Cyclists Get No Respect

[deadheadskier]

I don't care if its a bike or a car on the road as long as they're going the speed limit. If not, pull over and let others by. If you're on a bike going fast, I can perfectly understand not wanting to ride on the narrow shoulder, it is dangerous. However, if you can't keep up with traffic, slow down and move to the shoulder and ride a speed that is safe for those conditions so others can pass you safely, whether it's a car or other bikers.

Cars impeding my driving progress actually piss me off more than bikes. EVERY single time I've been to Wildcat this year, I get caught behind some jack ass going 40mph between North Conway and Bartlett before 16 turns off. The speed limit for a few miles there is 55. Then once on 16 North, I'll get caught behind someone going 35 in the 50 zone. Usually once the road widens to two lanes at Pinkham, I find myself driving 75 up that hill in frustration from being caught behind inconsiderate slow pokes for the previous ten miles.

GO THE SPEED LIMIT OR PULL OVER SO OTHERS CAN PASS

[mlctvt]

Originally Posted by snoseek

It's probably not against the law for me to lay on my horn and scare the crap out of them but I don't. Riding like that in some rural areas of maine-n.h. could result in drunk redneck throwing beer bottle or worse. Drunk rednecks don't give a flying fluck about laws.


Personally I will only ride on mt. bike trails and bike paths both which are plentiful from my doorstep. I get pretty intimidated on the road-I see it from both sides.

Actually it is against the law for you to do that. If you did it to me, I'd get your license plate number and call the police. The last time I did that the police officer I spoke to happened to be a roady himself and he drove to the car owners house and explained the law. He said I could have pressed charges for assault.

[Marc]

For me to average 17 mph on a bike path would be hazardous to all users.

I rarely ride two abreast except on back roads where both can hear traffic coming a good distance away and ride single file when there's traffic.

I just get scared when a car overtakes me without waiting for traffic to clear in the other direction. They'll think nothing of clipping me with a sideview as long as they don't have to slow down at all. I actually breathe a sigh of relief, even on roads with narrow lines and near non existant shoulds, if I hear a trailer truck coming rather than a car, because typically they're much more cautious drivers and actually give a wider birth than most cars.

Although back on the original topic, I don't get any respect when I'm on my bike if anyone says anything in the first place. Mostly I get comments like "Go Lance!" or dumb stuff like that.

[mlctvt]

Originally Posted by Marc

For me to average 17 mph on a bike path would be hazardous to all users.

+1, bike paths are extremely dangerous and the stats prove it. I also hate bike paths because it give non-riders who don't understand a reason to try and ban bikes from roads.
You can't mix 17-20MPH bike riders with kids on roller skates , skateboarders and moms and kids on kiddy bikes without major problems.

[cbcbd]

I don't think grown men wearing tights will ever get respect, whether on a bike or not.

I ride on the road as close to the shoulder as I can and try to pick roads with less traffic. But honestly, road riding is just a gamble, you have no control over what drivers can do - one look down to dial a number, change the station, or pickup your dropped muffin, and that's just enough to make them veer into you.

[MRGisevil]

Originally Posted by mlctvt

+1, bike paths are extremely dangerous and the stats prove it. I also hate bike paths because it give non-riders who don't understand a reason to try and ban bikes from roads.
You can't mix 17-20MPH bike riders with kids on roller skates , skateboarders and moms and kids on kiddy bikes without major problems.

In Hartford bike paths are all used as additional parking.

[mlctvt]

Originally Posted by MRGisevil

In Hartford bike paths are all used as additional parking.

They don't ticket the cars and tow them? Or do people just take their chances they won't get caught?

[MRGisevil]

Originally Posted by mlctvt

They don't ticket the cars and tow them? Or do people just take their chances they won't get caught?

I've never seen anyone ticketed... then again I don't pay too much attention. I don't think CoH cares too much.

[Paul]

I've worked in this shiathole (Hartford) for the past 5 years.

What bike paths??

[bvibert]

Originally Posted by MRGisevil

In Hartford bike paths are all used as additional parking.

There's bike paths in Hartford? I always though that was just extra parking...

Seriously, I did not know that. Of course, aside from 84 and 91, I've only driven in Hartford a handful of times in my life..