Posted on 07/29/2008 7:55:24 AM PDT by fightinJAG
When gas prices surged above $4 per gallon earlier this year, it didn't take Nostradamus to predict that there would be a resultant rush to carbon-free commuting options—especially in a place like Portland, which is known for its ample network of bike lanes. Cyclists in "Stumptown" are spinning their spokes here in unprecedented numbers, trading in their fuel-guzzling SUVs for stylish 27-speeds.
But the cycling surge has created conflict, as the new breed of commuters bumps up against the old, oil-powered kind.
First came a drunk cyclist repeatedly smacking the driver of a car with his bike July 6, before a passerby stopped the melee by knocking the pedaler to the ground with one punch (the driver happened to be a longtime cycling advocate, who'd kicked off the altercation by chiding the biker for blowing through a red light.)
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
> Your alternative is to assault cyclists, and you better make sure when you put me down I stay down, because if you don’t I’m getting up and dusting myself off and rubbing your face on some hot concrete. Capice?
That sounds vaguely like a threat.
i think my trucks big enough that i can go over them :)
Actually, it was right past Thousand Oaks on the 281 North access road where the incident I was talking about happened. You are right though, some of the motorcyclists in our area really pull some stupid stunts too. The way they weave in and out of the cars is just nuts. There is a biker bar on my way home and I have seen those idiots actually pull their bikes out into the middle of the highway and hold up traffic so the rest of the group can get out on the highway. They are extremely arrogant.
>>>>Worst accident I ever had
Nasty.
I’ve run into immovable objects a few times through my own utter carelessness.
One time the impact broke the front fork clean in two, but luckily nothing else (including me) and I just slapped a new wheel and fork on it that same weekend.
About a month ago I witnessed a bicyle run a red light and cause a collision...with another bicycle...the officer kept asking me to control my laughter until he was done with my statement. A stupid person is a stupid driver regardless of what manner of vehicle he is driving. And downtown Portland and the Hawthorne district seems to attract stupid people in huge numbers.
Looks like the tires are a little more durable than the usual skinnies. I’d guess fewer blowouts that way...
> All the male bicycle riders I know of are all whiners.
And Liberals.
Back in the day when I rodemy bike on the streets of Chicago, I went across the busy intersections as if I was a pedestrian. It took longer but it was safer. Five kids got splatted here by being assertive. Right as in dead right is no right at all for your survivors.
You people amaze me. You seem to think we bicyclists don’t own cars and we pay absolutely no taxes whatsoever.
Anyway, just as an FYI, there is no specific government account for “gasoline taxes.” It all goes into a general fund and legislatures disburse money based on department budgetary requirements.
The idea that 100% of gasoline taxes goes to roads is a ridiculous notion. If this was truly the case, our roads would be in a lot better shape.
...yep...I guess some folks equate looking effeminate with lean muscle mass...I only get sore at folks on bikes when I’m struggling on a 5 mile run and someone cruises by me like I’m standing still (which, admittedly, it might seem like I am)...just kidding...gonna be 103 in Austin today...
That is simply not true. The truth is that most bike riders and most car drivers are safe. However, there are both biker riders and car drivers that are jerks.
As for taxes I paid 8.25% tax on a $2,500.00 road bike as well as my $1,500.00 mountain bike and $2,000.00 in clothes and gear. That's around $500.00 and that does not include the $2,500.00 I raise each year for charity bike rides.
Hopefully, I can continue to raise money for causes but if Democrats like you want to keep increasing my taxes I may not be able to continue to ride in charity events.
>>The roads were paved for autos...<<
No. Roads were being paved before the invention of the automobile, but those roads DID cater to bicycles. The bicycle actually predates the automobile regarding road usage. Roads are as robust as they are now because that is the way they best accomodate the needs of cars. Two or three inches of blacktop just won’t do for most four+ wheeled vehicles.
If a cyclist were to hit a pedestrian and put them in the hospital, the cyclist had better have insurance or have the ability to pay for the damages. If it happened to me, no way would I use my personal insurance to pay the medical bills.
I pretty much support cyclists and try to be careful around them. From my observation, most are pretty good about obeying the laws, with the exception of running stop signs. I undertand that using toe clips makes it inconvenient to come to a complete stop, but there’s no excuse for blowing through stop signs at a high rate of speed. Once I’ve made my stop and have the right of way, I don’t have to yield to a toe-clipped scofflaw.
I stand by my statement: For those 18 and over who cycle on public roadways, licensing and liability insurance should be mandatory.
Perhaps my sample size was too small, (or the fact that it's mostly comprised of California government workers) biased the population, eh?
T-Dogz, too far away, however the the ride in Hill Country does sound fun.
Admittedly there are a lot of bike riders in Austin that are A-Holes. Most seem to be young punks on cruisers. However, those of us who are on road bikes understand that we have little room for error and are very, very safe.
True enough, but what also annoys me is that 9 out of 10 of the cyclists in my area wear yellow Tour de France leader jerseys when they're out riding as if they fricking Lance Armstrong.
That's like someone playing touch football while wearing a fake Superbowl ring.
It's just pathetic.
>>No, you just jam up trafic and piss off people in steel cars with your self-righteous attitudes. <<
You paint with a mighty broad brush, my friend.
I was on my bike on a busy street IN THE BIKE LANE and a flatbed semi intentionally drifted into my lane coming within about 3 inches of my handlebars. I was doing 25, he about 45. It was quite scary, but I don’t blame all truck drivers. Just him.
BTW, often traffic is jammed up by drivers who do not understand how to pass bicyclists. I’ve been behind them in my car and find myself very frustrated. Not by the bicyclist, but by the weenie that is afraid to pass them.
‘You seem to think we bicyclists don’t own cars and we pay absolutely no taxes whatsoever.”
You still don’t get it. Roads are maintained by a use tax. The more gas you use the more tax you pay.
BTW - I ride a lot but don’t expect people to get out of my way. I ride like they can’t see me. Farthest I ever went in one day was 112 miles, although I couldn’t do that much now.
I’ve also lived in Asia where they have lots of bikes and motorcycles. They don’t use them to be green. They use them because they can’t afford anything else. Thats where these freaks wanna take us.
it’s too funny!
As for the freeloaders comments... they are laughable at best.
I drive, pay taxes on my cars, etc... even paid to register my bike with the city... I have every right to be on the road as any vehicle....
If you stay on a highway with a shoulder or on a bike trail, ok, but riding in my part of the Hill Country where the roads are hilly and winding and there is no shoulder is just insane and those are the ones that hack me off, especially when they ride in groups. Hope that wasn’t you I was cussing last week, LOL!
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