UPDATED: Cyclists: I was almost run down by a 7 ton Bus

[DaShen]

This kind of stuff happens all the time with cyclists, for you unsympathetic drivers out there

There was one time I had to stop by my friends house which was maybe 6-7 miles away (not bad on a bike), I was in the Suburbs at the time, so I decided to ride my bike. It was the middle of the day, and I had the day off so I figured there wouldn't be much traffic.

I ride down the rode, again this is the suburbs, and there is no traffic. I get run off the road by one SUV when he has another lane. I get up and decide to stop by a strip center close by to bandage and clean up. When I am pulling out of the strip mall, I pull up behind another different SUV that is pulling out. I can see into the back of his car, and I see that he sees me. He is a guy with his family.

Mind you, he sees me, and he puts his SUV into reverse and starts backing into me, all the time keeping eye contact on me with his rearview. I think he figured that since I was clipped in, I would fall over when he reversed into me. When he saw that I wasn't about to fall over, he floors the car and leaves a trail of smoke exhaust in his wake. What a freaking bastard! He was with his family, too. You would think a guy with his family wouldn't do crap like that. Sets a bad example for the kids.

I repeat, drivers who do this kind of crap are a bunch of road raged retards that need to get their licenses revoked. There should be a law for bikers doing exactly that.

**EDIT**
Of course, not all SUV/truck drivers are bastards. When I got in that serious accident, the only car that stopped to take me to the hospital was a truck driver. It turned out that he was a Pastor of a local church though, so I think that was a special case.

It just seems like 90% of them will run you off the road.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Whisper
Most city street speed limits are what, 35 mph? So yeah, if a biker is riding along at 20+mph, the speed difference there should technically be much less than if he were riding on the sidewalk, where the average person walks at maybe 2-3 mph.

Exactly. So on downhills and flat areas, the street. But when going uphill...at which time most bikers aren't going much faster than pedestrians...it is just much safer for everyone to ride on the sidewalk.

I certainly hope the average person walks much faster than 2-3MPH, though. I know that I do.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Whisper
Most city street speed limits are what, 35 mph? So yeah, if a biker is riding along at 20+mph, the speed difference there should technically be much less than if he were riding on the sidewalk, where the average person walks at maybe 2-3 mph.

Exactly. So on downhills and flat areas, the street. But when going uphill...at which time most bikers aren't going much faster than pedestrians...it is just much safer for everyone to ride on the sidewalk.

I certainly hope the average person walks much faster than 2-3MPH, though. I know that I do.

Try walking 3 mph on a treadmill, then try the same walk carrying your briefcase in dress shoes on the sidewalk, and you will see that most people don't normally walk faster than 3 mph. 4-5 mph is a fast paced walk/jog.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Armitage
But as I said, riding on the sidewalk is very dangerous - your moving alot faster then pedestrians, and cars aren't looking for you in the crosswalks. You're better off taking your place in the lane.

No it's not. If bikes move faster than pedestrians, cars move MUCH faster than bikes, and the momentum differential is also much, much greater. Plus, you can easily slow to a crawl if there are people walking on the sidewalk, and it's much easier to avoid a person while riding a skinny bike than to avoid a bike while driving a wide car.

As for the crosswalks, if cars can see pedestrians crossing, they certainly can see bikes. Unless you're stupid enough to blow across at top speed, in which case you deserve what you get.

Have you ridden a bike since you were in grade school? Ever ridden seriously at all?

All through college, and after, in more countries than you'll ever visit. While I'm a fast biker, I am actually capable of slowing down when need be. I usually ride on the road, but when the sidewalk is empty and the road is full of cars trying to kill me, it seems a pretty logical decision mmkay?

Whatever - I'm not gonna get into a dick dance over who's ridden more or where. You sound like a driver who's never tried riding on a sidewalk other then the occasional beach cruiser. Maybe that's not the case. You can't ride at a reasonable pace on the sidewalk, particularly if you have to stop at every crosswalk to make sure the turning cars see you. As I said in a previous post, use your head - but a bike should almost never be on the sidewalk.

