Bikers on Roads

[CyTom]

Like many have said before go in the other lane to pass and don't try to pass in a no passing zone (such as around a curve) as it is illegal. If the road does not have much of a shoulder and people who pass do so with very little clearance while traffic is coming from the other direction they force you off the road. A good reason to ride in the lane so they can't pass you.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

Interstates have a minimum speed of 40 MPH. Which is why bicycles and mopeds are not allowed.

Other roads do not.

You simply need to look up the road to see if bicycles are ahead. If you don't have to time to brake before you see bicycles you probably are staring at your hood ornament.

Not necessarily aimed at you only, but all of you sticking up for the bicyclists talk about nothing but drivers of auto's respecting bikers and being more patient. It might be easier if the bikers actually respected the auto's instead of pulling on the road with a chip on their shoulder who have a sense of entitlement to the entire lane of traffic they now ride on. If you have 3, 5, or I've even seen up to 10 cars behind a bicyclist, then pull the hell over and let them pass, ride on the shoulder(I know, a stretch) until they get by.

And before you go and say I am talking about the small minority of bikers, I can say the same thing about your auto drivers comments.

You simply need to look up the road to see if bicycles are ahead. If you don't have to time to brake before you see bicycles you probably are staring at your hood ornament.

Obviously you only read the bolded part of his statement and ignored the rest............

As far as driving too fast, if I'm on a 55mph road should I always drive 25 just in case there is a bicyclist on the other side of the hill?

What it all boils down to is this...............Automobile driver and Bicylcist get into an accident because bicyclist, car driver, or both are not respecting the other. Chances are the 2 wheeler gets hurt of killed while the car driver might or might not get in trouble, might have to fix his car, or worst case live with the fact he might have killed someone by his road rage.

That right there alone should make bicyclists more respectful of automobiles regardless of if the driver of the car is respecting him or not.

 

[dmclone]

Maybe they should require a 4 foot flag or something on the back of the bike so that they can be seen better?

 

[BigBake]

Maybe they should require a 4 foot flag or something on the back of the bike so that they can be seen better?

No, you as a license carrying driver accepted the responsibility to be aware and see other users of the road.

The use of a motor vehicle is a privilege not a right.

Riding a bike on the road is dangerous because 40% of the drivers out there don't deserve that privlege. I say that as a driver and bike rider who is scared to do either on the road today.

 

[jmb]

There's a good chance he didn't even know he clipped the guy. He knocked his handle bars, from what I understand.

And I highly doubt they were riding single file. If that was the case, he would have been able to pass, and would have likely been much less violent about it. The woman they interviewed talked about how he was behind them for a while and was laying on the horn (which they're used to, btw).

I'm sorry, it's terrible the guy got hurt, but I highly doubt they were single file.

You know SH-I know every single one of the riders on this ride where Doug was hit. They are GOOD riders, and better yet experienced.

I had to wait a bit to reply to your dumb *** posts in this thread. You know very little of what you are talking about. BIkers have a right to the road. Bikers have a right not to be hit. To be clear they were riding a double pace line(legal in Iowa) and the farmer had plenty of room to pass. Furthermore; explain to all of us why he came back an hour later if he didn't know that he hit them. Every witness says this was a pretty clear cut of road rage, where an old bastard decided he was gonna 'learn them thare cyclists' a lesson.

You sure seem to exercise your right to be an idiot an awful lot.

 

[kilgore_trout]

And what of the bike rider's responsiblities?

It's something that seems conveniently ignored, like stop signs, in their "I own the road too" rants.

No, you as a license carrying driver accepted the responsibility to be aware and see other users of the road.

The use of a motor vehicle is a privilege not a right.

Riding a bike on the road is dangerous because 40% of the drivers out there don't deserve that privlege. I say that as a driver and bike rider who is scared to do either on the road today.

 

[OWLCITYCYFAN]

And I never see cops stop the offending riders and ticket them...

I know a guy who got a speeding ticket on his bicycle but I can't recall if it was in Ames or his hometown of Clinton. The guy was an architecture student in the mid-80's and a complete animal on the bike....

 

[jmb]

Not necessarily aimed at you only, but all of you sticking up for the bicyclists talk about nothing but drivers of auto's respecting bikers and being more patient. It might be easier if the bikers actually respected the auto's instead of pulling on the road with a chip on their shoulder who have a sense of entitlement to the entire lane of traffic they now ride on. If you have 3, 5, or I've even seen up to 10 cars behind a bicyclist, then pull the hell over and let them pass, ride on the shoulder(I know, a stretch) until they get by.

Ride on the shoulder. Wow. This ranks up there why not have a tractor drive in a ditch to let cars pass.

I agree with two-way respect...but I find it fascinating that you fail to understand the bike is "entitled" to the entire lane of traffic.

 

[DaddyMac]

No, you as a license carrying driver accepted the responsibility to be aware and see other users of the road.

The use of a motor vehicle is a privilege not a right.

Riding a bike on the road is dangerous because 40% of the drivers out there don't deserve that privlege. I say that as a driver and bike rider who is scared to do either on the road today.

+1.

