Radio host infuriates cyclists

The Raleigh News & Observer ^ | 10/1/03 | BRUCE SICELOFF

[newgeezer]

I just don't understand why all you bike weenie gas mizers are here instead of over on DU with you coreligionists.

Well, I see where you've already ruled out any possibility of exercise along with that obvious benefit of gas miserliness. (By the way, I ride a 21-speed hybrid bike 15 minutes to work, and I don't wear spandex. It's blue jeans and a polo shirt. But, hey, you're right and I'm wrong about us and our motivations.)

Why are we here instead of DU? Must be because we simply enjoy the conversation with your sort of Neanderthal. Here's one you'll enjoy: "Use oil. Make a terrorist happy."

[olorin]

Actually that post referred specifically to a right of self-defense. Note that the concealed carry comment was preceded by: "For those drivers who feel like taking out a little aggression on a cyclist . . ." Get it straight Hatteras.

[olorin]

It would be your fellow drivers who started the threats of running bicyclists down, hitting them with car doors, putting steel pipes in their spokes, etc.

[Old Professer]

The slightest nudge from a passing motorist can KILL a cyclist...

Delicate little things, are they?

[PLMerite]

I think there is some requirement to keep up with the flow of traffic on a road. If a person in a car was going 20mph in a 45mph zone he'd get a ticket for obstructing traffic.

[Major_Risktaker]

The Israel-PLO conflict about land is similar to who has the right of way on the bike trails in Washington DC.

The Recreational Bicycling Guide to the Washington DC Area

Notice "NOT SKATE TRAIL"

ANYWAY, your so-called crash scenario is one of my survival stories. Rolling south past National Airport at 31 Mph on a glorious sunny afternoon - I noticed ahead there were two twinkle toe skaters starting to roll down a small but step hill for them.

The Mount Vernon Trail is a big favorite of area cyclists

Passing them both quickly in the open left lane was my best option as I was racing some guy for the pass 15 minutes back and forth finally ahead again. Now if they would just stay in the right lane as I passed.

The first guy I passed quickly, the other was already down the hill. As I was beginning my second pass, the twinkle toe skater does this pirouette twisty turn into the left passing lane and I couldn’t F'in believe my eyes. In a New York second just as I thought could happen with a mindless skater or jogger as I would pass at any speed, he turn forward into the passing lane and we had a instant 30+ mph head-on collision!

This guy just turned into the passing lane to face his buddy and ate a 210lbs 30mph+ bullet, drilling right into his groin and chest area of his shirtless body. .

I flew over his right shoulder rolling with him in the grass next to the river some 15 ft. off the BIKE TRAIL we both jumped up, exchanged some polite comments loudly face to face almost coming to blows.

Both realizing we were ok, we went from Defcon 5 to Defcon 1 as his friend and other started to gather around to see if we were ok.

Still angry we forgave each other, shook hands as a sign of goodwill and when our separate ways. Lucky for twinkle toes he was all muscle at 190 lbs and fit. Not a scratch between us, thanks to the grass and guardian angels.

The bike still worked but not set up for speed after the crash. The bike went to the shop for a tune up and replaced the large chainring from 52 to 56 for more high end speed.

Inclosing, cars, bikes, skaters and joggers need to work something out or this so called "HATE" will go on. I can type all day long about solutions but one easy rule is obey the street laws and respect each others SPACE.

[Old Professer]

I can type all day long about solutions but one easy rule is obey the street laws and respect each others SPACE. I'd just as soon you rode your bike.

[Hatteras]

When you bring up the term "Concealed Carry" you are implying that all actions toward you will be considered life threatening and you are prepared to defend yourself. I understand that. But Freepers on the thread reacted to your statement as a perceived threat of some kind of "bicycle vigilantism".

See? It was all your fault! ;-)

[Old Professer]

I can type all day long about solutions but one easy rule is obey the street laws and respect each others SPACE.

I'd just as soon you rode your bike.

[newgeezer]

I don't understand how your comment relates to my message. Perhaps if you'd quoted the relevant part of my message, I'd have a better chance.

[Major_Risktaker]

LOL, That is the look!

[olorin]

These are the laws which govern operation of a bicycle, and its interaction with automobiles, in Minnesota:

"[T]he operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on the roadway shall leave a safe distance, but in no case less than three feet clearance, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual." Minn. Stat. § 169.18, subd. 3(3).


Minn. Stat. § 169.222:

Subdivision 1. Traffic laws apply. Every person operating a bicycle shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this chapter, except in respect to those provisions in this chapter relating expressly to bicycles and in respect to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature cannot reasonably be applied to bicycles.

Subd. 2. Manner and number riding. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except (1) on a baby seat attached to the bicycle, provided that the baby seat is equipped with a harness to hold the child securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the child's feet hitting the spokes of the wheel or (2) in a seat attached to the bicycle operator.

Subd. 3. Clinging to vehicle. Persons riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, toboggan, sled, skateboard, or toy vehicle shall not attach the same or themselves to any street car or vehicle upon a roadway.

Subd. 4. Riding on roadway or shoulder. (a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
(1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
(2) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
(3) when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including fixed or moving objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or narrow width lanes, that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.
(b) If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder of a roadway, the bicycle shall travel in the same direction as adjacent vehicular traffic.
(c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.
(d) A person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal when necessary before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district unless permitted by local authorities. Local authorities may prohibit the operation of bicycles on any sidewalk or crosswalk under their jurisdiction.
(e) An individual operating a bicycle or other vehicle on a bikeway shall leave a safe distance when overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on the bikeway, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.
(f) A person lawfully operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

Subd. 5. Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars or from properly operating the brakes of the bicycle.

