Open Letter to Cyclists.

[WhiteTom]

Is there some way that we might be able to increase the level of education on this matter? Riding a bike on the road seems to me to be something that is in need of some formal education because far too often do I see people downtown or in my neighborhood doing much of what a lot of people here have listed as pet peeves (riding through stop signs, not dismounting to utilize crosswalks and in the case of my neighborhood people also ride without helmets!). On the flip side I think there should be a higher emphasis placed on how to respect cyclists on the road when people who are trying to get their licenses, because I sure as heck don't remember them going over it at all.

I will also agree that we need to become a more bike friendly city, as one of the reasons I have for not biking more (aside from laziness) is I have this dread that it will be the last time I leave my house.

Perhaps we should send some letters to the government? Any ideas?

[mykalberta]

If bikes are considered vehicles with the same access to roads as cars then the minimum speed requirements should be inforced and bikes shouldnt have to ride on the shoulder.

Also, in a traffic jam it then should be illegal for them to weave through. As well as switch between road traffic and pedestrian traffic when it suits them.

Either or I dont care, just pick one.

[SaskaBushFire]

Alright, now from the other side.

If you could please refrain from riding my ass in your thousand pound car while I am on my 30 pound bike, it'd be great.

If you could not ignore me when I come through an intersection, turning left RIGHT infront of me causing me to slam on my breaks and almost endo into your hood, it'd be great.

If you could not drive 10 clicks over the speed limit when you zoom past me when I am nice enough to move over so you can get by, I would appreciate it.

[SaskaBushFire]

Also, I should add if everyone biked around they would be in attractive shape, there would be less pollution, and we wouldn't need threads like this

GO green, or go home!

[You Need a Thneed]

Cyclists sure can be boneheads sometimes. I saw one bonehead biker this morning turning left into the wrong lane of traffic. What annoys me the most about bikers is when they drive the wrong way - against traffic.

That being said, when I bike to work (or wherever), the number of bonehead drivers is at least 10 times as much. EVERY TIME you bike, you almost certainly will be cut off, or someone will pull into a crosswalk without looking (at all), or will be turning right in a merge lane, and not even bother to check if there is a pedestrian or biker in the crosswalk, etc.

When I bike on ther road, I obey the rules for the road. I signal (even though I'm sure that 95% of the drivers don't have a clue what the signals mean), I stay to the right except when I'm required to be in a different lane to make the turn I need to make, I don't pass cars while they are stuck in traffic (places with enough traffic should have a bike path anyway), etc. I do switch back and forth between being a road rider, and being a pedestrian. I don't throw myself in front of cars when I'm a pedestrian, I always make sure cars see me and stop before crossing streets. I don't walk my bike across streets while I'm a pedestrian (that eliminates the advantage of riding a bike), but, like I said, I always make sure traffic sees me and is stopped before I do so. When I'm a pedestrian, I expect that drivers should stop for me (they often don't), and when I'm riding on the road, I don't expect drivers to stop for me. I expect them to treat me as if I was just another driver on the road. I don't think its too much to ask to expect that drivers should understand the traffic laws (you know, the ones they were required to know for the driving test).

The route I ride to work is a mixture of bikepath, road, back alley, grass field, and even a bit of sidewalk. None of the roads are busy roads, they are all just residential roads. I go through one four way stop and one traffic light while riding on the road.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Alright, now from the other side.

If you could please refrain from riding my ass in your thousand pound car while I am on my 30 pound bike, it'd be great.

If you could not ignore me when I come through an intersection, turning left RIGHT infront of me causing me to slam on my breaks and almost endo into your hood, it'd be great.

If you could not drive 10 clicks over the speed limit when you zoom past me when I am nice enough to move over so you can get by, I would appreciate it.

If Bikers could refrain from zooming down the passenger side of my car, then doing a 90 degree turn right in front of me as they transmogrify from vehicle to pedestrian.

If Bikers could start using hand signals when they're turning across so I would know that they're planning on cutting me off in the intersection.

If fat people on bikes could stop wearing skin type lycra shorts I would really appreciate it.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Alright, now from the other side.

If you could please refrain from riding my ass in your thousand pound car while I am on my 30 pound bike, it'd be great.

If you could not ignore me when I come through an intersection, turning left RIGHT infront of me causing me to slam on my breaks and almost endo into your hood, it'd be great.

If you could not drive 10 clicks over the speed limit when you zoom past me when I am nice enough to move over so you can get by, I would appreciate it.

Amen bro! Someone riding my ass was a huge complaint of mine when i lived in Calgary.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

If Bikers could start using hand signals when they're turning across so I would know that they're planning on cutting me off in the intersection.

Cripes, alot of Calgary motorists don't even know how to use a turn signal.

[toonmaster]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I don't walk my bike across streets while I'm a pedestrian (that eliminates the advantage of riding a bike)

This drives me up the wall, the advantage of riding a bike is you have the ability to switch between a vehicle and a pedestrian, you can travel as a vehicle but at your option can switch to become a pedestrian and take advantage as such things as signalled pedestrian crossings, just follow the damn rules.

This is why I have no sympathy for cyclists who come tearing up a path/sidewalk on their bike and try and run a flashing or solid no walk sign and then get all pissy when I have every right to complete my left turn because they should be dismounting and following the rules of the road.

I have stopped numerous times and told cyclists who flip me the bird to go read the rules before having a hissy fit over something they clearly have no knowledge of.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by fredr123

I'm thinking of centre north of 16th avenue street mostly. Both right and left lanes southbound are busy, almost bumper to bumper. I'm in the right lane. A cyclist cruises by me on the right. Traffic starts moving again and I'm approaching him from behind. He's close to the curb but if he swerves even a little bit I could hit him.

