I don't think that the argument here is about what's legal and what's not and what the right's are, etc.

I think the argument is about people knowing WHEN and HOW to be courteous. No, there is no law saying people HAVE to be kind, considerate, and polite, but we all hope that people will be this way regardless in order to make the world a happier place.

Why be a dick?

 

You couldn't be more right!

 

I will post once more because you all will never get it. I, as a cyclist have the same right to a lane that you do. If the are 15 of us riding and we squeeze along the side of the road it is out of respect for you the driver. There are many harmful reasons that we do not ride in the bike lanes which we do not have to use and that are placed there for the local councilman to look better to his or her constituents. For one, the bike lanes are rarely cleaned and are traps for sharp debris, and tires at 45 dollars a pop can get quite expensive. Second, the storm grates are always in the bike lanes, which can grab a wheel and flip you over. (I have seen it happen)... I have had many motorists express all sorts of aggression to me on the street. it is a very dangerous form of road rage. We are not protected from the automobile, we will always lose. But, I will say again, you will lose your life as you know it if you harm me on my bicycle....... period.......



- T -

 

we Tennessee boys are agressive when you threaten us with your vehicle!!!!
The one bicycle lane in JC looks like a broken windshield wasteland... you can see the shards of glass glisten in the sun

 

i ride my bike and when i see riders i fly by real close to scare the s*** out of them...great laughs. i got mine one day though.. one day i was riding and a mack truck came by real close and scared me off the road. i went into the grass and right in front was a drive way and the pavement was a couple inches off the ground.i locked my front and nailed the driveway and flew off my bike... i landed in the driveway and skid on my hands and my bike hit me in the back and bent my handle bars.. i laughed

thomas

 

I will gladly share the road with the bicyclists, but I expect them to obey the same traffic laws that I have to. I don't expect them to run a red light in front of me, and I will not endanger myself by slamming on the brakes causing a rear end collision to stop when they do. I also expect them to choose between being vehicular traffic or pedestrian traffic, and expect them to act accordingly. I also don't expect them to be on my right side when I have the turn signal on and am making a right turn, but I have had more than a few do that and go straight through the intersection, must have a death wish is all I can think about them. They will cut me off on the street and flip me off at the same time, also. They need to think about the consequences of pissing off someone in either a 2800# car or 4500# pickup, if they get hit for being stupid, I win they lose.

I saw a bicycle come through an intersection (he had the green light) and hit a car that was coming up to the red light in the left turn lane, the cyclist was hidden from the car's view because of a truck in the right lane, and the car was coming up to the line on the road that marks his lane boundaries. The cyclist cut the corner and almost clipped the truck's driver's side bumper, trying to turn without losing speed. I pull up to the line in whatever lane I am in if I am the lead car. People in cars have to go around me as well.

 

When I ride along the white line, people seem to have no issue passing me across a double-yellow line, even when traffic is coming. I'm OK with that. But when I reach a red light, they better not complain that I go right up beside the lead car for straight-ahead traffic. Some people feel that once you pass them, you should stay passed. Maybe we are both stretching the law a little, but when it comes down to it most people are OK with it and SHARE the road.

Then when in city traffic I will get in the middle of a lane and keep up with the car in front of me, just like another vehicle. I usually do this through 25 MPH zones and tight parallel parking where you can't be off to the side of the street. Again, most people are fine with this but every now and then you get a yahoo who honks or screams to get off the road. Nevermind that he/she wouldn't be getting anywhere sooner because of the cars in front of me.