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I'm going to attempt to rationalize why cyclists don't obey traffic laws in cities. The short answer is that bicycle riding in cities sucks. It's loud, slippe

I'm going to attempt to rationalize why cyclists don't obey traffic laws in cities. The short answer is that bicycle riding in cities sucks. It's loud, slippery, uneven, blocked, takes a lot of physical effort, is full of unpredictable giant metal things that can kill you, teeming with large moving meat pillars that will jump in front of you at any moment, you're completely exposed to the weather and can't safely look at a map while you navigate. They've created a few strips of pot-hole ridden, double parked green pavement that they say is just for you but it's not safe even if you're being safe and extremely uncomfortable. Bicycle riding also happens though to be the fastest, most liberating way to get around and is good exercise so you put up with it, but you put up with it while annoying a few people yourself. You block lanes when you feel like it's safer to do so, cross red lights when you think it's safe so you save some time and so you can stay in front of the same wave of traffic as they already know you're there. Some times you make a bad decision that results in a honk but you've also been splashed, cut-off, bumped, blocked and almost doored and you don't have a horn of your own for when that happens. You're up against a torment of danger and uncomfortable that can kill you and the most you can ever do is make someone annoyed or maybe flip a mirror back. You start to realize that the cards aren't in your favor and that annoying drivers in their crash cages, with AC, maps, surround sound, horns, gas pedals and bucket seats really isn't that big of a deal. You just don't equate your presence on the road with theirs and don't think the same laws should apply. Not because you're magically above the law but because through years of experience you can see that the situations are completely different and require completely different attention. You think to yourself, the day cars weight 40lbs and go 15mph is the day you obey all the same laws as them.

lavamantis 12y ago
Thanks for articulating this, although you may have just started a religious war. My only addition is why cyclists don't completely stop at stop signs. It's a LOT of work to get up to speed from a dead stop, so it seems a bit pointless to do it when you can clearly see that no one is in the intersection. Also, as you are trying to accelerate from a dead stop, it takes a while to get through the intersection. If there does happen to be a motorist there, they have to sit and wait while you (slowly) go by. It isn't necessarily legal, but cyclists not completely stopping probably helps everyone.
- jasonjei 12y ago
  I think the biggest concern about cyclists is the I-don't-give-a-damn attitude (entitlement). I understand the reasons to run a red-light when safely clear to do, but when the action affects other users of the road, such as on a busy road, that's when it's a no-no (for example, I almost got sidelined by a cyclist running the bike downhill on a sidewalk as I was pulling out of the garage on my motorcycle). Take my opinion with a grain of salt as a fixed gear cyclist and motorcyclist. (And I do try to observe the law on my pedal bike.) Cyclist red light running does affect pedestrians. Consider this guy who was killed in NYC. [1] We all have to share the road. For cyclists, motorists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians in no order. [1] http://nypost.com/2014/09/22/new-yorks-cycles-of-death-our-arrogant-biker-nightmare/ http://nypost.com/2014/09/22/new-yorks-cycles-of-death-our-a...
  - gburt 12y ago
    Please demonstrate that there is any such "entitlement" attitude among cyclists that does not exist among drivers. It is dangerous for cyclists and other road users for cyclists to "complete stop" at stop signs. It's not entitlement, it's an evaluation of risk.
  - jrockway 12y ago
    You're using the Post as your source? You might as well link to The Onion.
dagurp 12y ago
> The short answer is that bicycle riding in cities sucks. Depends on the city
- zevyoura 12y ago
  All American cities, and nearly all international cities.
darushimo 12y ago
This video by Casey Neistat illustrates some of the problems you bring up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ
btown 12y ago
As a pedestrian, things like cyclists running red lights "when [they] think it's safe" cause a huge amount of consternation for me. Traffic rules are in place so that other people on the road - pedestrians included - can have reasonable expectations about the behavior of other actors. If I need to wait when I have a "walk" symbol because I don't know whether a cyclist is going to feel entitled to run the light or not, then a cyclist has no right to call me a "large moving meat pillar" because it's the cyclist's own disobedience of the law that is causing the disturbance in the first place. Cyclists, I know you hate dead stops, but don't be assholes to pedestrians who aren't being assholes to you.
lizard 12y ago
Cyclist are neither licensed or registered where I am, so there is no expectation they are familiar with traffic laws nor is there any way to hold them accountable when they do something hazardous (unless they are involved in an accident which incapacitates them). Traffic laws regarding bicycles didn't come up on my driver's test or in the educational material either so I had to look up the laws myself. The laws are difficult to find, difficult to read, and still pretty vague; no wonder even the sales associates at sports shops don't know them. I don't live in a city so I'm not familiar with bicyclist in that environment, but in the town I live in, which has a strong outdoor recreation community and a University, cyclists also do not obey traffic laws. This town's claim of being "bicycle friendly" is questionable, but you can get most places safely enough. There are bike lanes or shared lanes on many streets, double-wide sidewalks (which can be used by bicyclists) here and there, and a bike accessible trail system that winds around and through the town if you're willing go a bit out of your way. With a strong cyclist presence in town most drivers are fairly comfortable sharing the road. I've been bicycling around town for several years, both for recreation and to save $400/year on a parking permit for work, and never been involved in an accident. But I still see cyclist riding up and down sidewalks in the downtown area (which has signs every few hundred feet stating that cycling is not permitted on sidewalks) or cutting off cars at busy intersections (even if the intersection is being directed by a traffic cop). I have even, no kidding, seen a cyclist run a red light in the oncoming traffic lane at night with no lights, reflectors, or a helmet.

