Bicycle idiots

[richard wysong]

The Ebikes are becoming a real hazard in my area, they ride them on the sidewalks as well as in traffic like a motorcycle. You can't hear them coming behind you when they are on the sidewalk and they are mostly unregulated. it is going to take a few people getting killed before they start making and enforcing the rules. I did hear 1 get towed the other day on the police scanner because it didn't have pedals so they categorized it as an unregistered motorcycle. They don't obey any rules of the road, riding against traffic blowing through stop signs and red lights etc ,IDIOTS

[Atlas]

I grew up mountain biking, back when it was still an obscure, "alternative" hobby/sport in the early 90's. Been into it most of my adult life too. Few months ago I decided to try out what an e-mountain bike was like so I bought one. It's been fun!

 

I never understood road cycling.

 

I choose life.

 

On the subject of ebikes... kids and idiots will be...kids and idiots. They'll run it for everyone and pretty soon every state will have books of regulations for ebikes just like there are for motorbikes and what is considered road-legal versus not.

[richard wysong]

My brother in law had a successful business doing road bike touring, taking groups on multi-day road trips, he gave up road riding as he deemed it too dangerous now with motorists intentionally "dusting" him and people just not paying attention. It probably also had something to do with 3 people getting killed on their bikes by a woman on her cell phone about a mile from his house. He does occasional off road adventures now

[Atlas]

I used to ride motorcycles too but roads are so crazy it's not worth it to me anymore. Still have my endorsements and I miss having a motorcycle but probably won't own one again. That's my level of fear on a motorcycle...I can't imagine wanting to ride a bicycle on public roads..

 

I'm always careful and give cyclists lots of space. They might be infuriating, entitled idiots who look beyond ridiculous in spandex, but they are someone's infuriating, entitled, idiot wearing spandex. Best to help them get home safely.

 

[KARNUT]

I grew up in the country. From 12-16 I rode bikes everywhere. Rode motorcycles off road. Never rode again after my license. Except for an exercise bike indoors. 

[asilverblazer]

I have mixed opinions but generally ROADS are the simplest expression of our governments responsibility to provide everyone FREE access and FREE use of. Anyone should be able to walk, ride, drive, etc. along the road. There should be no laws that restrict this in anyway. 

 

This does require some careful separations. Sidewalks for pedestrians, bike lanes and motor lanes.

 

All users have to follow the laws appropriate to those lanes. 

 

Too much regulation and laws to do with bicycles, mopeds, scooters, etc.

 

The problem is when there isn't a dedicated lane for them, they are too fast for sidewalks (pedestrians) and too slow for cars. Where do they go? The same place a pedestrian goes when there is no sidewalk, stay to the right, don't impede other traffic and continue to follow all other traffic laws.

 

Here there are large 'packs' of cyclist groups of 6-20 that all ride together. They take up the whole lane, do not stop at stop signs, do not signal turns, etc. Also, they aren't bothered to have traffic wait for their entire group to clear an intersection.

 

Most dangerously though is when they use the whole lane, on blind hills in the country. Just as their pack crests the hill they are all barely going walking speed from climbing the hill when a motorist going the speed limit comes over the top behind them and finds an essentially stationary pack of cyclist with insufficient time to stop and nowhere else to go... They should at least ride single file and keep to the right.

[Grumpy Bear]

Like to eat? 

 

 

You can follow one of these across Illinois for a half hour at under 30 mpg during spring field work on any major US Federal Highway in the state. How about a pick up hauling a combine head during harvest? NH3 tanks in tandem on wagon leads swaying back and forth a few feet? Oh, gain elevators are one of my favorites. 

 

How about a tank track tractor that takes up both lanes pulling multi-section disc/harrow units? Over sized trucks pulling wind turbine blades or portable ICE detention units? Link Belt or Pettibone Crains? Dealing with the hog crap from a manure spreader for a miles?

 

Granny crossing the road in the country to fetch her mail. Famers bull got out.   Chuck holes, pavement heaves, dead animals, uncovered over weight gravel haulers., open top garbage haulers. State road work crews. Police stopped violators. 

 

Road is full of hazards and the same people that complain about bicycles and motorcycles are the same people passing in the no passing zones, running 15 over the limit, texting on their phones, shaving, putting on makeup, reading the paper....doing everything, including complaining about them all but what their job is behind a wheel. Defensive driving. 

