real shaman: when bicycles are taxed then they'll have a right to the road. Until then, stay out of my way....

Uh, they are. Sales tax and income tax (cyclist). Most cyclists are also drivers, so they pay for their car registration too.

/lots of gasoline powered toughguys on this threat, as usual.
//love how motorcyclist moan an whine on similar theads - suck it up sweethearts.

Ball of Confusion: /plus there's always cops watching my loud car so I have to be extra careful.

I lolled.

The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: doubled99: It's what 99% of the civilized world fat, lazy Americans uses to get around

ftfy

/Europe must not be part of civilization

I don't know if you are aware of this, but most American cities were built with automobile travel as a given. Most European cities were built way back when walking place to place could accomplish daily needs. You need a car in most American cities because everything is so damn far apart and the public transportation for the most part is awful (outside large cities).

It's a fundamental design flaw, but laziness isn't a large factor relatively.

:-)

zarberg: Ball of Confusion: you sound like one of those jackass road bike riders that wants everyone else to follow the rules of the road, but blatantly ignores every single traffic control device encountered.

He may very well be one of those jackass road bike riders.

But then you sound like one of those overly aggressive drivers filled to the brim with self-entitlement and overconfidence who judges a group of people based on a few bad examples.

The problem is that there aren't just a few. Around here it seems to be the Majority, and these farktards seem to always wanna ride during the heaviest traffic times.

zarberg 2010-09-01 12:21:27 PM

doubled99: He may very well be one of those jackass road bike riders.

But then you sound like one of those overly aggressive drivers filled to the brim with self-entitlement and overconfidence who judges a group of people based on a few bad examples



You just sound like an annoying coont.

Thanks for reinforcing my statement!



You had already negated your own point, but you're welcome.

real shaman: when bicycles are taxed then they'll have a right to the road. Until then, stay out of my way....

Bicycles create almost no wear and tear on roads. Ever notice how much smother bike trails are than roads? We don't cause the damage, why should we pay for it?

If no cars were on the road, road maintenance costs would be almost nonexistent.

The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: It's absurd. So, you have to slow your hermetically sealed rolling bubble for a minute. You're still going to get where you're going about ten times faster than the cyclist. You will do that while wasting tons of resources, polluting, and becoming more and more fat and out of shape.

I could make the same argument about cyclists v. pedestrians.

Who I envision The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions to be.

monkybunney: The problem is that there aren't just a few. Around here it seems to be the Majority, and these farktards seem to always wanna ride during the heaviest traffic times.

Then contact your local police department and ask them to enforce traffic laws on cyclists too. I've talked to my mayor and other town officials about problems with cyclists around here and they're actually spending money to put in new bike lanes.

stainedglassdoll: Curious, is this a regional thing? I've never seen such a sign while driving on the highway, only speed limit signs, yet I don't see bicyclists riding on the highway, nor can I imagine it's safe or legal for them to do so. What's the rule?

It is somewhat regional, but in most states (there are exceptions out west) riding a bike on an Interstate or similarly-designed limited access highway is illegal.

Which sucks, because they tend to have nice wide shoulders and go where you want to go.

Ok, now with a citation:

A 2003 Federation Highway Administration study found that 94% of federal roadway funding came from fuel taxes, 86.3% of state roadway funding came from fuel taxes, and 11.1% of local roadway funding came from fuel taxes. The study also found that altogether in the U.S., 69.6% of roadway funding ($79.6 billion) came from fuel taxes and 30.1% ($33.4 billion) from other funding sources. The other funding sources are most typically general tax revenue.

Highway Statistics 2002, Federal Highway Administration (www.fhwa.dot.gov), 2003, summarized by Todd Litman, Whose Roads?, Victoria Transport Policy Institute 30 November, 2004, http://www.vtpi.org/whoserd.pdf

So there you have it. The roads cyclists actually ride on are mostly funded by general revenue. The argument that cyclists shouldn't use roads because they don't pay for them is entirely false.

This text is now purple: The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: It's absurd. So, you have to slow your hermetically sealed rolling bubble for a minute. You're still going to get where you're going about ten times faster than the cyclist. You will do that while wasting tons of resources, polluting, and becoming more and more fat and out of shape.

I could make the same argument about cyclists v. pedestrians.

