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 ...
The great thing about bicycle commuting is, even in rush hour, you may go slower than some cars but you are always going as fast as you can.
No kidding, that is huge! There is simply NO frustration. I get to work refreshed with an excited attitude. That is even MORE huge.
To bike riders...That's a joke, son. Don't ya get it? < /Foghorn Leghorn>
Yes, but they also seem to think they operate under a different set of rules than the drivers of *real* vehicles, such as not running red lights, stop signs, driving over painted center dividers, riding against traffic, on sidewalks, in crosswalks, etc.
I think what would help the situation in many cases would be cyclists using a warning bell or horn unique to bicycles.
A big piece of why cyclists are so invisible and such a surprise to motorists is that they’re so silent. They come whipping into your field of view from “nowhere” - and this sensation of “coming from nowhere” I think is due to there being no precursor sound to alert motorists to even look in that direction.
Of course, we still have to contend with the cases where the motorist is thick as a brick - you know the type — there is a train coming across a crossing, they’re blowing a 100dB horn, a set of bright lights on the front of the train, the ground is shaking, there is a column of diesel soot rising into the air... and the motorist “didn’t see the train coming.” There’s no fixin’ stupid.
>>>>>>Looks like the tires are a little more durable than the usual skinnies. I’d guess fewer blowouts that way...
Correct. And the bigger tires handle bigger touring loads more comfortably.
>>No they don’t. Funding for roads largely comes from gas taxes. If you aren’t using gas then you are getting a free ride.<<
Yeah! Stupid hybrids!
My point exactly. Most cyclists believe they operate under a *special* set of laws written especially for them.
It's funny that Osama's back tire is flat. :)
>>I have a couple rules when riding: I ride like I’m invisible and I assume every car out there is trying to hit me.<<
Yep! But that really applies to motorcycles even more. I have had many people try to take me out on the freeway, but I always had an escape route. There was never even any real danger.
Mine is just a nine speed...
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/showphoto.php?photo=71401&cat=500&ppuser=16577
Do NOT wish for this too hard, because some states (Oregon in particular) are looking at putting a GPS box into your car to record exactly how many miles you’ve driven to do exactly what you are suggesting.
It goes without saying that they’ll be recording every trip’s actual path to “record accurately” your use of things like bridges, etc.
It will be the single biggest invasion of privacy we’ve seen in our lifetimes.
>>Most cyclists are inconsiderate, irresponsible menaces on the road, a danger to pedestrians and automobiles alike — at the same time as being dangerous to themselves.<<
Please cite source.
Did he agree that it's safer for you to run the red light?
Not a flame, but you wrote that you don't normally do that (run red lights).
Are you saying that you stop at red lights when you're turning right? How about intersections controlled by stop signs. Do you stop at those, too?
How would you do it if you were on foot?
Would it kill you to slow down and let the car turn right ahead of you?
>>> All the male bicycle riders I know of are all whiners.
And Liberals.<<
Actually, relatively true. I used to belong to the Cascade bicycle club (early 1990’s) and had gotten nice lettering on my helmet that said “Dittohead”. A great source of “conversation” it was...
“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.”
When did FR champion the thought that people ought to be subject to more registrations, inspections, and taxes? Is government not big enough for you? :D
Plus I think the whole argument of cost of road wear kinda falls apart when you consider how much damage a tiny bike does to a road compared to a semi.
Personally my attitude is this: Cyclists say they want to be given the same respect as cars. Fine; then ride like a car. No blowing through stop signs, no riding on sidewalks, use signals, etc.
Act like idiots and they should expect the same treatment they’d get if they drove a car on the sidewalks and ran stopsigns - tickets, jail, or dead.
Buy a Diesel Locomotive horn here!
The demonstration videos at this site are hilarious!
>>but there’s no excuse for blowing through stop signs at a high rate of speed.<<
On that we disagree.
I would think fat tires contribute to a somewhat smoother ride, too.
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