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Laughing Mirror

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65. Astute observations from someone from a bike culture

Fri Mar 6, 2015, 12:31 PM

Mar 2015

Thank you.

I think one reason, perhaps a major reason, why the U.S. is the way it is vis à vis bicycling as a way to get around, is that it is primarily a motor vehicle-based culture with infrastructure built for that.

Outside of big cities with bike sharing, as you enter the the endless sprawl, getting by foot or by bike from point A to point B becomes less an option. Oh you might find a bike lane in a park, but you'll rarely find them anywhere else. Anywhere you need them. Same thing with sidewalks. Maybe you'll find a ditch to walk in along the road, maybe not. Everything's designed for motor vehicles. Not for pedestrians or bikes.

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Dutch cyclist's conclusion is inescapably accurate: America doesn't take bicycles seriously [View all] CreekDog Mar 2015 OP

And he's absolutely correct. nt MrScorpio Mar 2015 #1

I survived a visit Amsterdam rogerashton Mar 2015 #2

what makes bike riders think they should be able to bike safely? CreekDog Mar 2015 #5

Why would you think that one must be conservative pennylane100 Mar 2015 #9

it does get pretty brutal in Europe foo_bar Mar 2015 #10

you're saying it would be safer if they were all in cars? CreekDog Mar 2015 #13

safer from swear words? foo_bar Mar 2015 #21

Yes, I've been yelled at in German while on a sidewalk in Munich CreekDog Mar 2015 #36

genau. foo_bar Mar 2015 #51

What makes pedestrians think we should be able to walk safely? rogerashton Mar 2015 #12

so you're in favor of protecting pedestrians by further regulating car traffic? CreekDog Mar 2015 #15

Yes, I favor increased regulation of automobiles rogerashton Mar 2015 #19

Bicycing is regulated already too. Cyclists have to follow the same laws as motor vehicle drivers Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #26

You have to catch her to cite her. eom rogerashton Mar 2015 #32

You have to catch motor vehicle drivers to cite them too. Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #34

Easier to catch a.motor vehicle Telcontar Mar 2015 #63

The law officer told me that the regulation is never enforced... Mariana Mar 2015 #27

I was hit by a bicycle messenger and knocked down - LiberalElite Mar 2015 #22

not excusing that, that must be enforced against CreekDog Mar 2015 #37

Sorry, but that's just hairsplitting. Looks almost trivial to you. nt LiberalElite Mar 2015 #48

give us the numbers, how many pedestrians are killed by cars, how many by bikes? CreekDog Mar 2015 #49

How about we examine how many pedestrians are injured on sidewalks Telcontar Mar 2015 #64

from what cause? CreekDog Mar 2015 #66

Yes. The plural of anecdote isn't data RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #57

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #67

You're only for protecting pedestrians from cars, not bikes? pintobean Mar 2015 #18

Huh? rogerashton Mar 2015 #25

Bicyclists are not required to stay in bike lanes. In fact it's damn near impossible to do so. Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #28

"...most areas treat bicyclists like an afterthought. Same for pedestrians." RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #41

Same as it sounds if you do that for statements about car drivers, no? whatthehey Mar 2015 #62

I replied to creekdog pintobean Mar 2015 #30

Sorry. Missed that. rogerashton Mar 2015 #31

Yes, you replied to me saying that people didn't need to be protected from bicyclists CreekDog Mar 2015 #39

Well, most people can follow the conversation pintobean Mar 2015 #42

if this conversation is so easy to follow, then why can't you properly report what I said CreekDog Mar 2015 #50

You jumped someone's shit for pintobean Mar 2015 #52

No, do you have at least a made up quote to go along with that straw man? CreekDog Mar 2015 #38

I got the exact opposite impression when I was in Amsterdam Taitertots Mar 2015 #33

how many steep hills are there in Amsterdam? hobbit709 Mar 2015 #3

and this means American cities can't be bike friendly? CreekDog Mar 2015 #4

There's plenty in my city cwydro Mar 2015 #7

what's the highest elevation in Chicago? CreekDog Mar 2015 #17

Lol, no idea. cwydro Mar 2015 #23

I love bikes, but hate the people riding them Telcontar Mar 2015 #6

And here I thought Austin, TX had cornered the market on entitled asshole bikers! Paladin Mar 2015 #8

I ride a lot. cwydro Mar 2015 #24

Do you ever see automobile drivers that drive like they are "entitled"? CreekDog Mar 2015 #40

Of course I do. cwydro Mar 2015 #44

Automobile drivers? No. Truck drivers? All the goddamn time..... (nt) Paladin Mar 2015 #46

Spend some time on a bicycle. You may change your mind. RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #55

It's that way in the Indianapolis area too. AngryOldDem Mar 2015 #60

Thanks for stating it so well. (nt) Paladin Mar 2015 #61

Can't we just have the first 5-10 seconds like cars do? Major Nikon Mar 2015 #20

We aren't a flat bike-oriented nation. P.S. Amsterdam bicyclists don't take pedestrians seriously! WinkyDink Mar 2015 #11

Sure they do -- as targets. rogerashton Mar 2015 #14

Hee! They like to get right up on you before ringing the bell! WinkyDink Mar 2015 #16

I just stopped in to read all the excuses not to take bikes seriously. tenderfoot Mar 2015 #29

... cwydro Mar 2015 #45

This message was self-deleted by its author RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #56

I take cyclists very seriously, as I would any public menace. Sen. Walter Sobchak Mar 2015 #35

you've mentioned you're in Orange County CreekDog Mar 2015 #58

and being from behind the Orange Curtain has what to do with a preference Sen. Walter Sobchak Mar 2015 #59

To listen to him the Dutch invented cycling. And what is this thing he has against cycling clothes Monk06 Mar 2015 #43

lot of this going on in this thread CreekDog Mar 2015 #47

In the US traffic laws do not exist to promote safety tularetom Mar 2015 #53

Americans see bicycles as toys, and those that don't are "take the lane" types. ileus Mar 2015 #54

Astute observations from someone from a bike culture Laughing Mirror Mar 2015 #65

America doesn't do anything uniformly Egnever Mar 2015 #68