Open Letter to Cyclists. - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

The Ditch · 06-04-2008, 10:04 AM

Well, my two points are something bad cyclists would do. I have no problem with good cyclists, as they make it easier on both the cyclist and driver. It just seems that there are more bad cyclists (maybe makes sense with how many bad drivers there are as you say) than good ones.

fredr123 · 06-04-2008, 10:06 AM

One of the lawyers at my firm bikes to work almost every day in the summer and even on the more mild days during the rest of the year. He biked to and from work on Monday during the downpour. I think he takes 10th street to and from down town.

Anyways, he often muses that one of the side streets that runs parallel to 10th ought to be designated for cyclists. It would keep the main road free for motorists to curse and swear at each other during rush hour while giving cyclists safe, quick passage. He also shakes his head at the way cyclists are treated in Calgary.

enthused · 06-04-2008, 10:11 AM

One of my favourite things about Amsterdam was how bike-friendly it was. Everyone bikes there, even pregnant ladies who carry three children with them on their bike. There's big bike lanes, and really, it seems as though bikes rule the road. Definitely a cyclist's dream!

BlackArcher101 · 06-04-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ditch

You cannot switch between pedestrian and motor vehicle when you feel like it

Just to clarify... you can switch, as long as you walk the bike across. There's nothing wrong with biking to a corner, hoping off the bike, walking it across the crosswalk, then hoping back on and ride off.

It's the pricks that ride the bike across the crosswalk that are just asking for trouble. I'm a biker, but man it peeves me off when I'm turning left in an intersection and midway through my turn, a bike blows through the crosswalk from behind me, nearly clipping my front bumper. Then the biker has the nerve to finger me as I should have seen him approaching from 300m back at 35km/h.

Boblobla · 06-04-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Just to clarify... you can switch, as long as you walk the bike across. There's nothing wrong with biking to a corner, hoping off the bike, walking it across the crosswalk, then hope back on and ride off.

But that is not what they do, they ride onto the sidewalk and across the crosswalk.

BlackArcher101 · 06-04-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boblobla

But that is not what they do, they ride onto the sidewalk and across the crosswalk.

Ya, I know, I added some more to my post. Just the way it was worded it sounded like the OP was saying they couldn't period.

llama64 · 06-04-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

One of the lawyers at my firm bikes to work almost every day in the summer and even on the more mild days during the rest of the year. He biked to and from work on Monday during the downpour. I think he takes 10th street to and from down town.

Anyways, he often muses that one of the side streets that runs parallel to 10th ought to be designated for cyclists. It would keep the main road free for motorists to curse and swear at each other during rush hour while giving cyclists safe, quick passage. He also shakes his head at the way cyclists are treated in Calgary.

They do bike only streets in downtown Vancouver. I always thought it was a great way to come to a compromise. For instance there is a cycle only street running parallel Robson. This allows all the cyclists a mostly car free zone to navigate and keeps them off the busy area. It's enforced with a series of road blocks and closed traffic circles. So far though Calgary just doesn't have the density to make it work.

Cyclists are treated just the same as any other driver out there in Calgary. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who drives/rides gains a massive ego and sense of self-righteousness the moment their tires hit the pavement. The only way to deal with it is to assume the everyone on the road is going to do something completely bone-headed and be prepared.

The Ditch · 06-04-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Ya, I know, I added some more to my post. Just the way it was worded it sounded like the OP was saying they couldn't period.

Sorry, your are correct. You don't see that happen very often and I was talking about riders who stay on their bike.

Boblobla · 06-04-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Ya, I know, I added some more to my post. Just the way it was worded it sounded like the OP was saying they couldn't period.

I am just to quick then I guess. If I had a buck for every time I had heard that...

BuzzardsWife · 06-04-2008, 10:31 AM

I'm always so afraid of hitting someone on a bike. When they swerve in front of me I have a semi-heart attack. I have to give them credit for being so green and looking like they are in amazing shape though.

Boblobla · 06-04-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

I'm always so afraid of hitting someone on a bike. When they swerve in front of me I have a semi-heart attack. I have to give them credit for being so green and looking like they are in amazing shape though.

I would rather be fat and not run over.

habernac · 06-04-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

I've often wondered if it's actually by the book legal to pass a cyclist whilst he or she is riding on the shoulder. If I can't pull over into a different lane to pass, I'll rarely do it. Drives my wife nuts that I'm reluctant to go around.

That being said, if it's not legal to pass and a cyclist is holding up traffic then I would hope the cyclist pulls over or picks a different route. If a car were to be doing 20 km/hr in a 50 km/hr zone and disrupting the flow of traffic then that would be a ticketable offence.

do you have an example of a certain road that this happens on?

troutman · 06-04-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enthused

One of my favourite things about Amsterdam was how bike-friendly it was. Everyone bikes there, even pregnant ladies who carry three children with them on their bike. There's big bike lanes, and really, it seems as though bikes rule the road. Definitely a cyclist's dream!

Amsterdam is wacky. They have a parkade downtown, only for bikes. No one rides a bike worth more than $10, because the druggies are always stealing them.

enthused · 06-04-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Amsterdam is wacky. They have a parkade downtown, only for bikes. No one rides a bike worth more than $10, because the druggies are always stealing them.

True, but their $10 bikes are way sweeter than half the bikes here. Or at least in my mind, but that's because I like cruiser style bikes.

fredr123 · 06-04-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by habernac

do you have an example of a certain road that this happens on?

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.

Dion · 06-04-2008, 11:01 AM

China is bike friendly also.

WhiteTom · 06-04-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

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.

Don't feel bad, I'm the same way. I hate passing bikes if it doesn't feel safe to me, and I can always feel the eyes of the people behind me boring into my skull with hate.

Top Shelf · 06-04-2008, 11:04 AM

Cyclists piss me off at least a few times a week. I don't understand why some cyclists think they can alternate between being a pedestrian and a vehicle? Just yesterday I was turning left at a light, in the left turning lane. This god damn cyclist decides they are going to make there own left turning lane beside me! Like Christ, who does that?

If you want the same rights as vehicles on the road, follow the same god damn rules!

Dion · 06-04-2008, 11:08 AM

My experiences with motorists on the road has not been good. It got to a point where i was tired of being run off the road or having to bail out on some boulevard to avoid serious injuries, that i stuck to bike paths only.

Now that i live in a small town i don't have to deal with those type of motorists. Nobody in a hurry to get somewhere fast.

Traditional_Ale · 06-04-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Cyclists piss me off at least a few times a week. I don't understand why some cyclists think they can alternate between being a pedestrian and a vehicle? Just yesterday I was turning left at a light, in the left turning lane. This god damn cyclist decides they are going to make there own left turning lane beside me! Like Christ, who does that?

If you want the same rights as vehicles on the road, follow the same god damn rules!

Agreed. Its very important for cyclists to obey the rules!

Also, despite the winding paths, I can make it from Marda Loop to McKenzie Towne in under an hour.