Should bicycles mix with automobile traffic? (commuter, cross, ride, better)

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by ZT1911

I'm not arguing that it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk there girl. I just want to bet you that cops won't ticket me when I ride pass them. I'll even go back and forth, passing them at least 2-3 times. Get it now girl? Learn to read. So are we on? You going to show up? Name the place and bring $100. I'll be there around late September.

And bring your bike (that's valued at least $300) and 2 chain locks. We both put chain locks on your bike and my friend's 2nd bike as collateral to make sure that the loser pays up and not tries to run away. 2 locks on each bike, so neither can take the others' bike nor go home with theirs w/o make good on what's agreed.

Whoah there Einstein, let's just go back and look at the conversation, and see on what you were actually wagering. Maybe you just forgot to take your Ritalin.

Now follow along, slowly if you must. Here we go. I wrote:

Originally Posted by PanTerra
In Dallas it is only illegal in the downtown business district. That is a very small area, considering. I am sure that is only because of all the pedestrian traffic.

Which you brilliantly followed up with.

You lie. Want to prove this to me? I'll be in near Dallas in a few months. Name the place in Dallas and I'll be there.

Surprised at the flagrant accusatory slight, since proving this is as simple as citing the City of Dallas Traffic code, I wrote:

Seriously? Downtown. Are you going to buy me a drink?

To which you responded and pressed so assuredly with this:

No, I want to put money on this. At least $100. You in girl?

So the only thing you are so emphatically wanting to lose your money on is the legality (because that is the only thing I mentioned in that post) of riding your bicycle on the sidewalk in the downtown business district, not if you can get away with it. So, yes you are arguing about the legality whether you comprehended that or not, or when did you switch your argument? Capiche honeybunn? Evidently, reading comprehension is not your strong suit. So like I said, easy money. Let's see. A $300 bike and a $100 bet. That tells me who I am dealing with. You are going to have to make it worth my while. One of my wheelsets was around $1,000. How about making it interesting - bring your 500 hp Cobra and title plus your cab fare for you and your little friends to get back to your parent's motel room. I can bring the equivalent in cash. But something tells me you wouldn't show up. Have you ever heard the phrase, all hat - no cattle? Now, if you still want to pursue this folly of yours, I could always use your car for a beater.

Thanks for playing, anyway.

[BoomBoxing]

Originally Posted by jambo101

With 40,000 deaths a year on the nations highways and who knows how many bicyclists i find it astounding that people would put themselves in harms way just to ride their bikes on the street knowing full well that most motorists hate them.if you do in fact have a car and there is no bike path option do us all a favor and take the car rather than power tripping at the fact you can hold up a mile of cars.

I'm on a power trip because I might prefer to bike to places instead of drive? Many cities have excellent bike infrastructure where different forms of transportation can co-exist (relatively) peacefully and safely. I like having multiple options for getting around not being enslaved to my car. So if it suits you I will continue to bike when I want, drive when I want, take public transit when I want, and walk when I want.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Given the way things are going in this country, I'm sure we'll be hearing calls of "bike lanes = socialism!" before winter.

[nowitsshowtime]

I think it depends. People that like to ride their cruisers 2 mph while looking at the buildings in crowded cities should get off the streets. If you can keep up with cars then I say go for it.

Most bikes that people ride are road bikes or a variation which do not do well on sidewalks, and pose more of a threat to pedestrians walking etc.

Bottom line, I don't get why so many people hate cyclist. Maybe its just the drunk post college kids in my town, but they love screaming at cyclists and getting close, on purpose.

[nowitsshowtime]

Originally Posted by ZT1911

I'm not arguing that it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk there girl. I just want to bet you that cops won't ticket me when I ride pass them. I'll even go back and forth, passing them at least 2-3 times. Get it now girl? Learn to read. So are we on? You going to show up? Name the place and bring $100. I'll be there around late September.

And bring your bike (that's valued at least $300) and 2 chain locks. We both put chain locks on your bike and my friend's 2nd bike as collateral to make sure that the loser pays up and not tries to run away. 2 locks on each bike, so neither can take the others' bike nor go home with theirs w/o make good on what's agreed.

