Watch out for bicycles too.

[paulfun9]

I have had so many close calls involving bicycles that I've become anti bike.
They share the road network but (mostly) disregard any of the rules/laws.
They blow stops, make unlawful turns, dodge in/out of traffic in/out of sidewalks.
I once had one bounce off of my van to expedite his turn.
In my area a law was enacted to prevent dooring and another to provide a minimum passing clearance, both subject to fines and demerit points.
When it comes to speeding I've often been passed on my right by a bike that is greatly exceeding the posted limits. (That on a main street in a busy city hill)
One area has a dedicate bike trail that crosses a main artery and has posted stop signs for the bikes but the very rarely obey them, and if I exercise my basic right of way rights they give me the finger. Worst yet, the LEO's ignore those basic violations.
To add insult to injury the pay nothing towards the maintenance of the networks they demand to share.

I only wish to add the bike riders who refuse to tighten up to the inside of the lane when traffic is waiting to pass. Now I have ridden plenty of bikes long before it was fashionable to do so and logged many miles with other traffic. So I know a rider does not need to be 4 ft from the roads edge and still need a 5 ft margin between them and the passing car.
If You want that margin then move over so We are not close as we pass you! Your bike only needs a couple inches from the line on the inside of the lane, it’s not 5 ft wide!

 

[Captain Dirty]

Once an ardent cyclist wanted the city to install water fountains every few kilometers as cyclists became rapidly dehydrated.
He actually made that demand at a council meeting.

War story: I was cycling though the rice fields of South East Texas just W of Beaumont and behind on my water when I saw a man watering his lawn with a hose. I stopped and asked if I could fill my water bottles. He hollered to his wife to bring out some ice water. She came out with a 24 oz. tumbler filled with water and ice. I poured about half of it down my throat before I became acutely aware why the town was named Sour Lake.

I choked back a gag so as not to offend their generosity.

 

[tradosaurus]

War story: I was cycling though the rice fields of East Texas just W of Beaumont and behind on my water when I saw a man watering his lawn with a hose. I stopped and asked if I could fill my water bottles. He hollered to his wife to bring out some ice water. She came out with a 24 oz. tumbler filled with water and ice. I poured about half of it down my throat before I became acutely aware why the town was called Sour Lake.

I choked back a gag so as not to offend their generosity.

Beaumont would be considered south Texas.

 

[civilian]

We started overnight bicycle trips with the kids when the youngest was 6 years old. 100 miles in northern MI over 5 days. Youngest was supposed to ride the tandem behind me, but prefered his own single bike. Yes we have been self taught and have seen many on bikes that don't follow the rules of the roads. Some are kids, others are adults. I can't say that I have never rolled through a stop sign, because where we live, there may not be anyone else at that stop sign for an hour. Some of the roads are full of potholes that riding to the right is impossible. Think that pothole is hard on your car tire, think about it on a bicycle. Also heard some time ago, that the roads were paved for the bicycles because the cars were able to power through the crappy dirt paths. Never verified it, though. Jon

 

[Jstpssng]

I can't say that I have never rolled through a stop sign, because where we live, there may not be anyone else at that stop sign for an hour.

I doubt that many motorists can say they've never rolled through a stop sign, either.

 

[ArlyA]

We started overnight bicycle trips with the kids when the youngest was 6 years old. 100 miles in northern MI over 5 days. Youngest was supposed to ride the tandem behind me, but prefered his own single bike. Yes we have been self taught and have seen many on bikes that don't follow the rules of the roads. Some are kids, others are adults. I can't say that I have never rolled through a stop sign, because where we live, there may not be anyone else at that stop sign for an hour. Some of the roads are full of potholes that riding to the right is impossible. Think that pothole is hard on your car tire, think about it on a bicycle. Also heard some time ago, that the roads were paved for the bicycles because the cars were able to power through the crappy dirt paths. Never verified it, though. Jon

The 1st roads paved in the Unites states was in Michigan when LAW (League of American Cyclist) MI division pushed it through the our MI House. Go figure!

 

[CADplans]

YEP,, we ALL take care of bikes,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Code54]

 

[dodge man]

I need to add that to my list, keep your finger off the trigger, don’t run with scissors, leave your sword at home when biking.

 

[timswi]

It seems there are plenty of responsible bicycle folks on this thread and my experience isn't directed at them.

I live in a somewhat rural area but work in a city. I've seen bicycles run red-lights, stop signs, run between stopped cars etc but blaming everyone but themselves when something goes wrong.

A guy came blasting out of an alley and slammed into my pickup..All I saw was a green tee shirt rolling over the hood. Thankfully I was only going 10 mph as I left a traffic light.

Within minutes the whole road was filled with first responders. The rider only separated his shoulder. Cops told me this was obviously his fault and reported as such. Cop told me that they have to clean up a couple of these a day and that many of these people are a public menace.

End result: Since the bike guy had no insurance I got to pay $500 for ins deductable, $400 for a rental and lost $2500 on trade in due to a Carfax accident tag.

If bicycles are allowed on public roads, they should also carry insurance.

 

[Captain Dirty]

Poetic Justice Department (for PILOON, timswi, and others)

A friend of a friend was exceptionally well co-ordinated, quick, and an aggressive rider. I rode with him ONCE and watched him blitz red lights, cut across traffic lanes, etc. He was a bicycle messenger in Boston and worked a scam in which he would stage an accident, live off the insurance settlement for a while, and repeat. On his last incident he misjudged, and he spent the remaining 15 years of his life in a vegetative state.

