Bicyclists - Do you ride with or against traffic?

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: GasX

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Ramma2
With traffic, and you obey all signals and signs as if you were a car.

I see them ride through red light signals all the time here.

I blow through lights all the time, but I have the mindset that I KNOW I am taking my life into my own hands. <shrug> I am okay with that.

Make sure your life insurance can cover the blood splatter and dent on my car when I hit you

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: mxyzptlk

Originally posted by: DrVos
A cyclist traveling opposite to the flow of traffic from the right wouldn't be seen and could get hit.

If I "A cyclist", I'd see the car waiting to turn and adjust accordingly.

See, my whole thing is not wanting to have to rely on the kindness of strangers to not hit me. I just prefer to take things into my own hands and avoid the collision on my own. I'm not concerned with the law or who might be considered at fault after the fact because by then, afaik, its too late and completely irrelevant. I don't want to get hit by a car again. I learned that lesson at the age of 7 and I take great care to NOT be in the path of oncoming cars.

But I don't really like arguing this point because I KNOW I'm completely in the wrong here. Still, as a matter of my safety.. I avoid collisions with cars the best way I know how. by keeping them in my sight.

I'm sorry.

So you don't give two shits about the other cyclists going the correct way on the same road then? They just have to get out of your way or crash into you?

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage

Originally posted by: Ramma2
With traffic, and you obey all signals and signs as if you were a car.

hahaha, I see so many bikers blow through stop signs and red lights it isn't even funny.

Yep, and I hate this. It makes drivers hate to see cyclists on the road even if they are following the letter of the law. There are so many who aren't that it gives the rest of us a bad name. Our office is on a corner lot, and just the other day a cyclist cut through the parking lot and blew right out into traffic without even looking. I'd say he got what he deserved when he got plowed by a car and his head broke through the guy's windshield. I probably wouldn't say that if he hadn't walked away from the accident, but he (and many other cyclists) still deserved to get hit for clearly thinking he "owned" the road. Many people in all forms of vehicles seem to have that problem, but you would think that those in precarious positions (cyclists and bikers) would be extra careful, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: Crusty
With traffic.... always.....

 

[mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by: torpid
So you don't give two shits about the other cyclists going the correct way on the same road then? They just have to get out of your way or crash into you?

Lol, where in any of my insane ramblings about doing everything *I* possibly can to avoid a collision could you possibly have detected the arrogance to suggest that I would insist any other physical object need to do anything to prevent me from crashing into them?

Yes, if I see ANYTHING on ANY potential collision course with me *I* will be the first one to take action to prevent the collision.

You would never be given the chance to get out of my way before I'll already be out of yours.

 

[Peelback79]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
bike with traffic
run/walk in traffic

fixed

 

[AstroManLuca]

With traffic, and I regularly go through stop signs and red lights, mostly just to piss off half of ATOT.

I understand I'm taking my life into my hands when I do it. I don't just go through. I look first. But I don't stop at a red light and just wait for it to change if there's truly no traffic, though it depends on the road. Large or busy roads I'll never cross without a light, but I live right in the city so there are a lot of lights in my residential neighborhood where there's no traffic at all. In which case I'll slow way down or stop, check, and then go through. I also respect stop signs at least as far as slowing down for them and giving cars that were there first the right of way, but I don't come to a complete stop and put my foot down unless there's a lot of traffic.

EDIT: Also, if you're talking about morning rush hour... well, I don't tend to bike at that time but if it's busy I follow signs and signals.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
With traffic, and you obey all signals and signs as if you were a car.

:thumbsup:

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
With traffic, and I regularly go through stop signs and red lights, mostly just to piss off half of ATOT.

