I am both a bike rider and a motorist. Like anyone who rides a bike, I don't stop at stop signs when there is no danger to myself or anyone else. That would be silly. Lately though, I have seen an increasing frequency of incredibly rude and risky behavior coming from bicyclists who assume that cars can even see them to stop and avoid hitting them. Thanks a lot Critical Mass. I live in the city, have for about 20 years, and now see this every time I go anywhere. Switching back and forth between being a pedestrian and a vehicle, riding the wrong way down one way streets, not looking at what is happening on the road around them, and basically having no regard for their own safety or the safety of anyone else. Flying out from in between parked cars off the sidewalk into an intersection full of moving traffic is not the smartest move, but to then scream at someone, who is probably just very thankful they didn't hit you, is the very height of entitlement. I have observed this same scenario several times. Decide whether you are a pedestrian, or a vehicle, and stick to the the conventions that allow everyone to use the road safely. Do bike riders really need so badly to be right about their rights, that they would risk their life? Maybe the question is do you want to be right or do you want to be dead? Riding a bike or driving a car isn't always a signifier of moral virtue and superiority versus innate evilness, sometimes people just need to get where they want to go. Lighten up already and get over yourself, or maybe just move back to the suburbs.
Wuz - 16 years ago
Why do drivers always assume that cyclists blow through intersections without a care for opposing traffic? In a collision between a bike and a car, the car wins and the cyclist dies. We cyclists really don't want to die by auto.
This "Same Road, Same Rules" thing is starting to piss me off.
It seems that this argument only applies to arguments about stop signs.
But when a cyclist uses a lane of traffic like other vehicles, they're told to get out of the way of cars.
Cars can illegally pass a bicycle on the road because they can go faster, but bicycles can not pass slow or gridlocked cars.
I know that car drivers are beyond reproach out there. The have never gone through a yellow/red light or gone even one mile over the posted speed limits.
Drivers need to accept the fact that cyclist exist.
Gobaohm - 16 years ago
hmmmmm... hang on dearly to that "car pool group" its all ya got.
J Green - 16 years ago
So for all the cyclist out there that DO NOT STOP AT A STOP SIGN. Then DONT SUE ME when I my car that has the right a way hits you!!!! This is something my car pool group runs into everyday!
John O'Neill - 16 years ago
I bet that the bicycle riders are voting for the liberty, while the non bikers are voting to hold us up. Who wants to sit in an intersection with all those filthy fumes? We're smarter than stupid cattle, we don't want to ignoring our minds and let a mechanical device and social norms control us.
I run redlights and stops igns regularly. If i pull up to a redlight on my bike or in my car and if it's clear - i will run it. Why waste time, gasoline and polute the air needlessly? That's the way of the brain dead people.
Philip C - 16 years ago
The answer "No, they are vehicles and should follow the rules of the road." seems to miss the point. If the law is changed to allow bikes to do something cars can't then they are following the "rules of the road".
Traffic calming is critical to getting people back on bikes. Giving bikes preferred access is the perhaps the second most important step. Yes these things make life suck a little more for car drivers, but if you want people to park the cars and get on the bikes you have to make life better for the cyclist then the driver.
A Woolsey - 16 years ago
Not only do I think bikes shouldn't have to stop, I think they should be allowed on the sidewalk. It seems as though the rules for bikes were made back in the day when cars didn't go 70 mph. A ped is safer with a bike on the sidewalk than a bike is on the road with cars.
John Taylor - 16 years ago
It is a pain to stop at stop signs, but as cyclists, we are also road traffic and need to follow the rules.
I purchased an electric power assist bicycle to make riding easier, and no longer find stop signs as much of an aggravation.
I am a road cyclist and I have to say, mind your own business. I am not stopping for shit. I look , and I know I can get through safely. I am not going to wait if I do not have to. I have to keep moving, I hate to stop, I am a bio diesel engine. I want to keep moving. If you are jealous, get a bike.
I am both a bike rider and a motorist. Like anyone who rides a bike, I don't stop at stop signs when there is no danger to myself or anyone else. That would be silly. Lately though, I have seen an increasing frequency of incredibly rude and risky behavior coming from bicyclists who assume that cars can even see them to stop and avoid hitting them. Thanks a lot Critical Mass. I live in the city, have for about 20 years, and now see this every time I go anywhere. Switching back and forth between being a pedestrian and a vehicle, riding the wrong way down one way streets, not looking at what is happening on the road around them, and basically having no regard for their own safety or the safety of anyone else. Flying out from in between parked cars off the sidewalk into an intersection full of moving traffic is not the smartest move, but to then scream at someone, who is probably just very thankful they didn't hit you, is the very height of entitlement. I have observed this same scenario several times. Decide whether you are a pedestrian, or a vehicle, and stick to the the conventions that allow everyone to use the road safely. Do bike riders really need so badly to be right about their rights, that they would risk their life? Maybe the question is do you want to be right or do you want to be dead? Riding a bike or driving a car isn't always a signifier of moral virtue and superiority versus innate evilness, sometimes people just need to get where they want to go. Lighten up already and get over yourself, or maybe just move back to the suburbs.
Why do drivers always assume that cyclists blow through intersections without a care for opposing traffic? In a collision between a bike and a car, the car wins and the cyclist dies. We cyclists really don't want to die by auto.
This "Same Road, Same Rules" thing is starting to piss me off.
It seems that this argument only applies to arguments about stop signs.
But when a cyclist uses a lane of traffic like other vehicles, they're told to get out of the way of cars.
Cars can illegally pass a bicycle on the road because they can go faster, but bicycles can not pass slow or gridlocked cars.
I know that car drivers are beyond reproach out there. The have never gone through a yellow/red light or gone even one mile over the posted speed limits.
Drivers need to accept the fact that cyclist exist.
hmmmmm... hang on dearly to that "car pool group" its all ya got.
So for all the cyclist out there that DO NOT STOP AT A STOP SIGN. Then DONT SUE ME when I my car that has the right a way hits you!!!! This is something my car pool group runs into everyday!
I bet that the bicycle riders are voting for the liberty, while the non bikers are voting to hold us up. Who wants to sit in an intersection with all those filthy fumes? We're smarter than stupid cattle, we don't want to ignoring our minds and let a mechanical device and social norms control us.
I run redlights and stops igns regularly. If i pull up to a redlight on my bike or in my car and if it's clear - i will run it. Why waste time, gasoline and polute the air needlessly? That's the way of the brain dead people.
The answer "No, they are vehicles and should follow the rules of the road." seems to miss the point. If the law is changed to allow bikes to do something cars can't then they are following the "rules of the road".
Traffic calming is critical to getting people back on bikes. Giving bikes preferred access is the perhaps the second most important step. Yes these things make life suck a little more for car drivers, but if you want people to park the cars and get on the bikes you have to make life better for the cyclist then the driver.
Not only do I think bikes shouldn't have to stop, I think they should be allowed on the sidewalk. It seems as though the rules for bikes were made back in the day when cars didn't go 70 mph. A ped is safer with a bike on the sidewalk than a bike is on the road with cars.
It is a pain to stop at stop signs, but as cyclists, we are also road traffic and need to follow the rules.
I purchased an electric power assist bicycle to make riding easier, and no longer find stop signs as much of an aggravation.
I am a road cyclist and I have to say, mind your own business. I am not stopping for shit. I look , and I know I can get through safely. I am not going to wait if I do not have to. I have to keep moving, I hate to stop, I am a bio diesel engine. I want to keep moving. If you are jealous, get a bike.