[pylon]

Okay, my much anticipated response.... never knew anyone actually gave a crap about my opinion...lol

Originally I was gonna type out a big FU response, however that wouldn't have been productive.

Don't forget, I do drive cars as well, and motorcycles, so it is not like I cannot see it from both sides. A lot of Locke's points I agree with, some, I do not. I was simply stating how I ride, and I know some of my etiquette isn't perfect.

Here is the problem. If you really want to see mayhem on the roads, then have cyclists obey all the traffic rules like a car...fine. You will wait longer at 4 way stops, you will miss lights, you will be stuck in heavy traffic behind a guy that can only pedal so fast. A ton of the time, when I hop up on a curb, or stay on the shoulder on a 3 way and go straight through, it is in consideration of the flow of traffic a lot of times. . If it is a 3way stop, what would you rather have me do. Get in line like all the cars, and you have to wait...or for one more rotation, or just be on my way, and take myself out of the equation? I feel bad when I hold up traffic, and stay on the side streets whenever possible. I have been there too behind the cyclist that thinks he owns the road and it is frustrating, I agree, but he has as much right as me when I am in my car to be there.

I'll give you another example, on 5th street and 50th ave, which is a bike route from Chinook Centre to Stanley Park, there is a crosswalk button that immediately triggers the traffic light. The second you hit it, the light goes orange. The button for this light is also set up right next to the curb so you do not have to dismount to push the button or cross the street. I never push the button. I just check both ways and go once it is safe. Why? Because why should traffic be held up in both directions, so one guy can cross the street. Does that make me a dangerous cyclist?

In the middle of the night at 11:00pm, if I am in Mount Royal, or going down Haddon road, or through Kingsland, and there is nobody in site or ear, of course I am going to just go through the stop signs. Remember when you are on a bike, you have the added advantage of hearing everything, and having zero forward blind spots. Sometimes you would be lucky to see a car every 20 minutes.

There is a huge difference between a bike and a car, and as a cyclist you are far closer to a pedestrian than a motorist. The likelihood of me killing you in your car while I am on my bike is probably 0.00000000000000000000001%. The likelihood of me killing a pedestrian is probably 0.00001 %. After a quick google search, I couldn't find one scenario where a cyclist killed a pedestrian in Calgary, ever.

I think it is an ego thing to be honest. A ton of motorists get all peeved because they get passed by the same cyclist in a rush hour situation a few times. Look at some of Pinners old posts, he admitted he would block them to impede their progress... why? Ego. Where as a bike enthusiast, I am usually checking out what kind of bike they are riding, but a lot of drivers are all rage mad because my $1600 ten speed, is giving them the perception that I am getting there quicker than you $45000, 450 HP Mustang. In tight traffic in the core, maybe.. probably, but trust me, after it is all said and done, the car will beat the cyclists once you get out of congestion. I am not racing the cars, but a lot of drivers, and admittedly cyclists, are racing.

I choose to cycle to work when I can for no other reason than my health, and I love the feeling of accomplishment when I become the engine. It adds an hour of commute time each day I ride, but it also saves me a trip to the gym for a cardio workout. I don't go out each day and say "I wanna piss off some drivers!" I do everything in my power to stay out of the way. However, I have been swerved at, spit at, had a slurpee heaved at, and almost killed by a Pinner "block" when I was shoulder checking, to enter traffic.

All I have ever done, is hold someone up for an extra 30 seconds. Remember, if cyclists were the same as cars, you guys would also be able to cut through parks, and use the pathway system, you can't, but I legally can. The small advantages I get as a cyclist, is the odd shortcut, bypass, and yes pedestrian/sidewalk switcharoo sometimes... but rest assured, I won't beat you to your destination, and for some, that seems to be the biggest issue.

I will leave with this. Locke, It is obvious by your post you know very little about cycling. Not a slight, simply an observation. Why don't you do this. Why don't you, accompany me, through the downtown core, on a weekday say at...7:30 am, and see if your opinion is any different. See the hell that cyclists have to deal with from the other side. See how comfortable you feel riding in a bike lane, that drivers are cutting into, see if you will really sit in traffic at the head of the line at a light with a guy waiting to turn right on your back wheel, or if you take the curb instead. I have a pile of bikes, I would be happy to lend you one for the experiment.