Cyclists

[Ron61]

Joe,

I have no issues with cyclists if they obey the law, but it seems that about 90% of them around here won't. They spent $10 million re-doing this boulevard to make it a two lane one instead of four so they could put in a dam sidewalk to nowhere and a bike lane on each side, I think in the last three years I have seen three or four bicycles in the bike lane. The rest are out in the one traffic lane they left and won't move over at all. There was one bunch of about 30 that I came up behind up at Lassen and they were great. They all pulled over to the side of the road as it is narrow and steep and waved me by. That is a favorite route for the bicycle clubs around here to ride. They haul the bikes to the bottom of the mountain and then ride up and through the park.

Ron

[392cobra]

Thanks for bringing this back up.What timing.

It reminded me to pick up a new broom the next time I go to Loew's.

[Joe Wicked]

To me it is not about whether or not they obey the law. The law allows them to be there. It is about being courteous to others. This applies to cars as well. For example I was hauling a lot of stuff for my patio project last summer and my truck was at/maybe over it's rated weight capacity. I was going about 40 in a 60. Even though it was not a passing zone, as soon as someone came up behind me, I pulled over to the shoulder and waived them by. I continued moving, but gave them plenty of room to continue about their day. If a person is just a few MPH below the speed limit, then fine, wait until there is an opportunity to pass otherwise it is just courteous to pull over and let someone go. I hear people complain a lot about truck drivers, bike riders, hot rodders, etc... and their driving, but I rarely have an issue with them. When I do, I have generally run across that moron. I tend to give first, and I tend to get respect back.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

To me it is not about whether or not they obey the law. The law allows them to be there.

Wrong,wrong,wrong.The law DOES NOT allow them to take up WHOLE LANES.

And i'm sure the cyclists in Tucson will be happy to know i've up-graded my Locomotive horn system from 90 psi to 130 psi.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Wrong,wrong,wrong.The law DOES NOT allow them to take up WHOLE LANES.

And i'm sure the cyclists in Tucson will be happy to know i've up-graded my Locomotive horn system from 90 psi to 130 psi.

I meant on the road period. The law allows them to use the road.

[Cobrabill]

Clarification!!...cool.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Clarification!!...cool.

Trust me, I often wish I had an old beater that I didn't care if it got more dents for both the idiot drivers and the cyclists.

[bomelia]

I have another take on this. Take the word biker and replace it with black person, or polish guy, or wetback, woman, or spic (the choices are endles, but politcal correctness and heightened awareness have wittled the choices down now to where we are left with just "stupid people").

Replace any mention of riding on the roads, blocking traffic, etc with "getting my job because of quotas", or "rapping in public", "or taking American jobs", "getting my promotion", etc (again, the choices are endless, and not whittled down at all).

Now, it just occurs to me that maybe some folks are running out of things to be pissed at, to focus their anger on, to justify their condition and so on.

OK, bikers are ignorant, self interested, folks in tight pants that make them look silly. And they are in my way. So, I know its illegal to kill them, but lets talk about it anyways as a release. Ya never know. And if one gets taken out, lets call him a jerk who deserved to be removed from the gene pool. Yeah, now I AM feeling better.

A lot of use of the word "them" and "I have friends who are bikers". Hmmm.

Me, I'm not a racist guy! And don't call me prejudist.

OK, its a stretch... but as a long distance runner, and occasional road bike rider, who, by the way, has found myself trapped on roads behind bikers and runners, I am having a hard time taking sides in this. I guess it bothers me a bit.

Peace,

Mike

[Joe Wicked]

Not a huge stretch Mike. My problem is people who are not courteous on the road, weather it be on foot, bike, car, truck, or UFO.

I guess I just hate everyone equally.

[Bill Bess]

I totally agree with Mike on this issue.

Who owns the road? Just because you as an individual feel agression everytime somebody is in your way, or you find some reason or excuss to validate your feelings or position based on your experience while driving so legally along..... it doesn't mean your correct. Wow! what a bunch of crap I just said, but it is true, it's easy to get mad and hate everything just because your inconvienced.
Lighten up, we all have the right to use the highways...even those silly looking bike riders.

