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Every day that I ride my bicycle to work, I am leaving my car; my BMW road bike; my CT70; and my KTM 450 at the house, and every one of them is licensed for the road. So, as a cyclists, even though I am not on a motorized vehicle, I DEFINITELY pay for the road.
Aside from that, I see both sides of this argument. When I ride, I am in the gutter. I ride within 4" of the curb, and am NO WHERE NEAR that white line. That is my personal choice of where to ride. I have read many articles that say "Hey, you are entitled to a traffic lane, and you should take it, so that motorists HAVE to accommodate you, which makes it safer for you."
Personally, I don't agree with that. Many motorists have Road Rage, and the moment that you hinder them IN THE LEAST, they are ready to mow you over. Even though I am as far to the right as possible, I still get the buzzes; horn honks, and verbal jousts on a daily basis.
This year, I entered into three events called a "Gran Fondo", which is a very low-key "race" that will be about 80 some-odd miles; some paved and some on gravel and dirt roads. About 75% of the bikes entered will be road bikes with 25c tires (just a bit wider than a typical "road" tire.) I find that the "debris" that is out on the side of the road is NOT the flat hazard that this cyclists is trying to cite.
In my opinion, this cop was a total ass, but I think that the cyclist should have been farther to the right than he was riding, but I think the law allows him to ride where he was.
Idaho has the best laws in the nation with regards to cyclists. They have "incentivized" it to make it a worthy consideration for the commute.
1. You have the right to the lane, even if a bike lane is provided.
2. When you come to a stop sign, if you deem the "coast is clear", you can proceed through without stopping.
3. When you come to a stop light, you are required to come to a full stop, but, again, if you deem the "coast is clear', you are allowed to proceed.
Many motorists want to yell and scream and buzz you when you are able to move through these intersections faster than they can, but the law allows it, and they simply are not as familiar with the laws as they think they are. Everyone of them yells "you are under the same laws as cars are", but that is simply not the case. Your state might be different.
http://itd.idaho.gov/bike_ped/Idaho_Vehicle_Code_for_Bikes.pdf
Good point you have made, sir. I agree 100%.
And for the other cars and motorcycles that aren't going as fast as I'd like...there is a difference between 5 or maybe10 mph under the speed limit...and going 2-5 mph while impeding traffic (which makes you a road hazard).
Yes, you have just as much "right" to the road as I have...but don't be an arrogant jerk that delights in holding up traffic because "you can"....
Who ever made it law that cyclists have as much right to the road as vehicles...is an idiot. They move MUCH slower than vehicles, force cars into oncoming traffic to go around them...they're a frikkin' road hazard...and need to be kept OFF the roads that don't have a bike lane, and then ticketed if they don't stay in the bike lane.
Look maybe you are "legal" riding 3 inches from the white line...and legally maybe you should have three feet (in the case of that video I posted...if I have to go around a two up pack of riders...there isn't room on the darn road to give them three feet)...and legally, maybe you do have a "right" to the entire lane....but would you rather be "right" or "dead"??? Because imposing your legal rights on cars is going to get you killed. Yes, the driver will be at fault...but you'll still be dead. So who is the real loser?
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That right there is pretty funny.
I read a book called "The Lost Cyclist", telling a story of a dude who rode around the world in the early 1880's. Got killed somewhere in the middle east.
What was funny is that it was talking about how the "friction" between cyclists and other users has always been there. Fist-fighting in the streets was not an uncommon thing. Difference was, back then, it was the cyclists and horse-drawn carriages that had the problems. And it was the cyclists who were going too fast.
Cyclists are probably the consistent users, for longer, and yet you think they have no right. I would say that your sense of "entitlement" is showing......
On some country roads (those without bike lanes...and when the cyclists refuse to use the bike lane) they are a road HAZARD...the only entitlement that is showing on my part is that I feel I'm entitled to get where I'm going without being held up by 75 cyclists going 2 mph and blocking the entire lane forcing me to go into the other lane-putting myself, my wife, and kids and the occupants of any potential oncoming vehicles in danger-to get around them. Forgive me for feeling entitled to get where I'm going safely.
In urban areas (within city limits...slow speed limits, stop and go traffic) sure, whatever, share the road...but on a two lane country road, with no shoulder, a 55mph speed limit...it is dangerous to have them there, and in my opinion they shouldn't be there.
Would you rather be right or dead?
I think the cyclist get defensive though because we are not supposed to be on the sidewalks, and the motorists don't want us on the roads.
I think that both sides need to accept that the OTHER group is also going to use our public roads, and we need to accept that fact. Cyclists, even a herd of them, are not going to ruin your drive in the country. Chill out, slow down a bit, and get around them when the getting is good. Cyclists, on the other hand, need to get as far to the right as possible, and not get into the game of impediment.
