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 ...
Generally, if you own a car, then your bicycle is covered by that policy when you are riding. One of those crazy things.
I use cleats and I personally don’t care how much I’m “inconvenienced” by uncleating. I prefer my body to be intact, thank you very much. I’ve even walked my bike through busy intersections, because I’m just not willing to challenge 50mph traffic.
They wear silly pants . . .
>>Honestly, being right would not keep me from feeling guilty for a good long time.<<
I hit a pedestrian with my Scion xB roughly two years ago. I honestly did not know whether he lived or died. It was also not relevant to me, other than it is always tragic when any person is hurt or killed due to an accident. It was so clearly his fault that I had no guilt whatsoever. I was like the conductor of a train that hits a vehicle that goes around the warning bar at a crossing. I would have no more personal responsibility for the accident than one of the passengers of the train.
Maybe it is a male thing.
I saw a cyclist get a speeding ticket on the STP a few years back. But I think it was more of a bragging rights thing for the guy. It was a 45 mph zone. ;)
I ride a lot, too. I have two rules when I ride. I ride like I’m invisible and I assume every car out there is trying to hit me.
I also drive a lot. Goes with my job.
>>Dam’n Liberal!
Always looking for somebody else to pay for your free ride.<<
Not me. I paid for my bike.
Yep, I drive a one-ton pickup. And when I see an erratic and stupid semi driver, I get the heck out of the way.
Why? Because I’m an engineer. I know, for a fact, a priori, that I will lose every single case where there is an infraction of Newton’s laws. Every single time. Without exception. 80,000+ pounds goes into 8,000 pounds 10 times with nothing left over.
I don’t care what the laws on paper say. Laws on paper are so much bum-wipe in the face of Newtonian physics.
I always get a kick out of watching drivers of small cars try to dart around semi’s with over-dimension loads here in the west. Things like the bed for a haul-pak, or a load of tires for same. There’s a cop in front, a cop in back, a flag car, and these idiots in sub-compact cars (it always seems to be a small car, not even a sports car) that gets a ‘tude on and decides that they’re going to pass these over-size processions.
Threats from behind the Keyboard... my favorites!
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.)
Just awesome! It is amazing what pointing a camera at a person will do.
Will he pay for the damage though?
As I like to put it: The mass/velocity equation does not favor the bicyclist.
In my neck of the woods, the worst offenders of this are the Mexican illegal aliens.
The rules in the Hill Country are ride on the shoulder and if there is not a shoulder ride single file no more than three feet from the far right line.
For the most part bikes and vehicles get along in the Hill Country but there are a few bridges where the roads narrow making it a little scary.
A couple years ago when I was riding some A-Hole in a Pick-Up threw a beer bottle at the rider just in front of me and missed her her by around six inches.
The F-ing A Hole could have killer her.
I used to have an old 1980 dodge d50 pickup that had expired tabs and no insurance. I would use it to drive to the store, take loads to the dump, but didn’t really drive it that much. It hit me one day that the truck cost me NO MONEY when I was not actually driving it. Man it was freeing. Naturally I looked for cops when driving it, but it looked good and blended nicely.
Why am I bringing this up? Wouldn’t it be great if both insurance and tabs were based on actual miles driven? It would incent drivers to only drive when they need to and only pay for actual use. I love the non-socialist concept of pay-for-play. You only pay for what you use. Imagine your car costing you nothing while it sits in the driveway.
Speaking of sidewalks and rules of the road, did you know that as a vehicle, you're supposed to stop at red lights, even when turning right?
Same for stop signs.
Do you obey these traffic laws, or are you like all of the riders I see who think red lights and stop signs are only for *real* vehicles?
I’ve got a Klein, aluminum frame, carbon fiber rear stays and front fork. Frame is rigid, but the carbon fiber does cut down the vibration quite a bit. I’ve done 70+ mile rides on it, and don’t get off my bike feeling like I’ve been beat to death. As a side note, I’m just about 50. (couple months to go)
Friends don’t let friends wear Lycra...
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