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+--- Thread: Do you know how to ride a bike? (/showthread.php?tid=17411)
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - AlphaDog - 08-23-2006
Here's my warning to the next bicyclist who considers coming up on my right, between my car and the curb, while I'm trying to make a right turn: Don't.
I've lost track of the number of times that one has happened while I'm driving. It makes it really hard to have a good attitude about sharing the road.
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - Seacrest - 08-23-2006
[quote AlphaDog]Here's my warning to the next bicyclist who considers coming up on my right, between my car and the curb, while I'm trying to make a right turn: Don't.
As long as you SIGNAL, I gots no beef.
However I reserve my right to wait paitently at the curb, on your right, at a red light.
Feel free to make your right turn on red, if it's allowed.
You wouldn't believe how many idiots are afraid to make that turn, assuming -- wrongly -- that I am going to blow the light.
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - $tevie - 08-23-2006
My husband's sister was injured in NYC when a bike messenger tore around the corner and slammed right into her, breaking her pelvis and smashing her up pretty badly. He was essentially hugging the building which in turn hid his existence until he turned the corner and slammed into her.
I recently had a bike rider screaming at my cabbie not to pull over to the curb (to let me out) because he would hit her. She was riding down the street in the little space between the parking lane and the traffic lane, instead of being IN the traffic lane. When she realized we were pulling over, she rode faster and faster so she could come abreast of the passenger window and scream "Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!" The cabbie, having no idea what "Don't do it!" was meant to signify, slowed down and looked around for who was screaming and finally figured out where the source of the noise was and stopped so she could get ahead of us, which of course the cars behind us just loved. I guess I was supposed to drive around the block with the meter running and attempt to be dropped off again after she was gone...
And then there's the Segway rider who came speeding down the sidewalk a couple of weeks ago, screaming at everyone to get out of her way. I thought Segways were supposed to replace walking, not running.
My husband rides a bike everywhere because we don't own a car, and I would like to see drivers, bikers and pedestrians all get along -- but breaking the laws and being self-centered is not peculiar to any one group, so the only way to fight it is if we all try to do our part. (This week's Pollyanna contribution).
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - davester - 08-23-2006
[quote M A V I C]...Well, they know how, but they don't know the rules of the road.
The first no-no I see often is people riding bikes on the sidewalk. My understanding is that's illegal in this state...
Do you know the rules of the road? What state do you live in? My understanding is that in most states (California, Oregon and Washington for sure) there is no state law prohibiting riding on sidewalks, although many municipalities have laws regulating sidewalk riding (usually restricting such riding to residential areas and/or to children).
I definitely agree that the cyclist as scofflaw stereotype causes a lot of rage among "A-type" car drivers, in some cases justified, but in most cases not. Many car drivers just seem to get bent out of shape because the bike rider is getting away with something that they don't feel they can get away with. I'm definitely a "stop at the stop sign/traffic light" type, but I also think that in many cases this one size fits all law is silly. There is a lot of incentive for a bike rider to coast through such intersections when the coast is clear because it takes so much energy to stop and start (it's also more hazardous in many cases to unclip, put your foot down, then start up again than it is to simply slow down). A bicycle coasting slowly through a stop sign where sight lines are clear and no traffic is around is not hurting anybody, and is not a threat to anybody. However, a car driver who expends no effort coming to a stop and starting up again is driving a two ton WMD, has a restricted view of the world around and in almost all cases is travelling dramatically faster than a bike rider when approaching an intersection.
Another thing to consider is that bike riders learn to ride on the street many years before they can get a driver's license and there is virtually no instruction available to these people as to what the rules of the road are...they only learn the rules when they get a driver's license, many years after their riding habits are established. I'm not sure why there is so little emphasis on bike safety in the US. I don't know if it is still this way, but when I was growing up in England, bike safety was taught in school, usually in sessions given by the local police, and using simulated roadways and signage laid out on the playground. However, when I moved to the US, it was apparent that bicycles were considered toys, and not serious vehicles as they were in England.
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - AlphaDog - 08-23-2006
Wow! You actually wait patiently and don't blow the light?! You can come and ride on my streets anytime.
And, yes, if I'm going to turn, my signal is on.Don't assume I'm an idiot for being afraid to make that turn while you're there, because I think you're in the minority. I've saved the bacon of more than one cyclist because I did assume they were going to blow the light, and I was right. When the majority of them do, that's the prudent way for a driver to respond. I'll take "the idiot's" way, because it's safer in the long run - for the biker. If the person on the bike is actually stopped next to me, we can usually manage to make eye contact and agree on who goes first, but that doesn't happen often.
The ones who are most maddening are those who are passing a line of cars on the right when those cars are moving more slowly than the bikers can ride. A cyclist can be four cars back when I first check my mirror, and then they're right next to me by the time I'm ready to start the turn.
I don't have a problem with bikers most of the time, but many of them have no manners, nor much good sense, and they sure don't act like they believe the rules of the road apply to them. I guess they never really learned how to "share" in preschool.
Edit: Grrr. I think too much and type too slow, and a couple of posts got between me and Seacrest's post.
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - pixelzombie - 08-23-2006
[quote davester][quote M A V I C]...Well, they know how, but they don't know the rules of the road.
The first no-no I see often is people riding bikes on the sidewalk. My understanding is that's illegal in this state...
Do you know the rules of the road? What state do you live in? My understanding is that in most states (California, Oregon and Washington for sure) there is no state law prohibiting riding on sidewalks, although many municipalities have laws regulating sidewalk riding (usually restricting such riding to residential areas and/or to children).