Okay. So what?

stainedglassdoll: Curious, is this a regional thing? I've never seen such a sign while driving on the highway, only speed limit signs, yet I don't see bicyclists riding on the highway, nor can I imagine it's safe or legal for them to do so. What's the rule?

Varies state to state.

My understanding is that some states make no requirements for highways. DOT seems to be 150cc for a freeway. Ohio seems to require 250cc. Texas just requires that you can maintain the minimum speed.

Sedatedbylife: is this the weekly thread where drivers who deal with idiot cyclists in rural areas and cyclists who deal with idiot drivers in city areas argue about how what idiots the other side is?

Good.

I actually thought the last one ended rather well so remember folks. This is fark, we have standards to be met. If this thread is not a mass of internet rage and retardation within an hour we are doing something wrong.

Well played.

/(golf clap)
//I bike a fair amount and am truly amazed at how close some cars pass me when they would NEVER pass that close to a pedestrian or a parked car (or as fast).

URAPNIS: Who I envision The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions to be.

Nah, I like gears.

xynix: He was probably 3 feet of the farking embankment making all the cars slow down and go around him while also trying not to have a head on collosion.

Take your bike to a farking BIKE TRAIL shiatHEAD.

Several weeks ago I watched a bicyclist get hit (fortunately, not seriously) while in a bike lane. This lady in the next lane turned into him while trying to get into a parking lot.

She then continued on and parked her car. As a witness, I went with the guy to find her there. Her response when he confronted her about it? "Give me a break. I'm not used to driving in the city." Oh? Because in your town it's OK to hit bicylists?

As a long term bicyclist, I have seen a lot of bad bikers - I've also seen a lot of bad drivers. It's about 50-50.

So there is a lot of good excuse for anger on both sides. The difference? A bad bicyclist likely won't kill you.

So don't be a shiathead yourself. That bicylist has to suck up your smog and take his life in his hands every time he gets on the road with you. If you're not man enough to do the same thing, at least keep your ignorant opinions to yourself.

On a daily basis I walk, and a few times per week drive, around Manhattan. In both my frequent methods of travel I've never been close to a pedestrian-auto, auto-auto, or pedestrian-pedestrian accident. Guess what type of accidents I come dangerously close to a few times per month? Cyclist-pedestrian and cyclist-auto, none of which have been the fault of myself, but rather cyclist running red lights (95% of the time). If I ran a red light, a traffic cop would parachute in from out of nowhere and write me a $200 summons.

They really need to start enforcing the laws against and requiring licenses for cyclists if they ever want them to be taken seriously. Until then, fark you cyclists.

Nakaimas: I bike a fair amount and am truly amazed at how close some cars pass me when they would NEVER pass that close to a pedestrian or a parked car (or as fast).

It's because they are jealous of you and therefore, mad.

I don't really get biking honestly. Round here, people cycle on roads where the going traffic is 60+ mph. Compared to that they might as well be lying in the middle of the road.

And they do this for their health?


I've never understood why bikes go on the road and not the sidewalk, either. A bike crashing into a dude = scraped elbows. A car crashing into a bike = road hamburger.

The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: Nope. Driving a car requires that you be capable of driving it safely.

Maintaining a speed well below the accepted speed of a roadway is also reckless driving.

Bicycles are more of a nuisance than granny drivers, because of their propensity for illegally passing on the shoulder or overtaking on the right, and their insistence that they are automobiles until confronted by traffic, at which point they suddenly wish to become pedestrians.

Which is why both pedestrians and drivers despise bicyclists.

That's what you get for riding on the god damned fog line and I don't care if your state says you're legally allowed to ride it, you got a whole lane to the right of you to use!

Of course I suppose I could drive the fog line too if it was okay!

daas_boot: I don't understand why the locals feel the need to go around CLEAR OVER IN THE OTHER LANE WAY OVER THERE to pass a cyclist. The damn biker is what, 3' wide at the most?

If you ever had 2 tons of steel and plastic with a pilot on the cell phone roll by you at 50mph faster than you were going, coming within 12 inches of simply killing you, you'd understand.

The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: Nakaimas: I bike a fair amount and am truly amazed at how close some cars pass me when they would NEVER pass that close to a pedestrian or a parked car (or as fast).

It's because they are jealous of you and therefore, mad.

Awesome.

Can I get that on a shirt?

