Bicyclists suck!

[robocop]

Originally Posted by Locke

You sound like you are actually the very definition of the problem that exists between cyclists and motorists and the exact reason why it cant be fixed, because cyclists have their laundry of list of demands and refuse to change until they've been met. As long as that continues there will continue to be more cyclist injuries and fatalities.

I tried for a long time to ride my bike within the normal road standards, but there are a select few among the population that are not mentally well. I'm going to be entitled, I'm going to run through stop signs because of these mentally ill people who have purposefully tried to knock me off my bike while completely obeying the rules of the road. I put my life and safety over the feelings of motorists. My laundry list of demands is that nobody looks me in the eye and runs through a red light to hit me (these things have happened more than once to me), when people stop doing crazy #### like that, I'll obey the laws. I stopped at a stop sign in the middle of my lane and some guy who wanted to turn right pushed my bike with his car, so too bad, I could care less how much I piss people off, I'm not putting myself in harms way any more.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Well, I clicked it and got the jest of it. No, I did not watch the entire thing that closely.

Anyway, let's move on. I don't think Fotze was posting it because he likes running down people on bikes.

Ah, so you did see humor in it?

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is the crux of the problem, cyclists are apparently operating on a different 'plane of safety' which is a huge load of crap.

I drive by a three way stop every day, and if theres a cylist coming what are they going to do? What?

I've seen it all, most of the time they just blow right through it like it isnt even there, sometimes they even have the courtesy to hop the curb and ride on the sidewalk, through the crosswalk and then hop the curb back onto the road on the other side.

Talk about obeying laws when its convenient.

But never have I seen one stop. Because of the 'reality of being on a bike?' Do they not come equipped with brakes?

The problem with cyclists is because of this picking and choosing about obeying traffic laws they become unpredictable, and thats dangerous for everyone. Granted, moreso for the guy using spandex and lycra as 'safety devices.'

You want cars to move into the other lane when passing a bike on the road as they're a vehicle like any other? Great, then they cant just go straight to front of traffic at a red light any more than someone could drive their car on the curb all to the way to the front of an imaginary lane thats just for them, and then force all the cars to have to pass his slow ass. Again.

This 'reality of being on a bike' crap is wholly disingenuous. 'Its for our safety, we have to watch out for ourselves so we dont get killed by cars.'

It wouldnt be a problem if you followed the rules and were predictable. Its the wild running of traffic signs and jumping in and out of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian thats dangerous.

This whole 'we have to do whatever it takes to maintain our safety because cars dont watch out for us, woe are we' attitide....thats the problem, not the solution.

Follow the rules and you get run over. Sad fact!

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by robocop

I tried for a long time to ride my bike within the normal road standards, but there are a select few among the population that are not mentally well. I'm going to be entitled, I'm going to run through stop signs because of these mentally ill people who have purposefully tried to knock me off my bike while completely obeying the rules of the road. I put my life and safety over the feelings of motorists. My laundry list of demands is that nobody looks me in the eye and runs through a red light to hit me (these things have happened more than once to me), when people stop doing crazy #### like that, I'll obey the laws. I stopped at a stop sign in the middle of my lane and some guy who wanted to turn right pushed my bike with his car, so too bad, I could care less how much I piss people off, I'm not putting myself in harms way any more.

Do you apply this philosophy to other areas of your life too, or just cycling? To take this to its logical (and hyperbolic, over-the-top ) conclusion, there are a select few among the population who are not mentally well and become murderers. Because they don't follow the laws of society, why should you?

[robocop]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Do you apply this philosophy to other areas of your life too, or just cycling? To take this to its logical (and hyperbolic, over-the-top ) conclusion, there are a select few among the population who are not mentally well and become murderers. Because they don't follow the laws of society, why should you?

well this is just plain stupid. People have purposefully put my life in danger, I don't do the same. If I'm on the sidewalk because the road in question is extremely dangerous I'll get off my bike and walk around pedestrians, and I'm not being hyperbolic, people have tried to hit me on purpose multiple times (and succeeded once) for no reason other than that I was on the road. Some people are just further along the stages of moral development than others

[OilKiller]

This is getting good...

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is the crux of the problem, cyclists are apparently operating on a different 'plane of safety' which is a huge load of crap.

I drive by a three way stop every day, and if theres a cylist coming what are they going to do? What?

I've seen it all, most of the time they just blow right through it like it isnt even there, sometimes they even have the courtesy to hop the curb and ride on the sidewalk, through the crosswalk and then hop the curb back onto the road on the other side.

