tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post5198790489546954055..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Why Are Drivers Such A-holes?Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-75082565885513731352016-04-15T21:43:44.486-04:002016-04-15T21:43:44.486-04:00Wear a camera on your helmet, cover your ass with ...Wear a camera on your helmet, cover your ass with LEDs, watch your mirror, better to eat gravel then get smashed by a truck. Walk your bike across intersections, assume the worst, but flash the shakka sign when you get waved at. Get a tough cell phone, the EMT wiped the blood off mine and called work and my wife. I wear a Jersey with an American flag, the convoy salutes me and gives me six feet.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01352182008179946471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-65457670800543812512016-02-16T20:26:06.248-05:002016-02-16T20:26:06.248-05:00Because they feel protected from the fallout (viol...Because they feel protected from the fallout (violent, social, whatever) of being an arse in their metal boxes. I have seen several times people who were very aggressive becoming suddenly very nice when confronted at the next set of light when they cannot flee or use their vehicle as a weapon...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00518909092982637229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-46100952177889952802016-02-15T14:09:08.763-05:002016-02-15T14:09:08.763-05:00We have dedicated 'green ways' in the city...We have dedicated 'green ways' in the city that have become cut-throughs for traffic. This is one situation where I feel that taking the lane is appropriate.<br /><br />The green way is intended as a safe route for cycling and as neighborhood access... not as a traffic corridor. Taking the lane is a way to slow down those who should not be traveling fast to begin with. I.e., send the message that they should use a different route.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624842835301474891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-9392199372311464732016-02-15T13:29:33.721-05:002016-02-15T13:29:33.721-05:00Yep, it's not stated that riders must ride abr...Yep, it's not stated that riders must ride abreast, or anything like that, it's different. <br /><br />Essentially, you are legally entitled to your share of the main lane (as opposed to the shoulder), and vehicles must treat the cyclist as slow moving equipment. 3 feet, is, I believe, the number?<br /><br />I'll see if I can dig up the wording, but it has led to those so inclined, to militantly hold their lane, even if it's to their own detriment. <br /><br />Darwinism I suppose, but they also make all the good actors look bad, since anyone on two wheels and spandex, must just be "another one of those pain in the ass cyclists"....<br /><br />Sad. MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-48403797006789896452016-02-14T21:08:20.919-05:002016-02-14T21:08:20.919-05:00This is an argument i have with Critical Mass enth...This is an argument i have with Critical Mass enthusiasts. Take the lane when your safety depends on it, but otherwise remember that "share the road" works both ways. It does no good to deliberately provoke other road users and will come back and bite you in the nether regions. mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-39499964304441749502016-02-14T20:27:27.942-05:002016-02-14T20:27:27.942-05:00Many, if not most, people would abuse power if the...Many, if not most, people would abuse power if they had it. Having access to a car can feel like having a superpower or a killer robot and it will turn a lot of people into monsters. Whether by choice or limitation of physical ability, many people seem to move at a slower pace when they're on foot, but put 'em behind the wheel and they go into self-important urgency mode and any cyclist or pedestrian can't possibly be as important as they are, even if all they're doing is driving 5 blocks to pick up some frozen food and Diet Pepsi.keith shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00479238287694319469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-52423361959849662642016-02-14T20:03:15.507-05:002016-02-14T20:03:15.507-05:00I'm not aware of any state laws that allow cyc...I'm not aware of any state laws that allow cyclists to ride 3 (or more) abreast, but I'm absolutely in agreement with you that courtesy should go both ways. I believe in taking the lane when it is necessary for my safety, such as in intersections for example. But I never want to delay people unnecessarily. Seeing other cyclists flaunt the law, or riding carelessly (or ignorantly), or anything else that makes the rest of us look bad gets me pretty worked up too.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-89270508367136273792016-02-14T19:31:27.909-05:002016-02-14T19:31:27.909-05:00I believe that, on an individual basis, a driver w...I believe that, on an individual basis, a driver who cycles is likely to be a better driver than one who doesn't. I also believe--based on my experiences--that a culture in which drivers are also cyclists is more courteous and hospitable toward cyclists. Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-22622940489222337122016-02-14T17:48:09.193-05:002016-02-14T17:48:09.193-05:00A developing factor around here, is the cyclists w...A developing factor around here, is the cyclists who have adopted the strategy of educating drivers about certain segments of the law (at least in NY), by aggressively owning the road. <br /><br />Groups will ride 3+ abreast, taking the whole lane. You drive up behind them, they look back, see you (and your car) and then summarily ignore you. <br /><br />The law says cyclists are to be treated as slow moving vehicles. Think farm equipment. The car driver is supposed to wait till they have ample clearance and visibility to pass safely. <br /><br />All well and good, as far as the law goes. <br /><br />However. I was brought up as a "courteous cyclist". I respect the fact that the car is faster, so I allow them room to pass without much conflagration. If riding in a pack, single file out to the roads edge, let the car pass, then continue the conversation.... <br /><br />The benefit here, is a virtuous cycle of courtesy. They saw I made room for them, they see me as a decent minded road user. They are less likely to see the next cyclist they encounter, as some jerk they simply need to hate. <br /><br />Get behind one of these "just exercising my rights" riding groups, and even my blood starts to boil once it's apparent they have no intention of single filing out. Some of these tight, twisty back roads, passing is often impossible. I sat behind a group for literally miles a few years back, and I was not happy, and I own a bike shop!<br /><br />My general feeling is, I'd rather be in the legal wrong (and skooch over), than dead right (and own my lane). <br /><br />Courtesy is a lost art, as is comprehension of its benefits. <br /><br />The "rights" riders are making car drivers even less cyclist tolerant than they might have been before, so if there's blame to hand out, make sure to share equitably! MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-57619322332942144852016-02-12T20:42:04.666-05:002016-02-12T20:42:04.666-05:00i believe that cycling made me a better driver, an...i believe that cycling made me a better driver, and that driving made me a better cyclist. It helped me see road use and responsibility for safety from both sides of the windshield.mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-55458670037558472612016-02-12T20:09:45.547-05:002016-02-12T20:09:45.547-05:00I think that spending time as a more vulnerable ro...I think that spending time as a more vulnerable road user - bicyclist, or motorcyclist (I've been both) I think one learns to see things differently, learns to anticipate potential problems or dangers sooner. I think the cycling influences the driving more than the other way round -- but it's just an opinion. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-33434605953342257592016-02-12T19:45:58.886-05:002016-02-12T19:45:58.886-05:00I don't agree. Cycling style is a direct relat...I don't agree. Cycling style is a direct relative to the way one drives. As is the way one walks in a store is the same as they drive. As is, a pilot who rides a motorcycle. It's all relative until an eye is upon them.teamdarbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10730985048207207697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-38745902166472809882016-02-12T17:17:20.279-05:002016-02-12T17:17:20.279-05:00It's stuff like that which makes me avoid the ...It's stuff like that which makes me avoid the comments sections. The anti-bike comments get my blood boiling.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-90217357410379742372016-02-12T17:15:19.842-05:002016-02-12T17:15:19.842-05:00I wholeheartedly agree.
I wholeheartedly agree. <br />Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-22921115859257434272016-02-12T16:35:10.678-05:002016-02-12T16:35:10.678-05:00Cyclists make better driversCyclists make better driversllewellynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07135629791010166661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-80763056419848327832016-02-12T15:33:43.516-05:002016-02-12T15:33:43.516-05:00i'm getting to the point that i can hardly sta...i'm getting to the point that i can hardly stand to read or listen to "car vs. bike" stories. The papers' and -if mentioned on air at all- TV and radio reports all seem to be presented with an "out" for the motorist involved, "The CAR jumped the curb" "The CAR lost control" "A cyclist was killed in the ACCIDENT" "The pedestrians were struck by a CAR." i know others have covered this topic before better than i ever could... i just find myself shouting at the radio whenever i hear the words "traffic accident." mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.com