June 30, 2010: Bike Lane - Page 2

Griff · 06-30-2010, 10:22 AM

See, everybody wins... most everybody... well a couple people.

The cultural aspect of this is interesting. I remember riding in Ireland and how careful the cars were around cyclists. We got razzed by German cyclists for our helmets and mirrors, items we need in the States because we will get driven off the road or hit with a beer bottle or slapped in the back of the head.

Glinda · 07-05-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

See, everybody wins... most everybody... well a couple people.

The cultural aspect of this is interesting. I remember riding in Ireland and how careful the cars were around cyclists. We got razzed by German cyclists for our helmets and mirrors, items we need in the States because we will get driven off the road or hit with a beer bottle or slapped in the back of the head.

I'm not a bike rider, so I have no dog in this fight, but a neighbor told me something he used to do as a teen that gets me giggling every time I imagine the scene.

Seems, whenever he and his older brother were driving around and they'd approach a pedestrian or biker headed the same direction, he'd lean out the passenger window and yell "BANG!" right next to them, as loud as he could.

Couple of guys fell off their bikes, he says.

Ok, ok. If it happened to me, I'd be pissed as hell, but come on. That's FUNNY.

Griff · 07-05-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glinda

I'm not a bike rider, so I have no dog in this fight, but a neighbor told me something he used to do as a teen that gets me giggling every time I imagine the scene.

Seems, whenever he and his older brother were driving around and they'd approach a pedestrian or biker headed the same direction, he'd lean out the passenger window and yell "BANG!" right next to them, as loud as he could.

Couple of guys fell off their bikes, he says.

Ok, ok. If it happened to me, I'd be pissed as hell, but come on. That's FUNNY.

Thanks classic, your response was much more reasonable than what I almost posted.

Sundae · 07-06-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Thanks classic, your response was much more reasonable than what I almost posted.

And mine.
My Dad cycled to and from work for years because we didn't have a car. He'd have split his sides if someone had done that to him.

jinx · 06-30-2010, 10:34 AM

People are insane. I drive around in a tank and other drivers make me cringe, I'd be terrified on a bike.
There's this long passing zone on my usual commute, excellent opportunity to go around the many people who like to drive that road 15mph under the speed limit. BUT, people don't like to be passed there for some reason. I often have people try to race, put their high beams on after they've been passed - and not that long ago I had someone swerve at me when I was next to them. Jim happened to be following me home that night.... followed that guy to a shopping center and had words...

Griff · 06-30-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx

People are insane.

Truly.

lumberjim · 06-30-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx

followed that guy to a shopping center and had words...

chicken shit wouldn't ~~stop~~ his car.... his white chrysler cirrus that if i ever see again......

edit.... wouldn't get out of his car....

I pulled along side him at a light, and MFed him..... then i followed him around some more until i could see him calling someone on his cell phone.....

i was driving a demo, so i decided to let it go.....

Happy Monkey · 06-30-2010, 11:14 AM

Gah, I was in a long line of cars behind one driver who refused to pass a bicycle on my way to work today.

monster · 06-30-2010, 11:41 AM

Lanes are very narrow in the UK ....mind, so are the cars. A Focus is an average-sized car.

(No points to anyone "fixing" lanes to minds in the above statement).

It's been 10 years since I lived in the UK, but I don't remember markings like that being slippy and was suprised here when they were, so I'm guessing they'd be fine. The painted disabled parking spots at my kids' school are like ice rinks. It's insane.

Yes, whole diffeent attitude to cyclist in Europe. And from cyclists. And the roads are more cyclist-friendly -no huge earthquake-like cracks and crater potholes -but that may just be Michigan

glatt · 06-30-2010, 12:57 PM

They have just added a bunch of bike lanes in DC too. DC is fairly bike friendly, for a US city. It's still dangerous, but it's much better than most.

When cyclists are killed, it actually makes the news and people care. Some mysterious person (or persons) puts up memorials every time a cyclist is killed. And if the city removes them, they put another up in the same spot until the city gives up.

