Here's a nice 10 speed commuter............
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 ...
“For those 18 and over who cycle on public roadways, licensing and liability insurance should be mandatory.”
Well, I’ve yet to see a cyclist do enough damage to require the insurance. However, I do agree that bicyclists who disregard the law — including the hard-core guys who seem to think that a paceline negates any legal requirements — should get tickets, and they should count as points on their licenses.
Here's a nice 10 speed commuter............
Urban bicyclists - Using NASCAR rule in cities.
You’re not the only one that has problems with bikers. We live in the mountains. Bikers ride on the two lane roads up here all the time. One was killed trying to pass a big tractor on a curve and crossed a double yellow line. At times, we haul a 20’ stock trailer, loaded. There are blind curves and steep inclines. You can’t stop a rig like this when coming up on these bikers. Bikers seem to think they have the right of way. Little do they know that might has right.
> We don’t require the services of cars and trucks.
You require roads. And you require road rules and traffic signals (but most of you pay not a blind bit of notice to either).
> We don’t tear up the pavement like trucks. We don’t cause the same damages as cars and trucks.
So why should that absolve cyclists from being licensed? And paying road taxes just like everyone else? And observing the Road Rules?
Why should cyclists get to use for free something that someone else has paid for?
> If the taxes and fees paid equates to rights, then shouldn’t the guys who truck M1 battle tanks on our Interstates be able to abuse car drivers?
The cars and trucks have all paid their fair share and are not free-loading.
OK, just 30 posts in and we’ve already got:
—Cyclists are freeloaders.
—Ban them.
—Buy new bumpers to hit them with.
—They’re all liberals.
—And, of course, hinting that all the guys who ride bikes might be gay.
Any more?
You’re kidding right? This is still FREE Republic, isn’t it?
It isn’t just bicycle riders who pull dumb stunts.
The gene pool got a little cleaning last week on Loop 1604 around San Antonio. A guy on a motorcycle rode between cars and a semi. The driver of the car in front of the truck couldn’t see the motorcycle, changed lanes, and the biker ran into the car. Splat!
I’m thinking cow catcher.
Perhaps you should come down to Austin this weekend when it is 100 degrees and ride with me in the Hill Country for 50 miles. I will provide a bike, the bike shorts and a helmet.
I am guessing that we would see who is really effeminate long before the 50 miles are complete.
I have. Seen them screw up side mirrors, then there’s the old over the hood into the windshield problem. Of course usually if they do claimable damage to a car the rider is in bad shape so in a sense they wind up paying for it anyway, even if the car owner doesn’t get a check.
SE Asia is heavily motorscooters (under 150cc) and bikes, and there are lots of little accidents (although a family friend died a few weeks back after losing his grip on a wet bridge and crashing into the rocks about 25 feet below, wearing a helmet).
Anyway, the funniest one I ever saw was a teenage student on one bike, and two Buddhist monks on the other, each going about 3mph in downtown Saigon. They were approaching each other from opposite directions but couldn’t seem to decide who goes right and who goes left and so they ran head-on into each other instead.
No one was hurt at that slow speed, they just sort of careened over and regained their balance, but it was kind of funny. Nobody said a word, they just got back on their bikes and carried-on like nothing had happened. Definitely a YouTube moment.
It wouldn’t have been your fault, had you hit them. Bicycles are usually considered to be vehicles when being ridden. As such, they are generally not allowed to ride on sidewalks.
You had nothing to apologize for, they were most likely in the wrong. Their ignorance is not your fault.
I say this as a cyclist myself.
The roads were paved for autos, and the sidewalks are for walkers. Bikers should stick to designated paths.
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They’re voting for Obama
They’re anti-military
They’re closet Communists
They’re Unitarians
They’re members of the Democrat Underground
They’re believers in the 9/11, Lincoln, JFK, Moon Walk, & Ron Brown conspiracies
They’re contrbutors to George Soros
They’re vegans
They’re....
They’re ....
They’re ....
///sarcasm
Cyclists are like drivers. There are good ones, bad ones, and everything in between.
I will blow through arbitrary stop signs, especially at the bottom of hills. You know the ones I’m talking about: no cars around, no threat to safety, no reason to stop other than the mere presence of a stop sign.
I’m a “spirit of the law” sort of guy. That is, most speed limits and signs are there to help traffic flow smoothly and safely. If I am helping with both (sometimes by blowing through stop signs), that is a good thing.
As a driver, I have no problem with guys on bikes that blow through stop signs even though I have to stop in my car. It is much more “expensive” to scrub off all that energy on a bike than in a car. There are also several roads where I live that have quite a few arbitrary stop signs that are there for one singular purpose: to disincent drivers from using those roads to bypass clogged freeways.
I did have a motorcyclist (hells angle wannabe) come to a stop sign at the bottom of a hill and pull close to the curb so I couldn’t pass him. He was way ahead of me and just sat there at the intersection, waiting for me so I would have to stop. But he didn’t pull close enough. I blew by him. He then gunned it, got next to me and started swearing at me and balling me out. My response: I excitedly said, “Hey, I have a motorcycle too!”
It really annoys people when you can do things they can’t. I know the feeling but I try to supress it.
BTW, I’ve been hit on my bike by cars on three separate occasions. All three were taking illegal right turns in front of me. But I was watching for it and never went down. All three cars got very badly scratched up though. One was a 1 year old fire engine red Corvette with what looked like VERY expensive tires and wheels. It was very shiny as I looked down as I sorta ripped up his front wheel well, forcing my pedal through it to keep myself up.
The guys that do crazy stuff, pulling in front of cars, etc. are really asking for it, and will almost certainly get it someday.
Thanks!
I do feel better.
But sure as I sit here, I would have ended up in court and paying to keep them in luxury for a few good years! That’s just the way it goes.
I used to cycle 6 miles to work at a hospital, past the airport in some major traffic. I respected the cars and never had a problem.
Those cars could hurt me bad.
“They don’t sit a driver’s license, they don’t have to register their vehicles, they don’t have to keep their vehicles roadworthy, they don’t pay road taxes, and they don’t have to carry insurance. Yet they get identical rights on the roads that others have paid for as motor vehicles.”
Thats a very good point. There is a big difference between a 12 year old riding his bike and some 28 yr old thug expecting special treatment.
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