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Major Nikon

(36,925 posts)

41. Kinda telling how you see these threads pop up from time to time

Thu Jan 2, 2014, 11:09 PM

Jan 2014

Yet how much finger wagging do you see about motorized vehicle drivers speeding, tailgating, running red lights, and all the other half-fast stuff that drivers do that actually manage to kill and maim other people with predictable regularity?

34,000 people die in auto accidents each year. Meanwhile about 350 more people die from drowning in a bathtub than are killed by errant cyclists. Oddly enough other than Whitney Houston, nobody seems to be too worried about bathtub drownings, but dog forbid a cyclist runs a red light.

Just once I'd like to see a thread about how often drivers intentionally intimidate cyclists by tailgating within inches, or trying to run them off the road, or the number of cyclists who are actually killed and maimed by auto drivers who had better things to do than obey traffic laws, but I'm sure if I tried to start such a thread it wouldn't be long before someone piped in and reminded everyone about the apocalyptic threat of some cyclists running red lights.

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Bikes need to stop at red lights like cars [View all] Duckhunter935 Jan 2014 OP

At least in California they do. They have to abide by the same laws as cars, including the use of lostincalifornia Jan 2014 #1

That's the "law" in most places, but it isn't widely obeyed OmahaBlueDog Jan 2014 #5

Exactly the way it should be. Packerowner740 Jan 2014 #21

Agreed. Chan790 Jan 2014 #25

Commuter trikes exist. Ms. Toad Jan 2014 #29

There is another Shankapotomus Jan 2014 #38

I think it is widely obeyed hfojvt Jan 2014 #53

If a bicyclee rider wants to be on streets with cars, they should be required to buy insurance, JDPriestly Jan 2014 #58

The laws are not enforced as frequently with bike riders as with car drivers in L.A. JDPriestly Jan 2014 #57

And stay out of the left lane! Atman Jan 2014 #76

2 ton internal combustion powered vehicles need to stop running over pedestrians and bicyclists. maxsolomon Jan 2014 #2

bicyclists also need to share the road. I saw one jerkwad almost get run over by MAX light rail Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #10

You know, this is a pointless thread. maxsolomon Jan 2014 #24

"Most do. Some don't" R. Daneel Olivaw Jan 2014 #32

If it has wheels and you are on the road ... 1000words Jan 2014 #3

Bikes are vehicles & have to follow the rules of the road WolverineDG Jan 2014 #4

$380 fine seems kinda excessive. n/t indie9197 Jan 2014 #6

I was once fined $250 for not having a public transit fare ticket. 1000words Jan 2014 #7

only if it is enforced Duckhunter935 Jan 2014 #8

Yes they do and most bicyclists know this. nt LisaLynne Jan 2014 #9

just not here Duckhunter935 Jan 2014 #11

Yeah and I can find a bunch of people in cars who don't follow the rules, too. nt LisaLynne Jan 2014 #12

Yep Duckhunter935 Jan 2014 #18

For people who might wonder what "the Wiggle" is, here's a link: NYC_SKP Jan 2014 #17

Yes. Bicyclists suck and are a threat to the 'merican SUV way of life. onehandle Jan 2014 #13

Asking bicyclists to follow the law is the same as denying global warming.. former9thward Jan 2014 #15

well if a bicyclist actually HAD to stop for every stop sign hfojvt Jan 2014 #54

+1 LisaLynne Jan 2014 #16

pedestrians suck too, didn't you get the memo? CreekDog Jan 2014 #22

Cyclists don't suck. We just have to follow the rules, and if we break them R. Daneel Olivaw Jan 2014 #33

You forgot to mention guns. n/t cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #36

Kinda telling how you see these threads pop up from time to time Major Nikon Jan 2014 #41

You'd think drivers never break traffic laws Mariana Jan 2014 #62

yep-- on the road, we have to follow all the usual traffic rules.... mike_c Jan 2014 #14

Thank you Duckhunter935 Jan 2014 #19

I didn't know Jamaal510 Jan 2014 #20

I wonder if exceptions are made on college campuses.... NYC_SKP Jan 2014 #31

Harvard University has a "No riding through the yard' policy. It's ignored wholesale. R. Daneel Olivaw Jan 2014 #34

UC Irvine started making people walk their bikes across campus after a bike killed a pedestrian. Vattel Jan 2014 #45

Most cycling accidents happen at intersections Major Nikon Jan 2014 #42

Can the bikes just have the first five or ten seconds of the red, like the cars do? Fumesucker Jan 2014 #23

Shirley, you jest. n/t cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #37

sure FatBuddy Jan 2014 #70

People get killed in cars running red lights Fumesucker Jan 2014 #74

Same road, same rules. muntrv Jan 2014 #26

On the north side of Chicago bikes rule the roost. Peregrine Took Jan 2014 #27

and I thought this problem was only in NYC n/t LiberalElite Jan 2014 #40

"ride on non bike lane streets" Major Nikon Jan 2014 #43

I've never understood not stopping at red lights mythology Jan 2014 #28

Most never do in my city. They use the toe clips as the excuse. n-t Logical Jan 2014 #30

Using toe clips in the city is a huge safety issue. You have to be able to stop fast if you need to uppityperson Jan 2014 #73

As a 55-year rider, I agree. ancianita Jan 2014 #35

Thanks for posting!!! - LiberalElite Jan 2014 #39

the rightwing fear of bicycles is almost as strong as their fear of trains. Warren Stupidity Jan 2014 #44

you kind of lost with that rambling Duckhunter935 Jan 2014 #47

rightwing culture is so weird. Warren Stupidity Jan 2014 #48

Yup. CreekDog Jan 2014 #49

I hate the fact that bikes put me at risk of civil and criminal liability. Vattel Jan 2014 #46

Thanks for pointing-out the stupidity... seattledo Jan 2014 #51

obeying the law = bike bashing Duckhunter935 Jan 2014 #52

Yeah, it was loads of fun when the guy on a bike running a red passed right in front of my truck. jeff47 Jan 2014 #63

Actually, I do think there are plenty of cyclists Vattel Jan 2014 #79

Cyclists DO have the moral high ground (for reasons given Ron Green Jan 2014 #50

Anyone notice that officer guide the biker through at the end? joshcryer Jan 2014 #55

I see bikes running red lights and stop signs. That is one reason I think bikes should have JDPriestly Jan 2014 #56

I do, and most here do. PDJane Jan 2014 #59

And cars should use turn signals when appropriate... LanternWaste Jan 2014 #60

Cars need to stop at red lights, too. Iggo Jan 2014 #61

I am so pro citations for cyclist it's sickening. WaitWut Jan 2014 #64

Well... No shit. Glassunion Jan 2014 #65

Except in Idaho, where bikes can treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs Gormy Cuss Jan 2014 #66

my city proposed that fizzgig Jan 2014 #68

I like this idea drmeow Jan 2014 #69

+1 for common sense re. stops-as-yields. But the eta seems .... Smarmie Doofus Jan 2014 #77

It's the law in at least twenty states. Gormy Cuss Jan 2014 #78

I was under the impression that Public Service Announcements on DU are offensive to individuals... LanternWaste Jan 2014 #67

I get into a bit of a strange situation drmeow Jan 2014 #71

I can't see the video however yuiyoshida Jan 2014 #72

anytime a bike meets a car or truck the bike is not going to win dembotoz Jan 2014 #75