 

I dodge a dozen self important texters a day crossing a centerline and about one bicycle group a month during the summer. 

 

I didn't quit riding my motorcycle because of bicyclist or even deer but some guy thinking he's the most important thing on the road and passing zones and speed limits are a suggestion or some soccer mom swatting at her preteen in the back seat. Ya got bigger problems than a pack of bikes out for a Sunday ride. 

[KARNUT]

6 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Like to eat? 

 

 

You can follow one of these across Illinois for a half hour at under 30 mpg during spring field work on any major US Federal Highway in the state. How about a pick up hauling a combine head during harvest? NH3 tanks in tandem on wagon leads swaying back and forth a few feet? Oh, gain elevators are one of my favorites. 

 

How about a tank track tractor that takes up both lanes pulling multi-section disc/harrow units? Over sized trucks pulling wind turbine blades or portable ICE detention units? Link Belt or Pettibone Crains? Dealing with the hog crap from a manure spreader for a miles?

 

Granny crossing the road in the country to fetch her mail. Famers bull got out.   Chuck holes, pavement heaves, dead animals, uncovered over weight gravel haulers., open top garbage haulers. State road work crews. Police stopped violators. 

 

Road is full of hazards and the same people that complain about bicycles and motorcycles are the same people passing in the no passing zones, running 15 over the limit, texting on their phones, shaving, putting on makeup, reading the paper....doing everything, including complaining about them all but what their job is behind a wheel. Defensive driving. 

 

I dodge a dozen self important texters a day crossing a centerline and about one bicycle group a month during the summer. 

 

I didn't quit riding my motorcycle because of bicyclist or even deer but some guy thinking he's the most important thing on the road and passing zones and speed limits are a suggestion or some soccer mom swatting at her preteen in the back seat. Ya got bigger problems than a pack of bikes out for a Sunday ride. 

I grew up on a Farm I know the drill. When I worked on ROWs for 30 years. I would road my tractor around obstacles sometimes 20 miles or more. We would pull over sometimes even stop to allow vehicles around us. The difference is bicycle riders in my area spread out and stay that way. They make no attempt to allow traffic around. They can choose safe routes with the least traffic or even bike path there are plenty around here. Needing to or choosing to is the difference. You can’t put everything in one box. 

[Jerry455]

I ride on the rode, very defensively, and off road. I do triathlons and sometimes ride on the roads to train. I am very careful and try to be courteous to drivers. Some members of our club are not. Colorado was the worst I have ever seen. They were riding in a pack of about 30 and didn't care if they held up traffic. Some areas I will ride on the sidewalk but I slow down around pedestrians and give plenty of warning when passing. Here in Michigan, lately everyone has very dark tinting on the side windows and even the windshield. If I can't see the driver, I won't cross in front of them. Sometimes they wave me on, I can't see them through their tinting, and then roll down the window to say to cross. I explain that their tinting is so dark I can't see them. They didn't realize that.

[Atlas]

Cycling isn't cheap - at least not the kind most here are referring to which are the teams of people usually riding to train for big events or club sports. High-dollar bikes, expensive riding gear/uniforms....

 

It leaves me wondering why people of supposedly higher income would put themselves in / create such dangerous situations or ride "offensively" when the odds are definitely not in their favor if a car vs bicyclist incident were to happen. There are so many safer alternatives from different roads to simply not contributing to the possibility of being struck. Expensive gyms aren't interesting? Velodromes? Actual bike paths/routes? (there are SO many here).

 

Why the narrow, winding, 2-lane with blind curves frequented by the terminally distracted and/or "driving fast" crowd (sports cars, motorcyclists).

 

I mean, there are roads and places that I avoid in my car because of high potential for incidents, and I'm generally safe in my car. I simply don't want the higher potential for an incident.

[KARNUT]

I walk a lot. I ride a stationary bike sometimes. One on designated paths. The other in A.C comfort. Smart safe and not alone.

[Grumpy Bear]

6 minutes ago, Atlas said:

I mean, there are roads and places that I avoid in my car because of high potential for incidents, and I'm generally safe in my car. I simply don't want the higher potential for an incident.

 

I have several like that. One of my favorite drives is along Illinois 2 between Byron and Dixon, but at dusk and dawn it is wild life alley. Those inconsiderate deer need to cross at the deer crossing signs. They must be able to read. State thinks so. They put up the signs to show them where they should cross. 

