclist to tool along at thirty, for a mile or two...
Appeasement is a word which carries some negative connotations , especially after the 20th Century:
Appeasement | HISTORY
I feel I was trying to "Appease" the motorists by pushing my bicycle/velomobile faster, and there were some drivers who would not even acknowledge that I was doing the speed limit...
But that was Sprinting. What about taking longer rides? Not Racing, but rather a Touring Bike? I find that after twelve miles of riding, I get too tired to pay attention to what is both ahead and behind...
Other Cyclists may be in this situation. If we focussed entirely on what is behind us, we would not get very far, or crash into some obstacle in the roadway.
But I think we all sometimes fall into the habit of stereotyping , we remember, we are prepared to deal with, the "worst of the worst"...
The rear-view mirror is a relatively new invention, at least in terms of "Functionality", i.e. Optics and Ergonomics-"Applied Science", to eliminate the Blind Spot...
So, both by being a Human Road Cone, and constantly trying to remind motorists they have to go wider when they pass, perhaps the Cyclist in question is trying to protect other Cyclists, or has lost a dear friend to a motor vehicle...
I am Not sure, either way, I don't want to stereotype motorists, and I don't want them to stereotype cyclists.
But my current Theory, which I was just thinking about, is that the Cyclist is always prepared for the "worst of the worst" , Not using a Rear View Mirror, and focussing solely on the road ahead, he doesn't know who is coming up from behind , it could be the worst driver in the world (an *******...)
Too many motorists have startled cyclists , that is part of this theory. Now, the cyclists nerves are on edge. Too many motorists refuse to try riding a bike, "to see what it's like", probably because they figure, when they go to trial, they want to plead Ignorance. "Try walking a mile in the other guys shoes" ... "Do onto other as you would have others do onto you" ... The Golden Rule, is met by the response "I don't ride a Bicycle"...
My advice to cyclists is, don't let them get on your nerves. Get a Rear View Mirror, because that way, you won't be startled, which in turn keeps your nerves from getting frayed. The motorists aim is to get on your nerves, and then try to stereotype all cyclists as being "extremely edgy" . DON'T let the motorists startle you. Get the rear view mirror. I though motorists were supposed to be instructed that a bicycle can do 30 miles per hour , ever since 1960, when the first ten-speed bicycles were imported from Italy. BS. Ask any motorist how fast a bicycle can go, he'll tell you "five miles per hour"... No one ever heard of the ten-speed bicycle.
I must bid adieu. Thank you for reading this.
04-07-15, 01:50 AM
#63
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Wait... straddling the line? You mean the one between opposing lanes of traffic? Why are you so opposed to staying on the far edge of the outside lane or the sidewalk?
You guys are riding in the middle of the lane going 1/3 the speed limit and are surprised when people get fed up idling behind you and side swipe you. Instead of taking the hint and thinking "you know, maybe it isn't a good idea to try and personally enforce traffic laws because it clearly isn't working, so I think I'll just ride to the side of the road and allow people to safely pass me."
You guys are riding in the middle of the lane going 1/3 the speed limit and are surprised when people get fed up idling behind you and side swipe you. Instead of taking the hint and thinking "you know, maybe it isn't a good idea to try and personally enforce traffic laws because it clearly isn't working, so I think I'll just ride to the side of the road and allow people to safely pass me."
On the one hand your entire position is predicated on the concept that drivers *hate* being inconvenienced and not able to operate at their full speed, yet you argue that bicyclists should ride on the sidewalks, because even if they must go walking speed at that point, well, why do they need to be going full speed anyway? It's totally possible to safely get around at 1/3 or less of your max speed on a bike, and safety is what matters. Except when vehicles are involved, in which case they can't possibly be expected to go 1/3 or less of their max speed for the sake of safety.
Here's a novel concept- everyone traveling should do so as safely as possible, which for a bicycle, typically means being in a road and taking a lane, and that's *despite* the "unsurprising" lunatics with murderous intent who would rather kill someone than drive safely. Having the mindset you do, it's totally unsurprising that you're afraid to ride in the road, but trust me, lunatics who suffer road rage and want to kill someone because they caused them a few second's delay are the extreme exception, not the rule. Once again I want to reinforce that you should stop driving immediately, cut up your driver's license, and immediately switch to public transit, or some other arrangement, for the safety of everyone around you.