 

[KennyG]

I have ridden for years, mostly on rural roads. I wish we had more dedicated bike paths, but the only time I was hit by a car I was on a bike path. A car blew a stop sign coming out of parking lot across the bike path.

 

[civilian]

I can't say that I have never rolled through a stop sign.........Jon

And I have to ask what percentage of vehicle drivers do not pay attention to speed limits? ie Speeding? Jon

 

[9973720wb19]

I have had so many close calls involving bicycles that I've become anti bike.
They share the road network but (mostly) disregard any of the rules/laws.
They blow stops, make unlawful turns, dodge in/out of traffic in/out of sidewalks.
I once had one bounce off of my van to expedite his turn.
In my area a law was enacted to prevent dooring and another to provide a minimum passing clearance, both subject to fines and demerit points.
When it comes to speeding I've often been passed on my right by a bike that is greatly exceeding the posted limits. (That on a main street in a busy city hill)
One area has a dedicate bike trail that crosses a main artery and has posted stop signs for the bikes but the very rarely obey them, and if I exercise my basic right of way rights they give me the finger. Worst yet, the LEO's ignore those basic violations.
To add insult to injury the pay nothing towards the maintenance of the networks they demand to share.

I agree with you that there are bad cyclist and bad drivers. Sometime guys in my group will coast through a stop sign trying to keep up with the group...not good! Yet we can't neglect the fact that if there's a collision, the difference is one will surly die. And that's bad no matter who's at fault. With regard to taxes, whether you drive, ride, run, walk or sit on the sofa...taxes are based on your income. I'm an avid cyclist and can assure you I pay my fair share of taxes. Most people I ride with are generally A-type personally - very successful - that play hard and work hard...therefore, I'd argue pay more taxes on average than those sitting on the sofa.

 

[9973720wb19]

I only wish to add the bike riders who refuse to tighten up to the inside of the lane when traffic is waiting to pass. Now I have ridden plenty of bikes long before it was fashionable to do so and logged many miles with other traffic. So I know a rider does not need to be 4 ft from the roads edge and still need a 5 ft margin between them and the passing car.
If You want that margin then move over so We are not close as we pass you! Your bike only needs a couple inches from the line on the inside of the lane, it’s not 5 ft wide!

Agree, but sometime there are holes, debris, glass, gravel, and other things on the side of the road that make it hard to ride on the edge of the road 100% of the time. And there's the ones that don't ride much and don't have good bike handling skills...it's harder than you think to ride within 6 inches wide consistently...especially the faster you go...like a descent. Also, most times when a rider is out in the road, they don't know a car is coming up...all the time. Try it...find a steep hill and go down at 40mph within a few inches of the side of the road...

 

[9973720wb19]

Poetic Justice Department (for PILOON, timswi, and others)

A friend of a friend was exceptionally well co-ordinated, quick, and an aggressive rider. I rode with him ONCE and watched him blitz red lights, cut across traffic lanes, etc. He was a bicycle messenger in Boston and worked a scam in which he would stage an accident, live off the insurance settlement for a while, and repeat. On his last incident he misjudged, and he spent the remaining 15 years of his life in a vegetative state.

No sure I blame the bike for making this guy who he is...

 

[paulfun9]

Agree, but sometime there are holes, debris, glass, gravel, and other things on the side of the road that make it hard to ride on the edge of the road 100% of the time. And there's the ones that don't ride much and don't have good bike handling skills...it's harder than you think to ride within 6 inches wide consistently...especially the faster you go...like a descent. Also, most times when a rider is out in the road, they don't know a car is coming up...all the time. Try it...find a steep hill and go down at 40mph within a few inches of the side of the road...

Harder than I think? Who the hell do you think your fooling?
Even with my bad knees and old age I can still do it and just did yesterday!
Secondly I never said you need to be consistently over there just for a bit so we can all pass each other respectfully.

By the way I rode the line itself for almost 2 miles yesterday not as you say within 6 inches. I certainly hope your joking, and if not I think you might want to think about giving up bike rideing if you can’t ride within a reasonable margins of the edge while a car or truck passes!

 

[PILOON]

I doubt that many motorists can say they've never rolled through a stop sign, either.

Yep, but only if I can see clearly in all directions and there are no trees to hide a LEO with a radar gun.
Yes, they are that sneaky around here!

Always remember on our honeymoon the time when a LEO was actually parked inside of a huge semi van to catch speeders.
Naturally just where a narrow 2 lane opened up to a nice 4 lane.
Fine was reasonable but they demanded a large security deposit for the trial date a month down the road.
That was a costly honeymoon.

 

[PILOON]

I agree with you that there are bad cyclist and bad drivers. Sometime guys in my group will coast through a stop sign trying to keep up with the group...not good! Yet we can't neglect the fact that if there's a collision, the difference is one will surly die. And that's bad no matter who's at fault. With regard to taxes, whether you drive, ride, run, walk or sit on the sofa...taxes are based on your income. I'm an avid cyclist and can assure you I pay my fair share of taxes. Most people I ride with are generally A-type personally - very successful - that play hard and work hard...therefore, I'd argue pay more taxes on average than those sitting on the sofa.

"taxes are based on your income."
OK, income taxes BUT
It is fuel taxes and license tags that pay for road maintenance!.