Bikers on Roads

[clones_jer]

Bikes should only be allowed on roads with a speed limit of 45mph or lower. On any road below 45mph they should have the same rights as cars.


If there is enough demand for a bike lane next to a highway than it should be built by using money by taxing bicyclists.

that's where all the cars are! ... sheesh, I can bike my normal loop and see a total of 1 car on a 12 mile loop out in the country. Luckily with my Phaed-like super-soldier agility I'm able to dodge it.

In town I encounter 25-50 cars just in the 2 miles getting out to the country.

also, as a runner do you get taxed for running on roads with no sidewalk available or heavy sidewalk traffic? Have you ever run on a road?

 

[DaddyMac]

That you are brain dead, ???
You can't even follow a simple thread and stay focused on topic. MY position is clearly stated in the several post that I have made, you really should read them and comprehend them prior to responding, you should try it some time, it helps with understanding the issues. just a hint. :biglaugh:

Translated = you don't have one and are just here to stir it up.

Got it.

 

[drum1306]

The guy had no business being on that road.

The crux of half the arguments in this thread. I'm afraid you are wrong. He had just as much business as you.

I'm shocked at the complete arrogance of some of these comments. Then again, based on how people drive in this country, I shouldn't be that surprised.

 

[dmclone]

also, as a runner do you get taxed for running on roads with no sidewalk available or heavy sidewalk traffic? Have you ever run on a road?

I would never think of running directly on a road with a speed limit above 35. I may run on the gravel part if there is no sidewalk available but that's rare. If I wanted a "runners only" lane next to the highway than I would expect them to ask me to pay for it.

Is it legal for me to run in the middle of the road on any road except an interstate? Do I have the same rights as a bicyclist and if so why not?

If you saw me running down 141 right in the middle of the lane what would you think? I'd think "what a frickin idiot". Should be no difference between a skateboarder, bicycle, runner, etc.

 

[dmclone]

The crux of half the arguments in this thread. I'm afraid you are wrong. He had just as much business as you.

I'm shocked at the complete arrogance of some of these comments. Then again, based on how people drive in this country, I shouldn't be that surprised.

You left off the little import end of the sentence.

The guy had no business being on that road. It wasn't safe and like I said there is a perfectly fine bike trail available.

This is just like me riding motorcycle after 10 inches of snow. Yes, legally I have that right but in reality I have no business being out on the road.

 

[DaddyMac]

If you saw me running down 141 right in the middle of the lane what would you think? I'd think "what a frickin idiot". Should be no difference between a skateboarder, bicycle, runner, etc.

That's the point DM. Just about any biker is going to say the same thing if they saw a biker on such a road, riding as such.

I have, I'm guessing Clones_jer has too.

I think the disconnect is that some of you guys are equating where they are with what they should be doing. I'm only really concerned with what they're doing, and only the occassional where they are.

Take my example above about when people were riding out 63rd. I take that route often (by car) and ran into a great number of bikers. First instinct wasn't much different from yours' (why are they out here, the trail is right over there). Then I found out and was ok with it. Still had a bunch of knuckleheads who - well let's just say they're the ones we're all talking about.

 

[clones_jer]

I take it 141 is a busy highway?

I'm not fighting the fight of those that wish to ride on busy roads. There is even a neat little map the DOT puts out for road usage that ENCOURAGES bikers to uses less traveled roadways. You know, the ones you want them off of.

 

[clones_jer]

That's the point DM. Just about any biker is going to say the same thing if they saw a biker on such a road, riding as such.

I have, I'm guessing Clones_jer has too.

I think the disconnect is that some of you guys are equating where they are with what they should be doing. I'm only really concerned with what they're doing, and only the occassional where they are.

It's like you're in my head.

 

[DaddyMac]

You left off the little import end of the sentence.

The guy had no business being on that road. It wasn't safe and like I said there is a perfectly fine bike trail available.

This is just like me riding motorcycle after 10 inches of snow. Yes, legally I have that right but in reality I have no business being out on the road.

I didn't pay attention to this incident. And my club forwarded on an email calling for people to rally at the capitol last night - I wasn't really in favor of that.

