Here's my problem: bicyclists in my town break the law with impunity all of the time. I live in Boulder, CO, which is a pretty bike-friendly place. However, on a regular basis, I see bicyclists thinking they can bike whenever and wherever they want for whatever reason. Examples include:
(1) Biking down the street (acting like a car) and then suddenly, at an intersection, biking (not walking the bike) across the perpendicular cross-walk like a pedestrian and continuing on the sidewalk, without even pausing.
(2) Running stop-signs.
(3) Running red lights and darting across intersections at a diagnal.
(4) Weaving through cars.
Basically, it seems that bicyclists both want to be treated as the equivalent of cars, but don't want to pay attention to any of the rules. Is this fair?

My understanding is that if a bicyclist is riding in the street, he must respect all of the applicable vehicle rules.

Just to be clear, I am very bike-friendly. Last year, I inherited my sister's Honda Civic. However, the previous five years of my life I traveled entirely by bicycle. I am always very courteous to bicyclists, because I was one for so long, but I am very disheartened by the fact that bicyclists think they are above the law. What is going on here? Is it because they think they are somehow "better" than cars and therefore don't have to follow any of the rules? Is it because they don't pollute that they can break the law?

>>bicyclists in my town break the law with impunity all of the time.>>

Hah! Proof that bicycle seats cause impudence!

>>(1) Biking down the street (acting like a car) and then suddenly, at an intersection, biking (not walking the bike) across the perpendicular cross-walk like a pedestrian and continuing on the sidewalk, without even pausing.>>

This is actually legal in california.

>>(2) Running stop-signs.>>

I gotta keep my momentum. :)

>>(3) Running red lights and darting across intersections at a diagnal.
(4) Weaving through cars.>>

I don't do these. I don't really wanna die. :)

ebola

This is actually legal in california.



I don't think it's legal in Boulder. You have to cross the cross-walk at a walking speed. Plus, I think you're supposed to ride in the street, not all over the place.


I gotta keep my momentum. :)


A car could say "I gotta make good time. :)" but, it's still dangerous and breaking the law.

I think drivers are the crazy ones. For example

They get mad at you when you weave all over the place so I was trying my best to act like a car. There was a biker in front of me that was going at a slow pace. What does a car do when it is behind a slow poke? it passes them. So I do, and a car from way behind speeds up to my ass and honks the horn. Jeez sorry you had to slow down form 35 to 15 to 30 seconds.

It is a lot easier to accelerate in a car than a bike, so I would ecpect cars to slow down for me rather than the other way around.

Don't worry I am curtious when I ride. I just hate it when bikers get a bad rep.

I follow all the rules a car should, although I do sometimes ride on the pavement if I have to (e.g. to get my bike home, to go to uni, late at night when there's no one out).
I have seen a lot of cyclists blatantly ignoring traffic lights and road signs, and there've been occasions when I've had to avoid them as a pedestrian (they were crossing a red light). It feels weird when I'm on my bike and I stop at a red light while the bike ahead of me just moves on. Yeah, in my experience plenty of cyclists think that rules don't apply to them, and it annoys me a bit. Especially in the UK, bikes are welcomed, with drivers being mindful of them and with most main roads having a seperate small lane for them, so I can't think why cyclists would choose to disregard basic rules at the cost of their own safety. :(

(1) Biking down the street (acting like a car) and then suddenly, at an intersection, biking (not walking the bike) across the perpendicular cross-walk like a pedestrian and continuing on the sidewalk, without even pausing.

I do stuff like this. If there's not a bike lane, then I'm biking on the side walk. Sorry, but I'm too much of a wimp to ride on the road on busy streets. I cross on crosswalks too, and I don't usually walk. Just because it's just too much of a hassle. It takes 30 seconds to get of your bike and walk across a cross walk, and 5 to ride across. It doesn't hurt anybody for me to ride, and someone who's waiting on me to turn gets to go quicker too. I do walk across them when it's dark, though. It's not that I'm trying to be inconsiderate. It's that 1) I don't want to get hurt and 2) If it doesn't harm anyone else then I don't care.

I totally agree that cyclists need to respect the rules. On the rare occasions that I ride on major streets in traffic, I behave as much like a car as I can. Where I live, it's illegal for cyclists to ride on the sidewalk at all, I was under the impression that was the law most places. And yes, they need to obey traffic laws and signs. I see obviously experienced cyclists doing everything right, but unfortunately you don't have to pass a test and get a license to ride a bike on the road, and I see plenty of idiots dancing with death out there. In addition to all the things mentioned, they also engage in death-wish-type activities like riding at night wearing dark non-reflective clothing and no lights, reflectors, or helmets. Doesn't get much stupider than that.

>>(2) Running stop-signs.>>

I gotta keep my momentum. :)


hate to admit it, but I too don't stop for stop signs unless there is another car approaching. other than that i try to be a very courteous & cautious biker.

as far as cars to bikers--i hate when a car will honk at you for going slow or not realizing they are behind you....ipod gets kinda loud... do they not know how loud that is??? :grr: and this isn't even on busy streets, which i rarely get on.

Sokara and Satya and Gnome Chomsky and all of the other irresponsible cyclists out there...

You do hurt others when you break the law. You hurt me and all of the other RESPONSIBLE cyclists who obey all of the pertinent laws. You hurt us because you reinforce the attitude of most drivers that cyclists are NOT automobiles and NOT to be respected. You hurt everyone on the road and you make it unsafe for RESPONSIBLE cyclists because now drivers don't know how to react to us when we do obey the laws.

Also Satya in most places riding a bicycle with your iPod on is illegal, it falls under 'not driving with due care and attention' and in some places can be the equivalent of a DUI or DWI. I hope you're not one of those people who bops around ignoring signage and laws with your Ipod cranked and then have the temerity to complain about 'stupid drivers with cell phones' but you probably do.