lavamantis 12y ago

Thanks for articulating this, although you may have just started a religious war. My only addition is why cyclists don't completely stop at stop signs. It's a LOT of work to get up to speed from a dead stop, so it seems a bit pointless to do it when you can clearly see that no one is in the intersection. Also, as you are trying to accelerate from a dead stop, it takes a while to get through the intersection. If there does happen to be a motorist there, they have to sit and wait while you (slowly) go by. It isn't necessarily legal, but cyclists not completely stopping probably helps everyone.

jasonjei 12y ago
I think the biggest concern about cyclists is the I-don't-give-a-damn attitude (entitlement). I understand the reasons to run a red-light when safely clear to do, but when the action affects other users of the road, such as on a busy road, that's when it's a no-no (for example, I almost got sidelined by a cyclist running the bike downhill on a sidewalk as I was pulling out of the garage on my motorcycle). Take my opinion with a grain of salt as a fixed gear cyclist and motorcyclist. (And I do try to observe the law on my pedal bike.) Cyclist red light running does affect pedestrians. Consider this guy who was killed in NYC. [1] We all have to share the road. For cyclists, motorists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians in no order. [1] http://nypost.com/2014/09/22/new-yorks-cycles-of-death-our-arrogant-biker-nightmare/ http://nypost.com/2014/09/22/new-yorks-cycles-of-death-our-a...
- gburt 12y ago
  Please demonstrate that there is any such "entitlement" attitude among cyclists that does not exist among drivers. It is dangerous for cyclists and other road users for cyclists to "complete stop" at stop signs. It's not entitlement, it's an evaluation of risk.
- jrockway 12y ago
  You're using the Post as your source? You might as well link to The Onion.

dagurp 12y ago

> The short answer is that bicycle riding in cities sucks. Depends on the city

zevyoura 12y ago
All American cities, and nearly all international cities.

darushimo 12y ago

This video by Casey Neistat illustrates some of the problems you bring up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ

btown 12y ago

As a pedestrian, things like cyclists running red lights "when [they] think it's safe" cause a huge amount of consternation for me. Traffic rules are in place so that other people on the road - pedestrians included - can have reasonable expectations about the behavior of other actors. If I need to wait when I have a "walk" symbol because I don't know whether a cyclist is going to feel entitled to run the light or not, then a cyclist has no right to call me a "large moving meat pillar" because it's the cyclist's own disobedience of the law that is causing the disturbance in the first place. Cyclists, I know you hate dead stops, but don't be assholes to pedestrians who aren't being assholes to you.

lizard 12y ago

Cyclist are neither licensed or registered where I am, so there is no expectation they are familiar with traffic laws nor is there any way to hold them accountable when they do something hazardous (unless they are involved in an accident which incapacitates them). Traffic laws regarding bicycles didn't come up on my driver's test or in the educational material either so I had to look up the laws myself. The laws are difficult to find, difficult to read, and still pretty vague; no wonder even the sales associates at sports shops don't know them. I don't live in a city so I'm not familiar with bicyclist in that environment, but in the town I live in, which has a strong outdoor recreation community and a University, cyclists also do not obey traffic laws. This town's claim of being "bicycle friendly" is questionable, but you can get most places safely enough. There are bike lanes or shared lanes on many streets, double-wide sidewalks (which can be used by bicyclists) here and there, and a bike accessible trail system that winds around and through the town if you're willing go a bit out of your way. With a strong cyclist presence in town most drivers are fairly comfortable sharing the road. I've been bicycling around town for several years, both for recreation and to save $400/year on a parking permit for work, and never been involved in an accident. But I still see cyclist riding up and down sidewalks in the downtown area (which has signs every few hundred feet stating that cycling is not permitted on sidewalks) or cutting off cars at busy intersections (even if the intersection is being directed by a traffic cop). I have even, no kidding, seen a cyclist run a red light in the oncoming traffic lane at night with no lights, reflectors, or a helmet.