Quote:
Originally Posted by stuck_in_chuk
I'm pretty sure the point that the poster was trying to make is this - walk a mile in the other guys shoes. Most adult cyclists are also drivers, so we understand your frustrations with bad cyclists who flaunt or completely ignore the rules of the road. Many (not all) of the drivers who complain so loudly about cyclists haven't been on a bike in years. If you get on the saddle, you might understand better our concerns.
As someone who enjoys my bike ride to work nearly everyday, I have to say that a lot of drivers are just bad. Yesterday, for instance, I was in a designated right turning lane, and I signaled a right turn. A truck passed me in the driving lane, and then turned (no signal) right in front of me. I had to slam on the brakes and wait for him to pass.
I drove to work today, and I drove the same way that I normally bike. I was slowed for about 20 seconds waiting for an opportunity to pass a bike, while I waited over a minute stopped behind a car making a left turn. For the most part, bikes are not what causes traffic delays.
Seeing people with bad biking habits annoy me, because it makes us all look bad and further fuels the anti-bike crowd. Today, I saw a guy talking on a cell phone riding his bike down the street, and it angered me. I realize that with rights come responsibilities. Same goes whether you are in a car or on a bike. Whether I'm driving or riding a bike, I always try to think about what the other guy would want me to do - simple things like being visible, acting predictably, signaling my intentions, and showing respect for the other vehicles on the road.
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Fair enough I skimmed that post and figured I missed the actual point of that statement.
I agree with alot of what you are saying. Of course there will be bad drivers on both sides. I just think that cyclists should have to follow the same rules as everyone else on the road. For me its mostly just people riding between cars, or beside stopped cars. There is not a lot of room there and they are just asking for trouble. Not to mention complaining about getting a whole lane when being passed, then passing EVERY car that is stopped causing the whole cycle to repeat.
How about cyclists follow the same rules as those on motorcycles...