To the downtown cycler in the Flames jersey

[habernac]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I find it rediculous you can argue your right to pedal down a road at 40 when traffic is blasting by at 90... You guys are so desperate to save the environment yet you bottleneck traffic behind you, makes sense to me..

I don't care whether or not you want to ride your bike to work, but trying to pedal down 22x at 6 am is just asking to be a statistic.. Also I love the brainwaves that use the crosswalk to continue riding even though traffic they were riding in has stopped at a red light.. I saw one try and cut back into traffic from the sidewalk and he almost ended up under a car..

you actually see cyclists in the middle of the road on 22X? Or are you taking shortcuts driving on the shoulder?

[llama64]

Originally Posted by habernac

And I agree that education on both sides is a good thing. Not enough motorists know the rights of cyclists on the road.

Very true. I usually just treat cyclists as I would treat any other vehicle on the road. Albeit a very slow moving one.

As long as a cyclist isn't doing something stupid, I got no issues with them. If they are deliberately trying to pass stopped traffic just because they can (in-between lanes or on the side of the road), then I got a problem with them.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

That's the third time you've made reference to the environment. You think there might be some other reasons other than the pointless old environment?

*Ping*.. Nice deflection..

Public safety and common sense should rule, not the "rights" of a few righteous people.. Other than exercise exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Its dangerous enough riding a motorcycle in this city let alone a bike without a motor, and signals. I guess just watch your heads and lungs, my towing mirrors will be flying by at 90, and my chip will go from stage 3 to 5 to blow a lil carbon your way..

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by habernac

you actually see cyclists in the middle of the road on 22X? Or are you taking shortcuts driving on the shoulder?

The bridge narrows and theres no shoulder on it.. I guess I should lock up all 4 on account of your right to be there..

[troutman]

Originally Posted by habernac

you're talking Memorial Drive? I know some of the faster cyclists take the road because they get speeding tickets on the bike paths.

Sure, that's a good example. Also, Elbow Drive, 16th Ave NW.

Maybe we need bike path autobahns - no speed limit.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by troutman

Sure, that's a good example. Also, Elbow Drive, 16th Ave NW.

Maybe we need bike path autobahns - no speed limit.

I find it rediculous theres speed limits on bike paths.. Like people said its forced them from the path to the road which makes things so much safer..

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

*Ping*.. Nice deflection..

Actually I do believe it is you that brought up the environment. And of the people that I know who cycle, non of them does it for the environment.

This thread has indeed gone off its original topic, but there's a good conversation going without having to bring in another topic that is typically hot here on CP.

Myself, put me in the camp that doesn't mind cyclists, as long as they act like vehicles. Meaning you are always a vehicle, not switching between vehicle and pedestrian whenever it suits them.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by habernac

this is a mistake made by motorists as well. When I pull up to the four way stop, you don't need to wave me through, I'll wait my turn, thanks.

I really hate it when people do that.

you're talking Memorial Drive? I know some of the faster cyclists take the road because they get speeding tickets on the bike paths.

Bikes are vehicles. Vehicles are subject to speed restrictions, which if breeched is a ticketable offence. Maybe said cyclists should SLOW DOWN instead of endangering themselves and others by taking FRIGGIN MEMORIAL DRIVE!!!!!

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

*Ping*.. Nice deflection..

Public safety and common sense should rule, not the "rights" of a few righteous people..

Cyclists are members of "the public", aren't they? And anyone with a shred of common sense should be able to share the road with a cyclist.

You appear to be the righteous one in this discussion -- your right to drive as fast as possible is your main concern.

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

The bridge narrows and theres no shoulder on it.. I guess I should lock up all 4 on account of your right to be there..

I guess cyclists should stay home on account of your right to be there?

[llama64]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

*Ping*.. Nice deflection..

Public safety and common sense should rule, not the "rights" of a few righteous people.. Other than exercise exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Its dangerous enough riding a motorcycle in this city let alone a bike without a motor, and signals. I guess just watch your heads and lungs, my towing mirrors will be flying by at 90, and my chip will go from stage 3 to 5 to blow a lil carbon your way..

