Transportation

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

norcider — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:13:49 GMT

"The more you drive, the less intelligent you are."

-Miller, Repo Man

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

jgw — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:44:42 GMT

Good Driver:

The failure of the majority of these cyclists to stop at red lights means that drivers have to keep passing the same cyclist again and again, since the red-light running cyclist passes the car when it is stopped at the red light.

The funny thing about this quote and what most motorists fail to realize is that the cyclists keep passing you because......wait for it......wait for it........you are going the same speed!! Motorists can't understand this. That being said I try and avoid congested roads or in the alternative ride at the speed of traffic. However, it never fails that in stop and go traffic some idiot will blaze past me at 6,000RPM's only to be stopped at the next light behind other traffic. My favorite thing to do in these instances, because i typically ride as fast as traffic, AND i wait at red lights, is to ride up along side the impatient maniac and wave. As if if to say. Hey here I am and there you are. Fancy that. Motorists constant ability to be surprised by the red light that is 100 yards down the road is fascinating to me. I am guilty of it myself. When I see a biker, there is an innate urge to pass him/her, no matter what lies ahead. However, since I have empathy I usually say to myself - you know what. Rather than killing this inferior biker trying to get to the red light at warp speed....I am just going to take it slow. I will end up in the same place regardless.

I want to hear from you impatient motorist! Where the hell are you going in such a hurry and why is your egress more important than mine. I am keeping up with traffic. You don't have to pass every "obstacle" that you encounter.

Riding in the left and right lanes on Butler St.

Nick Thompson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:26:18 GMT

"Once recently two cyclists directly ahead of me were riding abreast in both the left and right lanes on Butler Street,"

In my mind, Butler St. is, for the most part, one lane in each direction. Do you mean one of these riders was riding straight into on coming traffic?

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

sside67 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:57:13 GMT

Good driver, you apparently don't see room for sharing the road with cyclists, unless of course it is on your terms. (I've got no excuse/justification for two abrest riding in traffic, though)

On one hand, you don't wan't them going faster than traffic, in case you have to pass them more than once. On the other, you don't want them going slower than traffic if it holds you up.

Did you ever think about it from the cyclists perspective - as long as they are riding they will probably be passed by cars almost continually. Do you think they are thinking that they should try to slow down and not get to work so fast, because its causing the same 5 cars to pass them over and over again, instead of being passed by different cars if they were going more slowly? You begrudge cyclists one of the advantages to biking in rush hour - the fact that while motorists are stopped and inching along, the bike can continue to move. Thats why biking as a commuter works!

The risk is entirely on the cyclist. The complaints from motorists are just intolerance, petty grievances, jealosy, etc. The day a cyclist runs a red light, hits a car, and the driver is injured, then maybe there are some points to be had, but the majority of the driver comments on here are petty.

Most drivers don't even know the rules of the road. We're responding to an article, where the author mistakenly thought cyclists could ride on sidewalks. (since has been edited) Each motorist has their own thoughts on how cyclists should ride so it makes driving as convenient on them as possible. Well get over it.

I don't commute by bike, but do ride recreationally, and I can tell you as disappointed as I was in the onesidedness of Mr. Lords article, I've been equally dismayed by the reaction of the motoring public on this forum. It truly is hard times for cyclists in this community. The risk to their health and livelyhood is squarely on their shoulders, and motorists are complaining about things that might cause them to have to wait a few seconds/minutes to pass a cyclist, or lord forbid have knowledge that cyclists might be rolling through 4 way stops..

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Lovejoy — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:21:12 GMT

I agree that 2 bikes taking up both lanes is wrong and obnoxious. I also somewhat understand the aggravation at passing the same cyclists more than once, but this sometimes happens because in certain places along butler street, the only place to really stop safely is up at the crosswalk. If you come to a complete stop in line with traffic, you wobble a little bit back and forth when you start pedaling again. Generally, the car behind you is trying to sqeeze past you while you try to get started and they squeeze you up against the park cars where on bulter street there is a gigantic bump in the asphalt. It is safer to roll up to the intersection where ther is spce to the left and right to get started.

Butler is particularly bad because of the asphalt upheaves. I try very hard to avaoid using butler. there between Stantton ave and 40th street, there simply isn't enough space to ride safely between the parked cars, bumpy asphalt and moving cars. Liberty is a better coice if you are coming from Sq. Hill, shady, Shady side, Bloom field, etc.,

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Good Driver — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:42:04 GMT

My experience with cyclists during the morning rush hour on Butler Street and Penn Avenue in the Strip District has been largely negative. The failure of the majority of these cyclists to stop at red lights means that drivers have to keep passing the same cyclist again and again, since the red-light running cyclist passes the car when it is stopped at the red light. Once recently two cyclists directly ahead of me were riding abreast in both the left and right lanes on Butler Street, making passing them impossible (and they did not respond to verbal requests to move over or to light toots on the horn), and forcing drivers to go 10 mph the whole length of the stretch from Lawrenceville to downtown (or else have to turn off and take another route altogether!)

