When I was still riding my bicycle places, I was annoyed by the four-wheel drivers, especially by the tourist drivers who liked to see how close they could come to me, there riding the curb or the berm. However, I saw plenty of objectionable behavior from the padded-shorts brigade, such as taking the center of the auto lane and making sure you couldn’t pass, blasting down a walkway full of pedestrians of all ages.
NHTSA says cyclists 10 years and older should behave as though they were vehicles on the street, riding in the same direction as other traffic that’s going their way and following the same traffic rules.
You guys, we’re always having this conversation (argument). Yes, there are careless, selfish cyclists and… drivers. Bicycles are considered vehicles just like cars. Cyclists and pedestrians are more vulnerable than automobile drivers. Cycling amenities (bike lanes, etc) are often ill maintained and ill used (car parking). These are the facts, we all need to deal with them. Oh yes, and please read the info on the link below, it explains why cyclists don’t obey stop signs and red lights as well as what can be done to address the issue.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop
In my neck of the woods, I have to assume I am pretty lucky. The vast majority of bicycle riders in my area are careful and do follow the rules of the road. All the mayhem others have written about is not the norm in my particular area. Perhaps that is why there seems to also not be the motorist-bicyclist animosity in my area as well?
It just that the cyclists are so slow. Getting behind a group on a curvy road with no passing allowed is irritating at the very least. Especially when there is a bike lane or path which they are ignoring.
Sometimes I think it’s the cyclists who should pull over.
Yes, they have a right to be there, but common courtesy wouldn’t hurt either.
This is for all you self-righteous drivers – Last week I was driving on a state highway at 40 – 45 MPH (within the speed limit) when a driver from my right blew through a stop sign and I t-boned him. Thanks to the air bags, neither of us was hurt badly, but my pickup was totaled. Ironically, I am a bicyclist, and everyone always tells me to be careful on the bike. But drivers also disregard stop lights and signs.
We have to give cyclists 5 feet. But I think they should have to give cars 5 feet too, instead of riding up past me when I am stopped for a red light so I have to squeeze past them again and again.
As you guys know, I have a cameo in Pearls Before Swine every now and then. We’re friends, and I enjoy it. I get a kick out of it. Steph is a funny guy and Jef the Cyclist is a funny character.
Outside the comic strip, it’s not so funny. Understand me when I say I’m comparing and not equating, but as a cyclist in these modern times, I can get the tiniest taste of what others have to suffer a hundredfold, which is to be hated for what they look like and who they are. An awful lot of my fellow citizens simply hate cyclists. Not people on bikes. Cyclists. Studies have shown cyclists are actually seen as less than human. And it’s a lethal hatred. I do not like this.
I’m not going to lecture beyond that. It’s really not what I do here. But I will tell you a funny story about an allegedly bad cyclist and a demonstrably bad driver. Most communities now seem to have this sort of mini-Facebook social media outlet called Next Door. My town does, too. It’s useful, but, like the bigger Facebook, it’s full of loonies, so I moderate my use. I don’t follow it online, but I get e-mailed summaries and special alerts. I don’t know how any personal rant gets special-alert status, but some people do, and some of them give their own rants about cyclists such special-alert status.
Recently somebody had a special rant indeed: He had caught the evil stop-sign roller in the act, on camera, and some public shaming was in order. It just didn’t go the way he thought it would. It went the way that, when you think about it, it absolutely should go when you out yourself as the kind of guy who will enthusiastically fuss around with a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. I don’t know how you take a stupid post off Next Door any more than I know how you give one special-alert status, but I got the impression this guy learned mighty fast. I fear that’s all he learned, but it’s a start.
Bilan almost 5 years ago
By that logic, the bicycles should be in the center of the road.
Ignatz Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Because there are other cars in the other lane, maybe? You can’t always just “pull over,” you have to turn your head and look behind you first.
I would be happy if they at least slowed down and looked at the red light, and stopped going the wrong way down a one way street.
DonLee2 almost 5 years ago
When I was still riding my bicycle places, I was annoyed by the four-wheel drivers, especially by the tourist drivers who liked to see how close they could come to me, there riding the curb or the berm. However, I saw plenty of objectionable behavior from the padded-shorts brigade, such as taking the center of the auto lane and making sure you couldn’t pass, blasting down a walkway full of pedestrians of all ages.
