Bicycle question

[Sigarms]

A long time ago I had a lot of seat time in. Century rides with a pretty good time to boot. Gave it up a long time ago.

I mention this only because of a rant.

I live in a rural area with some rural roads. Better or worse, all the local "city" bikers are now on these roads. Man, they'll ride four abreast and treat the road like they own it. Tonight, coming around a curve doing 35 (10 miles below the speed limit) I almost nailed a biker who was riding dead center of the road. Over the weekend, I passed six bikers who were riding three abreast and as I passed them (in the other lane) they were all screaming at me.

Ok, I'll sound like my dad. When I road bike, I always road defensively (sp?) when on the road. If more than two people were riding, we always road single file if there was any chance of traffic. I knew I either a car or myself made a mistake with a car around, I'd be the one ending up paying for it.

What is it with these bikers today?

I went to town hall the other week to inquire about the law. I was told that bikes are considered "vehicles of the road" and they have every right to the road as a car. Ok, I know what it's like to love to ride a bike, however, when you ride a bike like you own the road, sooner or later someone's going to get nailed. Guess if the state wants to give bikers their own rights of the road, they should give them seperate lanes like they do up in Vermont.

Rant mode off

 

[Bird]

When we lived way out in the country 60 miles south of Dallas, bicycle clubs would have whatever they call their parties and, as you said, they were a terrible nuisance. These were farm-to-market roads, 2 lane asphalt, no shoulder, 55 mph speed limit, and there would be hundreds of them, 2 or 3 abreast and staying spread just far enough apart to be sure cars couldn't pass. You could be stuck behind them for 10 to 15 miles at a time. And while I'd never do it myself, quite frankly, I'd have loved to have someone run over a few of them.

 

[Tig]

They have put bicycle lanes in around Ottawa and in the county where my country place is. It's just an extra 3 feet of pavement on each side of the road. Bicycles make good tourists because they can't bring much more than their wallets.

 

[kenmac]

Around here bycicke riders have the same rights as vehicles .They are also suppose to obey the same laws.But, I have never seen one get a ticket for running stop sign, red light,speeding etc,. My question is. How can they have the same rights of the road when, they don't pay road taxes for using the roads ? Vehicle operators pay road taxes every time they pump gasoline

 

[turbo36]

When we lived way out in the country 60 miles south of Dallas, bicycle clubs would have whatever they call their parties and, as you said, they were a terrible nuisance. These were farm-to-market roads, 2 lane asphalt, no shoulder, 55 mph speed limit, and there would be hundreds of them, 2 or 3 abreast and staying spread just far enough apart to be sure cars couldn't pass. You could be stuck behind them for 10 to 15 miles at a time. And while I'd never do it myself, quite frankly, I'd have loved to have someone run over a few of them.

I am a long time biker and I've been hit by a car while riding single file as far right as I could. The law is most states recognizes a bicycle as a just another vehicle on the road, same road - same rules.
Because most car drivers won't accept this bikers will ride in groups for safety and experience has taught us if you ride a little farther to left cars will not try to 'split the lane". If both parties would respect each other things would go much smoother.
I'm curious do you also get the urge to run over a farm tractor when they are in your way?
Is your life so hectic that on the rare occurrence you encounter a bike rider or group you can't be delayed a few minutes in the interest of safety?

 

[turbo36]

Around here bycicke riders have the same rights as vehicles .They are also suppose to obey the same laws.But, I have never seen one get a ticket for running stop sign, red light,speeding etc,. My question is. How can they have the same rights of the road when, they don't pay road taxes for using the roads ? Vehicle operators pay road taxes every time they pump gasoline

Bicycle riders have been cited many times for traffic violations.
Access to the roads in not granted by payment of road taxes, if that was true then pedestrians could not walk down them.

 

[RayH]

Bicycle riders have been cited many times for traffic violations.

Not doubting you, just curious how that works? As was stated, you dont need a license to ride a bike on the streets so would a citation on a bike go against your drivers license? I guess as far as that goes, you could get a DUI for riding a bike while intoxicated.

I to ride but I dont do it on two lane roads with no shoulder. Sure, legally Im aloud to but for the sake of common sense, better judgement and self preservation, I choose not to. Just because its my right to do it doesnt make it smart.

 

[Sigarms]

I'm curious do you also get the urge to run over a farm tractor when they are in your way?

