2 ms·

>Lay Off the Horn If you're cycling on the road, even though there is a perfectly good bike lane right next to it, I will honk at you. Every single time.

Zak 14y ago
Is this common where you live? I do quite a bit of cycling and am very aware of cyclists when driving. I often see what the author describes as "pedestrians on bicycles" using the sidewalk when a bike lane is available, but cyclists outside of a bike lane on the road are quite rare most places unless they're preparing to turn toward the inside (i.e. a left turn in places where it's customary to drive on the right). When learning to drive (and before), I was taught that that the horn is for alerting other people to dangerous situations and preventing collisions. It is not for expressing anger or frustration at other people. I've noticed that people tend to become angry or frustrated much more quickly when driving and when interacting with someone who is driving (e.g. as a pedestrian). You might want to consider whether you're acting under the influence of a disinhibition effect and ask yourself whether you want to yell "CHANGE WHAT YOU'RE DOING OR I'LL HIT YOU WITH MY CAR" at a cyclist for forcing you to drive slower for 30 seconds. That's what honking a horn conveys.
bryanlarsen 14y ago
As somebody who sometimes cycles on the road even though there is a bicycle path and gets honked at by assholes like you, there are usually many different reasons why a bicycle isn't using the bicycle path. Here are some of them: - it's actually not a bike path. It looks like a bike path, but if it doesn't have a yellow stripe down the middle and isn't signed, it's a sidewalk, and it's illegal and probably dangerous to cycle on it. - the speed limit on the path is 20 km/h, and I'm going 30. - it's a mixed use path, frequented by toddlers who are very unpredictable and sometimes hard to avoid when going at high speed. I'd rather deal with assholes on the road than endanger toddlers. - it's a mixed use path, frequented by people walking dogs. They're dangerous because dogs can veer suddenly, and that leash can snare a bicycle very easily - it has poor road crossings. Most "recreational" bicycle paths in North American cities are much more dangerous for cyclists than riding on the road is, even though they seem safer. Why? 90-95% of all bicycle fatalities happen at intersections. The bicycle path still has to cross roads, and they generally do so either by merging with the sidewalk or by setting up a crossing a few yards away from the intersection. Some drivers do not slow down or look until they reach the intersection proper. To cross safely you have to slow down to walking pace and be hyper-vigilant like a jaywalker. The safest place in an intersection is as close to the centre as you can get, where you are visible to everybody. - it has lots of curves and lots of close trees. Which means that visibility around curves is very poor, so it's not safe. It was designed for pedestrians, not cyclists. - it doesn't actually go where I want to go. This is more common than you think: just because it parallels your road now, doesn't mean it will later - I don't know where I'm going. Bike paths are very random, and often aren't marked on maps. If I'm following a map designed for cars, I have no choice but to use your road. In summary, most so-called "bike paths" in North America are really just repurposed walking paths, and are unsafe and slow. Cyclists should be on the road.

Zak 14y ago

Is this common where you live? I do quite a bit of cycling and am very aware of cyclists when driving. I often see what the author describes as "pedestrians on bicycles" using the sidewalk when a bike lane is available, but cyclists outside of a bike lane on the road are quite rare most places unless they're preparing to turn toward the inside (i.e. a left turn in places where it's customary to drive on the right). When learning to drive (and before), I was taught that that the horn is for alerting other people to dangerous situations and preventing collisions. It is not for expressing anger or frustration at other people. I've noticed that people tend to become angry or frustrated much more quickly when driving and when interacting with someone who is driving (e.g. as a pedestrian). You might want to consider whether you're acting under the influence of a disinhibition effect and ask yourself whether you want to yell "CHANGE WHAT YOU'RE DOING OR I'LL HIT YOU WITH MY CAR" at a cyclist for forcing you to drive slower for 30 seconds. That's what honking a horn conveys.

bryanlarsen 14y ago

As somebody who sometimes cycles on the road even though there is a bicycle path and gets honked at by assholes like you, there are usually many different reasons why a bicycle isn't using the bicycle path. Here are some of them: - it's actually not a bike path. It looks like a bike path, but if it doesn't have a yellow stripe down the middle and isn't signed, it's a sidewalk, and it's illegal and probably dangerous to cycle on it. - the speed limit on the path is 20 km/h, and I'm going 30. - it's a mixed use path, frequented by toddlers who are very unpredictable and sometimes hard to avoid when going at high speed. I'd rather deal with assholes on the road than endanger toddlers. - it's a mixed use path, frequented by people walking dogs. They're dangerous because dogs can veer suddenly, and that leash can snare a bicycle very easily - it has poor road crossings. Most "recreational" bicycle paths in North American cities are much more dangerous for cyclists than riding on the road is, even though they seem safer. Why? 90-95% of all bicycle fatalities happen at intersections. The bicycle path still has to cross roads, and they generally do so either by merging with the sidewalk or by setting up a crossing a few yards away from the intersection. Some drivers do not slow down or look until they reach the intersection proper. To cross safely you have to slow down to walking pace and be hyper-vigilant like a jaywalker. The safest place in an intersection is as close to the centre as you can get, where you are visible to everybody. - it has lots of curves and lots of close trees. Which means that visibility around curves is very poor, so it's not safe. It was designed for pedestrians, not cyclists. - it doesn't actually go where I want to go. This is more common than you think: just because it parallels your road now, doesn't mean it will later - I don't know where I'm going. Bike paths are very random, and often aren't marked on maps. If I'm following a map designed for cars, I have no choice but to use your road. In summary, most so-called "bike paths" in North America are really just repurposed walking paths, and are unsafe and slow. Cyclists should be on the road.