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Pedal vs. Metal A surge in bike ridership spurs a new kind of road rage
Newsweek ^ | July 28, 2008 | Winston Ross

Posted on 07/29/2008 7:55:24 AM PDT by fightinJAG

When gas prices surged above $4 per gallon earlier this year, it didn't take Nostradamus to predict that there would be a resultant rush to carbon-free commuting options—especially in a place like Portland, which is known for its ample network of bike lanes. Cyclists in "Stumptown" are spinning their spokes here in unprecedented numbers, trading in their fuel-guzzling SUVs for stylish 27-speeds.

But the cycling surge has created conflict, as the new breed of commuters bumps up against the old, oil-powered kind.

First came a drunk cyclist repeatedly smacking the driver of a car with his bike July 6, before a passerby stopped the melee by knocking the pedaler to the ground with one punch (the driver happened to be a longtime cycling advocate, who'd kicked off the altercation by chiding the biker for blowing through a red light.)

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: anger; cyclists; gasprices; roadrage; transportation
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1 posted on 07/29/2008 7:55:25 AM PDT by fightinJAG
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To: fightinJAG

27 speed ?


2 posted on 07/29/2008 8:00:15 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: fightinJAG

Therefore ban bikes.


3 posted on 07/29/2008 8:01:10 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: fightinJAG

The other day, I nearly hit two cyclists with my hubby’s truck.

They were flying down the sidewalk, on the wrong side and proceeded across right in front of me as I attempted to turn right on red. In the long run, it would have been my fault.

But, I have to say, I didn’t expect it. Full speed on the sidewalk, through a crosswalk. I wouldn’t have taken those chances as a cyclist. I followed the rules that cars had, traveled on the right side in the street like a car. I was instructed that when you are on the sidewalk, you should follow the rules of pedestians. A flashing hand means stay there.

I was taken aback and will look from now on. They even stopped to yell at me and I apologized. I could have killed them or hurt them badly on something I never expected. Time to watch for cyclists.


4 posted on 07/29/2008 8:04:23 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Why would anyone make "Hairspray 2"? (Free Corny!))
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

27 speed ?

Triple front gear with 9-speed rear gears.


5 posted on 07/29/2008 8:05:02 AM PDT by upier ("Usted no es agradable en America" "Ahora deporte Illegals")
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To: netmilsmom

Probably would have been your fault but they woulda been hurt.

Full speed on the sidewalk is not good cycling but many of them think they own the street and sidewalk.


6 posted on 07/29/2008 8:06:28 AM PDT by driftdiver (No More Obama - The corruption hasnÂ’t changed despite all our hopes.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

“27 speed ?”

Yep.

“A 27-speed bike is just the same (as a 10-speed), except that there are 3 chainwheels in front and 9 sprockets in back. There are still just two derailers, and two control levers.

The control on the left side shifts among the 2 or 3 front chainwheels; the one on the right shifts among the 5-9 rear sprockets.”


7 posted on 07/29/2008 8:06:46 AM PDT by gracesdad
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To: netmilsmom

that reminds me, i need to get a new bumper gaurd for my truck.


8 posted on 07/29/2008 8:06:47 AM PDT by absolootezer0 ( Detroit: we're so bad, even our mayor is a criminal)
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To: fightinJAG
(the driver happened to be a longtime cycling advocate, who'd kicked off the altercation by chiding the biker for blowing through a red light.)

Good for him.

9 posted on 07/29/2008 8:06:51 AM PDT by sionnsar (Impeach Obama |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: upier

‘swhat I guessed. My old Schwinn Varsity had 2 X 5.


10 posted on 07/29/2008 8:07:27 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: netmilsmom
Full speed on the sidewalk, through a crosswalk. I wouldn’t have taken those chances as a cyclist.

If a cyclist doesn't know the physics of mass plus velocity between a cycle and a car he should stick to walking.

11 posted on 07/29/2008 8:07:40 AM PDT by AU72
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To: netmilsmom

Actually that was their fault, not yours.


12 posted on 07/29/2008 8:07:45 AM PDT by gura (R-MO)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
27 speed ?

9x3 obviously. My commuter is a 21-speed.

13 posted on 07/29/2008 8:07:45 AM PDT by sionnsar (Impeach Obama |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Nine speed cassettes, or rear sprockets, are quite common. With three chain rings on the front, that gives you twenty-seven speeds.
14 posted on 07/29/2008 8:07:53 AM PDT by PUGACHEV
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To: netmilsmom

Dumb cyclists. Cyclists who value their own lives don’t ride like that.

I am not a cyclist, but my brother is. He doesn’t ride on sidewalks.


15 posted on 07/29/2008 8:08:49 AM PDT by gracesdad
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To: driftdiver

> Full speed on the sidewalk is not good cycling but many of them think they own the street and sidewalk.

That’s because they haven’t had to pay for the privilege of transport.

They don’t sit a driver’s license, they don’t have to register their vehicles, they don’t have to keep their vehicles roadworthy, they don’t pay road taxes, and they don’t have to carry insurance. Yet they get identical rights on the roads that others have paid for as motor vehicles.

Cyclists are freeloaders of the worst sort.


16 posted on 07/29/2008 8:10:55 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: PUGACHEV
A bike shop builder I knew made a 45 speed, based on a Schwinn Paramount way back in my teens. He added a 3 speed hub from an early 60s English bike but I suspect some of the ratios were duplicated.
17 posted on 07/29/2008 8:12:33 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: PUGACHEV

I understand that there are 27 gear combinations, but isn’t there any actual overlap in the gearing? I have an 18 speed (I think, been a while since I have ridden it) but only used maybe 6 or 8 of the gears, for the most part.


18 posted on 07/29/2008 8:12:51 AM PDT by NCLaw441
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To: netmilsmom

“Full speed on the sidewalk, through a crosswalk. I wouldn’t have taken those chances as a cyclist. I followed the rules that cars had, traveled on the right side in the street like a car. I was instructed that when you are on the sidewalk, you should follow the rules of pedestians.”

In many areas, bicyclists are banned by law from riding on the sidewalk (some of those go back 100 years). The effect of a 20 mph cyclist hitting a pedestrian is akin to a NFL player taking a hit from a linebacker.

The noob cyclists, and many of the old-timers like me, need to learn the laws. Sadly, so do the cops in most areas. Bicyclists need to get tickets for traffic violations.


19 posted on 07/29/2008 8:13:35 AM PDT by TWohlford
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To: fightinJAG
FTA:
Schmautz, the Portland cop, notes a "militant" attitude among citizens, which may explain why traffic disagreements sometimes boil over into full-blown fights. "We have a protest culture," he said. "We see a certain willingness to speak out in a way that's not completely legal."

And not just to speak, either. Laws are for "other" people.

20 posted on 07/29/2008 8:15:13 AM PDT by thulldud (Congress does not want answers. They want scapegoats. (andy58-in-nh))
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