Subd. 6. Bicycle equipment. (a) No person shall operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with a lamp which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector of a type approved by the department of public safety which is visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. No person may operate a bicycle at any time when there is not sufficient light to render persons and vehicles on the highway clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet ahead unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with reflective surfaces that shall be visible during the hours of darkness from 600 feet when viewed in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.
The reflective surfaces shall include reflective materials on each side of each pedal to indicate their presence from the front or the rear and with a minimum of 20 square inches of reflective material on each side of the bicycle or its operator. Any bicycle equipped with side reflectors as required by regulations for new bicycles prescribed by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission shall be considered to meet the requirements for side reflectorization contained in this subdivision.
A bicycle may be equipped with a rear lamp that emits a red flashing signal.
(b) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(c) No person shall operate upon a highway any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate the hands above the level of the shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
(d) No person shall operate upon a highway any bicycle which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from stopping the bicycle, supporting it with at least one foot on the highway surface and restarting in a safe manner.

Subd. 7. Sale with reflectors and other equipment. No person shall sell or offer for sale any new bicycle unless it is equipped with reflectors and other equipment as required by subdivision 6, clauses (a) and (b) and by the regulations for new bicycles prescribed by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Subd. 8. Turning, lane change. An arm signal to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, unless the arm is needed to control the bicycle, and shall be given while the bicycle is stopped waiting to turn.

Subd. 9. Bicycle parking. (a) A person may park a bicycle on a sidewalk unless prohibited or restricted by local authorities. A bicycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic.
(b) A bicycle may be parked on a roadway at any location where parking is allowed if it is parked in such a manner that it does not obstruct the movement of a legally parked motor vehicle.

Subd. 10. Bicycle events. (a) Bicycle events, parades, contests, or racing on a highway shall not be unlawful when approved by state or local authorities having jurisdiction over that highway. Approval shall be granted only under conditions which assure reasonable safety for all participants, spectators and other highway users, and which prevent unreasonable interference with traffic flow which would seriously inconvenience other highway users.
(b) By agreement with the approving authority, participants in an approved bicycle highway event may be exempted from compliance with any traffic laws otherwise applicable thereto, provided that traffic control is adequate to assure the safety of all highway users.

Subd. 11. Peace officer operating bicycle. The provisions of this section governing operation of bicycles do not apply to bicycles operated by peace officers while performing their duties.

[olorin]

Sorry that was supposed to be posted in reponse to 419.

[DollyCali]

GREAT SURPRISE .. ..... thanks for registering & posting...

Give em H**L...

Everyone else...( yes he IS A LAWYER and an avid cyclist)

[ArrogantBustard]

I was racing some guy for the pass 15 minutes back and forth finally ahead again.

Save the racing for closed courses or wide open country roads. Pass with caution.

the twinkle toe skater does this pirouette twisty turn into the left passing lane

If twinkle toes had his head anywhere other than up his XXX, he would have looked around before doing his Tonya Harding act.

obey the street laws and respect each others SPACE.

Absolutely.

[bicycle thug]

"You can find out all about them and your other spiritual compatriots on DU."

first, thanks for explaining that; two you are the one calling me stupid and is obviously going over to a site I know better then to waste my time on.

When people even talk of the Democratic Underground I generally scroll on by. Your insult concerning my alleged affinity is noted.

Appreciate the laugh. I really and truly do.

[DollyCali]

I had a friend killed in Akron/Cleveland area last year. He was left in the street to die like an animal .. and the few times I have hit an animal, I try to see if I can help/save it.

. He was a skilled cyclist & travelled the world (even yukky FRance) without a prior incident.

Every time we cyclists go out on the roads we know this might happen. But for me this is better than a cancer ward etc.

NOW I really am going to get out & bike it is supposed to snow here tonight !

[olorin]

I am sorry to hear about your friend. None of my friends who are cyclists have been killed - but more than a couple broken bones as a result of inattentive drivers - mostly due to the dreaded right turn right in front of you.

[DollyCali]

Re: the biking latex etc (fitted ) garments.

I can tell you these MEN are MEN and most of we women find them VERY attractive in their biking clothes..When I first started serious biking I swore I would NEVER wear those "tacky looking things"... women's clothing is about same..

Well, it has been one of the many times I have eaten my words. NOw I have fattened the bankrolls of Nashbar etc..

Biking is fun folks.. but so are movies, kayaking, skiing, reading..

and ESPECIALLY FREEPING !!!

[bicycle thug]

Someone shooting me with a paintball would have to ignore the fact I am a defensive bike rider that knows that to get curtesy you have to show it to assume I was a target of oppertunity.

Then I would use the harrassing a cyclist law to full advantage. I am a good bike handler, I can stay afloat on two wheels through the sting of something I am used to having done much paintball mock combat.

But if you hit a person who is not a good bike handler who crashes, hits their head and is severely injured or dies...need I say more.

Bad idea frought with a heaping helping of immaturity. I think you just blew the being a good boy thing and should forget the wishl ist to Santa this year.

In fact, I would even stay off his lap this year as well when Mommy takes you shopping at the local mall.