Oh Ya ..I'm one of them, Bill

[imagine2frolic]

As I stated before. I use to commute on a bike for years. When I drive I give tons of room for bicycles. I get disturbed by inconsiderate people no matter what vehichle they are using, bike, car, boat, etc. etc. I am not griping at the ones who are considerate. Just those lame idiots, and there plenty to go around in every aspect of life.

[Ron61]

I agree with Joe on this issue. It is not about who owns the road. It should be about common courtesy. I don't know what your state laws are but ours read that if there is a bike lane then bike riders should ride in that lane and not on the main highway. We have bike lanes here on both sides of the main Boulevard. Maybe 1 out of 15 bike riders will use the bike lanes and the rest ride along side by side in the street. That is also against our laws as it states if there is no bike lane, riders shall not ride side by side and block traffic. With our mountains and curves, I tend to stay as far to the side as I can when I ride and if a car or vehicle is behind me I will stop and get off the highway until they are safely by. When I am driving my car, I expect the same kind of courtesy. This extends to the idiots driving cars, trucks, and anything else that will do anything to block traffic. It irritates me to be on our 3 lane freeway stuck behind three vehicles driving side by side at 40 MPH too. I don't own any roads and neither do they.

Ron

[392cobra]

Originally Posted by bomelia

OK, bikers are ignorant, self interested, folks in tight pants that make them look silly. And they are in my way. So, I know its illegal to kill them,but lets talk about it anyways as a release. Ya never know. And if one gets taken out, lets call him a jerk who deserved to be removed from the gene pool. Yeah, now I AM feeling better.

Peace,

Mike

Are you sure it's illegal or is that just in Ca..?

[bomelia]

Fred,

What did you say? My eyes keep bouncing up and down.

Sorry for being a kill joy, and I agree that folks need to be considerate regardless of the wheels they are on top of. Ron, those folks that are breaking the law? Get a cell phone, and report them right there. If they do nothing about it, go to the City Hall meetings and complain. If there are laws on the books, then make sure they are enforced.

Mike

[Rick Parker]

Until a few years ago I was a very avid cyclist. I used to ride 200 + miles weekly, mostly in the foothils during Spring through Fall. I will be the first to say the roads are for Automobiles and as a rider I inherintly respected this. I would always be aware of cars coming from behind and consistantly rode primarily on the RH shoulder (within 3 feet of the edge of the road). If a bike and a car collide there is no doubt who will be the loser. Just give them some courtesy and a little extra room as you approach them from behind and everyone will be happy.

[GlynMeek]

How wonderfully civilized and how AMAZINGLY RARE THAT attitude is among cyclists!



I HAVE to say that now that early spring has arrived down here in Texas, our wonderful cycling friends are out in force, and possibly EVEN MORE OFFENSIVE THAN LAST YEAR!!!!

I TRULY don't have a problem with them on the roads ...except, getting back to my original complaint..."WHY DO THEY GET TO USE THE ROADS WITHOUT PAYING ROAD TAX ???????????????"

ROFL

Glyn

[Ron61]

Mike,

Ron, those folks that are breaking the law? Get a cell phone, and report them right there.

I am probable the only person in the country that does NOT have a cell phone. The only time I would need one I would be in one of the dead areas around here with all the mountains. They have been reportedly turned in to the police along with names and told there is nothing they can do about it. Our police are to busy taking care of the dopers and making sure everything they want they get. I sometimes think the whole dam police force is on the payroll of the dopers as they won't do anything for one of the honest working citizens, but let the Feds. move in and they are right there to show their support for Law and Order. What a joke around here. We used to have good police and now the nones we have are worthless.

Ron

[bomelia]

That is why I said "get".

Mike

[Ron61]

Mike,

The local police here will NOT respond to anything that a regular citizen calls in, unless it is a wreck and blocking the highway. They only respond if one of the dopers is having a problem and calls in. I even went to the station to report a fight at one of the dope places here and was told, Quote, "We don't go to houses." End Quote. About 10 minutes later the old woman that owns the place and has so many arrests they quit counting called them and they had 4 patrol units over there within 5 minutes as she wanted a couple of them kicked out of the house for the day. Calling the police here for anything unless you are one of the bad people is useless. And if I wanted a cell phone I would have one. I just have no need for one.

Ron