Darsan54 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Oh for pete’s sake, they are in a public school and have the internet. You think they don’t know the words?
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Why are American car enthusiasts called Gearheads, but British car enthusiasts called Petrolheads??
Where is James May now that we need him?? HE could explain it…over hours, and hours…and hours…and hours….micromos almost 5 years ago
They should drive facing traffic.
sandpiper almost 5 years ago
A discussion of road manners probably began with the invention of the wheel and never lost its momentum.
Plods with ...™ almost 5 years ago
From Edmunds.com:
NHTSA says cyclists 10 years and older should behave as though they were vehicles on the street, riding in the same direction as other traffic that’s going their way and following the same traffic rules.
cervelo almost 5 years ago
You guys, we’re always having this conversation (argument). Yes, there are careless, selfish cyclists and… drivers. Bicycles are considered vehicles just like cars. Cyclists and pedestrians are more vulnerable than automobile drivers. Cycling amenities (bike lanes, etc) are often ill maintained and ill used (car parking). These are the facts, we all need to deal with them. Oh yes, and please read the info on the link below, it explains why cyclists don’t obey stop signs and red lights as well as what can be done to address the issue.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 5 years ago
In my neck of the woods, I have to assume I am pretty lucky. The vast majority of bicycle riders in my area are careful and do follow the rules of the road. All the mayhem others have written about is not the norm in my particular area. Perhaps that is why there seems to also not be the motorist-bicyclist animosity in my area as well?
Scott S almost 5 years ago
Bicyclists could start by following the rules of the road like they’re supposed to!
melbrodhead almost 5 years ago
It just that the cyclists are so slow. Getting behind a group on a curvy road with no passing allowed is irritating at the very least. Especially when there is a bike lane or path which they are ignoring.
Sometimes I think it’s the cyclists who should pull over.
Yes, they have a right to be there, but common courtesy wouldn’t hurt either.
jjbarefoot almost 5 years ago
This is for all you self-righteous drivers – Last week I was driving on a state highway at 40 – 45 MPH (within the speed limit) when a driver from my right blew through a stop sign and I t-boned him. Thanks to the air bags, neither of us was hurt badly, but my pickup was totaled. Ironically, I am a bicyclist, and everyone always tells me to be careful on the bike. But drivers also disregard stop lights and signs.
Burgundy2 almost 5 years ago
We have to give cyclists 5 feet. But I think they should have to give cars 5 feet too, instead of riding up past me when I am stopped for a red light so I have to squeeze past them again and again.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 5 years ago
Blog Posts Frazz14 hrs ·
As you guys know, I have a cameo in Pearls Before Swine every now and then. We’re friends, and I enjoy it. I get a kick out of it. Steph is a funny guy and Jef the Cyclist is a funny character.
Outside the comic strip, it’s not so funny. Understand me when I say I’m comparing and not equating, but as a cyclist in these modern times, I can get the tiniest taste of what others have to suffer a hundredfold, which is to be hated for what they look like and who they are. An awful lot of my fellow citizens simply hate cyclists. Not people on bikes. Cyclists. Studies have shown cyclists are actually seen as less than human. And it’s a lethal hatred. I do not like this.
I’m not going to lecture beyond that. It’s really not what I do here. But I will tell you a funny story about an allegedly bad cyclist and a demonstrably bad driver. Most communities now seem to have this sort of mini-Facebook social media outlet called Next Door. My town does, too. It’s useful, but, like the bigger Facebook, it’s full of loonies, so I moderate my use. I don’t follow it online, but I get e-mailed summaries and special alerts. I don’t know how any personal rant gets special-alert status, but some people do, and some of them give their own rants about cyclists such special-alert status.
Recently somebody had a special rant indeed: He had caught the evil stop-sign roller in the act, on camera, and some public shaming was in order. It just didn’t go the way he thought it would. It went the way that, when you think about it, it absolutely should go when you out yourself as the kind of guy who will enthusiastically fuss around with a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. I don’t know how you take a stupid post off Next Door any more than I know how you give one special-alert status, but I got the impression this guy learned mighty fast. I fear that’s all he learned, but it’s a start.
micromos almost 5 years ago
Yet cyclist will pass on the right at a stop in the road!