Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
|
|
|
Jul 22, 2014 - 09:11am PT
|
For,SLR.
"Even bikers don't like bikers"....LOL
|
|
mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
|
|
|
Jul 23, 2014 - 09:36pm PT
|
Bicyclists have a lane to themselves.
One reason that bicyclists use the sidewalk on Main, it's shady during the heat of the afternoon.
About eight or nine years ago I'd gotten a ticket for sidewalk riding, but I'd only hit the sidewalk and dismounted to walk it to a bike rack when a bicycle officer, who was busy writing one ticket to another rider, told me to hold on and go over to the other officer who had just finished citing yet another rider!
I had been mounted on the bike on the sidewalk for not even five feet when I dismounted and saw the policeman. Later, when I pled my case in Municipal Court, Judge Quall gave me a $50 fine, suspended, and had a good chuckle.
|
|
Michelle
Social climber
1187 Hunterwasser
|
|
|
Jul 23, 2014 - 09:44pm PT
|
3 words.. fu.cking Palo Alto
|
|
kaholatingtong
Trad climber
Nevada City
|
|
|
Jul 25, 2014 - 09:36am PT
|
i too once got a ticket for riding my bike on a sidewalk in downtown SF. it was late at night, i had just gotten off work and was riding through the Tenderloin to bart. At the upcoming intersection, a very busy one, i noticed there was a cop car parked in the middle of the bike lane on the upcoming block. Noticing how many cars are waiting to go once the light changes, and the lack of space for me to go when they do also, due to the cop car, i began to look for options. i spotted the 20+ foot wide sidewalk that was entirely empty. deciding to avoid the police cars blocking maneuver i rode up onto the sidewalk, very clearly, for my own safety. interestingly enough, as soon as i did so 6 cops very quickly came out of, seeming to me, nowhere. I was, most obviously, pulled over for riding on the sidewalk, and also riding ( this night specifically only ) without lights. The cops proceeded to put me up against the wall, check me for weapons, check my id, check my bag ( i know i coulda said no but i had nothing to hide and was feeling pretty intimidated after being pushed up against the wall for the personal search ). They tried to get me to pay this big sidewalk ticket, but i was having none of that. I went to court and contested, to simply have the whole ordeal thrown out. Long story short, as an urban cyclist, there are rules, and i DO believe in following them; however, there are exceptions to all rules, given the right context, I believe.
|
|
John Duffield
Mountain climber
New York
|
|
|
Jul 25, 2014 - 09:53am PT
|
Cops hate bicycles. Have to accept that. Here in NYC, you sit on the sidewalk and they're not supposed to beat the sh#t outta you. So no matter what you get busted for, sit on the sidewalk, take the effing ticket and beat it in court.
So after 9/11, the tourist biz, went totally south, I was on a packed subway and I understood enough Spanish to know they'd all been laid off from one of the hotels. Super depressing. So like a miracle, The Republicans booked their convention here and things turned around soon after. It was a huge vote of confidence.
I was in a weird part of life and my then urban bike club was "Critical Mass". I'd been delighted when the Republicans booked the convention, but CM had an enormous demonstration planned, and I went with my friends. It was glorious. Places it would be your life to ride normally, were ours for a night. I saw all the famous TV talking heads out there watching it.
Later that night, the cops herded it into the tight streets of the village segmented it, threw nets over groups of people and started busting them like cattle. It was the way they threw the bikes in a heap that got me.
When they netted the people next to me, I went through a sidewalk cafe, with my bike over my head, telling everyone "Welcome to New York" while they watched the carnage. Went through the restaurant and out the service door.
|
|
cowpoke
climber
|
|
my urban terrain, Boston, often makes top ten lists for most unfriendly to bikers...for which I have a couple personal validation experiences: http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1257141/End-to-my-climbing-season-Advice-and-sympathy-troll
I've been thinking it would be cool to have a cycling version of the waze app (maybe even directly connected to waze data), with part of the option algorithm being route safety factors...dynamically calculated based on numbers of drivers, number of bikers, etc. there are plenty of cyclometer apps, but does anyone know of any good route finding apps for urban cycling?
|
|
TGT
Social climber
So Cal
|
|
http://graphics.latimes.com/la-bike-hit-and-runs/
Graphic on second page overlaid with Stravada heat map.
http://www.bikeforums.net/southern-california/983611-accidents-will-happen.html
It was endlessly drummed into my head that no matter how much you sped or didn't, any sense of gaining on others was eclipsed by the first stop light. Everyone you passed in the last 45 minutes were lined up at the same red light with you. Fast or slow, the journey was always the same time within a 3 minute space, spread out over an hour of speeding, passing or doing the limit.
