Urban Bike Rant

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TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Jul 9, 2014 - 06:58pm PT
My rant on urban bike trails from another thread.

Speaking of bike trails,

Why doesn't anyone on a bike know what TRACK means?

And when they want to pass they always say something unintelligible that gives no clue as to their intention.

Then there are the hazards.

We'll discount the family with kids, except to mention that on a 90 mi trail with only four blind corners, that's exactly where they will stop to deal with juvenile problems.

Then there's the informal club race peloton. The teenage as#@&%e drivers of the bike world. (But with a faster bike no longer a problem ;-)

The bike date;

The guy is always trying to keep alongside his intended prey chatting her up, our of shape enough that he's barely in control and completely oblivious to his surroundings.


Single hottie in the peloton;

The absolute worst!

She will attract an orbit of suitors like a uranium nucleus traps electrons, all swarming around her in testosterone fueled obliviousness, changing orbits with complete randomness.

I think I'd rather take my chances with MTA bus drivers.

(end of rant);-)
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 9, 2014 - 09:55pm PT
Just checking in to mention that my urban bike commute in Moab , is way better and safer than it was in Berzerkely.... Much as I love that town too!
hellroaring

Trad climber
San Francisco
Jul 9, 2014 - 11:07pm PT
I'll never forget the time while stopped on my bike at an intersection in SF a car driver rolled down his window and directed a mini tirade against bikes in my direction. He ended with the opinion that I as a bike rider should have to carry insurance, so that in the event of a collision with him my policy could pay for the damage to his car. Wow! My reply to him was an apology that my dried blood would mess up the finish of his paint job. He was serious too.
Fishy

climber
Zurich, Switzerland
Jul 10, 2014 - 01:27am PT
Guns on bikes? Too old school.

A more modern approach is to equip your bike with 5 gopros for every commute.

Check this guy out in London: including ruler and red card:

[Click to View YouTube Video]

He calls himself Traffic Droid. Here's the closeup:


http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/26/drivers-beware-its-traffic-droid-4740554/
tinker b

climber
the commonwealth
Jul 10, 2014 - 03:33am PT
i was riding down from the valley to el portal. at the entrance gate i stopped and let all the cars pass so i wouldn't have anyone behind me. in the 25 mph turns, i was going at least 30 in the middle of the lane. a car comes up behind me beeping and driving close. i look back and stay in the middle because it is too curvy to see around the turns for someone to pass safely and i am going at least five miles an hour over the speed limit. the car continues to beep so i ride the white line...which i find scary going that fast in that area because there are often rocks on the road. he passes me right away. of course a car comes from the other direction, so he over corrects and comes within six inches of my front tire. my heart was beating so fast. what an ahole.

that guy with the cameras is awesome!
wilbeer

Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
Jul 10, 2014 - 03:27pm PT
A realistic one.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/its-time-to-tone-down-the-tirades-against-bicyclists/2014/07/09/950a98b4-077b-11e4-8a6a-19355c7e870a_story.html
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
Jul 10, 2014 - 07:28pm PT
I think there's a bit of envy involved with the road rage , when motorists stuck in gridlock , see a cyclist squeezing by and making progress....? rj
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Jul 10, 2014 - 07:36pm PT
More than a bit!

wilbeer

Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
Jul 20, 2014 - 04:24pm PT
Chris Cunningham

Trad climber
San Francisco
Jul 20, 2014 - 08:58pm PT
I will wade into the cesspool of off climbing topics.

I have been a near daily bike rider in SF for 26 years...I have never been hit by a car. Lucky? No. I just follow my own rules.

Red lights don't stop cars.

Never get in the way of a car.

Never let a car come up behind (or almost behind) you.

Be prepared mentally to steer your bike without braking into a curb, sidewalk or over parked cars at any moment.

The laws of physics are not subject to legislation; are unaffected by intention and can be used to protect yourself.

There are many ways to die on a bicycle. This includes getting shot in the head by a pissed-off pedestrian.

Here a little vid for the people who believe the SF Bike Coalition, paint on the roadway, helmets, rules, mirrors etc protect you the bicyclist.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=dfe_1405725184




mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jul 20, 2014 - 09:30pm PT
Wow, Chris, that was really grim footage. I related to the helpless feeling of a collapsed lung--I was involved with/nailed by a driver a year or so back and recall only just barely feeling able to occupy the space I had there on the sidewalk.

It's about all a guy can do is to lie there trying to gasp for air and know you're gonna go into shock and maybe, just maybe, cash'em in.

Car drivers just can't even conceive of this until they are pinned in the wreckage themselves one day.
wilbeer

Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
Jul 21, 2014 - 06:07am PT
Could not agree more MFM.

Hope that dude is allright.
GDavis

Social climber
SOL CAL
Jul 21, 2014 - 08:55am PT
You choose to do a hobby that A) is boring B) makes you have week spaghetti arms C) probably you wear silly outfits. Put the bike away and grab a few kettle bells like a man, why you wanna play chicken with steel so bad home boy?!?!?
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
Jul 21, 2014 - 09:50am PT
Wilbeer...Figures your running mustache bars...ha, ha...rj
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Jul 21, 2014 - 10:07am PT
Why do the costume riders in many parts of the foothills act as though they have MORE rights than autos?



*The cardinal rule with my kids is that cars outweigh you by a hundred times and there is no winning in a crash with a car.

No matter what the rules are, GET THE F*#K OUT OF THE WAY, GET OVER, GET SKINNY, GET SAFE, when cars are coming.

There is no rule or law that can bring you or your kids life back.....
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
Jul 21, 2014 - 11:44am PT
Good advice on surviving while riding a bike...here's more advice...Cars have power steering and brakes which allow the driver to slow and pass cyclists....True , cyclists riding abreast can be annoying but i always give them extra space by steering to the left and slowing...Sometimes i stop to see if they need water...It's not that hard to be courteous to cyclist even when they are blowing it...rj
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
Jul 21, 2014 - 08:20pm PT
Excellent comments everyone!

Sweet bike wilbeer.
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jul 21, 2014 - 08:27pm PT
We have a report of a bicyclist meltdown on Hwy 395 Northbound blocking what traffic there is. All units respond.
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Jul 22, 2014 - 06:47am PT
May I summarize this thread?
Urban bikers don't follow the rules and piss everyone off.
Urban bikers then complain that drivers yell at them.
Urban bikers need to pull their wadded panties out of their butt cracks.
steelmnkey

climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
Jul 22, 2014 - 07:08am PT
Or you could say it this way...
Drivers don't follow the rules and piss everyone off.
Drivers then complain that cyclists don't follow the rules.
Drivers need to pull their wadded panties out of their big fat oversized butt cracks.
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