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DisgustipatedinCA

(12,530 posts)

112. Thanks for all of the responses. I think this has been a useful discussion

Reply to DisgustipatedinCA (Original post)

Mon Mar 11, 2013, 07:18 PM

Mar 2013

As a motorist, and cyclist, and pedestrian, I really do understand when people need to get somewhere, and I understand that it's not much appreciated with cyclists riding abreast or engaging in other activity that makes it harder for drivers. I think and hope that I'm a considerate bicyclist. I'm always mindful that I could be dead in less than 2 seconds if something goes wrong. I hope that I'm a polite cyclist mostly because I'm a nice guy, but even if I'm not, the dead-in-2-seconds thing gives me extra reason to be polite, respectful of road laws, and always keeping up with situational awareness. I don't want to anger drivers. I don't want to endanger pedestrians. I don't want to be perceived as a menace on the road. I just want the freedom I feel when I'm riding. That's what it's all about to me. Thank you.

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How do you feel about sharing the road with bicyclists? How cyclist-friendly is your area? [View all] DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 OP

Funny, I JUST got done watching this video, clicked on DU and saw this thread snooper2 Mar 2013 #1

Yes. That's actually me. DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #3

The idiot was operating a vehicle while intoxicated, they should of called this in to the police. Nika Mar 2013 #8

how about offering him a ride... lame54 Mar 2013 #16

Nope, why enable him? He will just do it again. Nika Mar 2013 #23

it's ratting lame54 Mar 2013 #27

It's illegal, and ALL drunk driving kills or maims people all the time. Nika Mar 2013 #30

"ALL drunk driving kills or maims people all the time" lame54 Mar 2013 #38

Naturally not all do, I misspoke, angry at your two word answer, "that's ratting." Nika Mar 2013 #49

I do not appreciate your flippant attitude towards putting people in jail... lame54 Mar 2013 #64

Most DUI offenses are expensive nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #70

but he wasn't driving lame54 Mar 2013 #77

I watched the video nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #79

where do you live - Mayberry?... lame54 Mar 2013 #80

San Diego...it's police department policy, county wide nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #82

i was talking about one guy on one bike and 2 people who could have helped him... lame54 Mar 2013 #81

So, a BUI is a misdemeanor in San Diego... lame54 Mar 2013 #86

No, a first time offense is a felony nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #90

so it could go either way... lame54 Mar 2013 #98

The video showed a happy drunk...are you having trouble? nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #101

that's one deeped voiced woman lame54 Mar 2013 #107

Have a good day nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #109

I am speaking about drunk drivers, and a no compromise policy is the only thing that has worked... Nika Mar 2013 #72

I am referring to one guy on one bike - no car involved lame54 Mar 2013 #76

A car CAN be involved. All he has to do is pedal his intoxicated litle self in the way of one and be Nika Mar 2013 #87

that's why you offer him a ride... lame54 Mar 2013 #92

... which will not cure him from riding drunk at three in the afternoon. Nika Mar 2013 #99

I would be more worried the drunk on a bike would HappyMe Mar 2013 #45

I share this worry. Nika Mar 2013 #52

I think that the poor driver of the car HappyMe Mar 2013 #56

I agree. tarheelsunc Mar 2013 #36

Good post. I am a bicyclist that takes bicycling very seriously. Nika Mar 2013 #43

They do. My local cops ticket people nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #74

Heck, I got detained for over an hour in Macon, Ga by a policeman which said I was riding on wrong Hoyt Mar 2013 #97

On either side nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #100

Those big front wheeled bikes were slow : ) Hoyt Mar 2013 #108

only for like 500 feet LOL, it's in Canada by the way... snooper2 Mar 2013 #139

Us bicyclists do not block traffic, we are traffic. Nika Mar 2013 #2

Very cool. DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #5

many bike shops here rent bicycles because people visiting here spend big $$$ to go out on our ... Nika Mar 2013 #10

Off the road bike paths are great. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #44

