What don't you like about Nashville? (Brentwood, Gallatin: sales, crime rate, homes)

[mad fiddler]

Originally Posted by rossc

I bike 10-20 miles a day. I won't give it up, but I feel like it's just a matter of time before something happens. The drivers here seem to think that those of us who choose to ride a bike should stop, hand them a big mac and light their cigarette as they drive past us with the horn blowing. I've never seen so many people so passionately against exercise.

I think a lot of the hostility has to do with the general attitude about driving. Too many people here don't get the idea that driving=sharing, but instead treat other vehicles, along with bikes and pedestrians, as obstacles in the way of their self-importance. They treat everyone this way -- speeding, tailgating, not using signals, and general road-raginess.

It's amazing how some people can be fairly polite in person, but as soon as they get behind the wheel turn into rude jerks. And even when they've made a boneheaded mistake, especially when they get called on it, they'll start cussing out the victim!

Bikers, because they're not encased in tons of steel and are seen as more "helpless," get the worst of it. I really don't understand the point of yelling at a biker who's just tooling alongside the road, other than it being just more of that unfocused hostility that some drivers crank up along with their engines.

[rossc]

I like it when they blow the horn a yell out the window, then I end up right beside them at the next light. It's amazing how brave people are at 50MPH. Get them stopped at a light and they won't even make eye contact.

[BNB]

I am not going to defend rude drivers--their are definitely boneheads out there--but I can attest to my experience with bike riders here in San Diego, a lot of them seem to think the same driving rules that cars must follow do not apply to them...signaling, staying in their lane (the bike lane) and stopping for stop signs and traffic lights.

[rossc]

Originally Posted by BNB

I am not going to defend rude drivers--their are definitely boneheads out there--but I can attest to my experience with bike riders here in San Diego, a lot of them seem to think the same driving rules that cars must follow do not apply to them...signaling, staying in their lane (the bike lane) and stopping for stop signs and traffic lights.

That's the problem here. If we were only so lucky as to have bicycle lanes. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to ride with traffic. All of the adult riders I've seen out and about do follow the rules. Kids can be a problem.

[BNB]

I understand, rossc....our bike lanes are in the roadway, so it is easy for bike riders to ride two or three abreast and encroach into the road lanes...that is probably the most aggravating. My favorite bike riding experience was on Hilton Head, lots of separate biking/pedestrian trails around the island...that is the way it should be everywhere!

[BNB]

Hoping to use our bikes on established trails, etc when we move there...honestly I don't feel safe on the roadways...too much inattention by drivers.

[rossc]

Originally Posted by BNB

I understand, rossc....our bike lanes are in the roadway, so it is easy for bike riders to ride two or three abreast and encroach into the road lanes...that is probably the most aggravating. My favorite bike riding experience was on Hilton Head, lots of separate biking/pedestrian trails around the island...that is the way it should be everywhere!

The roads here barely have a shoulder so many times you have no choice but to actually ride in the road. The only real solution is to use back roads with little or no traffic. The beach area are usually pretty good. Ocean City, MD was bikeable and Rehoboth, DE was nice also.

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by mad fiddler

I'm with you on that. Nashville's doing better with recreational riding, but there's something ironic about having to load the bike on the back of the car to go to a place where it's possible to ride safely.

It's also very difficult to ride for errands. Between the multilane roads chopping up neighborhoods, the lack of shoulders, and the reality that most riders and drivers have no idea what the rules are for sharing the roads, I'm close to giving up on using my bike for short trips to the store.

Walking is almost as bad, but at least a few areas have sidewalks.

A great Place to bike is the Natchez State Parkway, many bikers there. All the parks have walking paths, and there is a park off of Moores Lane in Brentood that has miles of bicycle ans walking paths.

Diane G

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by BNB

I understand, rossc....our bike lanes are in the roadway, so it is easy for bike riders to ride two or three abreast and encroach into the road lanes...that is probably the most aggravating. My favorite bike riding experience was on Hilton Head, lots of separate biking/pedestrian trails around the island...that is the way it should be everywhere!

I agree BNB! The bikeability (is that even a word?) on Hilton Head is the best i have ever seen!

[Tunky]

Originally Posted by rossc

I bike 10-20 miles a day. I won't give it up, but I feel like it's just a matter of time before something happens. The drivers here seem to think that those of us who choose to ride a bike should stop, hand them a big mac and light their cigarette as they drive past us with the horn blowing. I've never seen so many people so passionately against exercise.

That's a great quote...I'm going to have to remember that one.