Crazy Bicyclists

[keysguy]

The sad fact is that this behavior is happening all over. it's the "I'm doing what I want because I'm special" mentality that so any people have these days. The State of Florida has paid millions of dollars to put in a bike path next to US1 in the Florida Keys. Sadly lots of these bike riders refuse to use it putting themselves in danger. I've asked several of them why and the response is always been "because it's legal for us to ride on the road" Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's smart. They've even told me "If you hit me I'll own everything you have". It's an amazing attitude.

On the plus side we were recently in Napa and Sonoma Counties in California. The bicyclists in these areas were MUCH more road friendly. We only wished the ones in our area were as road smart and obeyed the laws as those we encounters there.

Keysguy

[1olddude]

Too many Lance Armstrong wanna be's! They still should obey the traffic laws. I ride a road bike 200 miles a week and I ride like I drive. Stop at lights and signs, yield when it's posted, and I only ride on wide roads. Knock on wood I haven't been run over yet.

[jesseborgelt]

I see this attitude with drivers as well. Our society is incapable of making a mistake and owning up to it. For example, I can recall many times someone pulled out in front of me while driving. I honk and then the other driver returns with the finger. The other driver gets mad that we pointed out they made a mistake.

[MNICEBOX]

This thread hits a bit close to home. I've been a competitive cyclist for over 20 years- was just hit by a car (again) - my third time, a few months ago. All were due to distracted or inattentive drivers. This time, I was traveling on the right side of the road (the correct side) of a lightly used access road. No other traffic around. He was traveling towards me and turned left into a building parking lot , right across my path. Big hit. I came out of my pedals, hit the passenger side hood of his car, rolled over it and ended up on the ground on the driver side. He said he never saw me- me with a bright red/white bike and brightly colored kit. Guy must have been day dreaming. In his defense, he was very, very apologetic (I was livid). Got pretty banged up , but nothing serious, luckily. Bike was toast- got a new bike and $2,500 from his insurance company for my trouble.

I will admit, I have run stop signs (slowly) a few times, but ONLY in rural (farmland) areas on lightly traveled roads and ONLY where I have a good view of traffic in all 4 directions to ensure no other vehicles are around. For you cyclists, it a momemtum thing, which I'm sure you get. In urban areas however, you have to be an idiot or have a death wish to engage in this kind of stupid behavior.

On my urban routes, I've seen many examples of bad cycling behavior and it always pains me as it reflects poorly on all cyclists and the sport in general. I've seen examples of drivers who were pissed off just due my presence on the road. I wonder sometimes whether some stupid ass cyclist did something to give the driver a permanent anti-cycling hard on . On balance though, in my experience, drivers seem to bear the majority of the blame for much of the car-bike carnage. Bikers can be harder to see and drivers aren't compensating. In fact, most drivers are just plain distracted- texting, reading, cell phones, eating, shaving, applying makeup, you name it- cars are a rolling personal improvement and entertainment appliance these days. Other auto drivers need to beware, but us poor cyclists just don't stand a chance. The only future bright spot is the emerging deployment of the new auto drive technologies now beginning to hit auto showrooms. In 5 or 10 years most cars will drive themselves and will be much , much smarter and more aware than the 'brain dead boogerheads' who now populate our nation's roads.

Okay, done, Feel better now.

[Joe B]

My pet peeve is when they ride on the sidewalk and then charge into the crosswalk at an intersection like they expect you to stop for them. I do stop for pedestrians in crosswalks .