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As a european biker my theory on the aggressiveness in the debate about bikers in the USA is simply that, due to how traffic laws over there are structured, bik

As a european biker my theory on the aggressiveness in the debate about bikers in the USA is simply that, due to how traffic laws over there are structured, bikers are much more endangered and have to respond with much more aggressiveness. As an example: In Germany a biker legally has to keep a minimum distance from parked cars. This often means riding in the middle of the lane, something which german bikers are not only, as in this minimum distance case, forced to, but generally allowed to in every case. From what friends in the USA tell me, trying to do that is a very quick trip to a hospital.

walshemj 12y ago
Doesn't explain London where I have regularly witnessed cyclists blasting through red lights at 30 mph at major junctions at the height of the rush hour. I have also see them take short cuts through large groups of pedestrians at only slightly less speed.
- Timmmmbob 12y ago
  I lived in London for 4 years and that is bullshit.
  - walshemj 12y ago
    Sorry no I recently worked in proctor street next to Holborn tube you could see 2 or 3 idiot cyclists every day in 5 min just walking across the road to the local café.
  - richliss 12y ago
    Second person challenging your bullshit statement here... I've lived in London for a total 10 years and I've seen non-boris bike cyclists in Central London regularly do this: 1. Go through red lights. 2. Go through pedestrian crossings at speed whilst pedestrians are actually crossing. 3. Cycle the wrong way on a road. 4. Cycle across crossings when the lights favour them. 5. Cycle on pavements (only young children should be allowed to do this). 6. Cycle in bus only lanes ignoring the bus behind them. 7. Weave in-between traffic. 8. Undertake. I'm a pedestrian btw... not someone who drives in London, and without a doubt cyclists make more dangerous actions that a pedestrian has to be wary of than drivers. Having to be aware of cars/trucks/buses doesn't excuse a cyclists responsibility to be aware of pedestrians first.
hyperpape 12y ago
My understanding in the US is that riding on the sidewalks is illegal, and that cyclists must ride in the road to follow the law (I am not a cyclist).
- 67726e 12y ago
  I can only speak for my state (South Carolina) but that is absolutely true, but rarely enforced. I've had several accidents and near misses pulling out of my driveway and bumping into people biking down the sidewalk. They were always at fault, but at the same time the street they should have been riding on is a major thoroughfare downtown and has speeds of 25-35 MPH with no bike lane. You really cannot expect everyone to be able to bike anywhere near that fast, but then you wind up with folks going a few MPH on a bike and holding up traffic. It's just a terrible situation all around.
  - nilkn 12y ago
    > They were always at fault, but at the same time the street they should have been riding on is a major thoroughfare downtown and has speeds of 25-35 MPH with no bike lane. You really cannot expect everyone to be able to bike anywhere near that fast, but then you wind up with folks going a few MPH on a bike and holding up traffic. It's just a terrible situation all around. This is a major problem in Houston as well. I think cyclists are generally disliked here because the road system is just not at all designed to accommodate them. There are a lot of roads with 30-40 mph speeds, no bike lanes, and sidewalks that are very popular for walkers (plus it's illegal to ride a bike on them). A cyclist has the choice of either biking on the sidewalk, thereby endangering pedestrians, or biking on the road, thereby causing a small traffic jam and forcing all the cars to switch lanes.
- dubfan 12y ago
  Riding on sidewalks is legal in Seattle.
- forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
  In my (smaller, 80k pop) city, we actually have paved bike paths separated from the road, however cyclists choose to ride in the street anyway.
kaonashi 12y ago
> From what friends in the USA tell me, trying to do that is a very quick trip to a hospital. It's still safer, but you might get someone who is less-informed yelling/honking at you. Then again, I don't bike in the 'burbs either.

walshemj 12y ago

Doesn't explain London where I have regularly witnessed cyclists blasting through red lights at 30 mph at major junctions at the height of the rush hour. I have also see them take short cuts through large groups of pedestrians at only slightly less speed.

Timmmmbob 12y ago
I lived in London for 4 years and that is bullshit.
- walshemj 12y ago
  Sorry no I recently worked in proctor street next to Holborn tube you could see 2 or 3 idiot cyclists every day in 5 min just walking across the road to the local café.
- richliss 12y ago
  Second person challenging your bullshit statement here... I've lived in London for a total 10 years and I've seen non-boris bike cyclists in Central London regularly do this: 1. Go through red lights. 2. Go through pedestrian crossings at speed whilst pedestrians are actually crossing. 3. Cycle the wrong way on a road. 4. Cycle across crossings when the lights favour them. 5. Cycle on pavements (only young children should be allowed to do this). 6. Cycle in bus only lanes ignoring the bus behind them. 7. Weave in-between traffic. 8. Undertake. I'm a pedestrian btw... not someone who drives in London, and without a doubt cyclists make more dangerous actions that a pedestrian has to be wary of than drivers. Having to be aware of cars/trucks/buses doesn't excuse a cyclists responsibility to be aware of pedestrians first.

hyperpape 12y ago

My understanding in the US is that riding on the sidewalks is illegal, and that cyclists must ride in the road to follow the law (I am not a cyclist).

67726e 12y ago
I can only speak for my state (South Carolina) but that is absolutely true, but rarely enforced. I've had several accidents and near misses pulling out of my driveway and bumping into people biking down the sidewalk. They were always at fault, but at the same time the street they should have been riding on is a major thoroughfare downtown and has speeds of 25-35 MPH with no bike lane. You really cannot expect everyone to be able to bike anywhere near that fast, but then you wind up with folks going a few MPH on a bike and holding up traffic. It's just a terrible situation all around.
- nilkn 12y ago
  > They were always at fault, but at the same time the street they should have been riding on is a major thoroughfare downtown and has speeds of 25-35 MPH with no bike lane. You really cannot expect everyone to be able to bike anywhere near that fast, but then you wind up with folks going a few MPH on a bike and holding up traffic. It's just a terrible situation all around. This is a major problem in Houston as well. I think cyclists are generally disliked here because the road system is just not at all designed to accommodate them. There are a lot of roads with 30-40 mph speeds, no bike lanes, and sidewalks that are very popular for walkers (plus it's illegal to ride a bike on them). A cyclist has the choice of either biking on the sidewalk, thereby endangering pedestrians, or biking on the road, thereby causing a small traffic jam and forcing all the cars to switch lanes.
dubfan 12y ago
Riding on sidewalks is legal in Seattle.
forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
In my (smaller, 80k pop) city, we actually have paved bike paths separated from the road, however cyclists choose to ride in the street anyway.

kaonashi 12y ago

> From what friends in the USA tell me, trying to do that is a very quick trip to a hospital. It's still safer, but you might get someone who is less-informed yelling/honking at you. Then again, I don't bike in the 'burbs either.