good laaawwd have mercy, cuss cuss! cyclist rant

[WelshBloke]

Speed difference isn't what causes damage. It is the difference of mass, giving a car moving 25MPH far more energy than a bike moving 25MPH. A cyclist hitting a pedestrian has vastly less energy than a car hitting a cyclist.

I don't walk down the middle of the road with my 2 year old though.
I do not want any vehicles whizzing along the pavement when I walk her there.

 

[Ns1]

Speed difference isn't what causes damage. It is the difference of mass, giving a car moving 25MPH far more energy than a bike moving 25MPH. A cyclist hitting a pedestrian has vastly less energy than a car hitting a cyclist.

And, in a non urban areas, cyclists would be unobstructed on the side walks. In a urban areas, such as NYC, dedicated lanes for cyclists are fine and would work great, so long as the cyclists actually obey traffic laws. Plus, you're not righting 25mph very often. You're going closer to 10mph.

so take it up with the politicians to change the laws.

 

[SlitheryDee]

He's been arrested for reckless endangerment. No surprise that he's fat, or that he pussied out and released a public apology instead of standing by his words.

As always, the guy whining about bicycles is simply an incompetent driver. The cyclists in his video were always near the right of the lane and riding single file, and any skilled driver could have easily passed them without issue. If you rage about bicycles, it's because you suck at driving.

Yes, but motorists attempting to pass cyclists in that kind of situation is one of the things that they are always complaining about. In fact, it's the primary justification they use for riding in the middle of the lane so no one can even attempt to pass them.

 

[Ns1]

Yes, but motorists attempting to pass cyclists in that kind of situation is one of the things that they are always complaining about. In fact, it's the primary justification they use for riding in the middle of the lane so no one can even attempt to pass them.

When the lane reaches a "substandard width" it is much safer to ride in the middle of the street to remove the ambiguity. When a cyclist rides FRAP and the road isn't big enough, the driver often wonders "Can I fit?", oftentimes to the rider's chagrin.

So the rider takes the lane - pass safely on the left or run the cyclist over.

 

[MrSquished]

When the lane reaches a "substandard width" it is much safer to ride in the middle of the street to remove the ambiguity. When a cyclist rides FRAP and the road isn't big enough, the driver often wonders "Can I fit?", oftentimes to the rider's chagrin.

So the rider takes the lane - pass safely on the left or run the cyclist over.

that's how i ride in the city streets. if i see up ahead the bike lane is blocked by a delivery truck, cop car parked or whatever, and it's a narrow space - i take the lane. never been beeped at or sworn at or anything.

if you are a good rider that is aware of their surroundings constantly, it's been long enough that many city drivers have acclimated to cyclists and will respect you. sure there are assholes on both sides but for the most part - in the city - both groups can get along just fine. unlike this yahoo redneck in the OP's video.

 

[rh71]

NEWS FLASH!

Today I took my older son to school by bicycle. I picked up my younger son from school by bicycle. I obeyed traffic laws, as did all the cars I saw. I got some exercise. There were no angry interactions, but there were several friendly waves between car drivers and me and my sons.

Exciting stuff.

That's all well and good that it put a smile on your face and made the world a better place, but you risk their (and your) lives exponentially when you do it. Not worth what you gain, imo. Forget the distracted drivers - do you trust old people behind the wheel as little as I do? Hopefully. They make up more than half the 1mil population on the roads in my county.

Next I'll hear people claim that we risk our lives everyday, but putting yourself in front of multiple moving vehicles is just asking for it.

 

[MrSquished]

That's all well and good that it put a smile on your face and made the world a better place, but you risk their (and your) lives exponentially when you do it. Not worth what you gain, imo. Forget the distracted drivers - do you trust old people behind the wheel as little as I do? Hopefully. They make up more than half the 1mil population on the roads in my county.

Next I'll hear people claim that we risk our lives everyday, but putting yourself in front of multiple moving vehicles is just asking for it.

do you wear a helmet when you go outside?

 

[rh71]

do you wear a helmet when you go outside?

only while on my bike!

 

[WelshBloke]

That's all well and good that it put a smile on your face and made the world a better place, but you risk their (and your) lives exponentially when you do it.

Holy crap, when did this happen to us?

I rode to school for a decade or so, my son has been riding to school for a few years now.

You think that they should be dropped off at the door and immediately picked up when they leave? Should we wrap them up in cotton wool for the time in between?
Should we keep them inside for all the time that they aren't at school?



Oh yeah! Getting the rage on now. :-D

 

[rh71]

Holy crap, when did this happen to us?

I rode to school for a decade or so, my son has been riding to school for a few years now.

You think that they should be dropped off at the door and immediately picked up when they leave? Should we wrap them up in cotton wool for the time in between?
Should we keep them inside for all the time that they aren't at school?



Oh yeah! Getting the rage on now. :-D

I rode all the time on the roads with friends too. But something's changed. Did drivers have as many distractions back then?

 

[blackdogdeek]

I don't walk down the middle of the road with my 2 year old though.
I do not want any vehicles whizzing along the pavement when I walk her there.

IMO, this the strongest argument for keeping the sidewalk solely for pedestrians.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Speed difference isn't what causes damage. It is the difference of mass, giving a car moving 25MPH far more energy than a bike moving 25MPH. A cyclist hitting a pedestrian has vastly less energy than a car hitting a cyclist.

And, in a non urban areas, cyclists would be unobstructed on the side walks. In a urban areas, such as NYC, dedicated lanes for cyclists are fine and would work great, so long as the cyclists actually obey traffic laws. Plus, you're not righting 25mph very often. You're going closer to 10mph.

