This Makes Me Sick to My Stomach Reading This..

Driver is a POS, makes me sick to my stomach when I see crap like that. Please be mindful of pedestrian and cyclist.
 
RedSectorA said:
Driver is a POS, makes me sick to my stomach when I see crap like that. Please be mindful of pedestrian and cyclist.
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+1

Being a cyclist I hate to admit that I almost hit a rider once. Didn't even see him. People wonder why I wear flashy, loud colored jerseys. That's why, to be seen.
 
I am curious to how the suspect will be handled. I've heard of so many cases where cyclists are injured but there's no enforcement action taken. :(
 
I would think that this case would be different. Most times when a cyclist is hit he/she is left by the side of the road. This prick actually drove back to his apartment building with the rider lodged in his rear window, pulled him out and dragged him off to die. Either case is bad enough but this time the driver can't say he didn't know he hit anyone.
 
My neighbor was riding and got hit by a car. The person took off. He got the plate, called the police and they did nothing because there was no witnesses. Thankfully he is ok.

That being said, living in Florida, we see bike riders all day, every day. Most know the rules, but some do not and are asking to get walloped by some unsuspecting old bat (and we've got lots of those here).

I like how some communities are building bike lanes. But let me ask a silly question - why can't bike riders ride on sidewalks like we did when we were kids? It would be safer, no? I'm not a biker - but I would presume it has to do with uber expensive bikes and not wanting to damage them going over curbs and stuff?

Anyway - when I go riding on my Costco special, I ride on the sidewalk. I know there are idiot drivers out there and had a relative killed on a bike.
 
Mike said:
My neighbor was riding and got hit by a car. The person took off. He got the plate, called the police and they did nothing because there was no witnesses. Thankfully he is ok.

That being said, living in Florida, we see bike riders all day, every day. Most know the rules, but some do not and are asking to get walloped by some unsuspecting old bat (and we've got lots of those here).

I like how some communities are building bike lanes. But let me ask a silly question - why can't bike riders ride on sidewalks like we did when we were kids? It would be safer, no? I'm not a biker - but I would presume it has to do with uber expensive bikes and not wanting to damage them going over curbs and stuff?

Anyway - when I go riding on my Costco special, I ride on the sidewalk. I know there are idiot drivers out there and had a relative killed on a bike.
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I've been nearly hit a number of times. Drivers just aren't used to looking out for cyclists, myself included sad to say.

Sidewalks generally aren't an option for several reasons: damage to bikes as you say, but also speed and length. Typically on a bike if you are an enthusiast you can be doing 20+mph, which is dangerous IMO for pedestrians using the sidewalk. And if you are an enthusiast, you are typically out for 25-100 miles for a ride. It's difficult to find sidewalks for that length of ride!

There are certainly yahoo cyclists who believe they are entitled to the road and disobey traffic rules. Those cyclists piss me off as much as the drivers who nearly hit me as drivers generalize and think all cyclists are idiots like them unfortunately. Sigh...

Glad to hear your friend is ok...
 
Makes sense Allen. Thanks for explaining. Not sure my Costco special could go 25mph without coming apart!

Do you think there should be some additional bike friendly laws? Mandatory helmets (they might already be - but I don't think they are in Florida). What about mandatory fluorescent colors (not sure how you would do that)...just an idea. What about cyclist licensing and certification for road use - similar to Motorcycles? And definitely, more advanced automobile driver training for shared road circumstances. I wonder how many of these old bats actually know how to share the road?

Cycling is more popular than ever....it's important to do what we can to ensure safety for all.


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Allen, down here in Texas the bike situation is a mess. The idiots in charge won't put out any money for bike lanes,and we need them bad. The cyclists are driving in packs on 2 lane roads and don't obey traffic laws, everyone is mad as hell. I don't know what the answer is, but anyone who hits a cyclist should be shot.
 
Mike said:
Makes sense Allen. Thanks for explaining. Not sure my Costco special could go 25mph without coming apart!

Do you think there should be some additional bike friendly laws? Mandatory helmets (they might already be - but I don't think they are in Florida). What about mandatory fluorescent colors (not sure how you would do that)...just an idea. What about cyclist licensing and certification for road use - similar to Motorcycles? And definitely, more advanced automobile driver training for shared road circumstances. I wonder how many of these old bats actually know how to share the road?

Cycling is more popular than ever....it's important to do what we can to ensure safety for all.