I bike on roads fairly often. Particularly in the summer when biking to/from work or other places for good long ride. I take trails and paths when I can, but as extensive as the trail system in DSM is, it doesn't go everywhere. And worse yet, many of these trails have far too many kids, rollerbladers, joggers, walkers, etc - for them to be safe for bicyclists.

I also drive all over. It's not that hard to deal with a bicyclist. You have to pass a biker maybe once per week in the summer. Maybe? A heathy number of bikers are competent riders who don't require you to give them 10 feet of space. Otherwise, if they're swerving all over the place - lay on the horn. That's what I do.

That being said, any group of bikers who ride outside of single file - two at most, on a marginally busy road is a group of idiots. And these are the vast minority of riders.

These same morons will ride in packs in two's and three's across on trails like the Great Western or Raccoon River Valley - and it pi$$es me off there too.

 

[dmclone]

No, you as a license carrying driver accepted the responsibility to be aware and see other users of the road.
.

But I also have to have break lights on my car. Government has also told me that I have to have a 3rd break light in my rear window. As a motorcyclist I also have to have my headlight on at all times. I also have to have turn signals. I also have to have air bags. I also have to wear a seat belt.

I'm not aware of any laws that require these things on bicycles.

Maybe the seat belt thing wouldn't work but why not lights, turn signals, flashers, flags, etc?

 

[everyyard]

Anybody else hate them? I heard on the news a few minutes ago that these dudes were riding side-by-side, 8 of them, and a truck passed them and clipped them with one of his trailers.

Personally, these guys are idiots. They ride side by side, blocking off country roads and never ride single file.

Edit: To specify - Bicycles.

they are just like any other vehicle on the road, and deserve the ENTIRE lane when passing. once you dense hicks realize that there will be a lot less problems. I guarantee the law will not find the cyclists at fault in this. Two wide is actually safer at times as it forces a wider pass. when single file a lot of idiot country drivers try to shave it as close as possible and some really idiot drivers even try to pass a cyclist while there is oncoming traffic.

 

[Incyte]

I would support a state law that bans them from any rural road with a speed limit of 55.

Regarding urban settings, roads are for cars and sidewalks are for bikes.

 

[dmclone]

I would support a state law that bans them from any rural road with a speed limit of 55.

Regarding urban settings, roads are for cars and sidewalks are for bikes.

I agree with your 1st statement. I disagree with your 2nd statement.

 

[DaddyMac]

But I also have to have break lights on my car. Government has also told me that I have to have a 3rd break light in my rear window. As a motorcyclist I also have to have my headlight on at all times. I also have to have turn signals. I also have to have air bags. I also have to wear a seat belt.

I'm not aware of any laws that require these things on bicycles.

Maybe the seat belt thing wouldn't work but why not lights, turn signals, flashers, flags, etc?

Finally I agree with you on something in this thread. Any biker that values their life has this stuff on their bike and it wouldn't bother me at all that these be required. Most I know, if they intend to ride in the dark - are better lit up than most 18-wheelers. Turn signals are a touch much, but they should use hand signals indicating where they're going if in traffic.

On other general point about where bikers ride on most of these roads. Go ahead and jump out of your car and take a look at the condition of these roads along the curb or shoulder. They are busted up, breaking apart and that's where all the glass and other crap congregate. So bikers will often need to move a few feet out into the lane. Give 'em a break. If you're coming up behind them, 99% wouldn't mind a friendly toot on the horn to let them know you're there and most all will move over for that 2 seconds it takes for you to pass them.

And if the other 1% flip you off - give it back to them and everyone is happy.

 

[brianhos]

This may be the only thing we ever agree on Southern Hawk, I absolutely hate bikers who take up the road. First off, ride on the freaking sidwalk, and if someone is walking on the sidewalk then dip down into the road. Second of all, alot of taxpayer dollars are spent on bikepaths that go all over the place. Our politicians didn't spend millions of taxpayer dollars on roads so you can bike your way over to Starbucks to get a wheatgrass shot...

And how do you have any more right to these roads than they do?

 

[DaddyMac]

I would support a state law that bans them from any rural road with a speed limit of 55.

Regarding urban settings, roads are for cars and sidewalks are for bikes.

Perhaps you saw the walk part in there. I think many cities have ordinances against bikes on sidewalks.

 

[Incyte]

And how do you have any more right to these roads than they do?

Vehicle registration fees and gas taxes, i.e., the things that pay for the roads.

 

[brianhos]

I would support a state law that bans them from any rural road with a speed limit of 55.

Regarding urban settings, roads are for cars and sidewalks are for bikes.

It is illegal to ride a bike on a sidewalk. Those are for people walking/running.

Roads are the only place bike riders can go. The only place they should be banned from is the interstate, other than that, they have just as much rights to a road as a driver.

This is an amazing thread, I have never heard people so callous about other humans before. Bikers have every right to be there, and if you do not like it, then stop driving. It would only take a few seconds to slow down and pass them safely.

 

[TykeClone]

... you dense hicks ...

Way to make a good argument.

 

[DaddyMac]

Vehicle registration fees and gas taxes, i.e., the things that pay for the roads.

You mean my two cars don't have registrations on them and don't need gas?

Where do I get that refund at?

99.9% of bikers pay the exact same fees and taxes you do. Get off the horse.