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Maedhros

(10,007 posts)

65. I have to admit that I'm biased in this regard.

Tue Oct 21, 2014, 12:38 PM

Oct 2014

Last summer I was victim of a hit-and-run by a bicyclist (at least, that's what the responding officer said).

I was driving home at about 11:00 pm through the SE warehouse district in Portland. I wasn't speeding or under the influence of anything. A young woman was dressed in dark clothing, with no light, riding in the wrong lane. She ran a stop sign and hit my car, then fled the scene before police could arrive. My guess is that she was under the influence of one or more narcotics, because she was able to walk away after being bounced 20 feet. Because she fled, and was on a bike, the accident was judged to be my fault and my insurance premium more than doubled.

Ever since then I've been hyper-aware of foolish bicyclists, and there are very many.

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As someone who bikes everywhere, I think this is the most annoying thing I encounter. [View all] F4lconF16 Oct 2014 OP

I wish bikers would follow the rules too. postulater Oct 2014 #1

I'm a biker and I wish they did too. sakabatou Oct 2014 #28

Which is why I am hesitant to take my right of way joeglow3 Oct 2014 #70

I just want them to stay in the bike lane, LWolf Oct 2014 #46

I encounter same thing where 840high Oct 2014 #51

In Los Angeles at EVERY SINGLE LIGHT, every single day, kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #53

Heres my thing.. GummyBearz Oct 2014 #56

Cyclists going the wrong way, while boneheaded and completely kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #57

Thanks GummyBearz Oct 2014 #58

Going the wrong way? How do you know what way they are going? FSogol Oct 2014 #60

I made a similar observation downthread. Mariana Oct 2014 #62

Who's the menace? In your neighborhood, it sounds like it is more cars than bikes. postulater Oct 2014 #67

How many people (other than themselves) does the average bicyclist running a kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #83

Like I said, the 'average' bicyclist in my neighborhood postulater Oct 2014 #86

in my neighborhood hfojvt Oct 2014 #89

As someone who has been to L.A. a lot, that's quite a bit of an exxageration AZ Progressive Oct 2014 #72

Oh yes there are. I have lived here for 31 years and it has gotten REALLY kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #84

Living in the Boston area mythology Oct 2014 #87

Which one are you referring to ? VScott Oct 2014 #74

Ooops, sorry, it's the bicyclists that ignore the rule of the stop sign here. postulater Oct 2014 #79

if there's no traffic I don't see the need for a non motorized vehicle, nor pedestrian to stop CreekDog Oct 2014 #77

I wouldn't argue about the 'no traffic'situation. They should just go with whatever the law is. postulater Oct 2014 #80

Do you live in Brooklyn? Dorian Gray Oct 2014 #81

Ha, Brooklyn is like that too? postulater Oct 2014 #82

I think many places Dorian Gray Oct 2014 #93

In some places, that driver could be liable if something happened. flvegan Oct 2014 #2

I don't bike much but I walk several times daily and this makes me crazy! NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #3

Yes, very annoying when cars stop in the middle of nowhere. DLnyc Oct 2014 #10

As a pedestrian, I don't think this is always true. Jim Lane Oct 2014 #29

Where I live, any thoroughfares that large have controlled crossings. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #30

I hate it when they ride two abreast scarystuffyo Oct 2014 #4

It's rude and inconsiderate.......... Capt.Rocky300 Oct 2014 #6

Cyclists have every right to occupy a traffic lane. Thor_MN Oct 2014 #8

I have no problem with bicyclists using the traffic lane, provided they are riding at a decent clip. Maedhros Oct 2014 #16

100% agree. Thor_MN Oct 2014 #17

Portland and Seattle are pretty bad for this. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #18

Saw a guy the other day with a blinking refector on the back of his helmet. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #44

Yes. We have some narrow-but-busy and also not well-lit major streets in our Arugula Latte Oct 2014 #63

So, what they say is true then? VScott Oct 2014 #75

That's it, in a nutshell. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #42