I understand I'm taking my life into my hands when I do it. I don't just go through. I look first. But I don't stop at a red light and just wait for it to change if there's truly no traffic, though it depends on the road. Large or busy roads I'll never cross without a light, but I live right in the city so there are a lot of lights in my residential neighborhood where there's no traffic at all. In which case I'll slow way down or stop, check, and then go through. I also respect stop signs at least as far as slowing down for them and giving cars that were there first the right of way, but I don't come to a complete stop and put my foot down unless there's a lot of traffic.

EDIT: Also, if you're talking about morning rush hour... well, I don't tend to bike at that time but if it's busy I follow signs and signals.

This is my biggest pet peeve with many cyclists (and I know TONS and worked in a bike store for 10years of my life). Cyclists want all the same rights as motorists, but when it comes down to it, they weave in and out of traffic an skip through lights and signs. You can't have it both ways dumbasses.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
With traffic, and I regularly go through stop signs and red lights, mostly just to piss off half of ATOT.

I understand I'm taking my life into my hands when I do it. I don't just go through. I look first. But I don't stop at a red light and just wait for it to change if there's truly no traffic, though it depends on the road. Large or busy roads I'll never cross without a light, but I live right in the city so there are a lot of lights in my residential neighborhood where there's no traffic at all. In which case I'll slow way down or stop, check, and then go through. I also respect stop signs at least as far as slowing down for them and giving cars that were there first the right of way, but I don't come to a complete stop and put my foot down unless there's a lot of traffic.

EDIT: Also, if you're talking about morning rush hour... well, I don't tend to bike at that time but if it's busy I follow signs and signals.

This is my biggest pet peeve with many cyclists (and I know TONS and worked in a bike store for 10years of my life). Cyclists want all the same rights as motorists, but when it comes down to it, they weave in and out of traffic an skip through lights and signs. You can't have it both ways dumbasses.

Well, I don't cut cars off or blow through lights or signs if there's traffic, but yes, I will go through if I've checked and there's no traffic. Sorry if that pisses you off. Won't make me stop doing it. The most that will happen is I might have a little smirk on my face when I do it as I think of all the bunched-up panties on AT. 😀

 

[nageov3t]

before I started driving, I rode against traffic (my thought process being that I'd rather see what's coming so I can avoid it... specifically, I'd get onto the side walk or closer to it if I saw an on-coming bus or something)

after a couple years behind the wheel, though, riding against traffic just feels weird and awkward.

if I'm on my bike, I'll stop at a red light but will ride through it if there are no other cars on the road... by and large I tend to avoid the busy streets with traffic lights and whatnot whenever I can help it, though and stick to low-traffic back roads.

 

[Zolty]

Most cities require you to act and obey traffic laws, this includes stop signs, speed limits, lane restrictions, and stay off the side walk.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
With traffic, and I regularly go through stop signs and red lights, mostly just to piss off half of ATOT.

I understand I'm taking my life into my hands when I do it. I don't just go through. I look first. But I don't stop at a red light and just wait for it to change if there's truly no traffic, though it depends on the road. Large or busy roads I'll never cross without a light, but I live right in the city so there are a lot of lights in my residential neighborhood where there's no traffic at all. In which case I'll slow way down or stop, check, and then go through. I also respect stop signs at least as far as slowing down for them and giving cars that were there first the right of way, but I don't come to a complete stop and put my foot down unless there's a lot of traffic.

EDIT: Also, if you're talking about morning rush hour... well, I don't tend to bike at that time but if it's busy I follow signs and signals.

This is my biggest pet peeve with many cyclists (and I know TONS and worked in a bike store for 10years of my life). Cyclists want all the same rights as motorists, but when it comes down to it, they weave in and out of traffic an skip through lights and signs. You can't have it both ways dumbasses.

Well, I don't cut cars off or blow through lights or signs if there's traffic, but yes, I will go through if I've checked and there's no traffic. Sorry if that pisses you off. Won't make me stop doing it. The most that will happen is I might have a little smirk on my face when I do it as I think of all the bunched-up panties on AT. 😀

Standard roadie mentality. "I'm better"