I definitely agree that the cyclist as scofflaw stereotype causes a lot of rage among "A-type" car drivers, in some cases justified, but in most cases not. Many car drivers just seem to get bent out of shape because the bike rider is getting away with something that they don't feel they can get away with. I'm definitely a "stop at the stop sign/traffic light" type, but I also think that in many cases this one size fits all law is silly. There is a lot of incentive for a bike rider to coast through such intersections when the coast is clear because it takes so much energy to stop and start (it's also more hazardous in many cases to unclip, put your foot down, then start up again than it is to simply slow down). A bicycle coasting slowly through a stop sign where sight lines are clear and no traffic is around is not hurting anybody, and is not a threat to anybody. However, a car driver who expends no effort coming to a stop and starting up again is driving a two ton WMD, has a restricted view of the world around and in almost all cases is travelling dramatically faster than a bike rider when approaching an intersection.
Another thing to consider is that bike riders learn to ride on the street many years before they can get a driver's license and there is virtually no instruction available to these people as to what the rules of the road are...they only learn the rules when they get a driver's license, many years after their riding habits are established. I'm not sure why there is so little emphasis on bike safety in the US. I don't know if it is still this way, but when I was growing up in England, bike safety was taught in school, usually in sessions given by the local police, and using simulated roadways and signage laid out on the playground. However, when I moved to the US, it was apparent that bicycles were considered toys, and not serious vehicles as they were in England.
very well said, the only time i ride on the sidewalk is when streets are too hazardous for whatever reason.....i don't usually obey stop signs, and when i do motorists are more than willing to wave me through, when they actually stop of course...
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - M A V I C - 08-23-2006
[quote davester][quote M A V I C]...Well, they know how, but they don't know the rules of the road.
The first no-no I see often is people riding bikes on the sidewalk. My understanding is that's illegal in this state...
Do you know the rules of the road? What state do you live in? My understanding is that in most states (California, Oregon and Washington for sure) there is no state law prohibiting riding on sidewalks, although many municipalities have laws regulating sidewalk riding (usually restricting such riding to residential areas and/or to children).
Sorry, you're right. I can't remember if it's a state (WA) law or local law that forbids them from being on the sidewalk in business areas.
[quote davester]I'm definitely a "stop at the stop sign/traffic light" type, but I also think that in many cases this one size fits all law is silly. There is a lot of incentive for a bike rider to coast through such intersections when the coast is clear because it takes so much energy to stop and start (it's also more hazardous in many cases to unclip, put your foot down, then start up again than it is to simply slow down). A bicycle coasting slowly through a stop sign where sight lines are clear and no traffic is around is not hurting anybody, and is not a threat to anybody.
I stop at lights, always. And I wait for them to turn. I figure having to get going again is just part of my choice as a bike rider. I have seen plenty of times when a cyclist thought there was no traffic coming but was wrong. The intersections in this area aren't your average four-way intersections with clear visibility. All too often I see a cyclist assume it's okay for them to break the law, and instead they either cause or come close to causing an accident.
By not stopping, they don't get enough time to see if the intersection is clear. If they made the choice to just follow the laws, this wouldn't be an issue to begin with.
Another thing to consider is that bike riders learn to ride on the street many years before they can get a driver's license and there is virtually no instruction available to these people as to what the rules of the road are...they only learn the rules when they get a driver's license, many years after their riding habits are established. I'm not sure why there is so little emphasis on bike safety in the US. I don't know if it is still this way, but when I was growing up in England, bike safety was taught in school, usually in sessions given by the local police, and using simulated roadways and signage laid out on the playground. However, when I moved to the US, it was apparent that bicycles were considered toys, and not serious vehicles as they were in England.
Well, the laws are very clearly posted on several easy-to-find web sites and take all of about five minutes to read.
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - davester - 08-23-2006
[quote M A V I C]
Well, the laws are very clearly posted on several easy-to-find web sites and take all of about five minutes to read.
Apparently you've never had kids.
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - Racer X - 08-23-2006
If they can't be trusted to behave when they are out of your sight, don't let them out of your sight.
There are joys associated with being a parent, and there are sure some PITA responsibilities as well, such as teaching kids right from wrong, and safety at ALL TIMES.
Re: Do you know how to ride a bike? - RAMd®d - 08-23-2006
howard, I get upset with cyclists and it's for none of those reasons.
Exactly.
I love these Bike vs Car posts. At least, that's what a few people turn them into.
h' always blames anyone and everyone driving motorized wheels as the sole cause of bike accidents, as bicyclists are always law abiding, without exception.
There is plenty of blame to go 'round, and many bike riders should be shouldering their share.
So apparently there are only two or three of us nationwide who stop for red lights, stop behind limit lines, obey traffic signals, give a proper signal when turning, look and signal before turning, yada yada. And I don't feel one bit guilty. Nor do I assume *all* riders are smug, condescending, stupid asshats.
The rest of the motor vehicle are all A-types who are no doubt the *only* people aggrevated when a bicyclist viloates a signal. I mean surely well-adjusted drivers smile and say "Have a nice day" when they almost run over an idiot bike rider who blows a light or tries to pass a car on the right shoulder while the car is signaling for a turn. It would be selfish of them to get upset at the idiot rider's actions.
And their should be a mandatorydriving test every six years and a mandatory written test every three years. And it should start at say-- 18, not 70. There are a lot of stupid/bad drivers, and they can be found at any age.
And there are a lot of stupid/bad bike riders (with Type-A personalities).
That should go without saying, but denial is rampant.