Ikonboard » Printable Version of Topic

Forum: Rants
Topic: Jerks in Cars
started by: pi42

Posted by pi42 on Jul. 05 2000,16:08

Anybody here been riding in the city on a bike and almost been hit by some jerk in a car who then yells at you and tells you to "get off the road"?
Happened to me earlier today in Boston. I think there should be more laws about this kind of thing--anybody agree?

Posted by Firefox on Jul. 05 2000,16:24

This is very true, but at the same time, cyclists have to know they don't have unlimited run of the road. All too often I see people riding very slowly right smack in the middle of a high traffic road... I'm not talking a residential road or feeder road, or anything... I mean an 80-100km/h road (about 50-63mph for you imperial system dinosaurs

). Also, sometimes when I am driving downtown, those crazy bike couriers are the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Those guys duck in and out of traffic, cut between lanes, and do various shit that is not only dangerous to them, but dangerous to all the cars in the area too, as the drivers frantically try to avoid them. Just the other day a bike courier whipped past my car (which was stopped at a red light), with his backpack smashing the side of my car leaving a scratch. He didn't even look back or shout sorry.

There are definately a lot of drivers that need to be waaay more careful. In fact, it's scary how downright shitty a lot of drivers are... my friend knows this girl who drives unsafely fast everywhere she goes... but the scary part is that she is a terrible driver, and has terrible spatial-estimation abilities... she has completely wrecked 2 cars, but her "daddy and mommy" keep buying her brand new car after brand new car.. Jackasses...

Anyway, back to the issue at hand... cyclists need to understand their responsibilities on the road just as much as drivers do.

-FFox

------------------
"A christian, an anarchist-slash-prostitute, figures out the true meaning of freedom. Not freedom like America, freedom like a shopping cart."
-NOFX

[This message has been edited by Firefox (edited July 05, 2000).]

Posted by Firefox on Jul. 05 2000,19:20

quote:
Originally posted by j0eSmith:
Err.. the road WAS made for cars. Bicycllists should really get their own lane or at least a wide shoulder. Some bikers are just damn stupid on the roads..

Good point... the roads are there first and foremost for the motor vehicles. I don't know about the area where you people live, but in my area, there are quite a lot of bike and pedestrian paths, reducing the need to ride bikes down the roads.

-FFox

------------------
"A christian, an anarchist-slash-prostitute, figures out the true meaning of freedom. Not freedom like America, freedom like a shopping cart."
-NOFX

Posted by starduck on Jul. 05 2000,21:00

yes, I know dude
I'm not stupid
you actually thought I was serious with that road remark?

Posted by Observer on Jul. 06 2000,00:29

quote:
Originally posted by Firefox:
in my area, there are quite a lot of bike and pedestrian paths, reducing the need to ride bikes down the roads.

You are so lucky. Here in Pittsburgh there are numerous signs about "sharing the road". I ride a lot in the city because I'm too poor to afford a car and I use it to get t class and work. A lot of car drivers insist on passing me in dangerous situations. Mind you that I do my best to keep up with traffic and will take a lane for myself.

I also got a cyclists manual from the city so I know my rights. Though the one thing that pisses me off is a pedestrian that either doesn't notice or pretends not to notice me. I swear I need an air horn or something.

Anyway, I'll grant that some people on their bikes can be downright rude, obnoxious, and dangerous. But those of us who follow the traffic rules and try to be courteous have a harder time with drivers. I would love to see more dedicated lanes around here.

I've said my piece, on with the discussion!

Posted by rig_hater on Jul. 06 2000,02:00

yah, it's nice that there are dedicated routes in some places, but until cities start adding a special bike lane to every major street, the problem will continue. Governments are always complaining about pollution and how we should try to preserve our environment, yet they alienate cyclists by not giving them a safe place to ride their bikes. It's so lame!!

------------------
PEBKAC: Problem exists between keyboard and chair.

Posted by starduck on Jul. 06 2000,05:02

yeah dude,
I was going down this huge hill by my house on my bike doing crazy shit (because I had to show off right, this hill is like 3 blocks long). I put my stomach on my bike and put my legs out behind me. Then I got to the bottom of the hill and got back to regular posistion, slowed down, but there was one of those gay triangle things. So I take the turn and this car speeds up and is gaining on me fast so I have to go onto the triangle thing, but I'm at an angle so my wheel grinds against it parallel and I fall onto the gravel-substitiute that was there on the triangle and it hurt.
Cars, they think that the road was made for them or something.

Posted by j0eSmith on Jul. 06 2000,05:08

quote:
Originally posted by starduck:
Cars, they think that the road was made for them or something.

Err.. the road WAS made for cars. Bicycllists should really get their own lane or at least a wide shoulder. Some bikers are just damn stupid on the roads..

Posted by Bozeman on Jul. 06 2000,05:26

One time I was walking to a friend's house. I was about to cross a busy intersection, but the walk lights were with me. Suddenly this cop car turns right, cuts me off, and came about a hair's width from my foot. I shouted obscenities at the top of my lungs for about a minute straight. Funny thing was, it was no turn on red, and his flashers and siren were not on. If it were a regular car, I would assume he is not well versed in traffic ordinances, but this was a cop! Sometimes it just doesn't pay to be a pedestrian.

Posted by j0eSmith on Jul. 06 2000,06:07

quote:
Originally posted by rig_hater:
yah, it's nice that there are dedicated routes in some places, but until cities start adding a special bike lane to every major street, the problem will continue. Governments are always complaining about pollution and how we should try to preserve our environment, yet they alienate cyclists by not giving them a safe place to ride their bikes. It's so lame!!