Every cyclist knows that their life is in danger every time they get on the road. As I ride my bike, or drive my car, I see SCADS of motorists that are weaving in and out of the two lanes they have, trying to pass as many other users as they can, only to be stopped at the next traffic light. All their jockeying around gets them NO WHERE. All that bobbing and weaving amounts to nothing. If you are truly out for a nice drive in the countryside, a one or two minute delay should not take away from your enjoyment, or kill your schedule.
In my opinion, this is simply a form of Road Rage.
I hope you don't kill somebody someday. I would not bet against that though......
Picture two (or more) cyclists going up that steep grade at 5mph...and not being able to pass them because the road is too narrow and/or there is oncoming traffic...you sit there behind them for 1 minute...3 minutes...then finally you figure nobody is this big of a jerk, they must not know I'm here...so you beep the horn so they know that you are there thinking that once they know you are there they will move over so you can pass...instead they give you the bird and tell you to "share the road". while continuing on their marry way at walking pace completely self absorbed and ignoring the 15-20 cars that are stacked up behind them. (Cyclists do this all the time, then wonder why they get "buzzed" or get stuff thrown at them...)
That is my ISSUE with cyclists....they are an inconsiderate and entitled road hazards when they do that crap.
I will admit that situation would suck, and I do not condone that kind of behavior from cyclists. They too can get the mindset that "how they are using the road is how everybody should use the road".
In my opinion, it sucks when a user (public roads; public spaces; trails; rivers; and the such) gets all bent out of shape when another user is present, and using the same resource, but in a different way. We ALL have a right to be there, but should give respect to the others present, even if it means that you have to accommodate them a little bit. Cyclists should stay to the right, ride single file when traffic is getting backed up; and motorists should have the patience to slow down a bit, and pass them in a safe, prudent manner.
The moment that somebody says "THEY DON'T BELONG HERE", that is when the problem starts.
Mount a gopro on your dash to record the times this happens to you and report them to the police so that they may be ticketed for whatever laws they are violating.
But, again, you are generalizing when you say that all cyclists are inconsiderate entitled road hazards. you're trying to justify ill will and harassment towards cyclists because of the actions of a few.
Any cyclist going 20, 30, 40, 50 mph under the posted speed limit, when there isn't a bike lane or shoulder, or when there is a bike lane/shoulder and they feel they need to ride on the white line-whether, legally, they can be there or not-is a road hazard.
And when they hold up 15 cars, while they ride side by side up a narrow canyon road, then, they go from merely being a road hazard to being an inconsiderate and entitled road hazard...
And cyclists do that all the time (ride 20, 30, 40 mph under the speed limit, two up, or right on the white line).
I'll never go out of my way to hurt a cyclist...ever. That's not my style. I just expect them to be more considerate.
And for the record, its not like I have a prejudice toward cyclists....I have a couple of cousins that are/were amateur national champions...and my uncle (their dad) is also a competitive cyclist....and they all spend hours and hours on the road. I get it...they are just trying to have fun...but they are still a road hazard (even my uncle and his daughters). And they've all been run off the road, my uncle has been hit by a car...
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695194405/Speedy-13-year-old-Utah-cy…
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=11502904
You can carry on your bitchfest about cyclist breathing your air now
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2013/10/29/pkg-florida-teen-…
Let's take the same 2-3 guys put them on Honda 50s and have them ride around the mx track side by side so the big bikes couldn't pass. You wouldn't argue that they paid their entrance fee and have every right to do that. You all would say what
a** holes, and punt them into the haybales. So just because the law says you can do something doesn't make it right.
TM
When the officer pulled me over a block later I explained that I did come to a complete stop - and the officer did say I did come to a complete stop… but to make it a correct and complete stop both feet need to be on the ground. A total chicken shit ticket for city revenue.
So when I paid the fine of $45 dollars, I paid the fine in pennies, nickels and dimes and I counted it out and backed up the line for 20 minutes. The police got pissed and said this is unacceptable using change. I said why, your sign says "Fines payable by cash, credit cards or check" The last time I looked change was still considered legal tender is it not? They said well "yes"…. I said great and kept counting.
Pit Row
TM
All had helmets on. Each one of them had a headlight and a blinking tail light.
They were in the bike lane.
NOBODY was being inconsiderate. Nobody was dashing out into traffic. Nobody was holding up cars.
It looked like the cyclists knew their lives were in the balance, and they were taking the necessary precautions to ensure they could ride home tonight.
I think we see what we want to see. Motorists that don't think cyclists belong out on the roads and see's every one of them as a "violator"; whether they are or are not.
My experiences just don't support that claim.
BUT,guess where people throw glass and trash from moving cars.....THE FUCKING BIKE LANE!
guess where lawn guys illegally BLOW lawn clippings and debree..BIKE LANE!
guess where ignorant cop pullsover cyclist ,instead of making it safe(insert cops reason for pulling cyclist over...here...) and find a parkinglot out of harms way.
road bike tires are narrow,they are not designed to ride over that shit.
sorry,but this cop is ignorant,if true about debree..
and road kill...
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