Originally posted by: Bozono
Bikes, when going over 12kph, belong on the road. Simple as that.

See? He gets it.

Eh? So, as the OP (and most cyclists) rarely ride < 12KPH (7.5MPH) they should stay off the sidewalk? Yes, I agree. That's what I've been saying.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Nice!

 

[mcvickj]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: Ilmater
As a fellow cyclist, I say get the fvck off the streets and onto the sidewalk.

If you were really a cyclist you'd know that in many places its illegal to ride on the sidewalk, and often more dangerous.

When is the last time anyone has been pulled over and fined for riding on the sidewalk?

People around here are crazy. There is no way I would ride a bike on the same road as them.

Bike cops will pull you over unless you are a Messenger. And even then, I have talked to messengers that get harassed all the time.

I've never seen a cop in my area on a bike. IMO their time can be better spent than harrassing some person on a bike.

I still fail to the "very dangerous" in riding a bike on a sidewalk. A bike rider can easily avoid a pedestrian. They don't just jump out of no where. People driving cars have a nasty habbit of running traffic lights and just not paying attention in general. Riding a bike on the road sounds like a nasty game of Russian roulette.

Said the person who probably tries to ride bikers off the road. If the law wasn't there, I guarantee people would get killed by bikers.

Think of a 20 lb bike and a 170 lb person going 20+mph into someone. That person will get maimed or killed.

It is about protecting the pedestrians, not for the enjoyment of the Road raging drivers out there. I even try to be considerate and get as close to the curb as possible, yet drivers still try to run me off, even when I am not in their lane. They will change lanes just to side swipe me. It is f$%ing ridiculous.

Plus, it is always the lone person in the Big-ass truck guzzling 5 mpg that try this sort of crap who regularly swerve into animals instead of avoiding them on the road for kicks (I've seen it countless times). I have no sympathy for those guys. Half of them turn out to be the hooligans in our society anyways, or good lawyers, take your pick.


**************************************************************************

Originally posted by: slag

Originally posted by: illusion88
Nice!
I hate fvckers who don't give room to cyclists.

Cyclists should stay on the sidewalk. Seriously, they are a hinderance to traffic, try to drive around people when in traffic and scrape cars by doing so, have no regard for stop signs, and are a general pita

at least in lawrence they are. They think they own the road and cant even keep up with the flow of traffic.

This is exactly the type of talk a person who runs cyclist off the road says. Let me guess either you have a "ricer", a classic american car, or a truck/SUV.

I've never tried to ride a biker off the road. I actually tense up when I see one close enough to me just for the fear of getting too close and accidently clipping the rider.

Your telling me that a 170lb person on a nimble bike can't avoid hitting another person walking 1mph? If you can't do that I question why are you riding a bike in the first place.

I would like to see a link with some type of stats saying how many pedestrians are killed in a year by a bike rider.

I only glanced at Texas law about cycles but I did not see the spot that mentions the fine for riding a bike on the sidewalk is a $1000 fine. I don't argue its against the law to ride a bike on the side walk but $1000? That seems high.

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
As a fellow cyclist, I say get the fvck off the streets and onto the sidewalk.

Your not much of a cyclist then. Imagine your in a car and pull up to a stop sign. First off do you 1. stop at the stop sign where you're supposed to? or do you roll all the way up to the intersection. 2. Do you look for pedestrians, if so are there any bushes/houses/other objects that obstruct you from seeing at least 50-60 feet. 3. Are you looking for bikes going 20+ mph, hell are you looking for 10+mph. Pedestrians usually go 2-4mph.

Finally in almost every state in the U.S. you can be ticketed for riding on the sidewalk. A bicycle is defined as a vehicle and has to follow all the same rules as any other vehicle. Riding on the sidewalk means 1. You stop at every single intersection or 2. You're ignorant or 3. you have a death wish.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Yes he did. The words 'try' and 'did' need explaining to you?