I can go faster than 10mph uphill. Downhill I can hit 25-30mph easily which is definitely fast enough to kill a pedestrian. I've sustained average speeds over a ride of 17mph which is probably enough to seriously injure or kill someone.

 

[WelshBloke]

I rode all the time on the roads with friends too. But something's changed. Did drivers have as many distractions back then?

So maybe we should be addressing the terrible standard of driving rather than blaming other road users for getting in their way?

 

[Broheim]

Wouldn't the impact to society from people driving cars be higher than that of bike riders when calculated on a per vehicle basis? Bikes don't burn fuel, they provide exercise and I bet fewer die in drunk biking accidents compared to drunk driving.

Copenhagen saves millions and millions each year on people biking to work rather than taking their car; less congestion, less road wear (frost is really the only road wear a bike path will see) , less pollution and increased public health.

I've seen what passes for bike paths in the US, and I don't really blame cyclists for not using them.

 

[Broheim]

I can go faster than 10mph uphill. Downhill I can hit 25-30mph easily which is definitely fast enough to kill a pedestrian. I've sustained average speeds over a ride of 17mph which is probably enough to seriously injure or kill someone.

depends entirely on how you hit them, I'd guess like 99% of the time in the real world only a fraction of the energy will get transferred to the pedestrian.

Everybody cycles here in Denmark and I can't recall a single fatality or serious injury from a cyclist hitting a pedistrian, sadly I can't say the same for trucks turning right and cyclists.

 

[IronWing]

Has anyone, anywhere ever posted in a bicycling thread who wasn't trolling?

 

[K1052]

Copenhagen saves millions and millions each year on people biking to work rather than taking their car; less congestion, less road wear (frost is really the only road wear a bike path will see) , less pollution and increased public health.

I've seen what passes for bike paths in the US, and I don't really blame cyclists for not using them.

Some cities are doing a better job than others. Curb separated cycle tracks are slowly gaining acceptance as the preferred way to do bike lanes. Quite a few cities are simply shifting the parking away from the curb and the bike lane between the curb and parked cars...which is a better than average solution in the US.

 

[OCGuy]

Has that one loser who delivers Chinese food chimed in on this thread yet? Preslove I think?

 

[Blintok]

I ride my bike from time to time, but won't do it on the road. While it technically may be legal, I also know it is dumb because of the drivers around me. Same thing with riding a motorbike. While its legal to do it and many do, I value my life too much for fear of what the other person will do, whether its merge into my lane because they didnt see me, or I hit a deer or other creature that runs out in front of me, or whatever. It's just not worth it. So, I ride on the sidewalk (which is safe to do due to their size), and then on trails that are meant for bikes to ride on. What would you rather be, right, or dead?

not any safer in a car either.

"In 2010, there were an estimated 5,419,000 crashes, killing 32,885 and injuring 2,239,000.[1] The 32,367 traffic fatalities in 2011 were the lowest in 62 years (1949). Records indicate that there has been a total of 3,551,332 motor vehicle deaths in the United States from 1899 to 2012."

but i agree about bikes staying off some roads. Time and place i say. I ride a pedal bike, a 750cc motorcycle and a 125cc scooter. Luckily in this city there are tons of separated bike paths or shared designated bike routes. So one can get around pretty easy and avoid the faster traffic roads, So I will ride in the bike lanes most of the time. Just have to go around the idiot drivers that think the bike lane is a parking spot. (cars dropping off people - taxi's - delivery trucks)

And to follow the slow speed (bikes) must use sidewalks argument. I suppose construction vehicles should get on the sidewalk as well. Backhoe tractor-like 20kph vehicles are impeding our most privileged and important citizens. To the side walk with you.

 

[Raduque]

Putting people on wheels turns otherwise reasonable humans into assholes.

2 wheels (non motorized) = moderate asshole
2 wheels (motorized) = moderate/severe asshole
4 wheels = severe/inflamed asshole

Even better we gave all of them cell phones to use while operating their respective modes of transportation.

If you ask me, you've flipped the first and last.

Bike assholes are the worst kind of assholes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Has anyone, anywhere ever posted in a bicycling thread who wasn't trolling?

Cagers are the biggest assholes on the planet and they should all DIAF. :whiste:

 

[WelshBloke]

If you ask me, you've flipped the first and last.

Bike assholes are the worst kind of assholes.

*watches video in OP*

Nope, he definitely got it the right way round.

 

[Raduque]

*watches video in OP*

Nope, he definitely got it the right way round.

I just now watched the video, and that is some hilariously funny shit.

However, I think you're a moron if you're going to ride a bike on a two-lane, no passing zone road with no shoulder.

And when I saw bike assholes, I mean the people who dress like their in the tour de france race, lane split, run red lights, and vandalize others' property (kicking/hitting cars, folding in mirrors at stop lights, etc).

 

[highland145]

I've seen what passes for bike paths in the US, and I don't really blame cyclists for not using them.

LOL some asshole bureaucrat decides to spend tax $$ for a bike path on my road.

It's about 300 yards long with "start bike path" and "end bike path" signs. The end ends up in a ditch.

I hate politicians.

Has anyone, anywhere ever posted in a bicycling thread who wasn't trolling?

I wasn't. I see both sides. I appreciate not getting run over and I appreciate guys staying to the right.

Other than that, doughnuts.

Cagers are the biggest assholes on the planet and they should all DIAF. :whiste:

What's a cager?

 

[Raduque]

What's a cager?

It's what the lance armstrong-wannabe douchebags call people who don't ride bikes.