Saw a bicyclist almost get killed yesterday

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jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
5,399
51
91
I was stopped at red light with 3 cars in front of me. We were all in the middle lane while the lane to the left was a left turn lane and the right lane was for turning right only. The right lane does continue across the street for about 50ft or so but is meant to allow cars making right turns on the intersecting street to merge in.

Well the light turns green and we all start off. There's a bicyclist on the far right of the merge lane as we enter the intersection. All of a sudden this a-hole comes flying at 45-50 mph by all of us on the right lane and into the merge lane. By now the gap between the first car and the bicyclist is pretty close and there was no way a car can get through without hitting one or the other. I thought this guy or gal was going to stop but nope the a-hole cuts right in missing the car and the bicyclist by no more than 2 or 3 feet. The car drives off oblivious to what just happened. The bicyclist pulls over to the curb and I could see him just shaking his head.

I don't understand why people do this. Is killing someone and possibly fvcking up the rest of your whole life worth it just to save a few seconds?
 
D

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
0
:thumbsup: It happens all the time down here. :|

Some people shouldn't be allowed to drive. They need to get their Road Rage in check.
 
G

Garet Jax

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2000
6,369
0
71
Originally posted by: DaShen
:thumbsup: It happens all the time down here. :|

Some people shouldn't be allowed to drive. They need to get their Road Rage in check.
Click to expand...

Tehcnically as it was described the a-hole driver wasn't showing road rage. Everyone else was....
 
Ktulu

Ktulu

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2000
4,354
0
0
So why are bicycles supposed to be ridden on the roads and not the sidewalks? It's obviously more dangerous on the roads.
 
T

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
human patience is such a wierd thing. Most people have patience for normal things, but when it comes down to saving 30 seconds or less in a car ride, there is no patience at all.
 
J

jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
5,399
51
91
Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Originally posted by: DaShen
:thumbsup: It happens all the time down here. :|

Some people shouldn't be allowed to drive. They need to get their Road Rage in check.
Click to expand...

Tehcnically as it was described the a-hole driver wasn't showing road rage. Everyone else was....
Click to expand...

I don't think it was road rage because it was only one car. Looks like it was just an a-hole driver who couldn't wait a few seconds.
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,614
6,493
126
Originally posted by: Ktulu
So why are bicycles supposed to be ridden on the roads and not the sidewalks? It's obviously more dangerous on the roads.
Click to expand...

because sidewalks are for ... get this ... walking!

all sarcasm aside, biking is a touchy subject. I think they should be on the sidewalk, but sometimes the sidewalk is too narrow for both people and bikes. by law they aren't allowed on sidewalks actually.

however i hate bikers on the road personally because they always slow down traffic and don't follow the traffic rules.
 
P

Paulson

Elite Member
Feb 27, 2001
10,689
0
0
www.ifixidevices.com
Have you ever tried ti ride any real distance on sidewalks...?

Most sidewalks are in such disrepair that it's not even possible to get enough speed to ride on them without having to worry when the next huge misalignment is coming up between pieces of cement.

Not only that, but some sidewalks don't have the nice curbs that meet with the road, and it's not fun trying to jump a road bike off of a curb without popping a fricken tire.
 
D

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
0
Originally posted by: jtvang125
Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Originally posted by: DaShen
:thumbsup: It happens all the time down here. :|

Some people shouldn't be allowed to drive. They need to get their Road Rage in check.
Click to expand...

Tehcnically as it was described the a-hole driver wasn't showing road rage. Everyone else was....
Click to expand...

I don't think it was road rage because it was only one car. Looks like it was just an a-hole driver who couldn't wait a few seconds.
Click to expand...

Some driver who is frustrated at waiting in line decides to run a cyclist off the road to save a few seconds. Sounds like Road Rage to me. It involves other road vehicles, too.
 
Ktulu

Ktulu

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2000
4,354
0
0
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: Ktulu
So why are bicycles supposed to be ridden on the roads and not the sidewalks? It's obviously more dangerous on the roads.
Click to expand...

because sidewalks are for ... get this ... walking!

all sarcasm aside, biking is a touchy subject. I think they should be on the sidewalk, but sometimes the sidewalk is too narrow for both people and bikes. by law they aren't allowed on sidewalks actually.

however i hate bikers on the road personally because they always slow down traffic and don't follow the traffic rules.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it sort of deterrs me from wanting to ride a bike. I feel if i smack into someone on the sidewalk it's no big deal, we both walk (or ride) away with our lives. If you get smacked by a car on the street, that's it, you're done. I think rodes should be for only vehicles with engines in 'em and that's it.
 
Ktulu

Ktulu

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2000
4,354
0
0
Originally posted by: Paulson
Have you ever tried ti ride any real distance on sidewalks...?

Most sidewalks are in such disrepair that it's not even possible to get enough speed to ride on them without having to worry when the next huge misalignment is coming up between pieces of cement.

Not only that, but some sidewalks don't have the nice curbs that meet with the road, and it's not fun trying to jump a road bike off of a curb without popping a fricken tire.
Click to expand...

I could care less about the bikes condition, that can all easily be fixed. You're life can't.
 
mcvickj

mcvickj

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2001
4,602
0
76
Originally posted by: Ktulu
So why are bicycles supposed to be ridden on the roads and not the sidewalks? It's obviously more dangerous on the roads.
Click to expand...

Prepare to be flogged by the ATOT cycle riding community. There was a pretty heated debate about this a few months back.
 
B

BobDaMenkey

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2005
3,057
2
0
Lucky cyclist. When I was riding my bike 2+ miles to school I always rode the sidewalks. Drivers out here are to nuts to do anything else.
 
D

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
0
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: Paulson
Have you ever tried ti ride any real distance on sidewalks...?

Most sidewalks are in such disrepair that it's not even possible to get enough speed to ride on them without having to worry when the next huge misalignment is coming up between pieces of cement.

Not only that, but some sidewalks don't have the nice curbs that meet with the road, and it's not fun trying to jump a road bike off of a curb without popping a fricken tire.
Click to expand...

I could care less about the bikes condition, that can all easily be fixed. You're life can't.
Click to expand...

I have road on sidewalks, and face planted (which could have killed me if I hadn't tucked and hit my helmet instead) because the sidewalk was in such disrepair the ditches are not maneuverable by a road bike. A road bike is meant for the road.
 
Ktulu

Ktulu

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2000
4,354
0
0
Originally posted by: DaShen
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: Paulson
Have you ever tried ti ride any real distance on sidewalks...?

Most sidewalks are in such disrepair that it's not even possible to get enough speed to ride on them without having to worry when the next huge misalignment is coming up between pieces of cement.

Not only that, but some sidewalks don't have the nice curbs that meet with the road, and it's not fun trying to jump a road bike off of a curb without popping a fricken tire.
Click to expand...

I could care less about the bikes condition, that can all easily be fixed. You're life can't.
Click to expand...

I have road on sidewalks, and face planted (which could have killed me if I hadn't tucked and hit my helmet instead) because the sidewalk was in such disrepair the ditches are not maneuverable by a road bike. A road bike is meant for the road.
Click to expand...

Look, I understand about road bikes and all, but I just think it's completely idiotic to share a road with 2 ton vehicles that could crush you without a moments notice.
 
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