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128 Comments
- Tantamime, on 06/20/2009, -2/+53I wish I could bike and not be a nuisance to drivers but most roads in America are not conducive to a healthy biker/driver relationship.
- cersad, on 06/19/2009, -2/+39I take personal joy in channeling at least three of these personas during my commute--although I also obey traffic signals at intersections. I'm not suicidal, I'm just an evil yet smug biker.
- Leminnes, on 06/20/2009, -5/+40If the law passes allowing bikers to ride two by two slowly in the middle of the road, we're going to see a steady (read: enormous) increase of bicycling deaths.
- Ryuusen, on 06/20/2009, -1/+35#7: The "Rest of Us".
The cyclists who obey the rules of the road, who stay on the right, and who take back roads as much as possible to avoid high traffic situations. Believe it or not, very few of us enjoy riding in heavy traffic. - abaad, on 06/20/2009, -1/+25we won't see you very often because you'll be in your car, not on a mountain bike trail.
- coreaba, on 06/20/2009, -3/+26Seems like the article is written by a non-biker. In a city infected with cars there are a lot of times where you have to ride in what seems like an unsafe manner to stay safe. Taking up an entire lane and running through intersections is what is done to keep morons from trying to squeeze between bikers and the other lane and running intersections help us get a lead on the cars before they catch up again.
I speak for Boston so Im not positive with other cities but this article seems hate on cyclists who are just trying to live in a over populated, car infested country with very little to cater to cyclists. - enozten, on 06/20/2009, -3/+20i generally support cyclists
but god they're the most obnoxious ***** here in new york
they're ALWAYS going the wrong way on a 1 way so when you jay walk they always almost hit you because you only look one way. - martynda, on 06/20/2009, -2/+17I'm not a road biker but I'll explain:
When cars try to pass bikers who are on the edge of the road, they sometimes cut awfully close either on purpose or because they don't know the boundaries of their car. So the biker has a much higher chance of getting hit with the mirror or by the wind the vehicle generates. If the biker is in the road, you are forced to go to the other lane and take the longer route around him, so it's much safer for the biker.
That being said, I despise it when they do that. In CO, there are generally well known roads for bikers and most bikers tend to take the roads either with very low traffic or with large shoulders that are specially designed for bikers. - lukas88, on 06/20/2009, -5/+19I wish there were no cars, just public transportation and bikes.
- demooo, on 06/20/2009, -4/+18Well, depending on where you live, it's safer. I much rather ride two abreast in traffic and block my lane, than ride single file and find cars trying to squeeze around me with oncoming traffic. I've been ran off the road too many times while drivers think that a 2 lane road can encompass a cyclist and 2 cars.
- leftyslament, on 06/20/2009, -0/+12I'm a cyclist commuter, so I'll reiterate what everyone else has already said. Cyclists have not only every right to ride on the street AND take up a whole lane, they have every reason.
1. Most cities has ordinances that outlaw riding on the sidewalk. Where else would we ride?
2. It is highly dangerous to allow cars to pass you in the same lane. Should there be an unforseen object in your way, which is highly likely on the side of the road, a cyclist risks getting hit by a car if they decide to swereve around it. Also, drivers can misjudge how far away they are from a cyclist if they try to pass them in the same lane. Your sideview mirror could mean death to an unfortunate cyclist.
3.Bikes can be hard to see. I'm much more visible if I'm taking up a whole lane. More visible means less likely to get hit by a driver who isn't paying attention.
4. Bikes are vehicles, and legally have every right to be on the road. They might have a slower max speed than a car, but in urban environments, bikes can go about as fast and sometimes faster than a car. I've had drivers yell at me while I was riding 25 mph in a 30 with stop lights at every block. I doubt I would have drawn so much ire if I was in a car at the same speed.
5. Lastly, and most importantly, cyclists are ***** human beings. For the average driver, a commute is a matter of getting from point A to point B. For the average cyclist it's about getting from point A to point B and staying ***** alive. A collision that would mildly dent a car can kill a cyclist. So ***** you. A cyclist might make you 30 seconds later to your destination at the most. You have no right to harass, throw objects at, attempt to collide with, or swing your door out at a cyclist because you might be half a minute late to whatever it is that you plan to attend.
