Bikers on Roads
- Thread starter SplitIdentity
- Start date
I think a lot of people are missing the point.
IF YOU SEE THE BIKE THEN YOU SHOULD RESPECT THEM LIKE YOU WOULD A CAR.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE PLACES LIKES HILLS AND CORNERS WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE THEM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE AND THERE IS A HUGE SPEED DIFFERENCE OF 30-40MPH EVEN IF YOU'RE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT.
I'm talking about rural settings not flat in town roads where everyone is driving 35mph.
An excellent example is the diagonal from Des Moines to Marshalltown. What makes it even worse is that there is a BIKE trail 50 feet to the right that NEVER gets used and is wide enough and in good enough shape that there is no excuse to ride on it.
IF YOU SEE THE BIKE THEN YOU SHOULD RESPECT THEM LIKE YOU WOULD A CAR.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE PLACES LIKES HILLS AND CORNERS WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE THEM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE AND THERE IS A HUGE SPEED DIFFERENCE OF 30-40MPH EVEN IF YOU'RE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT.
I'm talking about rural settings not flat in town roads where everyone is driving 35mph.
An excellent example is the diagonal from Des Moines to Marshalltown. What makes it even worse is that there is a BIKE trail 50 feet to the right that NEVER gets used and is wide enough and in good enough shape that there is no excuse to ride on it.
Horse and buggies in Amish country are required to have these and use them, along with AA tanks,tractors.
In rural area's I think you have to protect yourself...if you ride a bike you know there are a-holes...you know you're going to run into them so why act like this time they'll respect our right to ride and the road? Look out for numero uno regardless. Both parties are at fault here.
I take that road about every other week and have NEVER seen a biker on it. But I agree that if there's a perfectly good and under-utilized trail right there, the biker has no business being on that type of road.
Just a s forewarning, my bike club will be riding from Winterset to a family member's home in St Charles in June. There are no trails.
I hope some of you can find it in your heart (InCyte) to allow us the priviledge of riding on your roads that we have nothing to contribute to.
And I truly hope and pray, that a fallible human being, in a moment of inattention, does no harm to you or your friends.
I'm done with blame. I just tell you that you are voluntarily accepting to do something risky when you do this. But as you can probably figure out, I'm all about doing something risky if you get sufficient satisfaction from it.
I have a drivers license. It's in my wallet. Issued by the state. Has picture of me on it and everything.
They're not driving a motorzied vehicle - that might be why.
Should a person walking or jogging down the road have to have a drivers license?
Thanks
I/we consciously plan our routes for the safest possible trip. That means a balance between good roads (avoiding crappy busted up blacktop or untravelable gravel) and avoiding busier traffic.
For instance, I drive to work on very busy roads in WDM like Valley West Drive and 100th street in Urbandale. That is the most direct route. However in the summer when I ride, I never would consider this way. Back streets is 80% of what I take. I would LOVE it if there were trails to get me there, but I can only utilize Des Moines trial system for literally only about 100 yards of a 7 miles trip.
Maybe 200 yards if Urbandale would take down those dumb-*** crossing baracades along 100th. Unfortunately I do have to ride on 100th for maybe 1/2 mile+. There's just no other option. Traffic doesn't like it (even though they have two lanes), but neither do I. I've been almost whacked more times than I care to mention. But, what ya gonna do?
In any case, I'm not worried about this or any other trip. 90% of the drivers out there are safe and courteous enough. Just as are only about 90% of the bikers. I've dealt with frustrations on both sides of this. Had drivers treat me poorly. And as a driver, had idiot bikers to contend with.
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You're required to have an ID when you go walking or jogging?
That's a new one on me, but ok..... :skeptical:
Other than the fact that they refuse to follow any rules of the road or just laws in general, I don't have a problem with them. In the last week, I almost killed a guy because he decided he didn't have to stop at a 4 way stop. I had been there, saw him coming, thought he was slowing, so I went. I had to slam on my breaks as he flipped me the bird on his way by, barely missing me. Or the guy you wait and wait and wait to finally get past on a busy main road, only to have him creep up on the side of everyone, back to the front, once you get to a red light. Bicyclists almost seem to me like people who buy green credits. Because they are doing something good for the environment, it allows them to be ******** to the rest of the world.
I talked to a couple of cop friends of mine, and they explained that they should and do have to follow the rules of the roads, but because of community pressures to encourage cycling, for the most part they are supposed to turn a blind eye. So I asked, "Well, who get's in trouble then, when I kill the guy who runs the stop sign? I'll want the dent in my car fixed and the blood cleaned off and I shouldn't have to pay for it." He had no answer.
I talked to a couple of cop friends of mine, and they explained that they should and do have to follow the rules of the roads, but because of community pressures to encourage cycling, for the most part they are supposed to turn a blind eye. So I asked, "Well, who get's in trouble then, when I kill the guy who runs the stop sign? I'll want the dent in my car fixed and the blood cleaned off and I shouldn't have to pay for it." He had no answer.
But aren't bicyclists charged with the same obligation to obey the rules of the road as those who drive motorized vehciles?
Is it unreasonable that we require them to KNOW the rules of the road, espeically in view of the fact that they are sharing the road with vehciles 1000 times their weight?
I just don't get it. Maybe I'm being dense.
Yes they are required to know the rules, at least here in Illinois.
Cyclists, in most states, also have additional rules to follow. Should not the motor vehicle operator be obliged to know these rules as well?
In this case, I don't think you are. It makes a certain amount of sense.
My understanding is that you get a licese to operate a motorized vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, etc).
There's credence to what you are getting at. I don't know that I would object to such a rule. There would be blanks that need to be filled in. If I cross a street with my kids in tow, would they need a license to cross said street? Stuff like that.
Regardless - I completely agree that bicyclists are REQUIRED to obey all traffic rules and courtesies that drivers are. And many don't. (Plenty of drivers don't as well)
Most of this anger seems to come from the fact that someone (who just happens to be on a bicycle) has slowed someone down a few seconds or minutes.......think about it. You see auto drivers every day like this. They pass you just to turn off the road in front of you..why....because they think they "own the road and their time is more valuable than yours"
I see it every day. Road rage and aggressive driving is all about the "I'm more important than you" mentality that permeates this country. Solution, better parents.
I see it every day. Road rage and aggressive driving is all about the "I'm more important than you" mentality that permeates this country. Solution, better parents.
You need to look further up the road.
If I am approaching a hill, I look at it and if I see bicycles cresting the hill, I know they will be on the other side when I crest the hill.
If I am approaching a hill, I look at it and if I see bicycles cresting the hill, I know they will be on the other side when I crest the hill.
I will start off by saying I am not a fan of bikers. I think if bikes want as much right as cars they should pay a license fee just like a car!!! Charge them $25.00 a year and then that money can go to bike lanes on the shoulders of country roads! Problem solved!!!!
You, since you were aware of the other vehicle running the stop sign. If you had the time/knowlege to avoid an accident you have to.
If you had stopped, proceeded forward and then were broadsided by cyclist. The cyclist is at fault for failure to obey a posted traffic sign.
I find it sad the cops you talked to didn't know that answer.
If your license fee only went to road needs that'd be fine.
Fine, most bikers will happily pay fees/licenses. This has to include any and all users of roads though.