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MDP said:
Allen, down here in Texas the bike situation is a mess. The idiots in charge won't put out any money for bike lanes,and we need them bad. The cyclists are driving in packs on 2 lane roads and don't obey traffic laws, everyone is mad as hell. I don't know what the answer is, but anyone who hits a cyclist should be shot.
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In many states, cyclists have the right to use the rightmost 3 feet of the road, and vehicles are required to maintain a minimum of 3' to the left of the cyclists. I'm not sure which states have this and which don't, but it's becoming very popular. I'm not sure which states don't have helmets as mandatory, but I believe most are. If you are a real cyclist, you will put on a helmet anyway as you know better. As far as color of clothes, that's a sensitive issue. There are quite a number of cyclists who like the sleek look of all black/dark clothes and insist that drivers need to be on the lookout for them and they will do their best to be visible otherwise. Given all the distracted drivers that are out there, I for one wear fluorescent or red tops so I can easily be seen. I don't want to give a distracted driver any excuses...

Bike lanes would certainly help maintain some sense of civility and separation. But honestly, I think people's sense of entitlement to the road, be it drivers or cyclists, both equally guilty at times, needs to change. Be courteous, be safe IMO, for all involved.:peace:
 
Mike said:
Makes sense Alan. Thanks for explaining. Not sure my Costco special could go 25mph without coming apart!

Do you think there should be some additional bike friendly laws? Mandatory helmets (they might already be - but I don't think they are in Florida). What about mandatory fluorescent colors (not sure how you would do that)...just an idea. What about cyclist licensing and certification for road use - similar to Motorcycles? And definitely, more advanced automobile driver training for shared road circumstances. I wonder how many of these old bats actually know how to share the road?

Cycling is more popular than ever....it's important to do what we can to ensure safety for all.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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Number one problem is that there are too many stimulus in cars nowadays. Radios, cellphone, texting ,emails etc, and we sure don't want to miss anything. Second cars are so well insulated that you feel immune to the outside environment. Lastly so many fail safe system in cars that you can go faster while keeping some form of control. Problem is when something happens you just don't have enough time to react. Just as an example consciously make a full stop at a street corner (where the weight of the car is redistributed evenly - speedometer at 0), nobody do it that way anymore. Interestingly you will have a chance to see kids coming, other cars, cyclist,etc..... And probably be almost rear ended by the car behind you.... My point being that as car drivers we are not atuned to the environment, but a car is as lethal as a gun and nobody realize that.

Many situations where drivers get pissed at cyclist they just were startled by them or don't understand a cyclist does not have an armour around to protect them so they protect themselves by trying to be seen by any mean they can. Things like riding 3 feet away from the curbs to insure that drivers slow down and pull out of the lane instead of squeezing the cyclist between car and curb. By the way it is illegal for a cyclist to ride on sidewalks.

I'm also a car driver and I agree that some cyclist have little will to live. that being said it can be hard at times to have blood flow in your brain when your heart is racing at 180 bpm and your legs are requesting all the blood while telling your brain to stop the hurt. What little blood flow you have in the brain you are using to tell your legs to go faster. You are so concentrated you forget the environment. This is not an excuse but rather what's going on while riding hard.

All of that being said stay a minimum of three feet away from cyclists, pedestrian, runners and be atuned to the environment and all will be good. Remember, being responsible or not in virtue of the law, if you kill or hurt someone you will still have to live with the guilt!
 
Oh Mike, you'd be surprised how fast a Cosco special can go. It's not the bike that goes fast but rather the legs that are pushing the pedals.
 
Don't really have anything to add to what's already been said. We have a few multi-user trails around me that I use to get out to the more rural areas. I hate using them for the reasons that Allen talked about. People walking, running, with dogs, or just plain chatting with someone else and none of them paying attention to what may be coming up behind them. It's a minefield for a cyclist. I usually take up just enough of the road to make drivers know I'm there and will try to get over when they get within passing distance, mainly for my safety. Another reason I don't like riding on sidewalks is the fact that bicyclists actually belong on the road. To me a sidewalk is a pedestrian walkway. I'm not one of these jerks that takes up a whole lane or rides side by side with another making motorists go around. I think that's just elitist BS. I have caused motorists many times to basically drive behind me while I climb a hill since they can't see what's on the other side of the hill. As they safely pass me I always wave to let them know that I appreciate their actions. I guess this is my way of saying thanks and that all cyclists aren't jerks.
 
RedSectorA said:
Oh Mike, you'd be surprised how fast a Cosco special can go. It's not the bike that goes fast but rather the legs that are pushing the pedals.
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If that's the case, I think these old hockey legs might just do ok. :)


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