Bicyclists suck!

[driveway]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

That's a rather simplistic way of thinking. Just because things are worse elsewhere doesn't mean that they can't be improved here.

I see your logic and raise you the Law of Diminishing Returns. Obedience to traffic laws in Calgary is so close to perfect that any increase towards actual perfection would require an utterly disproportionate amount of 'work.' In this case, ridiculous expenditure on enforcement and education campaigns. It is simply not worth the effort.

[MarchHare]

Obedience to traffic laws in Calgary is so close to perfect

Trololol.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

In truth, besides people being oblivious when they choose to open their car doors, I've only had one driver pull a dink move, which was driving about 6 inches beside me when there was a lot of slush and snow on the ground.

I've gone down twice commuting, once was from frozen slush that rendered my front tire an icy puck, and once was from a puddle. Well more specifically me trying to go all x-games on a puddle.

The city really needs to crack down on water. Fact: Water kills more people than gun shots every year. Think about it.

Not in Edmonton.

[Resolute 14]

New York cyclist hit with $1500 in fines for running red lights:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/..._but_1500.html

Plenty of "wah wah wah, we want the same rights but we don't want the same consequences" derp in that article too.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

In truth, besides people being oblivious when they choose to open their car doors, I've only had one driver pull a dink move, which was driving about 6 inches beside me when there was a lot of slush and snow on the ground.

I've gone down twice commuting, once was from frozen slush that rendered my front tire an icy puck, and once was from a puddle. Well more specifically me trying to go all x-games on a puddle.

The city really needs to crack down on water. Fact: Water kills more people than gun shots every year. Think about it.

I've ridden over 8 years and more than 20,000 km so I've had a few more incidents. I've been hit by a car once (he didn't check at all before switching to my lane), no damage to me, luckily. His plastic bumper hit my foot and broke. I've had people rev up their motors behind me when the lane is clear to pass. I've been buzzed countless times by dicks who don't bother to change lanes to pass me. I had the mirror of a Mini clip me.


The majority of my wipeouts have been black ice related, although I did slam in the rain once on a corner. Road rash sucks. Slid out on some sand once as well.

[Barnet Flame]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14610857

I'm hoping the critical mass cycling is gaining leads to some safety improvements, but I'm not holding my breath, though I'm sure that some of you car drivers would hope that I would.

[Dion]

Study: Cyclists Ignore Traffic Laws, Surprising No One (Again)

A recently-released study [pdf] conducted by Hunter College students posits that—are you sitting down?—"a large number of cyclists routinely disobey many traffic laws." But wait, didn't these Hunter kids already alert the public to the scourge of cyclist scofflaws back in November? Indeed, they did, but according to City Room this new report is "a rigorous and scientific version" of the previous observational study, which monitored 3,000 cyclists chosen at random at 69 locations. The new version used a wider sampling compiled of 5,275 observations of riders at 45 randomly generated intersections across Midtown from First to 10th Avenues and 14th to 59th Streets. According to the study:

• 37% of the cyclists observed blew through red lights
• 28.7% of riders paused and then ran the light.
• 10% rode against traffic
• Only 29.8% of the riders wore helmets.
• 91 percent of the riders observed were male.
• 3.7% of the cyclists were observed riding on
  sidewalks.
• 29.3% did not use the designated lane when there was one.

http://gothamist.com/2009/05/19/stud...affic_laws.php

[MarchHare]

3.7% of the cyclists were observed riding on sidewalks.

Most of the other stats don't surprise me, but I'm shocked -- shocked -- this one is so low. From my anecdotal observations in central Calgary (downtown, Beltline, Kensington, etc.), the number of cyclists illegally riding on sidewalks seems to be about 33%.

[Coys1882]

I can't believe this thread has hit 8 pages. The same stuff keeps getting repeated over and over.

• some cyclists are a-holes

• some drivers are a-holes

• we shouldn't judge either majority by the actions of the minority

• because of our lack of infrastructure and education, the relationship between cyclists and drivers has been allowed to fester.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

I can't believe this thread has hit 8 pages. The same stuff keeps getting repeated over and over.

• some cyclists are a-holes

• some drivers are a-holes

• we shouldn't judge either majority by the actions of the minority

• because of our lack of infrastructure and education, the relationship between cyclists and drivers has been allowed to fester.