But where did this happen and what trail was available nearby?

 

[DaddyMac]

I take it 141 is a busy highway?

I'm not fighting the fight of those that wish to ride on busy roads. There is even a neat little map the DOT puts out for road usage that ENCOURAGES bikers to uses less traveled roadways. You know, the ones you want them off of.

You're in CR, right?

4 lane divided. I'd say it's on on par with 151/13 on the east side heading from 30 to Marion.

Maybe a touch busier.

I'm with DMClone on that example. With the exception of trying to get from one road to another, a biker is nuts to be out there. It certainly shouldn't be a prime route.

 

[clones_jer]

Jer - sounds like you bike alot. :wink:

How often do you get bitched at by some leisurely walkers, or a family out for a stroll, or get tangled up in the long leash of somebody walking their dog on those trails.

...

I bike about 1,000 miles a year. Not a lot, but more than most I suppose.

I've ridden the last 7 RAGBRAIs, and believe me there are stupid bikers, but most everybody knows enough to stay in their lane and how to avoid interstates.

I'm a pretty accomidating guy out there, and know how to use the stop button on my timer, so no - I don't get yelled at.

About the worst was when I cut another biker off because I thought I could see a bulge in my tire and was looking down at it while still in motion. I still feel bad for that one and that was 3 years ago. Sorry "guy on orange bike" near Dairy Queen in Hiawatha. That occurred on a bike trail - not that us bikers ever use them

 

[clones_jer]

You're in CR, right?

4 lane divided. I'd say it's on on par with 151/13 on the east side heading from 30 to Marion.

Maybe a touch busier.

I'm with DMClone on that example. With the exception of trying to get from one road to another, a biker is nuts to be out there. It certainly shouldn't be a prime route.

that would be crazy. I've been "trapped" on a road like that once or twice when I first moved to an area and didn't know the layout very well.

Even if there were bikers on that type of road, they want off the roadway more than the drivers want them off. Were they hauling *** trying to get to the next intersection?

 

[DaddyMac]

I bike about 1,000 miles a year. Not a lot, but more than most I suppose.

I've ridden the last 7 RAGBRAIs, and believe me there are stupid bikers, but most everybody knows enough to stay in their lane and how to avoid interstates.

I'm a pretty accomidating guy out there, and know how to use the stop button on my timer, so no - I don't get yelled at.

About the worst was when I cut another biker off because I thought I could see a bulge in my tire and was looking down at it while still in motion. I still feel bad for that one and that was 3 years ago. Sorry "guy on orange bike" near Dairy Queen in Hiawatha. That occurred on a bike trail - not that us bikers ever use them

Not that you can envision this - but my #1 incident was riding down EP true during rush hour. 4 lane, non-divided and busy. Not optimal, I'll grant.

This was 10+ years ago, before there the trails really exploded and EP True only really went to 60th. A couple of us were riding out west to get about 40-50 miles in training for RAGBRAI and this was the best way to get out of town.

Now there is a trail that runs along this road, even back then. We're riding road bikes, have about 2-3 miles to go and there are literally hundreds of walker, joggers, kids on the trail. We're doing 20-25, so really only about 10 under the limit. Some jack-*** comes along, brushes us close, flips us off and takes it upon himself to yell that the "sidewalk is over there" - as if we don't know that and even though he has a lane to his left to easily pass. Then in a true bout of courage, guns his convertable and races off around 45.

Too bad for him the light was red at 35th street. :wink:

We'd gladly have taken that trail, but we were going toofast, and closer to traffic speeds, for it to be safe


Here's a little challenge to those who flat out don't like bikes on roads - no matter what.

On your drive home, take note how often you stop in the crosswalk, or pull out of a parking lot and stop on the sidewalk. After this thread yesterday, I noted this on my way home and looked at the few trails and sidewalks that follow my route. I'm here to tell ya, 90% of people do.

Fact is, especially in town, people just aren't conditioned to look for faster moving objects on these sidewalks. I'm not either. So people pull into them all the time. The biggest danger to bikers isn't the guy coming at you or up from behind - it's the guy coming across you.