My favorite one is the unimproved Leaf Erickson Drive in Forest park in Portland, Oregon. Nika Mar 2013 #46

The best one I have ever traveled was the Elroy-Sparta trail in Wisconsin Art_from_Ark Mar 2013 #144

It's pretty bicycle friendly here. cali Mar 2013 #4

Trying to recall....are you near Big Bear or maybe Mammoth Lakes? DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #28

neither. I live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont cali Mar 2013 #53

I don't think I could've guessed any more incorrectly than I did DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #58

It's extremely friendly to bikes in NYC, thanks to Mayor Bloomberg's initiatives toward wellness graham4anything Mar 2013 #6

K&R edhopper Mar 2013 #7

Good to hear. I'd probably be too apprehensive to bike in NYC DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #13

very friendly to bicycles here quinnox Mar 2013 #9

I looked at Google bike maps for Eugene and Portland DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #17

Riding a bicycle here in Sin City is tantamount to suicide. n/t Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #11

I checked Google's bike map for Las Vegas DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #26

And the aggressively stupid drivers out here use the bike lanes as unofficial passing Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #93

Sonoma County has beautiful scenery, and ideally someone 30 years ago LuckyLib Mar 2013 #12

Would that they had done this 30 years back. DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #22

Hwy. 116 between Forestville and Guerneville is extremely dangerous for biking. Webster Green Mar 2013 #138

I'm fine with the concept, but a lot of cyclists act like total jerks who think they own the road. slackmaster Mar 2013 #14

I agree with most of what you say DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #19

I've ridden bicycles quite a bit, and understand the desire not to lose precious momentum. slackmaster Mar 2013 #20

I've taken just enough physics to understand that my mass & acceleration won't DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #25

Oh, a poor guy behind a 300 horse power auto might get delayed 5 seconds by a bicyclist. Jeebus. Hoyt Mar 2013 #24

In traffic, I try not to stay on the very edge of the road (in a situation w/no paved shoulder) DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #29

Thank you for moving over. HappyMe Mar 2013 #48

Poor guy in a 300 horse power auto joeunderdog Mar 2013 #63

Fully agree with everything you said. eom tarheelsunc Mar 2013 #41

in most states they have exactly the same rights to the road as motorists... mike_c Mar 2013 #113

Helmets are required here in California, as are head and tail lights for night riding, however... slackmaster Mar 2013 #123

I don't mind bicyclists or motor bikes Broken_Hero Mar 2013 #15

I bike when the weather is better. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Mar 2013 #18

I wish it were more biker friendly but Phentex Mar 2013 #21

I don't know Atlanta well, and sorry to hear it's not so bike-friendly, but.... DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #33

That's the Silver Comet Trail... Phentex Mar 2013 #40

I have biked in Atlanta since the eighties wilt the stilt Mar 2013 #62

I was thinking in terms of commuting to work or stores... Phentex Mar 2013 #65

San Jose has over 50 miles of dedicated bike lanes. KamaAina Mar 2013 #31

You are most assuredly NOT a bagger from Fresno DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #37

Too many potholes, not enough bike lanes. HappyMe Mar 2013 #32

I understand the arguments for sharing the road, but I find it dangerous. tarheelsunc Mar 2013 #34

Thanks for your reply. I hope that road-sharing will continue to become safer over time n/t DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #39

Bike lanes on major streets create a real problem in LA. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #47

No problem at all, if they follow the rules of the road, Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #35

+ 1 Berlum Mar 2013 #54

As a pedestrian in a large city, I have a problem with bikers not obeying the same traffic rules smirkymonkey Mar 2013 #128

Traffic violations by bicyclists is a big problem in LA. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #42

All good points DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #51

I get fed up PasadenaTrudy Mar 2013 #118

we have bicycle lanes in the San Stupido Valley olddots Mar 2013 #50

That's too bad. You have perfect weather and scenery for cycling DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #57

They have bike lanes in my area madville Mar 2013 #55

You live in madville, after all. ;) DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #59

It depends. If they can keep up with traffic, no problem. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #60

