I think in this case, we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. No, cycle tracks will not mean 100% compliance, but it will improve compliance, and attract more of those riders that will be more inclined to be compliant than current hardcores. It will not inspire everyone to ride, but it will attract a substantial number more. It will not mean everyone would ride all year round, but more would. It will not mean zero impact on other users like drivers, but good design and thoughtful route planning can minimize those impacts. It will not make every cyclist 100% safe, but it will be a hell of a lot safer.
We're not talking hundreds of millions of dollars here - it's 2% of the transportation capital budget, that will affect probably 2% of roads.
It might be only 2% of roads, but the problem is the roads that have been chosen that make up that 2% are heavy vehicle traffic roadways, and the impact on car traffic is huge.
-Their idiotic colored biking gear/wear and funny helmets to top it off. Unless you're practicing for the tour de france, why don't you try staying fit without looking like some "pro" wanna-be while you're at it. I mean sure whatever, do what you want, but it is quite goofy looking tbh. What happened to T-shirts and shorts?
I hate the guys by the zoo who ride there bikes on the road, which is 7 feet from a bike path. If I ran over them they would fall onto the bike path.
I hate that they pass me, then I'm stuck behind them at a stop sign.
other then thank their ok.
Are they cyclists, like with road bike and looking like they are going for a workout? If so, they may be doing that so they don't break the law by going over 20km/hr on the paths.
1. The high visibility colors aren't intended to be a fashion statement and are designed with function and comfort in mind. As for the helmets....they have countless millions of R&D into them.....they're that way for a myriad of reasons including aerodynamics and safety.
2. Have you ever worn a Calgary Flames jersey? Can't help but wonder how many jersey wearing Flames fans have ever suited up at the Saddledome.
Sure, I suppose.
But when I go to play a little ball hockey, I'm not suiting up head to toe in the the ice hockey equipment the Flames play with. Being a spectator/fan is a little bit of a different situation. But I guess there is some comparison. Plus, it doesn't look (by general account of those I've heard from) nearly as ridiculous to those who don't participate.
But regardless, if you're going to get in my way on a daily basis as well as be inducing fits of road rage on many residents of our community by doing your practice marathons with all your other hardcore bikey bike buddy pals, all while dressed like the silver surfer's fabulous twin brother, you're gonna hear it from me, despite what little extra comfort it provides you.
Yes I'm pretty darn ignorant on the subject. But these are one of those things where I just couldn't care not to be. Sorry.
Are they cyclists, like with road bike and looking like they are going for a workout? If so, they may be doing that so they don't break the law by going over 20km/hr on the paths.
Then why the hell do we have the bike path?
Its just upsetting when a guy pops out of your blind corner, your lucky not to have ran him over. and if you had ran him over, he would have fallen onto the bike bath.
Also those guys are not concerned about breaking the side walk laws. They ride their bikes accross the pedestrian protion of the bridge, where there are signs saying cyclists must dissmount, because the bridge is to narrow for them to weave between the cars.
I had a cyclist swearing at me a few days ago. I was driving in a residential neighbourhood and came to a 4-way stop. I made a complete stop at the intersection, then proceeded to go while a cyclist had plans to just blow the stop sign.
I made him have to stop and he was freaking out. He said something like; "Oh, now you decide to go!?". He didn't seem to grasp the idea that it was a stop sign and I wasn't stopping just for him, but because I had to. He also didn't seem to get that cyclists have to stop at stop signs too. He looked pretty pro too.
Not that I hate cyclists at all though, but that guy was an ass.
(And yes, it was a 4-way stop. I double checked after the guy flipped out.)
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Last edited by FlamesAddiction; 08-28-2013 at 07:28 AM.
Not a fan of bike paths on the road or so close to vehicles especially when cars have to go over them to turn right, I really hate it when motorcycles use them during heavy traffic. They make the bike paths, but they arent policed.
Part of the issue is CPS doesn't police cyclists, bike pathways, or bike lanes. Cars are always in the bike lanes, cyclists are on sidewalks. The bridges across the rivers are a 10 km speed limit yet I've seen cyclists do 25 on those. Bike pathways have dogs off leash on them. If people can get away with it, they will continue to.