 

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

 Needing to or choosing to is the difference. You can’t put everything in one box. 

 

Remember that as a driver; getting angry over the inconsiderate behavior of others is a natural reaction. Staying angry is a deliberate choice. 

 

Locally we have a road bike club of about two dozen from Rockford that rides down to a restaurant in the next town on Saturday mornings. About 25 mile between points on the map. They aren't training, they are friends out for breakfast, comradery and the ride. Cherry Valley Road is the most direct route and the busiest. It has no paved shoulder so they ride two abreast in a line. There is some length to that line a dozen bikes deep. It's not a terribly curvy road but it is hilly with many hidden drives.

 

Know what the locals do on Saturday mornings that need to get between those two points? Take 72 to Irene Road to US 20 at each end of Cherry Valley Road. takes about 5 extra minutes. Quicker actually than taking the direct but bike ridden road if you count waiting to pass and there are many places to do that safely. 

 

Inconsiderate bicycles and the smallest hazard I face during a drive.... 

[Atlas]

1 minute ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

I have several like that. One of my favorite drives is along Illinois 2 between Byron and Dixon, but at dusk and dawn it is wild life alley. Those inconsiderate deer need to cross at the deer crossing signs. They must be able to read. State thinks so. They put up the signs to show them where they should cross. 

 

Our state is next-level on that issue. We create wildlife bridges where elk herds, deer, and other animals are designated to cross.

 

The signs don't work but the bridges do. Like, actually work! Who knew...

 

On another topic there's a road nearby where there are several crosses marking where people have died on sharp curves with steep dropoffs. The only thing I can surmise is that Christians must be really bad drivers? 

[Grumpy Bear]

Just now, Atlas said:

 

Our state is next-level on that issue. We create wildlife bridges where elk herds, deer, and other animals are designated to cross.

 

The signs don't work but the bridges do. Like, actually work! Who knew...

 

On another topic there's a road nearby where there are several crosses marking where people have died on sharp curves with steep dropoffs. The only thing I can surmise is that Christians must be really bad drivers? 

 

I saw those crossings on TV when they were being built. Thoughtful idea I'd say. Deer and the like are creatures of habit. US Army knew this when the burned millions of acers of Montana grasslands to keep Bison from crossing into Canada to starve out Sitting Bull's people. 

 

My nephew has such a cross at the site of his death. He, nor his parents, are "Christian". It's just a memorial. No different that a headstone. What do Atheist and Agnostics use to mark such a spot? Oreo's? 

[KARNUT]

19 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

I have several like that. One of my favorite drives is along Illinois 2 between Byron and Dixon, but at dusk and dawn it is wild life alley. Those inconsiderate deer need to cross at the deer crossing signs. They must be able to read. State thinks so. They put up the signs to show them where they should cross. 

 

 

Remember that as a driver; getting angry over the inconsiderate behavior of others is a natural reaction. Staying angry is a deliberate choice. 

 

Locally we have a road bike club of about two dozen from Rockford that rides down to a restaurant in the next town on Saturday mornings. About 25 mile between points on the map. They aren't training, they are friends out for breakfast, comradery and the ride. Cherry Valley Road is the most direct route and the busiest. It has no paved shoulder so they ride two abreast in a line. There is some length to that line a dozen bikes deep. It's not a terribly curvy road but it is hilly with many hidden drives.

 

Know what the locals do on Saturday mornings that need to get between those two points? Take 72 to Irene Road to US 20 at each end of Cherry Valley Road. takes about 5 extra minutes. Quicker actually than taking the direct but bike ridden road if you count waiting to pass and there are many places to do that safely. 

 

Inconsiderate bicycles and the smallest hazard I face during a drive.... 

It amusing the road I drive especially on weekends to one of my walking trails is 4 lanes with a shoulder and 45 mph. My other walking path is more shaded but the road is two lanes very little shoulder and 60 mph. One guess the one they choose. I’m never in a hurry, I’m retired. It’s seems they get joy obstructing. Probably because of the traffic they face during the week commuting to Houston. Revenge placed on us country folks. Most have racks on their cars to bring their bikes from their subdivisions to harass the country folks. Passing bike paths to get here. The woodlands is minutes from here with a wealth of shaded paths.