The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: This text is now purple: The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: It's absurd. So, you have to slow your hermetically sealed rolling bubble for a minute. You're still going to get where you're going about ten times faster than the cyclist. You will do that while wasting tons of resources, polluting, and becoming more and more fat and out of shape.

I could make the same argument about cyclists v. pedestrians.

Okay. So what?

So get off your pennyfarthing. Bicycles are as unnecessary for transportation as automobiles are, and are a dangerous to pedestrians as automobiles are to bicycles. I don't see bikers suddenly refraining from acting like jackasses on sidewalks and and running red lights through crossing pedestrians.

Publikwerks: What I was trying to say with my analogy is that life isn't fair. You can live a super healthy lifestyle, and still get cancer. You can smoke, drink, and eat only bacon and live to 110. But, your taking extra risks bicycling, because accidents on the roads are going to happen. And by riding a bike, those accidents will be far more severe because a bike won't protect you like a car will.

I'm not planning to live in a hermetically sealed lead lined cave, either. Like you said, I might get cancer. If I die riding, well, at least I'm going out doing something I enjoy and believe in.

Nakaimas: //I bike a fair amount and am truly amazed at how close some cars pass me when they would NEVER pass that close to a pedestrian or a parked car (or as fast).

Really? In the city, all the time I see parked cars get passed with a 3' buffer by cars going 45 mph.

This text is now purple: Maintaining a speed well below the accepted speed of a roadway is also reckless driving.

Nope. No minimum speed on most roads.

This text is now purple: Bicycles are more of a nuisance than granny drivers, because of their propensity for illegally passing on the shoulder or overtaking on the right, and their insistence that they are automobiles until confronted by traffic, at which point they suddenly wish to become pedestrians.

THAT is dangerous behavior, and as illegal as it should be.

Scoot951: I don't really get biking honestly. Round here, people cycle on roads where the going traffic is 60+ mph. Compared to that they might as well be lying in the middle of the road.

And they do this for their health?


I've never understood why bikes go on the road and not the sidewalk, either. A bike crashing into a dude = scraped elbows. A car crashing into a bike = road hamburger.

On some roads, a bike would love to go on the sidewalk, because it is dangerous. However, where I live it's illegal. 90 dollar fine.

I'll give you the flipside to that. Toronto actually has a decent amount of bike lanes and alternate routes, and I use them wherever possible.

So one part of my route home is - get this - one car lane, one bike lane, one way road, residential, with speedbumps, and a child's school. They have more or less done everything they can to try to discourage car use.

I will leave you to guess how many cars (and trucks) at rush hour use this as a northbound thoroughfare when there is a five lane thoroughfare just a few blocks away.

You should come to good ol' Portland Oregon, where cyclists rule the roads.



It's a good start, but really it's about using your damn brain. If you can't be bothered to look around for hazards and dangers while riding because you're too busy trying to look cool with your fixie and fake moustache, I'm not going to sympathize with your stupid dead arse.

This text is now purple: So get off your pennyfarthing. Bicycles are as unnecessary for transportation as automobiles are, and are a dangerous to pedestrians as automobiles are to bicycles. I don't see bikers suddenly refraining from acting like jackasses on sidewalks and and running red lights through crossing pedestrians.

Bicycles shouldn't be on the sidewalk. Ever.

They should be in the road.

This is not irony.

_{mandatory in avery irony thresd}

EWreckedSean:

It's a hazard. One idiot on a bike risks the lives of everybody who has to get pass him. Risks them getting hit from behind by drivers who don't see them when you slow suddenly, risk by all the drives having to swerve into on coming traffic to get around you, risk from all the other driving hazards you miss because you are so busy trying not to hit the idiot on the bike.

Sounds like a lot of you just need to learn how to drive your cars. It's not that hard but I understand 90% of americans are brain dead morons who have a hard time steering while pushing the gas and break pedals at the same time.

Sorry you find life so challenging. Maybe you should just give up.

Scoot951: I've never understood why bikes go on the road and not the sidewalk, either. A bike crashing into a dude = scraped elbows. A car crashing into a bike = road hamburger.

In many areas riding on the sidewalk is illegal.

xynix: He was probably 3 feet of the farking embankment making all the cars slow down and go around him while also trying not to have a head on collosion.

