Bike commuting in PGH growing rapidly

[tranceFusion]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I wish Allegheny County drivers were required to take a yearly written or computer based test on driving before they were allowed back on the road. Most polite drivers in the US? Maybe. Most stupid and uneducated? For sure.

I laugh at people who think bikes should be ridden on the side walk. It just goes to show how clueless people are.

Well, there's plenty of people that think it's ok to disobey traffic laws, because they are on a bike, too.

[BrianTH]

Lots of both drivers and bikers do things they shouldn't do when interacting with each other, and part of the problem in the U.S. is a lack of familiarity on both sides. Accordingly, I'd be fine with stepping up education on these issues on both sides, at least until biking for serious transportation purposes becomes common enough that the rules and practices are well-known and practiced.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Yes, I've noticed and as a vehicle driver, I'm not a happy camper about it either...

[Katiana]

Having lived in a biking "mecca" for 30 years, I can tell you, it's a never-ending problem. Just when you think everyone has reached some accomodation/agreement, the confrontations break out again.

Boulder, Colorado Leads Nation In Bike Commuting Based On U.S. Census Data (PHOTOS)

Dangerous crossings for Boulder's bikes - Colorado Daily

Just FYI.

[rhondee]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

Biking is the number one reason I moved to Pittsburgh.

Real bikers like the hills and look to them as a daily personal challenge.

Although it was years ago (1990) Bicycling Magazine at that time rated Pittsburgh one of the worst for cyclists with one of the reasons being it's "hilly terrain"!!! I guess it was too much of a burn for them back in those days.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by rhondee

Although it was years ago (1990) Bicycling Magazine at that time rated Pittsburgh one of the worst for cyclists with one of the reasons being it's "hilly terrain"!!! I guess it was too much of a burn for them back in those days.

For the average biker, they most likely are, and that's what they were most likely basing that on.

In the early to mid 2000's.......Bike magazine, a mountain bike magazine, voted Pittsburgh the exact opposite....from an off road cyclists perspective. It rated it as the best city in the US to live for off road cycling in the city (parks) and areas very close at hand (like Seven Springs, etc) and the great cost of living. I'm more of an off road cyclist at heart, but I do love riding the city on my flat bar road bike. I do have to say, no matter if it's bicyclists, motorcycles, automobiles, or pedestrians....the streets are plain dangerous for all. I've resorted to train running in the park anymore because I have to many close calls running the neighborhoods from people who don't stop for stop signs or don't respect cross walks, etc.

[rhondee]

Yes-Since I live in a walking community ( they don't even use school buses here) I've noticed an increase in pedestrian accidents on the main business street from motorists not yielding at intersections or crosswalks.Sometimes while stopping for a pedestrian, the car behind me beeps their horn!
I know there must be shared responsibility and there is carelessness displayed by both, but I have to pin the blame more on the motorists b/c I see way too many aggressive drivers anymore.I don't see the pedestrian or cyclist as being the aggressor.

Many people bike here, a friend of mine bikes to work but uses the side streets for that reason. She also always wears a neon green jacket while riding.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by rhondee

Yes-Since I live in a walking community ( they don't even use school buses here) I've noticed an increase in pedestrian accidents on the main business street from motorists not yielding at intersections or crosswalks.Sometimes while stopping for a pedestrian, the car behind me beeps their horn!
I know there must be shared responsibility and there is carelessness displayed by both, but I have to pin the blame more on the motorists b/c I see way too many aggressive drivers anymore.I don't see the pedestrian or cyclist as being the aggressor.

Many people bike here, a friend of mine bikes to work but uses the side streets for that reason. She also always wears a neon green jacket while riding.

I'm up early every morning even though I don't commute in the mornings any more, and the accidents during rush hour have been terrible.

I can't even tell you how many more than close calls I've had just in the past month.