I ride on two lane roads in a rural area. I ride bicycles (I have two, but only bike man Mar 2013 #61

The ones who stay out of my way... No problem... Melon_Lord Mar 2013 #66

There's staying out of your way, and there's sharing the road. These may be different things DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #73

99.9% of the time I am going faster than a bike... Melon_Lord Mar 2013 #106

I have no problem sharing the road with SAFE cyclists. Pab Sungenis Mar 2013 #67

Although I'll never be able to prove it, I would think and hope that the vast majority DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #75

I hope so. Pab Sungenis Mar 2013 #124

I think most cyclists are safe, DiCA. They go about their business, ride defensively, and people... slackmaster Mar 2013 #127

THIS. TheMightyFavog Mar 2013 #88

Well, we have bike lanes... NV Whino Mar 2013 #68

Silverado Trail is really nice for riding DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #78

There are some very narrow places on it NV Whino Mar 2013 #84

This is my chief beef with cyclists nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #69

You're almost right. DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #91

I bought my usually 700 bike nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #96

Only a fool would ride a bike on our main roads hack89 Mar 2013 #71

Most of the cyclists around here need to be institutionalized Sen. Walter Sobchak Mar 2013 #83

These men are nihlists, Donny. There's nothing to be afraid of. DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #85

I think the non-offenders are riding on the mountain bike trails Sen. Walter Sobchak Mar 2013 #89

My city is very pedestrian and cyclist friendly loyalsister Mar 2013 #94

I live near the university, so the area is very bike friendly Warpy Mar 2013 #95

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Mar 2013 #102

Drivers in my area are extremely unfriendly to bicyclists, and kestrel91316 Mar 2013 #103

Very bike friendly here, we have about 10% bike commute rate Bluenorthwest Mar 2013 #104

No problems with cyclist Texasgal Mar 2013 #105

I was a long time bicycle commuter and recreational rider... mike_c Mar 2013 #110

We have a great deal of bike lanes in my city... Drunken Irishman Mar 2013 #111

It does look like you could get pretty much anywhere you need to go in a dedicated bike lane DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #116

It helps we have a grid system and wide streets. Drunken Irishman Mar 2013 #121

Thanks for all of the responses. I think this has been a useful discussion DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #112

I live in Pittsburgh, PA ebbie15644 Mar 2013 #114

So tired of hearing... Charlotte Little Mar 2013 #115

I think people notice the outliers more, just because they're outliers DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #117

I should invite you to spend a couple days on my corner nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #135

Just because you follow the rules doesn't mean all do. Zoeisright Mar 2013 #136

Few car drivers also obey *all* rules of the road Fumesucker Mar 2013 #143

Cyclists may pay taxes but they don't pay gas taxes. former9thward Mar 2013 #119

a couple of points DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2013 #122

The point is that cars pay the road taxes not bikes. former9thward Mar 2013 #125

Very bike friendly in my area. Whole families come to the area just to bike and site-see. Auntie Bush Mar 2013 #120

I live in Oregon.... cliffordu Mar 2013 #126

My community is very cyclist friendly. Butterbean Mar 2013 #129

After reading this thread it's clear to me that all car drivers always obey all rules of the road Fumesucker Mar 2013 #130

When I used to drive I hated sharing the road with bicyclists. Thankfully, I don't drive a car or a applegrove Mar 2013 #131

Bikes on the road? I've never seen that in San Antonio LeftInTX Mar 2013 #132

As long as they stay off their cell phones.... whistler162 Mar 2013 #133

I agree, a bicyclist like a motorist should shut up and ride. Nika Mar 2013 #142

I don't mind IF Zoeisright Mar 2013 #134

While some rule breaking makes sense because bicycles are a different sort of vehicle where ... Nika Mar 2013 #141

I live in your county, as well. I have one gripe regarding bicyclists. DollarBillHines Mar 2013 #137

I look, listen, but never stop at stop signs. Nika Mar 2013 #140

I live on Denver's Capitol Hill. donheld Mar 2013 #145