I believe his point was that if a bus REALLY wanted to run you over, it could have, very, very easily. What the bus driver tried to do was scare you off the road.

You are an idiot.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: jagec
All through college, and after, in more countries than you'll ever visit. While I'm a fast biker, I am actually capable of slowing down when need be. I usually ride on the road, but when the sidewalk is empty and the road is full of cars trying to kill me, it seems a pretty logical decision mmkay?

Whatever - I'm not gonna get into a dick dance over who's ridden more or where. You sound like a driver who's never tried riding on a sidewalk other then the occasional beach cruiser. Maybe that's not the case. You can't ride at a reasonable pace on the sidewalk, particularly if you have to stop at every crosswalk to make sure the turning cars see you. As I said in a previous post, use your head - but a bike should almost never be on the sidewalk.

Exactly. I have done 2500 miles on the tires of the bike I have right now alone. I just replaced them and have done another 200. Overall, I have done about 3000-3500 miles this year alone. Not to mention the amount of miles I have done on the Mountain bike and my other bikes.

Give me a break jagec, you sound like all the other road raged drivers out there. If you ride fast, how fast is that? Do you even have a cyclometer?

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: jagec
I certainly hope the average person walks much faster than 2-3MPH, though. I know that I do.

As an avid hiker/backpacker who walks to work most days I can tell you that 3 mph is a pretty good clip. Sure, most people can walk faster than that, but they don't.

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: DaShen
Good job... :thumbsup:

I have gotten run off the road countless times during traffic hours. I keep as close to the curb as possible and they still try to run me off. They can't usually because I am so close to the curb they would probably hit the curb if they tries, but it is dang annoying.

Try this just once. When they buzz you, move out into the lane. For some reason If i am 3 feet out from the curb, cars give me 3 feet of clearance. If I am 5 feet out, they give me 5 feet of clearance. It's crazy, but if you are half a foot off the curb, you are telling them, I don't belong here you can pass as close to me as you desire. very strange phenomenon, especially on non-busy 2 lane roads...

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Yes he did. The words 'try' and 'did' need explaining to you?

I believe his point was that if a bus REALLY wanted to run you over, it could have, very, very easily. What the bus driver tried to do was scare you off the road.

You are an idiot.

ah heck off.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: Ilmater
As a fellow cyclist, I say get the fvck off the streets and onto the sidewalk.

If you were really a cyclist you'd know that in many places its illegal to ride on the sidewalk, and often more dangerous.

When is the last time anyone has been pulled over and fined for riding on the sidewalk?

People around here are crazy. There is no way I would ride a bike on the same road as them.

Bike cops will pull you over unless you are a Messenger. And even then, I have talked to messengers that get harassed all the time.

I've never seen a cop in my area on a bike. IMO their time can be better spent than harrassing some person on a bike.

I still fail to the "very dangerous" in riding a bike on a sidewalk. A bike rider can easily avoid a pedestrian. They don't just jump out of no where. People driving cars have a nasty habbit of running traffic lights and just not paying attention in general. Riding a bike on the road sounds like a nasty game of Russian roulette.

Said the person who probably tries to ride bikers off the road. If the law wasn't there, I guarantee people would get killed by bikers.

Think of a 20 lb bike and a 170 lb person going 20+mph into someone. That person will get maimed or killed.

It is about protecting the pedestrians, not for the enjoyment of the Road raging drivers out there. I even try to be considerate and get as close to the curb as possible, yet drivers still try to run me off, even when I am not in their lane. They will change lanes just to side swipe me. It is f$%ing ridiculous.

Plus, it is always the lone person in the Big-ass truck guzzling 5 mpg that try this sort of crap who regularly swerve into animals instead of avoiding them on the road for kicks (I've seen it countless times). I have no sympathy for those guys. Half of them turn out to be the hooligans in our society anyways, or good lawyers, take your pick.


