Dangerous bike routes in Wake County

[suedonym]

rep all around!

[underPSI]

I agree with Ernest T. Follow ALL the laws of the road or lose your "rights" to a piece of it. Also, remember you are on a bicycle. You do not stand a chance against a car. These people will run you over! Don't think just because you have the "right" to ride on a road and by riding 2 abreast that people won't hit you.

[cry884]

I never understand why biking on sidewalks is illegal. I NEVER see anyone on the sidewalks, but bikes are in the roads all the time. If there was an accident between a bike and a pedestrian on the sidewalk, you might get some scraped knees. If there's an accident on the road between a bike and car, the biker dies or is seriously injured. Why can't bikers just ride on the sidewalks as a rule, but veer into the road briefly if there is someone on the sidewalk?

[Bmateo]

Originally Posted by cry884

I never understand why biking on sidewalks is illegal.

It's not because of bike/pedestrian issues. It's because if a bike comes shooting off of a sidewalk to cross a side-street, and a car is making a right turn, there is going to be an accident.

To those responding to Ernest T, I agree that folks should follow all the rules or **** (See my earlier posts on this), but on the same token, so should the drivers. Do any of you speed? Have YOU ever come to a stop sign or a red light and slowly rolled through to make a right turn?

It doesn't justify it for others, I'm just saying that people in glass houses... It's easy to preach, but sometimes not so easy to practice.


Again, I won't debate anyone on the wisdom of "I have the right" vs "4000lbs of steel at 70mph vs 18lbs of carbon fiber at 18mph", it's a no brainer. But I will say that the majority of cyclists are pretty cool, just like the majority of drivers are. There's a few real A-holes in both groups.

(FWIW, I am in both groups. I try to be one of the decent ones, whichever group I'm representing....)

[Ernest T Bass]

Bmateo.

I wouldn't have gone on my rant if it wasn't so overwhelming. I see this red light running all the time.

I know its not everyone, including you. But a large number of riders do it, especially for the minimal amount of cyclists on the road. If it keeps up, its just a matter of time.

As for the slow roll at a right turn or speeding, that may be true but doesn't compare to this. Can we imagine if a large number of auto drivers started running red lights whenever they felt it was clear enough to make it?