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Wildcatter1980 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:41:07 GMT

After posting earlier, I wanted to add my experience when riding yesterday. My partner and I were on a rural road climbing a short hill. The driver of a big Ford pickup passed by each of us so close that I am surprised (and relieved) that neither of us were hit!

The sun was still high enough to not cause the driver any glare. There was no oncoming traffic. It is apparent this driver was either distracted or simply did not care if he or she hit either or both of us.

If he or she did not care, I wonder how he or she would feel about facing the family and loved ones of the bicyclist(s) he or she will probably one day hit.

I suspect drivers like this one are just callus people who think that either they will get away with it or that it won't happen to them. Either way, that is a scary proposition.

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Meno — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:11:59 GMT

I have commuted in the suburbs for 5 years and I ride recreationally all over the area. I have many stories to tell. Most drivers do what they are supposed to but many do not follow the rules just as many cyclists do not either. I am not a saint in either a car or on my bike, but I rarely weave through traffic, almost never run red lights, although I will proceed after stopping if NO traffic is around and normally run stop signs so long as I have good sight lines and can do so safely.

The thing for everyone to remember is when it comes to car on bike, bike always loses! If you are in a car and hurt a cyclist it may be considered assult with deadly weapon, because that is what it is. Give each other respect and we will all get to our destinations safely.

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Texan.in.Pgh — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:37:20 GMT

jgw:

I lived in Houston, between River Oaks and Rice (almost midtown) and found the area and the southern suburbs to be hugely bike friendly. They built bike 'roads' next to main roads and in cases where cyclists had to use the main road, they were by and large very good at obeying traffic rules. Perhaps they were just as afraid of the scary soccer moms in SUVs who were *** and scared all of us.

Pittsburgh doesn't have the luxury of a lot of flat space to provide bike roads (in many areas) so I agree education would serve well. If the police were to issue a motorist a ticket for infringing on a cyclist, training would be a good way to 'pay' the ticket and vice versa.

Just my .02

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

rhodebump — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:46:21 GMT

I have been commuting by bicycle for 20 years, a bicycle messenger for 8 years. I run lots of red lights, stop signs, etc... the only times I have been hit by a car was when I was obeying the traffic laws! When cars run red lights, they hit things like bikes. When I run a red light, I have never hit anything.

Honestly, I don't have very much respect for humanity. I have too many times been spit at, honked at, guns pointed at me, tackled and bike stolen. One day I was waiting at a red light and some guy came and punched me in the face!

Yeah humanity! You're all winners. Just riding the bike makes you a potential victim to all the rest of miserable losers out there to take some of their frustration out on.

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Lovejoy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:18:07 GMT

I was about 1 foot from the curb during this episode. I can't ride much closer to the curb without hitting it with my pedal. The guy INTENTIONALLY swerved closer to me just so he could yell at me.

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Nick Thompson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:38:29 GMT

I regularly draw honks because I ride out 3-4 feet out from parked cars. For 20+ years I squeezed by to the right until it hit me invisibility will get you killed fast. As if I have never had to slow down for a car. Still, turn off the cell phones and I will ride in what ever lane you want me.

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Kris — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:24:22 GMT

I have experienced what many others posting here have. I'm all about there being a safe, bicycle friendly Pittsburgh, but currently many...many, cyclists do not follow the traffic rules and put themselves at risk by acting as if they are the only ones on the road.

For example, today around 5 p.m. I was under the 62nd Street Bridge at Bridge Street near Sharpsburg. After starting from a dead stop from a 4 way stop sign, a cyclist quickly whipped around me and everyone behind me and the only reason I noticed him is because the motorist directly across from me at the stop sign had a spooked look on her face, as she was trying to make a left almost hitting the cyclist. (It was almost funny.) I wondered what she was looking at.

This doesn't include the several times I have seen cyclist with no lights and dark clothing at night. Can't they get tickets for putting themselves and drivers at risk? It's not very smart.

Kris - Lawrenceville

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Pittsburgh Bicyclist — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:49:11 GMT

should pedestrians pay usage fees for sidewalks? how about the majority of cyclists who also drive. should they pay double usage fees? what if someone combines modes by walking, biking, taking transit and driving sometimes. should they pay a usage fee for each mode?

Re: What's your experience when sharing the road with bicyclists?

Pittsburgh Bicyclist — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:43:34 GMT

So should kids pay those usage fees too for riding on the street? Should kids also need licenses to ride bikes? Going back to "use" fees. For what might i ask? For all the damage we do to our streets riding 30 lb bikes? And we need to carry insurance for all the millions in damage we cause in property destruction? Your arguments need to be honed my friend.