Radio host infuriates cyclists

The Raleigh News & Observer ^ | 10/1/03 | BRUCE SICELOFF

[Rebelbase]

"By law I have every right to be on the road"

The thing that astounds me is cyclist's complete reliance on "the law" to protect them from violating the laws the physics regarding mass and motion.

[retrokitten]

We are discussing cyclists who ride in front of traffic and slow everyone else down. If they don't slow down traffic, we have no problem.

I totally agree with this. I live on a really winding road in the western Chicago 'burbs. These people come out in DROVES in the spring/summer. They will ride in a group of at least 10 taking up the entire lane around a dangerous blind "S" curve that is only 15 or 20 miles an hour for cars.

We've also encountered them on Route 83 (busy highway) between Archer and 91st, also taking up an entire lane.

Then there was this time that my mom and I were driving down 83 and we thought some cyclists were holding up traffic and it turned out to be two white horse drawn carriages. One had chamber musicians in it and the other had a bunch of nuns waving to the cars. It was very strange.

[mhking]

The main thing I have learned from this thread is that motorists are incipient murderers.

....zoom-zoom....

[headsonpikes]

Angry people bump!

Reading this thread has been an eye-opener.

Sheesh! I've never felt like such a mellow sort(in comparison) in years!

Thanks everyone!

[HIDEK6]

They are the fittest and, arguably, the "best" atheletes in sport.

Then how'd that above-mentioned bicycle geek get run down by the hatchet-wielding redneck on foot?

[Sloth]

If bicyclists would ACT like a car then they'd be treated like one. But they only do that when convenient.

[Lazamataz]

The main thing I have learned from this thread is that motorists are incipient murderers.

Especially me.

MOVE B**** by Ludacris (2003)

Move b****, get out the way
Get out the way b****, get out the way
Move b****, get out the way
Get out the way b****, get out the way

OH NO! The fight's out
I'ma 'bout to punch yo...lights out
Get the F*** back, guard ya grill
There's somethin' wrong, we can't stay still
I've been drankin' and bustin' two
and I been thankin' of bustin' you
Upside ya motherf****' forehead
And if your friends jump in, they'll be mo' dead

I'm doin' a hundred on the highway
So if you do the speed limit, get the f*** outta my way
I'm D.U.I., hardly ever caught sober
and you about to get ran the f*** over

[ArrogantBustard]

bang bang

[atlaw]

"Look, I have nothing against you little spandex pansies if you're willing to keep your feather asses out of my lane. Being an athlete, I'm able to control my speed and accuratley judge the distance I have when I encounter slower moving traffic."

An athletic driver? Are you an athletic television watcher too? Thirty-five reps in the barcalounger, whew . . .

[mhking]

It's A Hand Grenade.

Consult the Book of Armaments!

[RoughDobermann]

Cyclists are certainly the rudest, most arogant and uncivil of all athletes

Some cyclists are, no argument there. Just like some drivers are.

No other group of athletes consistently causes traffic jams disrupting thousands.

Those not obeying the traffic laws should not be on the roads.

otherwise bikes need to be made illegal on public streets, unless the rider can demonstrate an ability to accelerate with the traffic and keep up.

Present law disagrees with you.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

If the conceal carry people (of which I am one) stood around in the middle of a busy highway like some of these goober bicyclists do, I'd hope they would get run over.

Although, what the bikes are doing is legal. A person standing in the middle of the street is not legal (unless you condone running over cops directing traffic too). But, in your small mind that doesn't matter. Run over the bike becasue it's slowing down your self-importent life.

Feel free to go back to your hand-hand job now.

[Lazamataz]

I like your fourth grade intellect.

[Skip Ripley]

This is my point exactly. My beef isn't with cyclists per se and I probably should have qualified my remarks about what behavior I find objectionable. Everyone has a right to public areas. Cyclists, skaters, joggers and walkers are all entitled to the same courtesy. When I encounter slower traffic within my lane, I tell them that I'm on the left and passing. If oncoming traffic prevents a safe passage, I slow down until I can pass.

The majority of cyclists I encounter place the importance of getting their training in over the safety of others. I routinely encounter people who think it's ok to try and crowd me out of my lane so they can pass some mom and her kid without braking. Hell, most of them don't even have the courtesy to signal that they're passing them. I have taken a swipe at this type of ass**le before and will do so in the future.

[FRMAG]

Laz,

when idoits on bicycles have to obtain a license, buy tags and pay insurance I will acknowledge their right to use the roadway that those who have jumped all those hurdles have. They paid for the road and its maintainence not the bike pukes.

[olorin]

The thing that astounds me is cyclist's complete reliance on "the law" to protect them from violating the laws the physics regarding mass and motion.

As a driver you rely on the "law" to protect you from the laws of physics regarding mass and motion. Or do they not apply when automobiles crash into each other?

[ArrogantBustard]

Don't worry, Laz, the nice men will be along to retrieve you soon ... They've a special canvas jacket just for you. I'm sure you'll just love the nice, shiny buckles.

;-}

[Servant of the 9]

. . . while being dragged behind an SUV

Wow, I never pegged you for the kind of coward that would run down a bicyclist who had done nothing to you.

If a bicyclist can't accelerate and keep up with traffic, he is doing something to me.
At the least he needs 3 feet of 1/2" galvanised pipe tossed into his front spokes.

So9

[Hatteras]

"If the cyclist(s) is/are as far right as possible, there is no reason they would be slowing down traffic. Do you agree?"

Personally, I agree with that if the road is wide enough. However, in rush hour traffic on my commute there are very few roads where bicycles can cohabitate with vehicles in a safe manner so a bicycle traveling at less than half the speed limit creates a problem with drivers trying to safely pass.

My personal gripe is that bicyclists know this is a problem and know that they have caused these back ups yet when the traffic light turns red they insist on cutting to the front of the line so all those cars have to pass them again. It is these a-holes that deserve any predicament they may have found themselves in.

Unfortunately, since I have seen maybe two bicyclist actually stop in line for a red light in over 26 years of driving, this would include virtually all spandex-clad road kill candidates.

[cyclotic]

This is the most arrogant comment I've seen on FR in a long time.

Now, for the rest of the story.

I've witnessed up close and personal two crashes on my local multi use trail. Both were head on collisions between bike and roller blader. In both instances, the oh so wonderful roller blader, taking complete leave of their senses skated directly into the path of the oncoming bike. Rollerbladers use up the entire trail, are generally riding and chatting 3-4 wide (or in your case, one wide is just as bad. I can do sarcasm too!) and have absolutely no situational awareness or care for other users of the trail. It's often significantly safer to ride a bike on the road.