Open Letter to Cyclists.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Not enough to "co-own" the roads.

Hippie.

damn right we do. If you're too dumb to know how to change lanes and pass a slowr moving vehicle, maybe you need to give up the driver's license and get a bus pass.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by habernac

damn right we do. If you're too dumb to know how to change lanes and pass a slowr moving vehicle, maybe you need to give up the driver's license and get a bus pass.

I can understand that 15-20km/hr does not equal 60km/hr. Especially during rush hour. Bikes should be limited to strictly 50km/hr zones (if that). If you're too dumb to see how you are holding up traffic for 3-4,000 commuters than maybe you should give up the bike for a bus pass.

[Hakan]

If anything, motorists pay less of their share of the roads. Roads are highly subsidized by ALL taxpayers for car drivers. You actually own LESS of the road as I do as a cyclist because I use and abuse it way less frequently.

So kindly get off your stupid high horse and learn to share.

[habernac]

yes, because so many bicycles are encountered on Macleod Trail.

While you're at it, we'd better ban those throngs of lawn mowers, backhoes and other slow moving vehicles you might encounter on the roadways because they'll inconvenience impatient fools like yourself.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Not enough to "co-own" the roads.

Hippie.

You have to be ing kidding me? First, I wouldn't classify myself as a hippie because I choose not to drive a car and rather get exercise in the mornings and after work.... but whatever you feel helps you get your point across.

Also in the Winter I drive a car, if I am going on long trips, I will drive my car so I do pay the gas tax, just because in the summer it isn't my primary mode of transportation (whenever I can help it that is), it doesn't mean I don't contribute to OUR road systems.

Get over yourself, the guy who rides a bike should be commended and not scorned, especially for some of the reasons given here, if they are an issue to public safety, including their own, that is one thing, but because a rider slows down your commute by a couple minutes over the course of the day, when it already takes hours is a pretty foolish.... if traffic is at a standstill a cyclist should be able to take advantage of the smaller size of the vehicle and make their way to the front of traffic if they stay to the shoulder of the road.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

You have to be ing kidding me? First, I wouldn't classify myself as a hippie because I choose not to drive a car and rather get exercise in the mornings and after work.... but whatever you feel helps you get your point across.

Also in the Winter I drive a car, if I am going on long trips, I will drive my car so I do pay the gas tax, just because in the summer it isn't my primary mode of transportation (whenever I can help it that is), it doesn't mean I don't contribute to OUR road systems.

Get over yourself, the guy who rides a bike should be commended and not scorned, especially for some of the reasons given here, if they are an issue to public safety, including their own, that is one thing, but because a rider slows down your commute by a couple minutes over the course of the day, when it already takes hours is a pretty foolish.... if traffic is at a standstill a cyclist should be able to take advantage of the smaller size of the vehicle and make their way to the front of traffic if they stay to the shoulder of the road.

Shouldnt a motorcycle be allowed to do that too??

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I can understand that 15-20km/hr does not equal 60km/hr. Especially during rush hour. Bikes should be limited to strictly 50km/hr zones (if that). If you're too dumb to see how you are holding up traffic for 3-4,000 commuters than maybe you should give up the bike for a bus pass.

When I head downtown I will take Shaganappi and Memorial, I keep up a pretty good pace all things considered.... and I really don't think I have ever really held up traffic for a long period of time, not enough for someone to get as upset as you are over this.... Calling someone dumb because they ride a bike makes me wonder if you have a leak in your exhaust and the fumes are getting to your head.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by habernac

yes, because so many bicycles are encountered on Macleod Trail.

While you're at it, we'd better ban those throngs of lawn mowers, backhoes and other slow moving vehicles you might encounter on the roadways because they'll inconvenience impatient fools like yourself.

SOLD.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Shouldnt a motorcycle be allowed to do that too??

A bike is much smaller and much more maneuverable than your average motorcycle in my experiences at least.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Hakan

If anything, motorists pay less of their share of the roads. Roads are highly subsidized by ALL taxpayers for car drivers. You actually own LESS of the road as I do as a cyclist because I use and abuse it way less frequently.So kindly get off your stupid high horse and learn to share.