In that situation I just don't feel really comfortable passing the guy a lot of the time. If I'm supposed to treat him like any other vehicle on the road, well, I wouldn't pass a car that was driving slowly albeit close to the curb. Even if he is cycling in the (unmarked) shoulder, it's awfully damn close to pass him. On the other hand, he has no trouble cruising by me at a high rate of speed while I'm stuck in traffic.

Preferably, I'd like to move over to the left lane to get around the guy but that's not always possible. Also, if it's not already apparent, I kind of drive like an old lady going to Sunday service.

And how do you usually pass slower motorists? Do you just push them to the side and cut them off? The safe and correct thing to do when passing a cyclist on the road is to change lanes. It's quite easy to do. Signal, wait for an opening and volia!!

[WhiteTom]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I don't walk my bike across streets while I'm a pedestrian (that eliminates the advantage of riding a bike)

If you are riding your bike through a crosswalk you are immediately a motor vehicle and no longer a pedestrian.

Excerpt from the Cycling Safety Handbook which directly references the Alberta Traffic Safety Act:

Conversely, motorists should not give cyclists the right-of-way at crosswalks unless they are walking their bicycle. When you walk your bike you are a pedestrian. When you ride your bicycle you are a vehicle.

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/...y_handbook.pdf

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by toonmaster

This drives me up the wall, the advantage of riding a bike is you have the ability to switch between a vehicle and a pedestrian, you can travel as a vehicle but at your option can switch to become a pedestrian and take advantage as such things as signalled pedestrian crossings, just follow the damn rules.

This is why I have no sympathy for cyclists who come tearing up a path/sidewalk on their bike and try and run a flashing or solid no walk sign and then get all pissy when I have every right to complete my left turn because they should be dismounting and following the rules of the road.

I have stopped numerous times and told cyclists who flip me the bird to go read the rules before having a hissy fit over something they clearly have no knowledge of.

And that's why, like I said, I never use that to my advantage. I wait until traffic has stopped, I don't expect drivers to have to stop for me, when they couldn't have seen me coming up behind them in an area they aren't required to look.

I try very hard to not affect drivers in a negative way. Once they have stopped for me, I ride across, as this gets me out of their way quite a bit sooner, and is MUCH less annoying for me.

I won't get pissy when I get in your way (I try not to do that in the first place). I will get pissy when drivers don't obey their rules (the simple ones like stopping before the crosswalk or sidewalk) or don't even look to see if there are pedestrians or cyclists before flying through a crosswalk in a merge lane.

I realize that the rule is that you have to dismount and walk across roadways, but, IMO, that rule seriously needs to be looked at and revised somehow - and still keeping it safe for both drivers and cyclists. Keeping it the way it is only discourages people from riding altogether, and keeps riders in traffic lanes when they could be riding on the bike path instead.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by habernac

And how do you usually pass slower motorists? Do you just push them to the side and cut them off? The safe and correct thing to do when passing a cyclist on the road is to change lanes. It's quite easy to do. Signal, wait for an opening and volia!!

Slower motorists usually don't pass me on the shoulder while I'm waiting in bumper to bumper traffic

That's what I thought and that's what I try to do. Like someone else mentioned, when you fail to do that and just wait behind the cyclist you can feel the looks of hate from vehicles behind you burning into the back of your head. But then when you finally do switch lanes and pass the cyclist, he zooms past you again on the shoulder at the next stoppage and the whole song and dance repeats itself all the way down centre street.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by WhiteTom

If you are riding your bike through a crosswalk you are immediately a motor vehicle and no longer a pedestrian.

Excerpt from the Cycling Safety Handbook which directly references the Alberta Traffic Safety Act:

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/...y_handbook.pdf

Agreed. Riding through crosswalks is an incredibly stupid thing to do. Don't expect drivers to respect your right to ride on the roads if you pull crap like this.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Slower motorists usually don't pass me on the shoulder while I'm waiting in bumper to bumper traffic

That's what I thought and that's what I try to do. Like someone else mentioned, when you fail to do that and just wait behind the cyclist you can feel the looks of hate from vehicles behind you burning into the back of your head. But then when you finally do switch lanes and pass the cyclist, he zooms past you again on the shoulder at the next stoppage and the whole song and dance repeats itself all the way down centre street.

point taken. This is why they need dedicated bike lanes so this isn't a problem. 4th street NW would be perfect for this.

[Bobblehead]

Habby, you are in the NE - what is your general route to get to work and back? I've considered riding to work, but the traffic on 36th or 52nd, especially crossing 16th, has me scared to even try.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by habernac

point taken. This is why they need dedicated bike lanes so this isn't a problem. 4th street NW would be perfect for this.

I agree. If everyone passes cyclists as described above and/or cyclists don't pass people on the shoulders in stalled traffic, the congestion would just get worse. Getting around in Calgary during peak times in a car is bad enough. Having well-meaning cyclists slowing things down is not going to help things out. Get them off the main streets and on to more or less dedicated lanes or side streets.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by WhiteTom

If you are riding your bike through a crosswalk you are immediately a motor vehicle and no longer a pedestrian.

And a candidate for bicycle baseball. Like mailbox baseball but with an added degree of difficulty since the target is in motion.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think we should randomly throw fresh cadavers dressed as alive people under the tires of drivers downtown, when the driver gets out in horror as the corpse's chest has exploded all over the street, jump out and say "HAH! You didn't kill him, he died of cancer last night".

I am intrigued by your ideas, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[WhiteTom]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think we should randomly throw fresh cadavers dressed as alive people under the tires of drivers downtown, when the driver gets out in horror as the corpse's chest has exploded all over the street, jump out and say "HAH! You didn't kill him, he died of cancer last night".

Maybe we can secure a government grant for this.