Is your life so hectic that on the rare occurrence you encounter a bike rider or group you can't be delayed a few minutes in the interest of safety?

I have just as many tractors in my area as bike riders. Difference is the tractor driver will usually pull over and wave you by. The bikers just keep riding and don't seem to care. As mentioned before, I was once an avid biker. However, when I rode, I usually only rode with a couple of my buddies (wasn't as popular back then), but we always rode defensivly and ALWAYS in single file when a car was coming up behind us.

A few minutes? Try almost every day going home behind a group of ten of them.

Other thoughts have crossed my mind, but all legal, and just wanting to be friendly, thats all

Talked to a farmer down the road and he gave me some good advice. Get beind a bunch of slow moving bikes that don't want to go out of their way to let you pass? Get in front of them and when you do, go 5 MPH slower than the bikes and let them know what it feels like. I actually thought it was pretty good advice.

One reason why I got into mountain biking was because I thought there were too many idiots driving cars. Now I think there are too many idiots riding road bikes.

You know, thinking about it, I guess it's all the "attitude" that some of these people show. Honestly, I'd hate to see someone get hurt, but sooner or later somone is going to get nailed on one of my local roads. I'm one of the few who actually drive the speed limit. One day, one car will be going to fast coming around a curve and you'll have four of five guides riding abreast of each other coming around the same curve in the opposite direction.

From a legal standpoint, are you better off making sure the guy can't sue you? (yes, bad taste I know)

 

[Shimon]

I'm curious do you also get the urge to run over a farm tractor when they are in your way?
Is your life so hectic that on the rare occurrence you encounter a bike rider or group you can't be delayed a few minutes in the interest of safety?

I don't think that's what the OP is getting at. I too am a rider and I too sympathize with the original poster. A lot of cyclists are starting to appear in rural areas where locals aren't used to them. These cyclists should have the courtesy to bear to the right. Riding abreast (2 or 3 or 4)...even for "self preservation"...does nothing more than irritate the local populace.

When you see a tractor on the road, they will most always be bearing as far as they can to the right so other vehicles can pass them. The problem is not with tractors or cyclists sharing the road it's with those users who "hog" the road.

I tend to avoid riding on rural road because I think there are enough bad drivers out there that I don't want to put my life in their hands. My wife always wants to go walking but I won't let her. Too many blind corners that people tear around. I bought her a treadmill instead. It's not the same but it is safer.

I agree with the original poster in that these cyclists need to show a little more courtesy to the vehicles which predominantly use the road. And that goes for drivers too...slowing down and giving a wide berth if possible helps promote good relations between all parties.

 

[dbdartman]

You're not alone, Sig. We get them here also; spandex covered yuppies riding EXPENSIVE bikes totally ignoring the traffic around them.

About 10 years ago on my way home from work one afternoon, one shot out from the shoulder (what there was of it) right in front of me. Wouldn't have been that bad except we were right in the middle of a blind curve on a hill! I gestured towards him expressing my displeasure with his maneuver & he took offense to it. He & his friend stopped when I did, about 50 feet behind me. You should have seen the look on his face when the reverse lights went on in the junk 77 Volare. The dogged-out 225 slanty smoked the left rear tire pretty well! Yea, I stopped before the car went more than about 10 feet, & went on my way. I'd like to think young Mr. Yuppie learned something about courtesy & the difference in weight between a bicycle & an old 4dr sedan.

 

[txdon]

Our commissioner discourages bikers by not paving gravel roads and not filling the potholes on paved roads.

 

[davitk]

Gosh, I 'd love to add something to this discussion but my butt hurts just thing about riding Those grouped up riders really do chafe me, too, although it's not often I'd like to squish 'em like a bug.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Bicycle education -- and the law -- has changed a lot in the past 30 years or so. Cyclists are now taught to "take the lane" when the lane is narrow.

If you are really interested in the topic, check out this link:
Bicycling Street Smarts
It's the online version of a book called "Bicycle Street Smarts." It's the bicycle operator's manual for five states. In particular, look at chapter 2, "Where to ride on the road."

 

[Sigarms]

What you're talking about is not legal.

Here's what WV law says about using your horn:


And come on, didn't you learn in kindergarten that two wrongs don't make a right?

I would respond that I was only trying to tell the rear biker that his tire looked kind of low and that I was worried that he might have an accident.