Time doesn't matter when you drive a car.
Same thing applies on a bike and I think this is what triggers rage in some drivers. No mater how fast they go, they see you along side them at every red light.
Then there's the spatial awareness issue. I'm convinced that about 10% of the population doesn't have any. They literally don't know where the side of their car is.
|
|
Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
|
|
The rules of the road™, say that you treat a bike with the same space requirements as a car, you don't tailgate, you don't crowd. If you need to pass, you wait for the opportunity, and patiently drive slower, until then., remember that a bike will stop a lot faster than you in your car will, plan accordingly!
You probably will never get a ticket for this reckless behavior, but the life you save be avoiding it, may very well be mine!
End of Rant.
I ride a bike, drive a car, and walk.
The rules of the road in Oregon also say that a bike has to obey all traffic laws and some additional ones.
If there is a bike lane, you are obligated to use it unless it is not possible for safety reasons.
You are obligated to signal turns also unless that is not possible for safety reasons.
You are obligated to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk or within six feet of the lane he/she is in. No exceptions.
A rolling stop ( Boise stop) is legal in Boise. It is not legal here. You must come to a complete stop. Wait for your turn at a four way stop whether you are in a car or on a bike. If you ride a fixi maybe you can do that without unclipping, but on a normal bike most people can't. That's how you know if you are doing it.
if you are on a bike cars will see you better at a four way if you take up the whole lane. To be fair, a lot of cars are doing the Boise stop if they stop at all.
You can't text or use a phone while riding a bike. Texting and Boise stops aren't a good combination. Your head should be on a swivel, not on the phone screen.
You must have lights after sunset. Today that is at 4:20. Those bright annoying flashing superLED kind are illegal. Buy and use them anyway. No cop will stop you.
Find another color clothing besides black. At least get some reflective tape.
If you are on a bike, even just coasting on a pedal, you are not a pedestrian. Don't expect the pedestrian rules apply. Get off the bike and walk it in the crosswalk if you must. It is a signal to others.
Passing on the right is illegal even if you are in a bike lane. Nobody begrudges a bike doing that in normal traffic, but for god's sake don't pass a car on the right in an intersection when it is signaling for a right turn. I have taken to obstructing the bike lane when I am turning right. Completely illegal. I do it anyway so I don't kill some kid who isn't paying attention. I'd rather get a ticket than buy flowers.
And Portland is routinely voted the most bike friendly city in the country. It is well earned. There is a designated bike STREET one block over from most arterials ( I live on one). The intersections are controlled to favor bike traffic and speed limits are lower. Don't use the busy arterials unless you like playing Russian roulette.
|
|
Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
|
|
Survival strategy on a bike is a good concept. Fender benders with cars usually don't turn out well. They just get scratched paint.
You might find it works out OK to follow traffic rules even if a cop isn't around.
|
|
Reeotch
climber
4 Corners Area
|
|
Nice bike Naitch!
When I was 17 or so, I took off from a red light with a bunch of cars. This lady next to me decides to hang a right in to the next driveway after the light, only thing was, I was riding right next to her.
So, she plows into me, knocking me off my bike. In the process I took off her passenger side mirror with my left arm.
She gets out of the car, and the first thing she says is, "look what you did to my mirror!". I quickly responded with, "look what you did to my arm", as I held up my bloodied forearm. That pretty much shut her up. I still have the scar.
If the same thing happened to me today, I'd sue her ass!
These days I mostly ride off road. Never trust a driver.
|
|
Bad Climber
climber
|
|
+20 for Naitch's ride! Love it.
Reading these stories makes me so glad I don't live in the city! Ugh. Very occasionally I have a minor pass-to-close kind of thing, but generally, here in the wastes of Tehachistan, we got few problems.
BAd
|
|
wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
|
|
Probably not Urban.
You could rant about this.
But it is definitely about Bikes.[Click to View YouTube Video]
HS.
Sweet bike,Naitch,like the 5 piece fork.Rohloff Hub?
|
|
cowpoke
climber
|
|
air horns taped to my handlebars not a bad idea for Boston. would help bikers integrate into the honking culture. and would be super funny to watch drivers jump with surprise!
edit: still wondering if any good apps for urban biking routes?
|
|
hellroaring
Trad climber
San Francisco
|
|
Cars suck the spirit, life, & adventure out of your soul. The more time you spend in one the more this happens. Explains a lot about the general direction of society don't you think?
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 7, 2014 - 10:22am PT
|
"Miller: The more you drive, the less intelligent you are."
-from Repo man
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!