General Discussion

penultimate

(1,110 posts) Wed Oct 23, 2013, 04:44 PM Oct 2013

I have a question for bicyclist about something I've been experiencing [View all]

I usually never have any issues with people riding their bikes, and I try to be as courteous possible and share the road. However, for the past few weeks I've been getting rather annoyed by a particular bike rider who is always going down the street when I'm on my way home. It's a fairly narrow one lane road that goes for about 2 1/2 miles and there isn't much in the way of a shoulder or any sort place for the bike to go onto. The problem is that the bike rider only goes about 15mph, but the speed limit is 45mph. Due to the traffic coming the other direction at that time, it's not possible to simply go to the other lane a bit to get around him (if it was that easy, I wouldn't give it a second thought)

Am I wrong to think this guy is being an asshole? I'm looking for bicyclist's opinions here, because I'm curious if I'm simply not seeing it from the right perspective. I don't bike, but if did, I don't think I'd feel right doing that. I'd find another more appropriate road to bike on.

180 replies

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I have a question for bicyclist about something I've been experiencing [View all] penultimate Oct 2013 OP

If I were the biker..... Smarmie Doofus Oct 2013 #1

Yes, this is the simple, safe, and courteous approach. (nt) enough Oct 2013 #6

Anyone going slower than the speed limit leftyladyfrommo Oct 2013 #148

I suppose it's possible the person is handicapped in some way. penultimate Oct 2013 #153

Beep at him and say "the speed limit is 45". He just may be an asshole. JaneyVee Oct 2013 #2

No one is REQUIRED to travel the speed limit, you doofus. It's the UPPER limit. kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #12

You do know that there is a minimum limit to travel on streets with no bike lane. JaneyVee Oct 2013 #15

In what city? You DO know that each state and city makes its own traffic rules, right? kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #22

No. You can be ticketed for going too slow in CA. - V C Section 22400 Minimum Speed Law cui bono Oct 2013 #88

That is for Vehicles mockmonkey Oct 2013 #113

Well, not necessarily. Bicyclists are supposed to obey traffic laws. cui bono Oct 2013 #119

You are calling someone else a "doofus"? former9thward Oct 2013 #16

Yes, but no one can reasonably expect a bicycle to travel 35 mph (our typical kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #24

One can reasonably pull over for a few moments to let someone go by. former9thward Oct 2013 #25

Not if they have the other lane. There is no need. They can get over their lazy kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #28

Shout all you want. former9thward Oct 2013 #29

Post removed Post removed Oct 2013 #30

I have never seen a bicyclist follow the law. former9thward Oct 2013 #31

Many ride on the wrong side of the road here. lonestarnot Oct 2013 #48

I obey signs and lights, but will ocassionally ride on the sidewalk, because some of the motorists Incitatus Oct 2013 #50

Then you haven't seen this bicyclist, Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #63

I haven't ridden in a while, myself, kentauros Oct 2013 #71

On my road bike - Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #76

I didn't know recumbents were more difficult to start from a stop. kentauros Oct 2013 #79

It depends on whehter the recumbent is a bike or a trike Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #84

"Volunteer credit" - another great idea! kentauros Oct 2013 #94

For that - Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #111

That's cool :) kentauros Oct 2013 #112

I put electric assist on my bent Fumesucker Oct 2013 #138

People only talk about me because I'm riding one of these: Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #143

Every motorist I see follows every law Kennah Oct 2013 #86

I've seen a few hit-and-run incidents jberryhill Oct 2013 #103

There is a group of extremely rude JanMichael Oct 2013 #146

So on my 1.5 hour commute home, Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #61

That is not what was described in the OP. former9thward Oct 2013 #114

It actually may well be the situation. Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #116

Wonderfully said, Ms. Toad. JackRiddler Oct 2013 #123

Yes, sounds like an asshole. Incitatus Oct 2013 #47

"...but the speed limit is 45." aristocles Oct 2013 #3

However, most municipalities I've ever seen dictate that the minimum legal speed kentauros Oct 2013 #11

Citation, please. Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #66

I must be thiking of freeways, then. kentauros Oct 2013 #68

It's going to vary quite a bit from state to state Kennah Oct 2013 #93

Texas still has a long ways to go in enabling cyclists. kentauros Oct 2013 #95

My favorite is the low-hanging branches in bike lanes! pink-o Oct 2013 #145

Under the heading "More General Tips" on this site kentauros Oct 2013 #4

What do you think of a cyclist on a busy street Jenoch Oct 2013 #23

I would want them on the hike & bike path, too. kentauros Oct 2013 #40

Of course I give the cyclist a wide Jenoch Oct 2013 #41

I'm often baffled as to why some joggers won't do the same, kentauros Oct 2013 #42

See my note here: Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #72

It depends on the circumstances. Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #70

I had to look up "towpath" :) kentauros Oct 2013 #77

The towpath is quite a resource - Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #80

I can't help myself sometimes; I get ideas that seem good, kentauros Oct 2013 #83

At least 3 of the police departments have police on bikes Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #85