What is your obsession with the word girl? I can't tell if you're being condescending, or just love the word.

Why don't you try riding your bike in NYC, on the sidewalks where it is also banned, and do so in front of a cop. Please, I'll put $100 on that. You got that guy?

And your 500hp mustang comment revving at cyclists, how old are you 25? Do you also yell out the window silly sht like "off the street ***". Grow up, guy.

[CaptainPittsburgh]

Yoinks, there seems to be an abundance of haters in this "cycling" sub-forum.

I ride to work everyday. It's not about power-tripping; it's about sustainability, physical fitness and personal satisfaction. Riding a bike is super fun, keeps you healthy and is very environmentally friendly; nothing wrong with any of those.

Roads are for cars and bikes, plain and simple. I use the roads because they take me to work. There aren't sidewalks on my entire commute, and when there are they are pretty uneven and poorly maintained. I'd bend up my rims in a day if I tried using them. Plus, I stay to the right and am quite happy to allow motorists to pass me as they need to. I've very, very rarely had to "take the lane" in a way that caused anything more than a 30 second delay for a motorist.

Personally, I'd love to see our country follow in the footsteps of the Dutch and develop and extensive cycling infrastructure, but for now, we all gotta make peace with sharing the road.

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by nowitsshowtime

What is your obsession with the word girl? I can't tell if you're being condescending, or just love the word.

Why don't you try riding your bike in NYC, on the sidewalks where it is also banned, and do so in front of a cop. Please, I'll put $100 on that. You got that guy?

And your 500hp mustang comment revving at cyclists, how old are you 25? Do you also yell out the window silly sht like "off the street ***". Grow up, guy.

25? Wow you are being very generous, I was suspecting this poster just got their learner's permit. I thought he/she/it was going to challenge me to meet me behind the gym after school.

[CaptainPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by nowitsshowtime

Bottom line, I don't get why so many people hate cyclist. Maybe its just the drunk post college kids in my town, but they love screaming at cyclists and getting close, on purpose.

It's weird, I don't really get it either, but I can definitely assure you that many, many full grown, sober adults seem to enjoy screaming at cyclists, getting dangerously close, cutting short, etc.

I think that there is a healthy portion of motorists who believe it is illegal for cyclists to use the road, and they use these techniques to "teach a lesson" as it were. That's my best guess, at least.

[nowitsshowtime]

Originally Posted by CaptainPittsburgh

Yoinks, there seems to be an abundance of haters in this "cycling" sub-forum.

I ride to work everyday. It's not about power-tripping; it's about sustainability, physical fitness and personal satisfaction. Riding a bike is super fun, keeps you healthy and is very environmentally friendly; nothing wrong with any of those.

Roads are for cars and bikes, plain and simple. I use the roads because they take me to work. There aren't sidewalks on my entire commute, and when there are they are pretty uneven and poorly maintained. I'd bend up my rims in a day if I tried using them. Plus, I stay to the right and am quite happy to allow motorists to pass me as they need to. I've very, very rarely had to "take the lane" in a way that caused anything more than a 30 second delay for a motorist.

Personally, I'd love to see our country follow in the footsteps of the Dutch and develop and extensive cycling infrastructure, but for now, we all gotta make peace with sharing the road.

Seriously? You want our country to be more physically active, more in shape, better mental health, and help the environment while you're at it? Damn cyclists.



The only thing I power trip about when I'm on my bike is when someone cuts me off or says something and meanwhile I get to my destination faster. How does that feel?

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by BoomBoxing

I'm on a power trip because I might prefer to bike to places instead of drive? Many cities have excellent bike infrastructure where different forms of transportation can co-exist (relatively) peacefully and safely. I like having multiple options for getting around not being enslaved to my car. So if it suits you I will continue to bike when I want, drive when I want, take public transit when I want, and walk when I want.

My gripe is about bicycles going 15-20mph and holding up traffic that could be doing 50mph,if you arent doing that then we dont have a problem,those that are doing that are risking an appointment with Mr Darwin.