**************************************************************************

Originally posted by: slag

Originally posted by: illusion88
Nice!
I hate fvckers who don't give room to cyclists.

Cyclists should stay on the sidewalk. Seriously, they are a hinderance to traffic, try to drive around people when in traffic and scrape cars by doing so, have no regard for stop signs, and are a general pita

at least in lawrence they are. They think they own the road and cant even keep up with the flow of traffic.

This is exactly the type of talk a person who runs cyclist off the road says. Let me guess either you have a "ricer", a classic american car, or a truck/SUV.

I've never tried to ride a biker off the road. I actually tense up when I see one close enough to me just for the fear of getting too close and accidently clipping the rider.

Your telling me that a 170lb person on a nimble bike can't avoid hitting another person walking 1mph? If you can't do that I question why are you riding a bike in the first place.

I would like to see a link with some type of stats saying how many pedestrians are killed in a year by a bike rider.

I only glaced at Texas law about cycles but I did not see the spot that mentions the fine for riding a bike on the sidewalk is a $1000 fine. I don't argue its against the law to ride a bike on the side walk but $1000? That seems high.

I will find it for you and post it when I get the chance. And when you are going 20+ mph, I guarantee it is difficult to swerve out of the way of someone in your way. Depending on if they are only <8-10 feet in front of you, which happens on busy sidewalks.

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Armitage
But as I said, riding on the sidewalk is very dangerous - your moving alot faster then pedestrians, and cars aren't looking for you in the crosswalks. You're better off taking your place in the lane.

No it's not. If bikes move faster than pedestrians, cars move MUCH faster than bikes, and the momentum differential is also much, much greater. Plus, you can easily slow to a crawl if there are people walking on the sidewalk, and it's much easier to avoid a person while riding a skinny bike than to avoid a bike while driving a wide car.

As for the crosswalks, if cars can see pedestrians crossing, they certainly can see bikes. Unless you're stupid enough to blow across at top speed, in which case you deserve what you get.

Your logic has one great failue. It states that inconviencing/slowing bicycle transporation is ok, but slowing down a car is not.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: rh71
although you did have the right of way there, I agree with the driver's lack of patience. If you're going to be on the road for 10 seconds, I can wait. But I'm not going to follow your 15-20mph ass any longer than that. Drivers here have never been accustomed to doing that and I wouldn't want to be.

Don't cyclists feel they're holding people up ? I mean I know I'd feel that way as a cyclist even if it were "allowed".

He was rushing to a bus stop :roll: You work it out.

In teh UK, I have the right of way as a Vehicle. If you don't like it, the resolution is NOT to intimidate a fellow road user off the road with a seven ton Vehicle.

You can moan about it all you want, but the case has been taken up by the Police, so I am inherently in the right.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Yes he did. The words 'try' and 'did' need explaining to you?

I believe his point was that if a bus REALLY wanted to run you over, it could have, very, very easily. What the bus driver tried to do was scare you off the road.

You are an idiot.

ah heck off.

And you wade in why? Please /yourself.

 

[Papagayo]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Cut a long story short:

- Bus behind me on a narrow road, me doing 20+ mph.
- Cars are parked on the left and right of said narrow road, obviusly narrowing it further
- Bus cannot pass, but will stop in 30 seconds anyway at the next stop
- Comes to within 5ft of my rear wheel, I gesture that he should back off (not with THAT signal)
- Driver give ME the finger and drives up to within 1-2 feet. Both of us are still going 15 Mph
- I shout 'BACK OFF!'
- He shouts 'Get the FVCK out of the way'. There is no where to go, however.
- He pulls into stop, he pulls open his driver window and I yell 'I have right of way!' (in the UK I do, so suck it.)
- He yells 'Fcuk you, get on the pavement'
- I pull over to the curb and he moves off from the stop and pulls up real close to me, opens the passenger door and starts ranting about how I'm a c*** and should have got on the pavement long before.
- I inform him that the Highway Code(the road law) state I get a £1000 fine for riding on the road and that he should read it.
- Him, 'I have read it'
- Me, 'No you fcuking haven't otherwise you's know what the law is. READ IT TWICE'
- I tell him I'm going to report to his company, he laughs 'Good fcking luck, you C***!'
- I take his plate and call him a follically challenged female genital "BALD C***!"
- He calls me a 'Long haired fvcking Yeti'