 

[jbhtexas]

The guy had no business being on that road. It wasn't safe and like I said there is a perfectly fine bike trail available.

This is just like me riding motorcycle after 10 inches of snow. Yes, legally I have that right but in reality I have no business being out on the road.

I wonder if the deceased's right to be on the road will be of any emotional comfort to his grieving loved ones...

 

[clones_jer]

I wonder if the deceased's right to be on the road will be of any emotional comfort to his grieving loved ones...

it'll be of financial comfort after the civil suit.

if killing people doesn't make 'em feel bad, maybe bankrupting them will.

 

[Cyclonick182]

it'll be of financial comfort after the civil suit.

if killing people doesn't make 'em feel bad, maybe bankrupting them will.

I don't see why a whole family should have to suffer for one driver's **** poor decision. That to me seems wrong as well.

 

[dmclone]

I wonder if the deceased's right to be on the road will be of any emotional comfort to his grieving loved ones...

He didn't die.

 

[Phaedrus]

You can be as "annoyed" as you want, according to the Iowa Code, bicycles have the same right to the lane as any other vehicle:
The Iowa Legislature

Yes, in an accident between a bicycle and a car, the bike will probably lose. We get it Phadeus and Go Show. That is a risk we take to be on the road - where we have a legal right, and responsibility to be. I also know when I'm driving in my Full size Yukon SUV that if get in an accident with a semi I also probably lose.

I see way more "right" and very little "responsibility" exercized on the part of bicyclists.

"Getting It" means as a bicyclist, you STFU and take your lumps. But all I hear is passive-aggressive attitude and an oversized sense of entitlement, combined with this way out-there ignorance of physics and reality on the part of bicyclists.

"Getting It" means that bicyclists get angry about the clouds of undisciplined riders who obstruct highways and increase everyone's risk on the road.

Trust me, as both a motorist and a bicyclist, I "get it", and make sure to give bicyclists plenty of room on the road. Just as I make decisions as a bicyclists relevant to risk. Note that I do both, but take the motorists side on a lot of this. That is what some people call "a clue". I think motorists get too much of the blame, here.

Again, and this is getting old, I see a few bad motorists, and many mediocre motorists, but the great majority of bicyclists I see ride stupid.

(BTW - I think the passionate bicyclists on this thread probably aren't one of them.)

I think bicyclists should be licensed and pay use taxes the same as motorists. This thread has moved me into that position. If nothing else, it may improve the behavior of bicyclists as a whole.

I just thought of something:

What about those bicyclists who train as road racers on the street? To me, they are riding beyond reasonable means of controlling their vehicle. How about I build a race car, and train with that on the streets? Does any bicyclist think that would be a good idea?

THAT should make this thread good for another 20 pages. Thank me, I'm evil!

 

[alaskaguy]

I just thought of something:

What about those bicyclists who train as road racers on the street? To me, they are riding beyond reasonable means of controlling their vehicle. How about I build a race car, and train with that on the streets? Does any bicyclist think that would be a good idea?

THAT should make this thread good for another 20 pages. Thank me, I'm evil!

Those bicyclists that seriously train as road racers are probably the most safety consienious riders on the road. I don't believe that you will find them violating the rules of the road.

Racing on the streets in a car is exactly the opposite situation. It increases the level of danger and likely results in the rules of the road being broken.

The analogy breaks down from the get go.

 

[CycloneYoda]

I have no problems with bikers using the road, as long as they are playing by the same set of rules as I am. For example, if a biker chooses to use the road, which I think they should, then I don't want to see the biker switching to the sidewalk to get through lights, or blow lights all together. I also don't want to see the biker moving up on everyone's right when a line of traffic is forming.

My ride to DT Iowa City consists of both bike path and road, and I have had less problems on the road. On the path you can have either or all of the following hazards at any given time: Flood water, debris, other bikers all over the path, dogs without leashes, dogs on leashes covering path, angry vagrants, etc......

Bikes on sidewalks scare me. I don't know what their future intentions are.