LoL you expected any different from the GOVERMENT? Common, I think its in their job description ot be hipocritical.

I live in a fairly rural area which means two lane highways and roads with usually pretty small shoulders and definatly no pedestrian walkways etc.. (we do have some sidewalks though! oooh) I've seen bikers going straight down the centerline of a 90km/h road just after a blind corner, just because they were near the town they lived in and the roads were fairly quiet that day. Just about ALL the bikers here have no idea about the traffic regs, they just cut into intersections, down sidewalks and streets its pretty damn frustration when your trying to get by them in a 3/4ton pickup.

Posted by jrh1406 on Jul. 06 2000,07:11

Man, only a 3/4 ton pickup? I have to watch out for nutcases on the road while driving a 2 ton wagon.

as far a Bicycles go, when i rode, i always tried to keep an eye out for the crazy drivers, and now that i have a car i try to give cyclists as much of a comfort zone as i can. Oh, and i don't know about other states but i'm pretty sure that in CT bicyclists have as much right of way on the road as cars do. At least law wise, the dumbass careening down the road in a 4-door might have other ideas though.

Posted by pi42 on Jul. 06 2000,13:29

What I was really getting at was that although many bikers are unsafe on the road, if they collide with a car, only they will get really hurt--many drivers take advantage of that and drive very offensively when bikers are around. Plus, even if there are some unsafe bikers, that's no reason to ruin if for those of us that actually bike responsibly.

Posted by Observer on Jul. 06 2000,13:38

quote:
Originally posted by pi42:
many drivers take advantage of that and drive very offensively when bikers are around.

Though I don't think the drivers realize the liability involved in their risks. It's almost as serious as hitting a pedestrian, something NOBODY wants on his/her driving record.

Posted by Wolfguard on Jul. 06 2000,13:51

Even for a person that does not get on a bike there are to many jerks on the road. I think its time for a coast to coast, live action Car Wars game. A bushmaster 25mm cannon would mount great on a SUV. Take that road rage to a whole new level!

------------------
Nuke em' till they glow and shoot em’ in the dark and let the computer sort em' out.
Then wait for a mutation…

Posted by kai on Jul. 06 2000,15:56

odd, I thought the roads were made for wagons, buggies, and equestrians(oh my). but you know if you guys say so

Posted by Nekekami on Jul. 06 2000,16:16

Hell, I was running around my neigborhood one morning at about 7AM, and almost got my life amputated. I was running uphill, and the corner house had hedges. WELL! Right when I reached the corner, some faggot ignored the stop-sign and nearly killed my ass. Didn't really help that he was like 5 INCHES away from the curb, so I had to almost dive into the hedges. WTF is that...people think that the stop-signs only apply when there are cars around.

Posted by iso9k on Jul. 06 2000,18:14

I was a Bike messenger for three years and I have a serious problem with the way cars behave as well as bikers.

FYI: Roads were and are made for transportation...not cars or motor vehicles. Jesus.

If us bikers could get our "own" lane that would be nice, but most of the $$ available to do that is spent on existing roads to repair them from the damage caused by CARS. Studs in the tires.

I've put my Kryto through winshields and on top(through) Miata's when Im cut off, forced to lay my bike down, or a friend of mine(another courier) calls a "code red" {a car performs a hit and run]. Cars can seriously injure a biker. I try to make the drivers realize a biker can be just as dangerous to their precious motor car.

Think of it this way. It takes a bike a lot longer to get somewhere than a car. the car needs to be a bit patient, turn down their stereo, stop talking in the goddamn cell phone, and pay fucking attention to the world around them.

And I dont have ANY sympathy for my bike friends when they run a red light and get tagged by a car downtown....they deserve it.

------------------

Posted by Firefox on Jul. 07 2000,02:22

But drivers don't need to pay more attention only to protect bikers. They need to do it to improve everyone's safety (including other drivers), as well as pedestrians and private/public property too.

-FFox

------------------
"A christian, an anarchist-slash-prostitute, figures out the true meaning of freedom. Not freedom like America, freedom like a shopping cart."
-NOFX

Posted by Bob_Cannibal on Jul. 15 2000,04:34

Remember the added advantage of a good handgun when bicycling...

I live in an area, where, there is no dedicated lane, to get to work, I have to bike... the area where I live, is notorious for hit-and-runs on peds... just walking down the sidewalk, (what little there is) and someone tags 'em...

gawd I wish the school system'd allow employees to carry a firearm...

------------------
This post has the safety on. To open, press down hard on UBB and turn until arrows align.

| v
| (< >) push down and align arrows.
| ^

F*cking thing... I need a 5 year old... I seem to be unable to open the post... damn safeties...™

Posted by Firefox on Jul. 15 2000,04:58

Man, you guys all need to move to a REAL COUNTRY like Canada, where you can ride your bike in (relative) safety!

(Heeh hee, just a little poke there. No hard feelings)

-FFox

------------------
ICQ: 436346

"A christian, an anarchist-slash-prostitute, figures out the true meaning of freedom. Not freedom like America, freedom like a shopping cart."
-NOFX

Posted by Firefox on Jul. 15 2000,16:18

Yeah, well southern Ontario is a lot like the states in terms of traffic, so that doesn't surprise me. Most places in Canada aren't like that though.

-FFox

------------------
ICQ: 436346

"A christian, an anarchist-slash-prostitute, figures out the true meaning of freedom. Not freedom like America, freedom like a shopping cart."
-NOFX

Posted by jrh1406 on Jul. 15 2000,17:23

I was up in Canada last weekend, atleast just north of the falls and the drivers there are insane, i got cut off more in the 4 hours i was there than in the rest of my life in the states, although that might just be a regional thing.