As a cyclist, I will try to be as couteous as possible to drivers, but I'm going to put my life ahead of your convenience. I promise I will not ride down the wrong side of the road, ride slowly in the left lane, or anything else that is unnecessarily rude or dangerous. But if you see a cyclist taking up the right lane, leave him alone, he's just trying to STAY ALIVE. - elenaadamscom, on 06/20/2009, -1/+13They have that law in Sydney (where drivers historically despise cyclists and want them all dead). It's good to ride two-abreast on a multi-lane road for safety. Yes, people have to go around you, but trying to stick to the curb means you get regularly side-swiped at 50mph (I've felt my coat flick off their windows). And forget about making a turn out of an intersection - cars will just cut in front of you dangerously and leave you standing there.
However, there's no excuse for running reds and stop signs. - demooo, on 06/20/2009, -8/+20Wow, why are you getting dugg? I dugg you up to digg you down twice. 'Hey look at me! I have a big car, and I should ALWAYS GET MY WAY!' You are the reason cyclists get hit. DUH, I DONZ NOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CYCLIST GETS HIT! Cyclists ride in the center of the lane for a multitude of reasons, here are 2 simple ones that an idiot could figure out:
1. We can't see cars passing us (unless we are wearing a helmet mirror). Riding on the shoulder often has us dodging broken glass, trees, and rocks (all of which can cause a crash). So often, we will swerve left to avoid this. Unfortunate timing with a driver that does not give us enough space results in quite the accident.
2. Many of you aggressive drivers insist on passing us while staying in the same lane. Do you think I or anyone finds comfort with a car/driver less than 6 inches away going 20+ mph? Would you like me to post pictures of the result of crashes like these?
And, I hope you restrain your anger. Three of my friends have died from car accidents. When a rider gets hit, we don't walk away. May God smite you. - StickWST, on 06/20/2009, -1/+13Those illustrations are awkward to look at.
And are there really that many diggers that identify with this entire article? I got the "roadie" one but the rest seem like stereotypes that only passionate cyclists would recognize. - jholden42, on 06/20/2009, -0/+9"So when you jaywalk".... LOL. I hope this is MEANT to be humorous; otherwise, have fun with your indignation about people making your already illegal behavior unsafe!
- eramos, on 06/20/2009, -8/+17HOW DARE PEOPLE TRY TO USE CLEAN AND HEALTHY FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION!!!!!!! WAHR IM OUTRAGED!!
Now to get into my Yukon XL and play chicken with some ***** liberal cyclists! That'll show 'em! - D3L3T3D, on 06/20/2009, -0/+9The rational world thanks you for your cooperation. Whenever I see a "good" cyclist (not behaving like an *****) I give them a wave because that behavior should be encouraged.
- TheMu, on 06/20/2009, -0/+9Did this remind anyone else of the old Life in Hell comics by Matt Groening?
- Pxtl, on 06/20/2009, -2/+10Agree with demoo. If somebody's passing you and there's nothing obstructing them in the left lane, then being on the far right is fine... but when somebody tries to squeeze a bike and two cars in a space designed for only two cars, I fear for my life. Better for everybody's safety if the cyclist just took the whole lane and the car had to wait for an opportunity to pass properly.
- DirtPile, on 06/20/2009, -0/+8Apparently, I'm such a Fred.
- ripter, on 06/20/2009, -1/+9Agreed. Also, I like monorails.
- CheezyMunkee, on 06/20/2009, -1/+9I'm pretty sure the writer is a biker. A non-biker wouldn't know the bike and clothing brands this comic references.
Some people just can't take a joke and don't know how to laugh at themselves once in a while. - inactive, on 06/20/2009, -0/+7So you're the first caricature in the article. The dick-weed mountain biker.
- ripter, on 06/20/2009, -0/+6I don't know about the laws in your state, but where I live, Bikes are considered road vehicles, which means they have the same rights to be on the road as you do. (They also have to obey the same traffic laws.)
I try to stick to sidewalks and back roads because people will hit bikers on the road. So for a biker, you can either follow the law and have car drivers trying to hit you/force you off the road, or break the law and ride on the sidewalks (if there is a sidewalk.)
