Bikes vs Cars

roundball

Well-Known Member
Dec 8, 2013
5,038
88
48
Iowa City area
They shouldn't! Roads were created for motorized vehicles that could do the speed limit. Bikes/Tricycles/Big Wheels should stick to the paths that were designed for them in mind. When there is no path designed for them get on the sidewalk and exercise caution with the driveways and pedestrians.

When the automobile was invented, I'm sure there were people who griped about their suitability for the roadways, claiming that they were intended for horses and carriages.

That's a ****-poor reason not to adapt.
 

bellzisu

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2006
6,941
615
113
Norwalk
since you are so much better than those that drive to work, why dont you walk......on the sidewalk. It is made for people like you.


No where did I say I am better then anyone else. Bikes are a form of transportation. I know many people that commute from Norwalk to downtown most of the year.

Me I drive up to Ames everyday. If I could bike I would.. And actually have done that a few times in the summer.

It's not about being better then anyone. It's about giving people options so they don't have to rely on a car or truck.
 

CRAZYGREG

Well-Known Member
Feb 29, 2008
3,276
297
83
Des Moines
When the automobile was invented, I'm sure there were people who griped about their suitability for the roadways, claiming that they were intended for horses and carriages.

That's a ****-poor reason not to adapt.

We should adapt - adapt to getting bikes off of the roads that were intended for automobiles.
 

bellzisu

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2006
6,941
615
113
Norwalk
You're clearly a reasonable person on this issue :rolleyes:


Too many people out there like this that won't have the conversation. Instead they rather sit back and insult you for riding a bike, or make up even crazier ideas then ones proposed.
 

JP4CY

Lord, beer me strength.
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2008
74,694
95,786
113
Testifying
The bikes vs cars debate is just one of the more painful one to see the opinions of both sides. There are more distractions than ever before for drivers, and there are more bikers blowing thru stop signs.
Trails aren't only for bikes. Your infant niece may be in a stroller on one. Your kid may be on roller blades on one. The ones that are in the country may be used to hunt pheasant in the winter by your brother.

There are other hobbies out there too that may be just as dangerous. Think about how many beers someone ice fishing, someone golfing, someone at a summer softball league (at a State or local tax funded park) may have before getting in their vehicles. There are countless number of hobbies out there that can have have negative consequences if they aren't being done by responsible people.

This debate can be as childish as a bully on a playground.
 

Clonehomer

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
26,893
25,031
113
So if bikes have to follow all traffic laws just as if they were cars or motorcycles, why wouldn't cars end to follow the same laws when passing that they do for all other vehicle's? You must pass only in a passing zone and move to the other lane to get around.
 

jsmith86

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2006
7,629
250
63
Cedar Rapids
So if bikes have to follow all traffic laws just as if they were cars or motorcycles, why wouldn't cars end to follow the same laws when passing that they do for all other vehicle's? You must pass only in a passing zone and move to the other lane to get around.

This exactly. You wouldn't pass a motorcycle in the same lane, why pass a bike any differently?
 

roundball

Well-Known Member
Dec 8, 2013
5,038
88
48
Iowa City area
The bikes vs cars debate is just one of the more painful one to see the opinions of both sides. There are more distractions than ever before for drivers, and there are more bikers blowing thru stop signs.
Trails aren't only for bikes. Your infant niece may be in a stroller on one. Your kid may be on roller blades on one. The ones that are in the country may be used to hunt pheasant in the winter by your brother.

There are other hobbies out there too that may be just as dangerous. Think about how many beers someone ice fishing, someone golfing, someone at a summer softball league (at a State or local tax funded park) may have before getting in their vehicles. There are countless number of hobbies out there that can have have negative consequences if they aren't being done by responsible people.

This debate can be as childish as a bully on a playground.

Great questions. In my experience, it's the anti-bike crowd that's much more rigid in their position; I've yet to meet a cyclist who thinks that cars should be outright banned from roads, but there are plenty drivers (like our friend CRAZYGREG) who adopt the "no bikes, period" stance.

And...it's just weird. What's causing such hatred for people who don't even have the capability to inconveneince you that much? With the level of vitriol that some of these anti-bike people have, you'd think that a cyclist broke into their home, stole all their things, and shot their dog on the way out.
 

JP4CY

Lord, beer me strength.
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2008
74,694
95,786
113
Testifying
And...it's just weird. What's causing such hatred for people who don't even have the capability to inconveneince you that much? With the level of vitriol that some of these anti-bike people have, you'd think that a cyclist broke into their home, stole all their things, and shot their dog on the way out.

1. Because they associate bikes with youth and riding on sidewalks and it not being fitness/transportation for someone OR they can think of events like RAGBRAI being full of drunks and not some of the positive aspects like church fundraising, local restaurants being packed, etc.
2. They see it as a traffic inconvenience.
3. They see a biker blow thru a stop sign and get enraged and they start pointing it out every time. (While they are speeding).
 

CRAZYGREG

Well-Known Member
Feb 29, 2008
3,276
297
83
Des Moines
Great questions. In my experience, it's the anti-bike crowd that's much more rigid in their position; I've yet to meet a cyclist who thinks that cars should be outright banned from roads, but there are plenty drivers (like our friend CRAZYGREG) who adopt the "no bikes, period" stance.

And...it's just weird. What's causing such hatred for people who don't even have the capability to inconveneince you that much? With the level of vitriol that some of these anti-bike people have, you'd think that a cyclist broke into their home, stole all their things, and shot their dog on the way out.

Not true - I used to watch Pacific Blue.

Bikes should not be roads and cars should not be on bike trails... Yeah
 

roundball

Well-Known Member
Dec 8, 2013
5,038
88
48
Iowa City area
Not true - I used to watch Pacific Blue.

Bikes should not be roads and cars should not be on bike trails... Yeah

Can you offer one good reasons why bikes shouldn't be allowed to use roads, ever? And I'm afraid "they were intended for cars" is not a good reason, nor is it universally true.
 

Clonehomer

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
26,893
25,031
113
Can't just make a new law every time someone dies.

Sometimes bad **** happens and that's how life is.

But it shouldn't be a new law. Bikes are considered vehicles by the state of iowa. You must follow the same traffic laws when dealing with bicycles as motorcycles. Technically, bicycles have the right to ride in the middle of the lane. It's out of courtesy and fear of getting run over by poor drivers that get them to ride on the side of the road.
 

VTXCyRyD

Well-Known Member
Sep 2, 2010
5,652
3,017
113
This exactly. You wouldn't pass a motorcycle in the same lane, why pass a bike any differently?

Actually, they do. When I first started riding and was in the right side of the lane people passing you wouldn't get all the way over they sometimes they got to close.

I now ride in the left side of my lane and I ride at a pace slightly faster than traffic.