This one memorializes a woman run over by a national guard truck a couple blocks from my office this Spring.

spudcon · 07-05-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

They have just added a bunch of bike lanes in DC too. DC is fairly bike friendly, for a US city. It's still dangerous, but it's much better than most.

When cyclists are killed, it actually makes the news and people care. Some mysterious person (or persons) puts up memorials every time a cyclist is killed. And if the city removes them, they put another up in the same spot until the city gives up.

This one memorializes a woman run over by a national guard truck a couple blocks from my office this Spring.

No wonder the cyclist died, there's no tires on his bike!

HungLikeJesus · 06-30-2010, 01:02 PM

Those are the ghost bikes, I think.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-30-2010, 11:34 PM

In Philly, a guy on a bicycle killed a pedestrian, a short time ago.

HungLikeJesus · 06-30-2010, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Those are the ghost bikes, I think.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_bike

ToastyOhs · 07-05-2010, 10:34 AM

I like to ride. Where I am in Maine you have to ride aggressively or people will not respect your space. We have laws, and "Share the Road" bumper stickers, but people driving a cars seem to instinctively hate cyclists. The last time most of them rode a bike, it had a banana seat and sure as heck didn't go 30 mph.

Also - Sidewalks are for pedestrians and dogs, not bicycles.

06-30-2010, 10:22 AM	#1
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	See, everybody wins... most everybody... well a couple people. The cultural aspect of this is interesting. I remember riding in Ireland and how careful the cars were around cyclists. We got razzed by German cyclists for our helmets and mirrors, items we need in the States because we will get driven off the road or hit with a beer bottle or slapped in the back of the head. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-30-2010, 10:34 AM	#5
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	People are insane. I drive around in a tank and other drivers make me cringe, I'd be terrified on a bike. There's this long passing zone on my usual commute, excellent opportunity to go around the many people who like to drive that road 15mph under the speed limit. BUT, people don't like to be passed there for some reason. I often have people try to race, put their high beams on after they've been passed - and not that long ago I had someone swerve at me when I was next to them. Jim happened to be following me home that night.... followed that guy to a shopping center and had words... __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

06-30-2010, 11:14 AM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Gah, I was in a long line of cars behind one driver who refused to pass a bicycle on my way to work today. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

06-30-2010, 11:41 AM	#9
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Lanes are very narrow in the UK ....mind, so are the cars. A Focus is an average-sized car. (No points to anyone "fixing" lanes to minds in the above statement). It's been 10 years since I lived in the UK, but I don't remember markings like that being slippy and was suprised here when they were, so I'm guessing they'd be fine. The painted disabled parking spots at my kids' school are like ice rinks. It's insane. Yes, whole diffeent attitude to cyclist in Europe. And from cyclists. And the roads are more cyclist-friendly -no huge earthquake-like cracks and crater potholes -but that may just be Michigan __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-30-2010, 12:57 PM	#10
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	They have just added a bunch of bike lanes in DC too. DC is fairly bike friendly, for a US city. It's still dangerous, but it's much better than most. When cyclists are killed, it actually makes the news and people care. Some mysterious person (or persons) puts up memorials every time a cyclist is killed. And if the city removes them, they put another up in the same spot until the city gives up. This one memorializes a woman run over by a national guard truck a couple blocks from my office this Spring. Attached Images

06-30-2010, 01:02 PM	#12
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Those are the ghost bikes, I think. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

06-30-2010, 11:34 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	In Philly, a guy on a bicycle killed a pedestrian, a short time ago. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-05-2010, 10:34 AM	#15
ToastyOhs Discontinued Breakfast Food Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Coastal Maine, USA Posts: 58	I like to ride. Where I am in Maine you have to ride aggressively or people will not respect your space. We have laws, and "Share the Road" bumper stickers, but people driving a cars seem to instinctively hate cyclists. The last time most of them rode a bike, it had a banana seat and sure as heck didn't go 30 mph. Also - Sidewalks are for pedestrians and dogs, not bicycles.

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