So I ride home, this was on the last 1/2 mile of my 2 hour ride. I get to my door and think, no, screw it, I'm making a police report on this fvck, so I do.

The copper is a cyclist, so he's sympathetic and it's all logged. I then try to find the bus company online. The company name was hard to fine, with all the logo's and adverts on the bus, but not only did I find the Bus company, I found the Depot number...

I called the depot, made a direct complaint of Dangerous Driving, left the plate number and the description. I also mentioned that the Police would be in touch soon and gave them the Crime number that it will be in connection with.

Try to run me down, and I WILL own you. :|

What is Yeti?

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: Ilmater
As a fellow cyclist, I say get the fvck off the streets and onto the sidewalk.

If you were really a cyclist you'd know that in many places its illegal to ride on the sidewalk, and often more dangerous.

When is the last time anyone has been pulled over and fined for riding on the sidewalk?

People around here are crazy. There is no way I would ride a bike on the same road as them.

Bike cops will pull you over unless you are a Messenger. And even then, I have talked to messengers that get harassed all the time.

I've never seen a cop in my area on a bike. IMO their time can be better spent than harrassing some person on a bike.

I still fail to the "very dangerous" in riding a bike on a sidewalk. A bike rider can easily avoid a pedestrian. They don't just jump out of no where. People driving cars have a nasty habbit of running traffic lights and just not paying attention in general. Riding a bike on the road sounds like a nasty game of Russian roulette.

Said the person who probably tries to ride bikers off the road. If the law wasn't there, I guarantee people would get killed by bikers.

Think of a 20 lb bike and a 170 lb person going 20+mph into someone. That person will get maimed or killed.

It is about protecting the pedestrians, not for the enjoyment of the Road raging drivers out there. I even try to be considerate and get as close to the curb as possible, yet drivers still try to run me off, even when I am not in their lane. They will change lanes just to side swipe me. It is f$%ing ridiculous.

Plus, it is always the lone person in the Big-ass truck guzzling 5 mpg that try this sort of crap who regularly swerve into animals instead of avoiding them on the road for kicks (I've seen it countless times). I have no sympathy for those guys. Half of them turn out to be the hooligans in our society anyways, or good lawyers, take your pick.


**************************************************************************

Originally posted by: slag

Originally posted by: illusion88
Nice!
I hate fvckers who don't give room to cyclists.

Cyclists should stay on the sidewalk. Seriously, they are a hinderance to traffic, try to drive around people when in traffic and scrape cars by doing so, have no regard for stop signs, and are a general pita

at least in lawrence they are. They think they own the road and cant even keep up with the flow of traffic.

This is exactly the type of talk a person who runs cyclist off the road says. Let me guess either you have a "ricer", a classic american car, or a truck/SUV.

No to all 3. I drive a 1996 Nissan maxima family sedan. Only "rice" done to it is legal window tinting due to my 85 mile round trip drive each day to and from work. I've never run a cyclist off the road and wouldnt dream of doing so but I do believe they should stay off the road if they cannot keep up with the flow of traffic. If traffic is flowing 35-40 mph and a cyclist is doing 10-20 mph, they should get off the road.

Now "Let me guess". You have a bicycle you paid an arm and a leg for and feel you should have the same right to the road that someone driving a vehicle that can go the posted speed limit, wont hold up traffic, and will follow all traffic signs has.

You shouldnt.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
What is Yeti?

