I need to vent.

[Unchained]

People are kinda clueless. :roll: I ride into traffic so I don't get hit from behind. It might seem kind of silly, but then I can see everything in front of me. Even still, I had a close call once with some lady putting on makeup. She came out of nowhere behind me, driving on the wrong side of the road mind you, blaring her horn. :shock: it scared the daylights out of me... she passed me pretty fast but I could see she was doing her makeup in the visor mirror. It really got my goat. I had a similar incident with some college kid that looked drunk out of his mind. It's not you on the road that you've got to worry about, it's all the others. I'm not sure there's any cure either. It does get infuriating to think about it though... as a young dude I pay out my nose for insurance and can't look at someone wrong without my license being at risk, but the wacky drivers of the world only seem to multiply all the same...

 

[Granth]

I was hit ON the University campus. The girl went for a cali roll through a stop sign and never stopped until she hit me. I went off on her, while others watched, and all she could say was "I WAS payin attention". My professor saw it and all but yet campus police and the lazy jackasses they are did nothing about it even with a plate number and car description.

 

[old school 64]

What ticks me off to my situation and the idiot on the cell, is I am trying to get bikeangel out there and enjoying cruising on our bikes, now she is hesitant about it..it spooked her pretty good. Takes one moron to ruin it.

 

[Spokeshave]

I here you. I live in ground zero for bad or aggesive driving-New York City. Queens county to be more specific.
There are plenty of bike lanes but people don't care. They drive through them to pass traffic on the right to get 20 feet in front of the next guy at a red light.
I really enjoy riding and have dropped a few pounds doing so. I try to get my wife interested so we can do a boardwalk cruise or something relaxing but she drives to work int he Bronx and sees the stupidity coming and going.
Long and short of it is she wants nothing to do with bike riding around here. I can't get her near a bike. We both lose. :!:

 

[outskirtscustoms]

I here you. I live in ground zero for bad or aggesive driving-New York City. Queens county to be more specific.
There are plenty of bike lanes but people don't care. They drive through them to pass traffic on the right to get 20 feet in front of the next guy at a red light.
I really enjoy riding and have dropped a few pounds doing so. I try to get my wife interested so we can do a boardwalk cruise or something relaxing but she drives to work int he Bronx and sees the stupidity coming and going.
Long and short of it is she wants nothing to do with bike riding around here. I can't get her near a bike. We both lose. :!:

Yeah I'd be fearful driving a truck in New York City traffic, let alone a bike. At least 20 bike messengers are killed every year in New York City and far more injured and that statistic was 10 years ago! And I'm sure it hasn't gone down.

 

[Spokeshave]

Hey fellas,
I found this tonight. I learned a few things.
Every little bit helps
bicyclesafe.com

 

[deorman]

When I'm on the road, riding, driving, or walking, I just assume anyone I see is going to do the most stupid and dangerous thing that they can. That way I can be pleasantly surprised when they don't, instead of angry and disappointed when they do. I have to admit, I have done dangerous and/or stupid stuff in my lifetime , and have been lucky not to seriously injure anyone :| .

 

[Spokeshave]

Well said.

 

[NLCTVWguy]

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but this is a good example of the kind of thing that can cause resentment against cyclists.

Cyclists are required to ride as vehicles do. Does this mean that every cyclist is going to stop at every empty intersection and wait for a green light that will never turn? No.

But THE MOST BASIC safety aspect of bicycle riding on roads is to ride with traffic. I'm not trying to be your mom but you can consider me as perhaps a teacher or a friend.

**Ride with traffic.** I know one of the hazards on rural roads is cars approaching from behind, sometimes at high speeds. Worse, they may not be expecting you. But riding on the wrong side causes you to approach every intersection from the wrong side. Drivers pulling onto the road will be looking the wrong direction and it is easy on a bike to surprise a driver with possibly bad results- they can slam on the brakes pulling out, causing you to hit them, or other behavior that puts YOU at risk.

Your position at every intersection will be wrong to see traffic lights, to be in the right place relative to turning lanes, dividers, cars' turn signals, street signs. Please reconsider because I think you're putting yourself in harm's way.

--Rob

People are kinda clueless. :roll: I ride into traffic so I don't get hit from behind. It might seem kind of silly, but then I can see everything in front of me. Even still, I had a close call once with some lady putting on makeup. She came out of nowhere behind me, driving on the wrong side of the road mind you, blaring her horn. :shock: it scared the daylights out of me... she passed me pretty fast but I could see she was doing her makeup in the visor mirror. It really got my goat. I had a similar incident with some college kid that looked drunk out of his mind. It's not you on the road that you've got to worry about, it's all the others. I'm not sure there's any cure either. It does get infuriating to think about it though... as a young dude I pay out my nose for insurance and can't look at someone wrong without my license being at risk, but the wacky drivers of the world only seem to multiply all the same...

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Buck,
I hope your friend continues to heal, both physically and mentally.
I lost a friend once who was working on a road crew. It was his day to man the 'Slow/Stop' sign. He was struck by an elderly woman at 45 MPH. When she finally stopped, she had no idea what everybody was so excited about! She was over 80 years old, she was not charged.

I would like to see a mandatory driver's test issued at age 60, 65, and 70 and every year after that. The last thing you want to take from someone is their freedom to drive, but if they pose a danger to others, then they shouldn't operate a vehicle.

As far as dealing with 'the bird', I simply smile and give a 'tootle-loo' wave, that seems to steam them more than returning the ignorance.

ahh....that DOES feel nice!

Dr. T