I have no problems with figuring out a way to make the morning commute better for cyclists and motorists alike. I don't honk as I pass a bike or try to pass them in the same lane they're in or yell out my window at them. I just think it's stupid that a single cyclist can plug a lane of traffic for a significant amount of time on one of our major arteries into the downtown core during rush hour. And then complain that they got honked at later on?

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by habernac

yes, because so many bicycles are encountered on Macleod Trail.

While you're at it, we'd better ban those throngs of lawn mowers, backhoes and other slow moving vehicles you might encounter on the roadways because they'll inconvenience impatient fools like yourself.

I encounter a cyclist on MacLeod Trail during my morning commute at least once a week. And I only work downtown four days a week.

PS: Name calling? Get real.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

A bike is much smaller and much more maneuverable than your average motorcycle in my experiences at least.

Both will fit between lines of cars. The point I'm making, if you want to be considered a vehicle, play by the rules. IMO cycling in a lane then switching to a shoulder is the same as driving a car/motocycle in a lane then switching to the shoulder when traffic stacks up.

[Hakan]

I agree Rhettzky. It's a failure in city planning to be honest.

All too often cars dominate planning divisions because of path dependency and the advocacy of powerful groups in city hall. For example, city engineering has the highest budget of any department and the most powerful union. They use this influence to divert most of the municipal money into road maintenance feeding the cycle into itself.

It takes a brave city politician to re-orient planning priorities away from the automobile or an electorate that vocal and strong enough to make more bikeways in urban commuter zones. Sadly Calgary lacks both of these ingredients.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I encounter a cyclist on MacLeod Trail during my morning commute at least once a week. And I only work downtown four days a week.

PS: Name calling? Get real.

So you see one person, once a week.... sounds like an epidemic on MacLeod.

PS: Hippie? Get real.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I can understand that 15-20km/hr does not equal 60km/hr. Especially during rush hour. Bikes should be limited to strictly 50km/hr zones (if that). If you're too dumb to see how you are holding up traffic for 3-4,000 commuters than maybe you should give up the bike for a bus pass.

Too dumb?

Speaking of name calling

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

When I head downtown I will take Shaganappi and Memorial, I keep up a pretty good pace all things considered.... and I really don't think I have ever really held up traffic for a long period of time, not enough for someone to get as upset as you are over this.... Calling someone dumb because they ride a bike makes me wonder if you have a leak in your exhaust and the fumes are getting to your head.

See that's not bad, Shag and Memorial are a lot more accommodating. My beef is with MacLeod that has no shoulders. So it creates a bottle-neck situation.

And read the post I quoted regarding the 'dumb' comment. I was just shadowing his wording.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Dion

Too dumb?

Speaking of name calling

See above.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Both will fit between lines of cars. The point I'm making, if you want to be considered a vehicle, play by the rules. IMO cycling in a lane then switching to a shoulder is the same as driving a car/motocycle in a lane then switching to the shoulder when traffic stacks up.

I generally stay to the shoulder and don't take up a full lane to myself, so should I be able to move ahead during traffic then, I guess I don't play by any rules then.

But if memory serves me correct there was a study done in California that showed traffic moved faster when motorcyclists and cyclists moved to the front during traffic jams.

[habernac]

Shag and Memorial have shoulders?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by habernac

Shag and Memorial have shoulders?

I guess shoulders is a strong word to use but I generally try and keep to the right side of the road and often times that isn't enough for the demands of Calgary drivers. I try and stick off the major roads like Crowchild and John Laurie because people just don't pay attention to anything beyond their radio, cell phone and makeup and when there are more cars that increases my liklihood of getting hit...

[enthused]

It's truly amazing how backwards people in Calgary are.

I'm not quite sure how wanting to get a little exercise and fresh air by biking to work every day makes someone a hippie. And even if it does, what difference does that make? This city could certainly use more people who are concerned about the environment, as opposed to the gas hogs who seem to be in abundance.

Now I'm not saying that cyclists are perfect, I know that we make a lot of dumb mistakes and may be a pain to drivers, however drivers are far from innocent. You don't own the roads in any way, so please, SHARE. And really, having to go around a cyclist... will that really derail your commute significantly?

If you're so peeved, as a driver, when you encounter other people on the road, maybe you should consider ulterior means of transportation.