In the best world, bikers should have their own lanes or something to that effect, until then, show a little respect to your fellow human being. - leftyslament, on 06/20/2009, -2/+8Riding on the wrong side of the road is inconsiderate and dangerous, I'll give you that. As a cyclist, I try to behave the way a driver would, signaling turns, etc. But I make one exception to the law: Stop lights. I do not pay attention to the color of the light at intersections, I pay attention to the cross traffic. The reason is simple: I don't really know if a car is actually gonna stop at a red light. Chances are good that they will, but drivers do run lights, either intentionally or by accident. I would rather cross the intersection when there is no traffic coming, and if that happens to be on a red light for me, so be it. It is actually safer than trusting the cross traffic to stop while I have a green light. And If I make a mistake, that's nobodys funeral but mine.
- JDex, on 06/20/2009, -1/+7As a pedestrian who's been hit by cyclists not once, not twice, but three times in the great city of Boston... I encourage the criticism.
I am 100% for Massachusetts Cyclist Licenses and Insured Cyclist laws. - demooo, on 06/20/2009, -4/+10@Martynda
I'm an ***** because I experience these drivers every day? I don't act like I own the road, I act like a vehicle which has the right-a-way (which is true). - kungfujedis, on 06/20/2009, -2/+7we ride the wrong way on one ways sometimes because there arent enough safe bike lanes going in the correct directions. bike lanes in NY a awful, randomly stopping and starting and dumping you into heavy traffic. They have gotten better, but theres a long ways to go
- NeuralAgent, on 06/20/2009, -1/+6The only law I break is not stopping completely at stop signs. Why???
Well, I slow down then stop, then the cars behind he monk and curse and damn near run me down. It takes time to click in, but I usually out accelerate ANY car, probably because most drivers suck and don't know how to use the gas pedal... but I digress.
So, I tried staying to the right and letting cars stop, but the second they get in front of me, they pull to the right, stop and cut me off.
1" tires, NO ABS, I run into them, it hurts. I'm left in the road while they speed off.
SOOO... I no longer stop, and you know what, now I don't get run down, I don't get run off the road, I don't get cut off and left in the road.
OH, and while I'm laying in the middle of the road, cars are swerving around my head, not even giving me the 15 seconds I need to get out of the road.
I love driving, but I have been behind numerous cars that drive SLOWER than I ride my bike. Why is it they don't get run off the road? Because of insurance and fixing a car is a lot of work, and the other car can always keep up with you and get your lisence place #.
Cyclists get screwed. So before you try to put us into some category as law breaking ass holes, try to see why it is we break the laws we do.
Now, that being said, I've met way too many ass hat cyclists as well.
But we should all realize, we're all just trying to find happiness. We all have to interact at some point, we might as all try to have some patience and get along. As long as no one's getting hurt, it's probably the best we can hope for. - mrgreenjeans, on 06/20/2009, -2/+7I just did a little research into that law and I just wonder, why would anyone WANT to ride two abreast? My ***** puckers just thinking about being that inside rider.
- DarthVolta, on 06/20/2009, -2/+7I can handle sharing the road with bikers, but when bikers blatantly disregard traffic laws, I can't stand it.
If you want me to respect your place on the road, you have to follow the laws just like everyone else. AKA, no riding the wrong way down a one-way, etc. - inactive, on 06/20/2009, -0/+5Wow, nailed me, I'm clearly #1.
- NeuralAgent, on 06/20/2009, -3/+8I hate doing 35 in a 25 mph zone on my bike, having cars fly pass me, then hit their brakes on the turns. I can usually keep pace with most cars [accept climbing BIG hills] and yet no matter what I try to do, or how far I am out of the lane, I still find myself getting nearly ran over.
I was actually hit yesterday in an intersection [fortunately doing around 2mph], then the car sped off.
Fun!
I hate American drivers, and the road ways... - theonlywizdum, on 06/20/2009, -2/+7Maybe you should just keep your slow moving ass out of the ***** road. It might be ok in the cities, and where the speed limit is low, but we have bikers riding side-by-side down the middle of the road in 45 to 55 MPH zones where I live. I'm surprised there aren't more biking-related deaths.
- inactive, on 06/20/2009, -1/+6Replace nerds with *****. As an avid cyclist and previous commuter, these caricatures are spot on.