Well, thanks for being a volunteer and helping people! kentauros Oct 2013 #96

A paved bike path 5 yards away and adjacent to the road? Sounds like a unicorn to me. Kennah Oct 2013 #97

Unicorns are a common sight in Minnesota. Jenoch Oct 2013 #106

Your assumption: cars are real traffic... JackRiddler Oct 2013 #49

I neither said nor assumed that cars are the ONLY legitimate traffic on the roads. kentauros Oct 2013 #53

Not everything you assume... JackRiddler Oct 2013 #59

Now I understand. kentauros Oct 2013 #67

If you're into name-calling, you're... JackRiddler Oct 2013 #120

I believe there are better resources Kennah Oct 2013 #98

yes. he's being an asshole. when I lived in Portland, 95% of bicyclists--no problem Pretzel_Warrior Oct 2013 #5

"I'd find another more appropriate road to bike on." kentauros Oct 2013 #6

Yeah, like in that alternate reality... JackRiddler Oct 2013 #51

Are you TRYING to get yourself on my ignore list? kentauros Oct 2013 #55

Does this mean I'd still have to see your posts? JackRiddler Oct 2013 #60

Sometimes there are road bottlenecks Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #74

Well no kidding. And sometimes there are CITIES. JackRiddler Oct 2013 #117

I hate congestion Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #130

It takes two to "share". leeroysphitz Oct 2013 #8

He's being an asshole, but odds are he's not acting illegally, depending on the jurisdiction. DisgustipatedinCA Oct 2013 #9

Many years ago... sarisataka Oct 2013 #10

the bicyclist may not have a choice hfojvt Oct 2013 #13

A lot bikers in New Haven, CT bigwillq Oct 2013 #14

Nevermind. Iggo Oct 2013 #17

Maybe he's waiting for a bike lane Shankapotomus Oct 2013 #18

He's being a jerk Prism Oct 2013 #19

Yeah, that's the ticket. Get the coppers to taze him. JackRiddler Oct 2013 #52

I'm a cyclist Prism Oct 2013 #73

If the road is busy enough that the driver can't pass a bike going 15 mph Fumesucker Oct 2013 #108

Thanks, but again, based on this thread... JackRiddler Oct 2013 #118

Thank you for pointing out the obvious. alphafemale Oct 2013 #160

If traffic is so heavy you don't have time to pass.... alphafemale Oct 2013 #20

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2013 #21

I think you get a new job and different shift so you are not on the road at the same time. CK_John Oct 2013 #26

best answer thus far frylock Oct 2013 #34

Heh... That actually will be happening starting next week anyway... penultimate Oct 2013 #155

15 MPH is ridiculous. He's either very old, handicapped, tired or has one shitty bike. BlueJazz Oct 2013 #27

For two and a half miles? Of course you can, Mo muriel_volestrangler Oct 2013 #33

I didn't say everybody can. ""We can all do that" I said I can. BlueJazz Oct 2013 #36

As I said, 'Mo'. muriel_volestrangler Oct 2013 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author BlueJazz Oct 2013 #38

Nope, 15 mph is about average speed for group rides of non racers Fumesucker Oct 2013 #35

I biked over a thousand miles in a year to get my average from 15 to 17 taught_me_patience Oct 2013 #44

I can ride at 24 for 3 miles without a whole lot of trouble but don't like doing it. BlueJazz Oct 2013 #54

Yup - the difference between riding 15 and 17 mph on a bike is pretty large bhikkhu Oct 2013 #65

I still do not want the guy to do it. He doesn't deserve to die and die he probably will if... BlueJazz Oct 2013 #78

It took me a while commuting by bike to find a good route bhikkhu Oct 2013 #81

Ditto - as to the round-about. Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #89

15mph is a 4-minute mile Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #137

I know a similar lane reorg Oct 2013 #32

if the road has no shoulder in it is too narrow Niceguy1 Oct 2013 #39

That makes sense penultimate Oct 2013 #156

but for whatever reason drivers hate Niceguy1 Oct 2013 #159

I, myself, don't hate bicyclist at all. penultimate Oct 2013 #162

Evidently there is no other feasible path since you haven't taken it Fumesucker Oct 2013 #167

I have taken the route through the neighborhoods before to avoid traffic, but I've always been under penultimate Oct 2013 #170

I trained Tour de France rider only gets up to 24 mph in a time trail with a bike bluestate10 Oct 2013 #43

You really think reason is going to work... JackRiddler Oct 2013 #56

Motorists Front of Judea Kennah Oct 2013 #100

Good advice! kentauros Oct 2013 #58

I did a typo. I meant "A trained Tour de France rider". The Pyrenees and Alps scare me, I wouldn't bluestate10 Oct 2013 #132

Then stay away from the Congress Street Bridge in Austin kentauros Oct 2013 #134

So he must stop and pull over for every car on this entire stretch of road? DireStrike Oct 2013 #45