So to the three (so far) people who have admitted to riding their bikes like fools, please just stop, go back to walking, because if you don't have the confidence, courage, ability, or smarts to do it properly, please don't do it at all, you just put the real riders at risk.

I'm not sure if treating stop signs like yeild signs counts as riding like a fool, but it is rather clearly illegal.

ebola

I've see cyclists do all of those things, too (and admit to doing some of them myself). I agree that it needs to stop (for some reason, the urge to run a stop sign or light is so much greater when I'm on my bike than in my car--I wonder why).

You're right about the double standard.

I see cars break the laws all the time.

They speed with in excess amounts on residential roads (and freeways, 60 in a 55 is breaking the law!)

They don't stop at designated pedestrian crosswalks when people are trying to cross.

They run stop signs, talk on cell phones and eat all while driving a vehicle that weighs over 2000 pounds (that's a ton).

How many ignore seatbelt laws? Don't get me started on that one!

How about using that darn turn signal? ARRRHH!!!!

Look around, pay attention and you'll see it happens everywhere. No doubt you even participated in it. I did when I drove.

A bicycle is not a car. On a bicycle I can see much better (I'm closer to the front). I can hear everything around me. Cars will approach and honk their horn to let them know they're behind me but I heard it about a 1/4 mile back.

me and my bicycle has a combined weight of maybe 350 lbs. <---not a car.

I often ride up on the sidewalks so cars behind me can pass. What's the big deal? When there aren't cars at an intersection, I ain't stopping. I'll slow down, listen but ride right through.

Idaho has a nice law for this and allows cyclists to treat a red light like a stop sign, and a stop sign like a yield. I think that's a reasonable approach to this issue. We have specific laws for buses, for trucks and for automobiles because we see the differences. Why can't the same be done for cyclists?

As valid as some of these complaints are, very few cyclists have killed people. There are accidents, no doubt but it pales in comparison to the amount of death caused by automobiles.

What about the worst offense of all--

The wearing of spandex, especially while wearing a few extra pounds.

I can understand for professional cyclists...in races, but why must a middle-aged man with a distended belly wear the same outfit as Lance or Miguel? :no:

I have to admit to having gone 40 mph in a 25 zone on my bike.
That ruled.

ebola

I live in center city Philadelphia, and I admit this is not a bike-friendly city. I mostly walk everywhere, and I admire those brave enough to bike. HOWEVER, I cannot stand it when bikers are on the sidewalk. Especially when they're going against the flow of traffic. It's scary and dangerous and gives bikers a bad rap.

I am just worried I am gonna hit one of these crazy bicyclists that run stop signs and go through red lights and weave in and out of traffic.

Around here we have alot of serious bike riders (we are in Lance's hometown) and they follow the rules and I love them. It is the idiots listening to their MP3 players and drinking starbucks while they pedal paying no attention to the cars that drive me nuts.

What about the worst offense of all--

The wearing of spandex, especially while wearing a few extra pounds.

I can understand for professional cyclists...in races, but why must a middle-aged man with a distended belly wear the same outfit as Lance or Miguel? :no:
:lol: ...and no shirt. :sick:

I have to admit to having gone 40 mph in a 25 zone on my bike.
That ruled.

ebola
careful to not run over the kiddies, though, i'm sure.

>>It is the idiots listening to their MP3 players>>

You know there is no rule requiring that people turn these up so far as to block all traffic noise, right? I'm not an idiot in any global sense, though, so I don't have to worry about it. :)

<<<<(enjoys his ipod)

ebola

It is the idiots listening to their MP3 players and drinking starbucks while they pedal paying no attention to the cars that drive me nuts.
that would be a neat trick. :think:

>>The wearing of spandex, especially while wearing a few extra pounds. >>

I can pull off spandex. I can pull of shirtless.
The fact of the matter is, when you're riding for more than an hour, spandex reduces chafing.

ebola

>>It is the idiots listening to their MP3 players>>

You know there is no rule requiring that people turn these up so far as to block all traffic noise, right? I'm not an idiot in any global sense, though, so I don't have to worry about it. :)

<<<<(enjoys his ipod)

eboladitto

I was one of those who at first disliked bike shorts (spandex) but then I got some major chafing on my inner thigh's when I started going on longer rides. That and a sore ass.

I appreciate the little padding under my bum (it makes a huge difference) and really don't care how I look to others. I'm riding in comfort! I'm having fun! I don't need to wear them as much as I used too. When I do rides over 20 miles it's an added comfort and I'm thankful they're around.

Wearing ipods or other music makers while riding a bike in traffic IS irresponsible.

While someone in a car does not have access to all the traffic sounds, they are able to look in their rear view mirrors, turn their heads fully while stopped etc.

People on bikes are far more vulnerable than car drivers, and must act accordingly.

Just as we bike riders are able to be a little more flexible with where we ride (where I am it is leagl to ride on the foot path where there is not designated bike path IF it is done safely), we have to be a little more aware of our surroundings.

I ride a bike and respect the road rules, I DON'T ride through red lights (I constantly see this hapening in the city), I stop when a tram stops, I don;t thread through pedestrians goinf across the road and I try to obey the road rules at all times.

If we are to earn respect, we need to act like we deserve it.

None of this 'cars are evil so we should do what we like' attitude, c'mon!

On saying this, I find I get very little respect from many car drivers, but I wonder if this is because they've had one too many dealings with bike riders that flout the rules.

>>Wearing ipods or other music makers while riding a bike in traffic IS irresponsible.>>

If I recall correctly, bike riding with open-ear headphones at a volume that doesn't block out background noise completely is legal in California.

ebola