Take your bike to a farking BIKE TRAIL shiatHEAD.

Or you could shove your car up your fat coach potato ass.

/or we could engage in an intelligent conversation, but really, what's the point.

I was in a bicycle accident a few months ago, so I'm getting a kick...

I was in the bike lane headed to work when some guy in a Silverado came off of an overpass, crossed two lanes of traffic, and cut me off with little time to stop. I slammed on my brakes, still hit the side of his truck.

Overall damage to me was a sprained wrist, broken ankle (he ran over my foot), and a torn tendon in my right knee. The bike became one giant piece of broken carbon fiber.

On the bright side, I left a 3 foot wide dent that went about 6 inches into his truck (pretty much the all the proof needed that he cut me off with little time for me to stop) and a car insurance company looking to get rid of that guy. When I called his insurance to make a claim, the woman on the other line said "Again?!" when I mentioned his name.

This text is now purple: The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: Nope. Driving a car requires that you be capable of driving it safely.

Maintaining a speed well below the accepted speed of a roadway is also reckless driving.

Bicycles are more of a nuisance than granny drivers, because of their propensity for illegally passing on the shoulder or overtaking on the right, and their insistence that they are automobiles until confronted by traffic, at which point they suddenly wish to become pedestrians.

Which is why both pedestrians and drivers despise bicyclists.

Everybody Hates You When You're Bi

The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions: This text is now purple: Bicycles are more of a nuisance than granny drivers, because of their propensity for illegally passing on the shoulder or overtaking on the right, and their insistence that they are automobiles until confronted by traffic, at which point they suddenly wish to become pedestrians.

THAT is dangerous behavior, and as illegal as it should be.

And it's punished exactly as often as cars are for recklessly passing bicycles. Which is why both parties have antagonistic relationships.

Incidentally, too slow can be charged. Reckless driving; general rule - endangering. It's a subjective charge.

I would love to see the police start a serious bicycle safety campaign on the streets. Even if it just means issuing warnings to people.

For cyclists:
- running red lights
- riding without lights at night
- not signaling turns
- riding with headphones

For cars:
- passing with less than 3' clearance
- no turn signal use
- talking/texting on a cellphone
- parking/driving in bike lanes

This text is now purple: Nakaimas: //I bike a fair amount and am truly amazed at how close some cars pass me when they would NEVER pass that close to a pedestrian or a parked car (or as fast).

Really? In the city, all the time I see parked cars get passed with a 3' buffer by cars going 45 mph.

That was my point. They pass me at that speed but only give me a foot to foot and a half. Maryland just passed a law requiring a 3' buffer when passing a cyclist. Not very well known yet, though.

The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions:

If no cars were on the road, road maintenance costs would be almost nonexistent.

If no cars were on the road there would be no road. Chicken or egg I guess.

What I want to ask all you bikers, do none of you work? How come every rush hour there's tons of guys already out in full spandex clogging up traffic? Do they just get off work early so they have time to go change and get out there just in time to slow down everyone elses commute? Do they not realize by the daily honking and yelling that they're pissing off everyone? Do they think it's cool to piss off everyone?

/shares road only for fear of jail
//same reason i don't punch asshole cops

pillowpants: I was in a bicycle accident a few months ago, so I'm getting a kick...

I was in the bike lane headed to work when some guy in a Silverado came off of an overpass, crossed two lanes of traffic, and cut me off with little time to stop. I slammed on my brakes, still hit the side of his truck.

Overall damage to me was a sprained wrist, broken ankle (he ran over my foot), and a torn tendon in my right knee. The bike became one giant piece of broken carbon fiber.

On the bright side, I left a 3 foot wide dent that went about 6 inches into his truck (pretty much the all the proof needed that he cut me off with little time for me to stop) and a car insurance company looking to get rid of that guy. When I called his insurance to make a claim, the woman on the other line said "Again?!" when I mentioned his name.

"Again"? Sorry for what happened to you, but that is an LOL. Hope you're back at it soon.

true okie doke: The Committee For Aesthetic Deletions:

If no cars were on the road, road maintenance costs would be almost nonexistent.

If no cars were on the road there would be no road. Chicken or egg I guess.


Wrong. Bicyclists are the reason we started building good roads. If only there were a movement of some sort to capture the point, like the Good Roads Movement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Roads_Movement