04-07-15, 09:23 AM
#64
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Personally this whole thread just pisses me right off, especially the OP.
When I last posted above, I had only just started commuting a few months prior. Now I've been commuting to work by bike nearly 2 years. Believe me when I say LANE CONTROL WORKS!!! And I don't just ride in the right tire track anymore. I ride squarely in the center of the lane or towards the left tire track if it's a narrow lane. That puts me directly front and center of a motorist's "cone of vision", which gives me the BEST chance of being seen. Lights, high-vis, reflective stuff, all that helps. But lane position trumps all when it comes to being seen, and being seen early enough to give the motorist time to react to me being there.
I do not get close passes. Motorists change lanes to pass 99.94% of the time, on all laned roadways. Some of them aren't happy about it, but oh well. They still saw me, and they still changed lanes to pass me. Roads are first-come, first-served, and I happen to be there first. There is no guarantee of a minimum speed limit on any roadway, period.
Oh and this notion of cyclists must not be paying attention from Vital_Signs, and hotbike's notion of motorists being "out to get cyclists" or that their aim is to get on cyclists' nerves, is all complete and utter BS. Other than the .01% of motorists who are just psychotic, everyone just wants to get where they need to go. People aren't "out to get us". All too often, motorists don't even notice the cyclists who are hugging the curb or road edge, or riding on the sidewalk, and that's how many cyclists end up dead.
The best thing you can do is learn crash avoidance techniques, such as those taught by CyclingSavvy and the American Bicycle Education Association. FAQ: Why do you ride like that? | CyclingSavvy
When I last posted above, I had only just started commuting a few months prior. Now I've been commuting to work by bike nearly 2 years. Believe me when I say LANE CONTROL WORKS!!! And I don't just ride in the right tire track anymore. I ride squarely in the center of the lane or towards the left tire track if it's a narrow lane. That puts me directly front and center of a motorist's "cone of vision", which gives me the BEST chance of being seen. Lights, high-vis, reflective stuff, all that helps. But lane position trumps all when it comes to being seen, and being seen early enough to give the motorist time to react to me being there.
I do not get close passes. Motorists change lanes to pass 99.94% of the time, on all laned roadways. Some of them aren't happy about it, but oh well. They still saw me, and they still changed lanes to pass me. Roads are first-come, first-served, and I happen to be there first. There is no guarantee of a minimum speed limit on any roadway, period.
Oh and this notion of cyclists must not be paying attention from Vital_Signs, and hotbike's notion of motorists being "out to get cyclists" or that their aim is to get on cyclists' nerves, is all complete and utter BS. Other than the .01% of motorists who are just psychotic, everyone just wants to get where they need to go. People aren't "out to get us". All too often, motorists don't even notice the cyclists who are hugging the curb or road edge, or riding on the sidewalk, and that's how many cyclists end up dead.
The best thing you can do is learn crash avoidance techniques, such as those taught by CyclingSavvy and the American Bicycle Education Association. FAQ: Why do you ride like that? | CyclingSavvy
04-07-15, 10:50 AM
#65
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Think of another scenario, you as an American have the right to freedom of expression, however if you walk around Harlem wearing a T-shirt that says "I hate black people" you're going to get your ass kicked and nobody is going to be very sympathetic even though you "were the victim of an unprovoked case of assault and battery when you were just exercising your rights as an American."
Vital_Signs has captured something profound here. In his (and many drivers' minds), the existence of a cyclist in a position that requires them to slow down, stop, exercise caution, change lanes, etc. is tantamount to an aggressive insult that justifies violence. It's the drivers' territory first and foremost, so anything that happens to you as a result of pissing them off is your fault.
04-07-15, 12:20 PM
#66
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Yes, riding your bike in the lane is exactly like wearing a racist T-shirt in an African-American neighborhood.
Vital_Signs has captured something profound here. In his (and many drivers' minds), the existence of a cyclist in a position that requires them to slow down, stop, exercise caution, change lanes, etc. is tantamount to an aggressive insult that justifies violence. It's the drivers' territory first and foremost, so anything that happens to you as a result of pissing them off is your fault.
Vital_Signs has captured something profound here. In his (and many drivers' minds), the existence of a cyclist in a position that requires them to slow down, stop, exercise caution, change lanes, etc. is tantamount to an aggressive insult that justifies violence. It's the drivers' territory first and foremost, so anything that happens to you as a result of pissing them off is your fault.
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GrantH
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