Urban bike courtesy

twilight · 07-21-2011, 01:14 PM

I love riding my bike but sometimes other bikers get on my last nerve. Yesterday, I saw a bike commuter scream at a pedestrian. As far as I know, the pedestrian still has the right of way. I hate when jerky bikers give the rest of us a bad name.

MountainMan22 · 07-21-2011, 01:24 PM

I use to have a problem with bikers because, when I use to ride a bike, I would ride on the sidewalk. Now we've got people in the road that force cars to merge over. That's fine when there aren't many cars around, but when the road is filled with cars and going at a good speed, it can cause an accident when people slam on their brakes or cut someone off to dodge the biker.

jason · 07-21-2011, 03:50 PM

I hate that too. I've seen a group that loves taking up a whole lane, sometimes two on some back roads with lots of curves. I've seen others take up the bike trail, and others still who do not obey traffic laws. Yet they wonder why people who drive vehicles do not respect them.

I do not ride much on the roads outside my neighborhood, but always obeyed traffic laws and was respectful of my surroundings.

Ilovelife · 07-21-2011, 03:56 PM

Most of the bikers around here are pretty good, but there are the occasional few that act like they are Gods or something. Those are the ones that drive me crazy.

Scotty · 07-21-2011, 04:10 PM

I have a problem with people acting like they own the sidewalk. Last year, I was nursing a knee that I'd just had surgery on and I got pushed off of the sidewalk. Thank goodness I was on the building side of the sidewalk and not the street side. Guy didn't even apologize, just walked on like nothing had happened. People don't have any manners or compassion these days. I just shake my head. That's why I like my dog much better than most people nowadays.

whitewater · 07-21-2011, 05:44 PM

I totally agree with the remarks made about the sidewalks. That is so true are you a vehicle on the road or on the sidewalk? Because as a driver, I am not looking for vehicles racing down the sidewalk. I also appreciate the comments about the bikers who think they are on their own personal Tour de France.

ChadTower · 07-22-2011, 08:13 AM

Check the road laws in your location. A lot of places require bikes to be on the road rather than the sidewalk. Many of them also require bikes to follow the same road laws as cars do which at times can mean being in the flow of traffic at a stop light or sign. Usually you can find a spot on the side of the road if you choose the route well so that you are following road laws but not in the flow of traffic. Sometimes, though, the law forces you in where cars have to adjust.

Bikes really shouldn't be on the sidewalk. If there is not enough shoulder to ride on then you probably should be riding somewhere else.

I've had issues with other riders who don't follow the laws. I've had issues with other riders with superiority complexes who treat me like dirt because I'm not wearing $250 in Nascar looking spandex or they don't recognize the brand name of my bike. Most often, though, I've had problems with cars. I've had cars swerve at me intentionally to scare me. I've had cars beep their horns and scream right behind me to startle me. I've had cars throw things at me for no reason. You might not think that empty Sprite bottle is heavy but at 40mph it really does. I've even been hit by a car that stopped just long enough to make sure I wasn't dead and then took off and left me lying on the pavement.

**CozInCowtown** · 07-23-2011, 11:34 AM

I have a problem with bikes on the road.
Here in the country bicyclers like to travel in packs and take you the entire road blocking traffic.
No licsense, no insurance, no registration and act like they completely own the road, traffic be damned.
JMO,
DC

bikerjoe · 10-03-2011, 05:02 AM

My problem is that people crossing the street don't give the same consideration to us as they do to cars. Yes, we won't hurt as much if we hit you and we can stop quicker but stopping quick is not always the best thing for US! If you see us coming then wait till we pass, don't just start jaywalking and assume we'll stop and wait for you-most of the time we have cars behind us.

calanta · 10-03-2011, 02:37 PM

I have come to realize that no person really understands how it works being a pedestrian until they have to be one. Some people are truly horrid drivers in my area so we stay on trails only.