Bikers on Roads

[Phaedrus]

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.

Are you saying that Indy Car drivers are unsafe? That they are somehow unskilled? How about NASCAR? I realize they may have some challenge with turning right, but they ought to be able to make all sorts of left hand turns at 180+ miles per hour on the road.

I'm also wondering just how long I can keep you strung along on this phoney baloney argument. Are you thinking I'm actually being serious?

Think of the children, man!!!

Just for that, I'm getting out the pirate "simple".

 

[DaddyMac]

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.

I see this one alot and it drives me nuts as well.

Did 20 miles last night from my place in WDM, out through Clive and Waukee to Ortonville. Some of that on the roads. Kudos to all those who could deal with it. :wink:

BTW - I wasn't with the rest of the group, but I gathered we had our first accident of the year on the Raccoon River Trail out towards Adel. Truck came across the trail in front of one of our bikers and he had to ditch to miss him. I wasn't clear where it happened, but I think it was one of the many "uncontrolled" intersections, basically little roads that cut across the trail for farmers to get into their fields.

 

[JP4CY]

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.

But you are yoda!

Anyway, couldn't agree more and I'm a big biker.

 

[Clonegrad07]

I am planning a 20+ mile ride tonight... ALL on county/country roads... in Southeastern Indiana which is more hilly and windy/turny then 90% of Iowa's country roads.... I'm confident I'll be safe, obey the rules of the road, and that inevitably... some **** will get too close to me and scare me a little bit... but I'll get home safe and will be happy the drivers could STAND me being on those CRAZY hard roads to navigate around that "DARN BIKER"!

 

[Colorado]

I'm planning a 70 mile ride on Saturday and another 30+ miles on Sunday on the White Rim in Moab. There will be other vehicles on the "road" with me. Our support vehicle is a Jeep. I'll be sure to get as far to the right as needed but I don't think it will be necessary. The motorists will be expecting me and I don't imagine there will be any issues.

 

[Phaedrus]

BTW - I wasn't with the rest of the group, but I gathered we had our first accident of the year on the Raccoon River Trail out towards Adel. Truck came across the trail in front of one of our bikers and he had to ditch to miss him. I wasn't clear where it happened, but I think it was one of the many "uncontrolled" intersections, basically little roads that cut across the trail for farmers to get into their fields.

So, what level of road rage did you think led this Truck driving filth to attempt to murder one of your bikers?

And "if" he stopped, did the group of bicyclists then drag him from the truck and beat him to death?

I mean, this COULDN'T have been an honest mistake on his part. he's driving a TRUCK for God's sake!

Attempted murder and lynching for that truck driver I say!

Rabble, rabble!!!

:wink:

 

[DaddyMac]

So, what level of road rage did you think led this Truck driving filth to attempt to murder one of your bikers?

And "if" he stopped, did the group of bicyclists then drag him from the truck and beat him to death?

I mean, this COULDN'T have been an honest mistake on his part. he's driving a TRUCK for God's sake!

Attempted murder and lynching for that truck driver I say!

Rabble, rabble!!!

:wink:

Well, our guy works for the ACLU last I knew - so ya never know.... :wink:

Seriously, I don't know what happened. I think he's ok and there was no real damage, but he didn't show at the bar & grill after - so I don't know. From what I gather, the truck should've checked as he was crossing the trail. But it's a very wooded area of the trail and not good sight lines. It may very well be that the truck had no business being on that road/access.

 

[Phaedrus]

Well, our guy works for the ACLU last I knew - so ya never know.... :wink:

Well, never mind, then.

 

[alaskaguy]

I'm planning a 70 mile ride on Saturday and another 30+ miles on Sunday on the White Rim in Moab.

Sounds like a lot of fun. If you had given me more of an advanced notice, I would have asked you if I could join the ride.

 

[Colorado]

Sounds like a lot of fun. If you had given me more of an advanced notice, I would have asked you if I could join the ride.

I was on a wait list for this trip and didn't find out myself until last week.

 

[huskerman]

there are minimum speed limits on highways and interstates on highways it is typically 40 mph and on interstates it is typically 45 mph. if you are riding a bike and can somehow manage to hit the minimum speed limit then so be it risk your own life, but do NOT ride your bike 15 mph on a 55 mph road and expect people to not get pissed off at you. you as a biker are just being stupid if that is what you are doing.

 

[Phaedrus]

I was on a wait list for this trip and didn't find out myself until last week.

You're making me miss my mountain riding something fierce, sir.

 

[clones_jer]

there are minimum speed limits on highways and interstates on highways it is typically 40 mph and on interstates it is typically 45 mph. if you are riding a bike and can somehow manage to hit the minimum speed limit then so be it risk your own life, but do NOT ride your bike 15 mph on a 55 mph road and expect people to not get pissed off at you. you as a biker are just being stupid if that is what you are doing.

the first you mention is illegal, no matter what the speed (I have hit 47 going into Bellvue for a few seconds).

the second is legal - regardless of the lecture and the pissiness.

you're avatar makes me forget all this of course ... what were we talking about?

 

[clones_jer]

That looks awesome ... screw the looking out for cars, I'm more worried about that left hand side! yikes - short cut would be a *****!

 

[Cyclone62]

the first you mention is illegal, no matter what the speed (I have hit 47 going into Bellvue for a few seconds).

the second is legal - regardless of the lecture and the pissiness.

you're avatar makes me forget all this of course ... what were we talking about?

From what I can tell... Actually, I have no idea what you mean. What do you mean by "the first" and "the second"?

Seems to be the first is the speed limit, and the second is the biker being stupid for doing 15 on a 55 road, which seems contradictory to "the first."

 

[Colorado]

I survived. None of the vehicles that we encountered gave us any trouble and there were 12 of us. Notice the last pic with the biker taking up the whole road.

 

[DaddyMac]

I survived. None of the vehicles that we encountered gave us any trouble and there were 12 of us. Notice the last pic with the biker taking up the whole road.

Kudos to you, looks freaking awesome.

not sure I'd ride that in one of those sumo-suits.