6 ms·

Complete unrelated, I just wish every driver on the road re-learn that cyclists have the same rights of being on city roads like cars.

• Foofoobar12345 1y ago
  And I wish cyclists would re-learn that pedestrians have more rights of being on sidewalks. That said, the bigger plague on sidewalks are e-scooters. Additionally, most cyclists I see never stop at stop signs no matter how busy the intersection is.
  • decimalenough 1y ago
    That's the "Idaho stop". You're moving at speeds slow enough to be easily able to check for traffic without stopping, plus losing inertia as a cyclist is much more annoying (and arguably even dangerous) than for a car.
    • gibolt 1y ago
      From a driver's perspective, you don't want to wait an extra 5-10 seconds because now the bike in front of you has to get back up to speed. 0-5mph is the slowest change and the most energy
  • nsnick 1y ago
    In many places cyclists are not required to stop for stop signs. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop
    • deleted 1y ago
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  • stronglikedan 1y ago
    > And I wish cyclists would re-learn that pedestrians have more rights of being on sidewalks. That's not universal, but I do wish they would just learn those laws for their state. In my state, they have equal rights, and that is that no one has the right of way. If you run into someone, it's your fault full stop. If you couldn't stop in time, then you were travelling too fast for the situation. If someone is blocking the sidewalk, they're a dick, but you can't do anything about it without getting arrested except to find another way around. Also, if you're on a bike and about to pass a pedestrian, you must give an audible (to the ped) signal so as to warn of your approach. Even then, if you hit them, it's because you were going to fast to stop safely in case they wandered into your path. I love the laws in my state regarding shared cycling/pedestrian ways, and sidewalks in particular. Very reasonable and fair.
  • deleted 1y ago
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• Antoniocl 1y ago
  How this issue skews probably depends on where you live, but in the area I live, I have the opposite complaint: that bicyclists should re-learn that they are legally required (in my city) to ride on roads, rather than barrelling down sidewalks. That said, this is coming from me as a pedestrian, so maybe someone who was primarily a driver would have a completely different take from both of us.
  • pavel_lishin 1y ago
    Where I live, there are definitely places where I end up cycling on the sidewalk, because it would be nigh-suicidal to actually take my bike on the road. But I don't go barreling past pedestrians, and make sure I give them the right of way.
  • II2II 1y ago
    I have noticed a huge uptick in agressive behaviour from motorists over the past couple of years. By huge uptick, I mean behaviour that I used to see once every couple of weeks I am new facing multiple times daily. Quite bluntly, the politicians in my area are enabling life endangering behaviour towards cyclists by blaming cyclists for traffic congestion that have nothing to do with cyclists (e.g. road construction projects for motorists, or waterworks or building construction that have nothing to do with cyclists). While I am sticking to the roads, I don't blame other cyclists for seeking refuge on the sidewalks.
  • hamdingers 1y ago
    Has your city made an effort to make it safe and attractive to ride on every street? Or is that a de-facto ban on cycling.
  • dgunay 1y ago
    I don't personally care whether bikes (or scooters) ride on the road or the sidewalk, but my one ask is that: If they ride on the sidewalk, they should behave like pedestrians. That is, do not blast into the crosswalk at 20mph (impossible for drivers to safely check for in most environments), do not randomly enter the road from the sidewalk, pass pedestrians at a respectful speed and distance, etc. If they ride on the road, they should behave similarly to motorists. That is, actually obey stop signs (rolling stop, or even treating it like a yield is okay), and actually obey traffic lights. I'll even tolerate transitioning from one to the other at appropriate traffic stops. Just please don't get upset if I almost run you over for abruptly taking right of way you never legally had.
• bathtub365 1y ago
  Yep, including not being allowed to run red lights. It would also be great if they had license plates so you could easily report dangerous behaviour.
  • stronglikedan 1y ago
    > It would also be great if they had license plates Lol, like hell it would. The supposed "danger" is not worth more legislation and overreach.
    • kyleee 1y ago
      Just think of the YouTube videos though; sovereign citizens on bicycles.
  • margalabargala 1y ago
    Which state are you in? There are a lot of US states (like, more than 10) where cyclists specifically are permitted to go through red lights in some circumstances.
    • MisterMower 1y ago
      Riding a bike without a helmet is permitted in most states, too. Just because it’s lawful doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
      • margalabargala 1y ago
        That's a new and moved goalpost far from the original discussion, but sure. Is there a specific state's laws that you think describe a circumstances when a bike may proceed through a red light, but it is unsafe to do so? If so, how does that unsafety compare to your opinion on cars turning right on red?
        • MisterMower 1y ago
          Let me be more direct: because it’s legal for cyclists to run red lights, you think they should? I hope you can see what I am getting at now. You can’t have it both ways. If cyclists are going to use roads designed for and paid by motorists, they should be subject to the same rules, regulations, taxes, and enforcement. You’re welcome to defend a double standard for cyclists, but it won’t change the fact that it is indeed a double standard and is inherently unfair.
• stronglikedan 1y ago
  I just wish every cyclist would re-learn that they're bound by the same traffics laws as every driver on the road. I'd bet accidents are more often than not mostly their fault.
  • margalabargala 1y ago
    There is no US state where the traffic laws for cars and cyclists are identical. Where are you located that they are?
  • cooljoseph 1y ago
    > I'd bet accidents are more often than not mostly their fault. That's actually not true. Most surveys I've seen show that drivers are at fault ~80% of the time.
    • MisterMower 1y ago
      Surveys? “Yes I’ve been in an accident on my bike Mr. Poll Taker.” “What? Of course it was the other guy’s fault!”
      • cooljoseph 1y ago
        No, surveys like where researchers show up to hospitals and look at the police reports for the injured cyclists. Sorry if I wasn't clear in my wording. By "survey" I was trying to point to the specific kind of research methodology where you survey people about what has happened in the past instead of trying to control variables like in a typical experiment. I wasn't talking about random internet polls or self-reported blame analyses, but actual research papers.
• MisterMower 1y ago
  Cyclists contribute to congestion and occupy road space that was created through taxes on motorists while paying nothing for these benefits. Cyclists are not licensed and their bicycles are not tagged or inspected for safe operation on roads, unlike motorists. Cyclists are rarely subjected to traffic law enforcement despite demanding all of the rights that motorists pay for and are licensed for. Cyclists are a danger to themselves and others while operating in the same area as motorists, but are not required to carry insurance or wear safety equipment, while motorists are held to more stringent regulation. In a nutshell, cyclists are free-riding risk takers who are arrogant to boot. When they start acting like motorists and pay taxes like motorists and are fined like motorists for violating the law, I will happily change my opinion.
  • nostrebored 1y ago
    Motorists __DO NOT COVER__ the costs of roads. Your existence as a motorist is entirely subsidized. The cost of driving is borne by government and society. Road infrastructure, maintenance, and space for cars is actually insanely expensive.
    • MisterMower 1y ago
      What do you think taxes on gasoline are for? You’re absolutely right, roadways are insanely expensive. That’s why it’s infuriating to see entire lanes expropriated for cyclists.
      • JumpCrisscross 1y ago
        > What do you think taxes on gasoline are for? Paying for our highways circa 1993 [1]. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_States https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_Sta...
        • MisterMower 1y ago
          You realize states levy taxes on gas too, right? And that those taxes are remitted to city governments to build and maintain infrastructure?