The best cyclist is the one whose rarely noticed. - JakeBC, on 06/20/2009, -0/+4The street I live on is a designated bike route, so I have hundreds of cyclists going past my apartment every day. I had to laugh at how accurate these depictions were.
- Vengefultacos, on 06/20/2009, -0/+4A while ago one nearly hit me going the wrong way on a one way street... when I was in the crosswalk, and crossing with the walk light (so, theoretically, he was running a red light and failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, in addition to going the wrong way). Of course, Mr. Entitled Lance Armstrong Wannabe yelled at *me* because obviously I was the ***** in this situation.
I like biking, and would like to ride more on the streets, but I simply don't have the nerve, after seeing the end results of two people getting doored into traffic. Eventually, the stupidity of everyone, drivers, bikers, and pedestrians makes everyone around here a raving *****. So, I just stick to the local bikepath, where I can at least eliminate the idiots driving multi-ton vehicles while eating and texting. (Well, in theory, I've seen one moron drive onto the bike path thinking it was some sort of driveway... despite the large "WELCOME TO THE BIKE PATH" sign). - Mystfit, on 06/20/2009, -1/+5Apparently I am a "Distroyer".
I am proud of this fact. - jsdratm, on 06/20/2009, -0/+4Me too, I don't see anything wrong with using the sidewalk at intersections and it is legal, at least where i live. If traffic is heavy I prefer the sidewalk all the time as long as there aren't pedestrians.
- Chompy, on 06/20/2009, -0/+4In every field of human endeavor, from bicycling to off-roading, sailing to rock-climbing, you will find nerds. Some of them may be in better shape than "our" nerds, but they're nerds nonetheless.
- Clearmedium, on 06/20/2009, -1/+5You sir are either
A. An idot
B. An *****
C. A closeminded and hopefully suicidal individual (since we do not need people like you in the world).
or D. An unsuccessful troll. - ejlewis, on 06/20/2009, -0/+4I didn't realize gingers dominated the cyclist demographic.
- Dean_Venture, on 06/20/2009, -0/+4You do realize a speed "limit" is the maximum allowable safe speed and exceeding it is grounds (in theory) for a ticket. Some roads like interstates do have minimum speeds but also ban pedal vehicles.
@D3L3T3D - Could you show me one law anywhere that requires a car to pull off the road to allow another vehicle to pass? Many places have "drive right, pass left" laws when there are multiple lanes but I'm not aware of law where a car does not have the right to a lane.
In fact a lot of places require bicycles to ride a minimum of 3 feet out from parked cars due to people opening doors. There have been case of cyclists getting tickets in the emergency room after getting doored because they were at fault. - Pillar007, on 06/20/2009, -0/+4When i ride in the middle of the road, its almost always because i am taking a left turn within 50-100 feet. If i waited for the turn to pull out i would probably get run over, or have to stop and wait. People here are really unfriendly to bikers (and i only do this when it is busy), so I would probably have to wait longer than the cumulative time of the drivers i slowed down.
- argagarg, on 06/20/2009, -2/+6How does the cartoonist think us bikers feel? For every bad biker, there are ten bad drivers.
- robinthehood, on 06/20/2009, -0/+3#1 except i don't change the laws to suit me.
- darcyp, on 06/20/2009, -0/+3No. You probably do not pace cars, except maybe in a playground zone.
What you meant to say is that you think you are as fast as a car and therefore ride in the middle of the lane, blocking traffic. - Elijah17, on 06/20/2009, -0/+3I suppose I can see your guys' points. And I can't really argue with the fact that you're saving money.
I guess my reason for wanting to drive is that, honestly, I enjoy it a hell of a lot. I get some alone time, get to listen to my music out loud, and can usually chill out, as the traffic here is stop-and-go.
Whatever floats your boat... - lukas88, on 06/20/2009, -0/+3Wrong you are, I drove for 10 years and gradually stopped because my student fees included a bus/rail pass. Now I read on the way to work and have a ton of extra money. I have a car, I'd just rather not spend the money on gas/insurance/repairs, not when a bus goes the same way every 15 minutes.
- twystoffate, on 06/20/2009, -0/+3Drop dead Fred got fingered.
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