I have to admit that I'm biased in this regard. Maedhros Oct 2014 #65

Thank you, Especially for commenting on cyclists riding on sidewalks, instead of the designated lane hlthe2b Oct 2014 #50

I ride two abreast in groups all the time bhikkhu Oct 2014 #15

It is NOT 'perfectly legal' in Michigan. Statue maintains that the bicyclist Purveyor Oct 2014 #27

Oregon is a "share the road" state bhikkhu Oct 2014 #34

Which means there's plenty of exceptions which allow a cyclist to take the entire lane Major Nikon Oct 2014 #38

It's legal to ride two abreast in Michigan Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #55

Sec. 257.660a conflicts with 257.660b. How can one ride as close to the curb Purveyor Oct 2014 #66

257.660a (c) Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #76

No problems with you...It's those who are totally oblivious to cars that get me upset. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #45

A lot of misunderstanding out there......... Capt.Rocky300 Oct 2014 #5

Lately they've been installing signs and town tammywammy Oct 2014 #11

That's a move in the right direction Tammy......... Capt.Rocky300 Oct 2014 #13

It's the kids. Archae Oct 2014 #7

A lot of competition for "most" annoying gratuitous Oct 2014 #9

Agree - that's what I do too bhikkhu Oct 2014 #12

Invisibility has it's rare advantages. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #25

I haven't ridden in a few years, but IDemo Oct 2014 #14

I see the run stop signs and stoplights all the time. Flat out rude. Nt Logical Oct 2014 #20

Not rude at all. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #23

Good one! 😄 Logical Oct 2014 #24

I don't run red lights ever bhikkhu Oct 2014 #36

I agree it's rude when used incorrectly IDemo Oct 2014 #43

In Idaho though it's the law. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #61

I have a suggestion for bikers. Stop at all stop signs and stoplights. Nt Logical Oct 2014 #19

Can I have the first 10 seconds or so like cars do? Major Nikon Oct 2014 #40

Come on now. Drivers of cars don't break traffic laws. Mariana Oct 2014 #52

^^^This. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #59

Not to mention.... Major Nikon Oct 2014 #68

Never been hit by a car as a pedestrian. Been hit three times by bikers who can't be bothered Recursion Oct 2014 #91

you should make this universal advice esp for the state of NJ. nt La Lioness Priyanka Oct 2014 #69

While Some Bicyclists Wave Drivers By Them into the Path of Oncoming Cars AndyTiedye Oct 2014 #21

Some of that may be misunderstanding. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #22

Ha! That was me looking back at them with the sour face. Keep moving please. ffr Oct 2014 #26

I love this OP! I HATE when car drivers just stop to let another car (bike, pedestrian) "go ahead." WinkyDink Oct 2014 #31

I walk to work every day and get the same thing at a couple crosswalks gristy Oct 2014 #32

It's not only about bikers defacto7 Oct 2014 #33

+1 F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #37

80% of my biking is on trails, so... Whiskeytide Oct 2014 #35

Bike trails or mountain trails? F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #39

Bike trails... Whiskeytide Oct 2014 #49

By far the most dangerous places are intersections Major Nikon Oct 2014 #41

"Regardless of where you ride there are hazards..." Whiskeytide Oct 2014 #48

That goes for walking as well Ruby the Liberal Oct 2014 #47

I would like to, just once in my life, be able to bike the 2 miles to or from my office kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #54

I was recently in Portland OR PasadenaTrudy Oct 2014 #64

Agreed, but I can't keep going when someone on a bike is four feet into my lane and Zorra Oct 2014 #71

If the most annoying thing is someone trying to be nice.... Marrah_G Oct 2014 #73

Yes, but when their "niceness" F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #88

I biked a lot until I messed up my knee a few years ago. There's plenty of stoopid to go 'round. Gidney N Cloyd Oct 2014 #78

Except at 40 below with visibility about 3 feet (if you're lucky). raven mad Oct 2014 #85

A bicyclist who stops at stop signs? Cool story, bro Recursion Oct 2014 #90

... F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #94

"every road user wants predictability from other users" I would add to that LiberalElite Oct 2014 #92