Talk about obeying laws when its convenient.

But never have I seen one stop. Because of the 'reality of being on a bike?' Do they not come equipped with brakes?

The problem with cyclists is because of this picking and choosing about obeying traffic laws they become unpredictable, and thats dangerous for everyone. Granted, moreso for the guy using spandex and lycra as 'safety devices.'

You want cars to move into the other lane when passing a bike on the road as they're a vehicle like any other? Great, then they cant just go straight to front of traffic at a red light any more than someone could drive their car on the curb all to the way to the front of an imaginary lane thats just for them, and then force all the cars to have to pass his slow ass. Again.

This 'reality of being on a bike' crap is wholly disingenuous. 'Its for our safety, we have to watch out for ourselves so we dont get killed by cars.'

It wouldnt be a problem if you followed the rules and were predictable. Its the wild running of traffic signs and jumping in and out of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian thats dangerous.

This whole 'we have to do whatever it takes to maintain our safety because cars dont watch out for us, woe are we' attitide....thats the problem, not the solution.

Come out to Canmore in about a half an hour and you will see me stop at all the 4 way stops on Three Sisters Parkway. I stop everytime a sign or light tells me to on a bike or in a car, it's the same deal. Many cyclists obey the rules of the road. It's funny, I've been beeped at many times actually for stopping completely at a 4 way stop, because it then takes me a while to speed back up through the intersection.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Tell your friend that if he's in that video, I think he's an a$$hole.

I know those guys think their Kevin Bacon in Quicksilver but they could have seriously hurt a pedestrian. If those guys blew by me like that while I was crossing a street and I had my kids with me - I'd be pissed. I could see a foot coming out and kicking a back wheel pretty easily.

Yeah, completely agree. Honestly you get sort of immune to it here, the general street chaos will do that, but these guys take it to another level.

[Yakbutter]

Pylon can't respond to you because he is blowing through stop signs, cutting off cars while blasting this on this headphones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GugsCdLHm-Q

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Why should a city like Calgary where biking season lasts 4-5 months spend a single dime on bike lanes? Investing said cash in transit or sidewalk maintenance makes more sense.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

Why should a city like Calgary where biking season lasts 4-5 months spend a single dime on bike lanes? Investing said cash in transit or sidewalk maintenance makes more sense.

I agree.
The only solutions we should consider are perfect ones!

[BurningYears]

^Damnit! Why am I out of thanks! Guess its a sign I need to go get on my bike and blow through some stop signs on my way home.

[MelBridgeman]

They also ignore ctrain lights and guard rails and get killed

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

I agree.
The only solutions we should consider are perfect ones!

I wouldn't call Calgary Transit perfect, but more funding for CT is a much better solution than bike lanes.

[robocop]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

I wouldn't call Calgary Transit perfect, but more funding for CT is a much better solution than bike lanes.

I agree with this so much. The CT problems are a substantial problem for the quality of life of many people in the city, the lack of bike lanes are a minor inconvenience in comparison.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Holy **** Locke, That was epic! I literally did a little fist pump when I got to the end.

Hahaha I thought I was the only one.

[OILFAN #81]

I agree with the thread title. Bicyclists suck, never been a fan. Good thing at least here in San Jose is that about 70% of the city has bike lanes.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

Why should a city like Calgary where biking season lasts 4-5 months spend a single dime on bike lanes? Investing said cash in transit or sidewalk maintenance makes more sense.

The biggest reason most people don't ride their bikes to work is fear for their lives.

The reason most people put their bike away for the winter is also fear for their lives, not because it's too cold.

I ride year round because my ride is 90% pathway, which the city actually does a really good job of clearing. Riding on the roads with cars, ice, slush is really quite scary. If there were cleared bike lanes, I suspect year round ridership would increase significantly.

Chicken/egg, but I firmly believe cycling numbers are stalled by our current infrastructure and improving it would pay off in less cars on the road.

[normtwofinger]

I'm all for riding-your-bike to help the environment and all, but that doesn't mean that you have to ride like a dbag. Obey all lights and signs. Ride on the road, not the sidewalk. And if you are the jerk who spit on my car while I was trying to turn south on to 14st from Memorial, F you. Not my fault you are riding on the sidewalk and can't get through the crosswalk. That spandex is really suits you. Go back to France.

[MRCboicgy]

I've never seen a single cyclist stop at the 4-way by my place in 4 years living here.