Yesterday at lunch I saw a white escalade rushing down 11th ave, cutting off two cyclists riding in their lane to pull into the left turning lane, only to be stopped by a parked car. One cyclist had to jam on his brakes and he yelled "WTF?". The driver then honked and swore at the cyclists as they went by because he was in a rush, and now needed back into that lane because he couldn't get by the parked car. He will go back to work complaining about the cyclists, while the whole time it was his fault.
I also saw two cyclists riding on the sidewalk and one girl on a bike riding between sidewalk and street. So I guess, 3 bad cyclists, 2 good cyclists and one bad driver.
Part of the issue is CPS doesn't police cyclists, bike pathways, or bike lanes. Cars are always in the bike lanes, cyclists are on sidewalks. The bridges across the rivers are a 10 km speed limit yet I've seen cyclists do 25 on those. Bike pathways have dogs off leash on them. If people can get away with it, they will continue to.
Yesterday at lunch I saw a white escalade rushing down 11th ave, cutting off two cyclists riding in their lane to pull into the left turning lane, only to be stopped by a parked car. One cyclist had to jam on his brakes and he yelled "WTF?". The driver then honked and swore at the cyclists as they went by because he was in a rush, and now needed back into that lane because he couldn't get by the parked car. He will go back to work complaining about the cyclists, while the whole time it was his fault.
I also saw two cyclists riding on the sidewalk and one girl on a bike riding between sidewalk and street. So I guess, 3 bad cyclists, 2 good cyclists and one bad driver.
And a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeeee.
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I really love the idea of riding my bike to work. Actually, I would prefer to just rollerblade since that is a "better" workout for hockey. As it is, I just walk in since it isn't really that far (25-30 minutes).
When I am driving though, I am really noticing two different types of cyclists in the city:
- There are the serious ones that are flying down the street and really, with them the only concern I have is if they get into my blind spot.
- Then there are the casual cyclists that are on a crappy bike that they likley bought a month ago, they look like they might fall down at any moment and they are barely going 20 km/h.
The second group of cyclists terrifies me and makes me wish that cyclists were kept off the road altogether. When I am in my car I feel like I can never give them enough room to swerve and weave around in the lane. They always look off balance!
I get a huge sense of relief when I can finally get past them but then if they do catch up to me in a red light I have to go through the whole process of getting around them again and hoping they don't freak out, flail and then fall under my tires. Its stressful for me, I imagine they are not having fun either and it just feels like a bad idea all around.
When I got a phone survey from AMA about cyclists and the roads I had to form an opinion about the whole topic to give to them for the survey. The jist of it is that I would prefer to see a whole set of infrastructure set up just for bikes to keep them away from both the cars and the pedestrians. I also felt that the cyclists should be policed a bit more to ensure that they are wearing the proper gear and, if they are on the road with cars, they are on a bike that is built to go the speed limit and not some single gear cruiser with a pink basket on the front.
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I dunno, the only real moron is the guy on the bike IMO. I guess the guy crossing should be looking both ways just in case, but you really don't expect some doofus to be riding his bike on the wrong side of the road.
As a cyclist, or a pedestrian for that matter, I really just wish I was invisible to cars. Every one is just too damn courteous! In a perfect world I would just go about my business accepting the risks of my actions. Cars are big - it's pretty easy to not get hit by them!
As a motorist, like Wolven, the sketchy cyclists are the ones to worry about. When I recognize a competent cyclist I just ignore them and every one seems to get along just fine!
In conclusion if everyone behaved like I do the world would be a better place!
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I dunno, the only real moron is the guy on the bike IMO. I guess the guy crossing should be looking both ways just in case, but you really don't expect some doofus to be riding his bike on the wrong side of the road.
And you don't expect some doofus to just jump out into traffic like that.
They are both equally at fault. Luckily no injuries. I had to laugh at how they both just so calmly accepted fault and went on they own ways.