Snowman version of Bigfoot, right?

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: Papagayo

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

...

What is Yeti?

A hairy arctic beast. Text.

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: Ilmater
As a fellow cyclist, I say get the fvck off the streets and onto the sidewalk.

If you were really a cyclist you'd know that in many places its illegal to ride on the sidewalk, and often more dangerous.

When is the last time anyone has been pulled over and fined for riding on the sidewalk?

People around here are crazy. There is no way I would ride a bike on the same road as them.

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20050802/D8BO0D580.html

 

[Fausto]

I'm just going to say "nice" and leave it at that.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: slag
No to all 3. I drive a 1996 Nissan maxima family sedan. Only "rice" done to it is legal window tinting due to my 85 mile round trip drive each day to and from work. I've never run a cyclist off the road and wouldnt dream of doing so but I do believe they should stay off the road if they cannot keep up with the flow of traffic. If traffic is flowing 35-40 mph and a cyclist is doing 10-20 mph, they should get off the road.

Now "Let me guess". You have a bicycle you paid an arm and a leg for and feel you should have the same right to the road that someone driving a vehicle that can go the posted speed limit, wont hold up traffic, and will follow all traffic signs has.

You shouldnt.

If you don't run bikers of fthe road, then there is no problem. As long as there isn't road rage, I think car drivers have some good points on the matter.
But a bike is a vehicle no matter what you guys who don't bike think, and it would be dangerous for pedestrians if bikers road on the sidewalk. Try riding a bike faster than 20 mph and you will see what I mean.

And yes I have paid alot for riding, but only because of road raged drivers. Point in fact, I try to give cars enough space to drive past on the same lane I am in when they are behind me (meaning, I am as close to the curb as is safely possible), but that doesn't seem to be enough for some drivers. They would rather do harm and run me off the road. I have even been run off when I am on the curb designated for bikes.

I agree though, that they should change the law for bikers that just coast at <12-15 mph. At those speeds, it is much easier to manuveur on the sidewalk. The best solution though would be for seperate bike roads.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: slag
No to all 3. I drive a 1996 Nissan maxima family sedan. Only "rice" done to it is legal window tinting due to my 85 mile round trip drive each day to and from work. I've never run a cyclist off the road and wouldnt dream of doing so but I do believe they should stay off the road if they cannot keep up with the flow of traffic. If traffic is flowing 35-40 mph and a cyclist is doing 10-20 mph, they should get off the road.

Now "Let me guess". You have a bicycle you paid an arm and a leg for and feel you should have the same right to the road that someone driving a vehicle that can go the posted speed limit, wont hold up traffic, and will follow all traffic signs has.

You shouldnt.

If you don't run bikers of fthe road, then there is no problem. As long as there isn't road rage, I think car drivers have some good points on the matter.
But a bike is a vehicle no matter what you guys who don't bike think, and it would be dangerous for pedestrians if bikers road on the sidewalk. Try riding a bike faster than 20 mph and you will see what I mean.

And yes I have paid alot for riding, but only because of road raged drivers. Point in fact, I try to give cars enough space to drive past on the same lane I am in when they are behind me (meaning, I am as close to the curb as is safely possible), but that doesn't seem to be enough for some drivers. They would rather do harm and run me off the road. I have even been run off when I am on the curb designated for bikes.

I agree though, that they should change the law for bikers that just coast at <12-15 mph. At those speeds, it is much easier to manuveur on the sidewalk. The best solution though would be for seperate bike roads.

Some of us also ride for 3-5 hours at a time. No fscking way would I even consider doing that on the sidewalks.

If I have to breathe the crap your car spews, you guys can take 4 seconds to maneuver around me, no?

 

[Schfifty Five]

Good job reporting him and stuff...he really doesn't deserve to be driving...let alone a BUS. Doesn't matter if you are driving a car or riding a bike...no person should screw around that dangerously. And even more so if you're driving a huge vehicle like a bus.