Check your math! nt Logical Oct 2013 #46

The world exists to convenience drivers. JackRiddler Oct 2013 #121

Hear, hear! DireStrike Oct 2013 #125

The world exists to convenience drivers--as it should. Ace Acme Nov 2013 #179

If it was me, I'd take another road. penultimate Oct 2013 #157

I'd advice the cyclist to not pick fights with 3000 pound objects on the road Lifelong Dem Oct 2013 #57

If a car "all of a sudden is fast approaching" Ace Acme Nov 2013 #180

He's on a motherf*ckin bike. pa28 Oct 2013 #62

so disappointed in all the nasty responses to others Divine Discontent Oct 2013 #64

Maybe he can't afford to drive, and is just doing the best he can bhikkhu Oct 2013 #69

Is there annother road that runs parallel at a slower speed? Warpy Oct 2013 #75

In fact, he may only be maintaining 15 mph... JackRiddler Oct 2013 #126

It's not a question of performance, it's a road . orpupilofnature57 Oct 2013 #129

Which brings me to my main question Warpy Oct 2013 #131

It's seems like Penultimate left the building orpupilofnature57 Oct 2013 #139

Spit and run? Warpy Oct 2013 #150

Yes orpupilofnature57 Oct 2013 #151

Would your boss let you change your schedule? liberalmuse Oct 2013 #82

If the traffic on the road is so heavy, maybe a a letter to the city (or county, petronius Oct 2013 #87

I try to eschew always and never Kennah Oct 2013 #90

Are you saying that you both are very punctual and that you meet at the start of the 2.5 miles every jberryhill Oct 2013 #102

Where do you get off being all logical and factual and stuff? Kennah Oct 2013 #104

Because I arrived at your statement of the inherent implausibility of the OP jberryhill Oct 2013 #105

I walked right into that one, didn't I? Kennah Oct 2013 #135

What do you mean by hit-and-run? penultimate Oct 2013 #176

It hasn't been every day, but about five times I'd say... penultimate Oct 2013 #158

When a motorist with a cellphone glued to their ear almost kills you, you get a little hostile. Kennah Oct 2013 #172

Not sure what that has to do with me though... penultimate Oct 2013 #175

I'm not saying you did anything wrong Kennah Oct 2013 #178

10-15 minutes lost per trip means ... Kennah Oct 2013 #173

Not sure I'm understanding what you think doesn't add up penultimate Oct 2013 #174

For revenge, ZombieHorde Oct 2013 #91

Can't you go a different route? Gormy Cuss Oct 2013 #92

That was my question too. noamnety Oct 2013 #142

Sure, I could, but it wouldn't just be me that would have to go a different route... penultimate Oct 2013 #161

You do realize that if the alt route is longer in distance it's much more of a burden on the cyclist Gormy Cuss Oct 2013 #163

I'm not really stressing over it, just trying to get different perspectives on it. penultimate Oct 2013 #168

Asking if he's an asshole seems like a clear sign that you were stressing about it. Gormy Cuss Oct 2013 #169

I suppose my question could easily be interpretive as such, but I didn't mean much by it penultimate Oct 2013 #171

Affect Heuristic Kennah Oct 2013 #99

That was an interesting read even though the author is the type of rider I want to smack. Gormy Cuss Oct 2013 #115

I think his comments about himself could be straight from The Onion Kennah Oct 2013 #136

I know. That's why I said he was the type of rider I wanted to smack. Gormy Cuss Oct 2013 #149

Perhaps he's delivering WMDs and doesn't want the darned things to blow up Kennah Oct 2013 #101

All motorists should do their utmost to avoid being rude. Live and Learn Oct 2013 #107

First of all, a biker is not a motorist. JackRiddler Oct 2013 #122

Maybe as an activist sort yourself... you could propose the city provide a better alternative route. Tigress DEM Oct 2013 #109

Where I live it's farm tractors B Calm Oct 2013 #110

So where did penultimate go after starting a 150-post thread? JackRiddler Oct 2013 #124

Where? orpupilofnature57 Oct 2013 #128

He's stuck behind some jerk noamnety Oct 2013 #147

It was about 10 wpms... Hunt-and-peck typers should be ran off the internets!!!! penultimate Oct 2013 #165

Heh... I'm here. I just spent like 30 minutes responding. penultimate Oct 2013 #164

I ride my bike to work everyday, I work for a highway Dept. orpupilofnature57 Oct 2013 #127

The great majority of motorized vehicles on the road aren't moving "goods and services" Fumesucker Oct 2013 #141

Don't hate the player, hate the game Strelnikov_ Oct 2013 #133

If only not being an asshole was a prerequisite for orpupilofnature57 Oct 2013 #140

That's actually a good question... It's a pretty busy road and really should be expanded now penultimate Oct 2013 #166

Farm Vehicals travel 15mph One_Life_To_Give Oct 2013 #144

Speed limits posted are always subject to conditions R B Garr Oct 2013 #152

Well! Rosa Luxemburg Oct 2013 #154

I ride - mostly around the city - and I don't generally obey traffic laws. Kermitt Gribble Oct 2013 #177