I don't disagree with this but the numbers above (and most anecdotal experience) seems to show the portion actively ignoring traffic laws is certainly not a minority.

Flip side, I wonder what the reaction would be if cars and motorcycles were running red lights 2/3 of the time or driving wrong way down a one way street 10% of the time (at least this is theoretically a "minority.")

Personally I also cringe when you read about a traffic fatality that describes the individual not wearing a seatbelt. 70% of riders without a helmet seems to be a lot of people asking for trouble right off the bat.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

New York cyclist hit with $1500 in fines for running red lights:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/..._but_1500.html

Plenty of "wah wah wah, we want the same rights but we don't want the same consequences" derp in that article too.

You know what? Good! There dont seem to be any consequences for Cyclists. They dont have insurance and they dont need licenses, so anyone could be out there, but there should be consequences for not adhereing to the traffic laws.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

New York cyclist hit with $1500 in fines for running red lights:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/..._but_1500.html

Plenty of "wah wah wah, we want the same rights but we don't want the same consequences" derp in that article too.

I will give this guy one thing, the enforcement of traffic laws in NYC is pretty much impossible to predict, be it for cars, bikes or pedestrians. Speed limits don't really exist, it's apparently 30 but most people don't even know that, any manner of lane changing laws etc. and related signalling is completely non-existant, the list goes on and on. It seems that the NYPD will jump on a particular issue for a couple of weeks and then go back to not enforcing it when they switch to a new focus. Generally the 'I know it's against the law but that's what everyone does' excuse is pretty weak, but with the way things work here it's a legitimate complaint.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

In truth, besides people being oblivious when they choose to open their car doors, I've only had one driver pull a dink move, which was driving about 6 inches beside me when there was a lot of slush and snow on the ground.

I've gone down twice commuting, once was from frozen slush that rendered my front tire an icy puck, and once was from a puddle. Well more specifically me trying to go all x-games on a puddle.

The city really needs to crack down on water. Fact: Water kills more people than gun shots every year. Think about it.

You know what else is a really dink-esque thing to do? Riding your bike in the winter. It's like a living, breathing advert for natural selection.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

You know what else is a really dink-esque thing to do? Riding your bike in the winter. It's like a living, breathing advert for natural selection.

What?

Riding my bike in the winter makes me a dink?

Because it's all of -10 out most days I'll likely die?

Ridiculous post.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

What?

Riding my bike in the winter makes me a dink?

Because it's all of -10 out most days I'll likely die?

Ridiculous post.

If it makes you feel any better, me thinking you're a dink has absolutely nothing to do with you riding your bike in the winter.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

What?

Riding my bike in the winter makes me a dink?

Because it's all of -10 out most days I'll likely die?

Ridiculous post.

But hey, I bet he has winter tires, obeys all posted traffic laws, basically a perfect driver.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Riding my bike in the winter makes me a dink?

Because it's all of -10 out most days I'll likely die?

Ridiculous post.

You don't see how riding a bicycle in the icy, slippery conditions of winter could make someone perceive you to be missing a few bolts?

Originally Posted by habernac

But hey, I bet he has winter tires, obeys all posted traffic laws, basically a perfect driver.

Right, 'cause that's relevant.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by habernac

But hey, I bet he has winter tires, obeys all posted traffic laws, basically a perfect driver.

The number of red herrings introduced in this thread to excuse behaviour is pretty astounding.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

You don't see how riding a bicycle in the icy, slippery conditions of winter could make someone perceive you to be missing a few bolts?
Right, 'cause that's relevant.

No. I don't.

I ride on studded tires in the winter. My grip on sheer ice is roughly equivalent to riding on a dusty road.

I guarantee you that my stopping distances are shorter.

So go F yourself.

See. I am a dink, but as stated earlier, it has nothing to do with riding my bike.

[MoneyGuy]

I'd best get this in before this thread is locked.

I like bike riders, especially those who ride 12 months a year (as long as they're obeying the laws and not being a nuisance to motorists and pedestrians). Ridinng a bike is far better than driving a car in some situations and I admire those who do it year-round. Keep riding, but be a safe, courteous, careful rider.