Did you just admit to speeding? And not only that, to actively trying to damage the environment? Classy.

Not sure how that was a deflection. You keep making exaggerated claims about cyclist behaviour that have little to do with the reality of the situation. Do you just plain hate cyclists irrationally? Because like it or not we are going to see more cyclists on our roads with each passing year.

[burn_this_city]

I figured a hot-poker in the eye would get everyone going.. Guess I was right..

Look I don't care if they want to ride to work, just don't use major roads that are congested with traffic.. Its dangerous and does little more than delay traffic.. I always give plenty of room, I just don't like watching a line of cars swerving between lanes on blackfoot to accomodate someone who has a perfectly good car sitting idle at home..

[JayP]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Cyclists are members of "the public", aren't they? And anyone with a shred of common sense should be able to share the road with a cyclist.

What a weak argument. I guess I should be able to ride a scooter down the street too, right?

I don't mind cyclers downtown, but on roads where they can't maintain a speed anywhere near the speed limit it makes no logical sense. If I go as fast in my vehicle as cyclers do down, say, Memorial I'll get written up for a ticket for going too slow. Why should cyclers be any different if they insist on sharing the road?

[habernac]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

The bridge narrows and theres no shoulder on it.. I guess I should lock up all 4 on account of your right to be there..

or wait the whole 20 seconds it would probably take for them to get safely across. Impatient yahoos like you are the problem, not the cyclists.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I figured a hot-poker in the eye would get everyone going.. Guess I was right..

Look I don't care if they want to ride to work, just don't use major roads that are congested with traffic.. Its dangerous and does little more than delay traffic.. I always give plenty of room, I just don't like watching a line of cars swerving between lanes on blackfoot to accomodate someone who has a perfectly good car sitting idle at home..

Sounds great... build paths that cyclists can use to get from the burbs all the way to, and through, downtown. Until you do that, expect to see them on the roads ('major' or otherwise). I'm sure they'd prefer bike paths, but that's not always the option. Do some of you actually think bikers prefer riding on roads over paths?

I drive around quite a bit and have a very different experience with bikers, I've never seen one cruising down Crowchild or Glenmore, so I'm not sure where all these examples of bikers using major roads are coming from.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by JayP

What a weak argument. I guess I should be able to ride a scooter down the street too, right?

I don't mind cyclers downtown, but on roads where they can't maintain a speed anywhere near the speed limit it makes no logical sense. If I go as fast in my vehicle as cyclers do down, say, Memorial I'll get written up for a ticket for going too slow. Why should cyclers be any different if they insist on sharing the road?

or you could just switch lanes and pass the slower moving vehicle. Or do you just sit behind slower traffic and complain?

[JayP]

Originally Posted by habernac

or wait the whole 20 seconds it would probably take for them to get safely across. Impatient yahoos like you are the problem, not the cyclists.

Why should he have to wait because the cycler can't maintain the speed limit?

If cyclers weren't allowed on the road and forced to ride on the sidewalks you all would be whining about how walkers impede your progress.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by habernac

or wait the whole 20 seconds it would probably take for them to get safely across. Impatient yahoos like you are the problem, not the cyclists.

Its an f'ing highway.. That 10 car pile up you'll cause is definately worth your right to ride..

[You Need a Thneed]

I should take up the unicycle, just so I could unicycle to work down the busy streets.

Perhaps I'll take up juggling too.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I should take up the unicycle, just so I could unicycle to work down the busy streets.

Perhaps I'll take up juggling too.

Juggle knives, it should be roughly as safe..

I see one riding down glenmore between riverbend and the automall every few days.. Its really only a few idiots that put themselves in those situations.. I guess it just soils the reputation of the intelligent riders..

[JayP]

Originally Posted by habernac

or you could just switch lanes and pass the slower moving vehicle. Or do you just sit behind slower traffic and complain?

Completely different scenario. In your case the slower moving vehicle is probably doing 5 km/hunder the limit tops. With a cyclist he could easily be doing 25-30 under the limit.

Like I said before, if I was in my truck doing 30 km/h under the limit I could easily be pulled over by the cops for going too slow and impeding traffic. Why should cyclists play by a different set of rules?