Spring/summer I HATE CYCLISTS thread for 2009

Already I have been stuck behind a pack of spandex clad traffic interlopers and it's just finally breaking out of the 40s in the Chicago area.

why would we use the bike path off the street about 10 feet over there ---------> when we can completely demolish any hope of avoiding rush hour traffic?

Red light? Is that for ME?????

I'm sorry but I can't possibly ride on the street without my bff riding right next to me!

I laughed so hard when I refreshed the forum and saw this thread title stuck out like a sore thumb. You have made my evening. You've done it again spiro.

Sorry you got home 30 seconds later than planned.

There's a Facebook group called something like, "I live in Chicago and I can cross the street any time I damn well please!"

I had to laugh!

We're visiting week after next, I can't wait.

Original Post by trhawley:

Sorry you got home 30 seconds later than planned.

It's a lot more than 30 seconds when a pack of them are heading down the street and we're all going cyclist speed.

why don't they use the bike path that runs along the streets they are riding on? The thing goes half way down the state of Illinois up through Wisconsin. It's not like they have to worry about streets or getting off the path. WHY? I'll tell you way. To torture us.

Yay!  So very glad you brought this back.

I don't know your city, but where I'm from cyclists use the street for the same reason cars to - it's the most direct route. Also the trails are often over run with people walking along listening to their ipods completely oblivious to the bikes coming up behind them - unsafe for both biker and walker. The reason we ride 2 up in a group is so that people like you will be forced to obey the rules of the road and treat a bike like a vehicle rather than mow down the poor individual trying to stay to the curb. Bikes have a right to use the road too.

Oh, Lord....Not again....

*Go spiro Go spiro* ..... LOL 

Original Post by trhawley:

Sorry you got home 30 seconds later than planned.

 Yeah, no offense, but screw off, dude.  I know you are super into cycling, but I seriously don't understand why they (cyclists) can't use bike paths/sidewalks. You are wasting our tax money! lol I don't care if the bike paths are packed with pedestrians - maybe cyclists should consider investing in another mode of transportation that doesn't make all drivers want to hit them! I'm sorry that you feel it necessary to wear too-tight clothing while simultaneously slowing people down.

It really impedes the flow of traffic when cyclists are on the road, especially in the morning/evening rush hour. Roads were built specifically for automobiles.  I know that we are supposed to share the road...but I still don't like to.

:)

I think cyclists are attention whores who feel the need to ride through rush hour traffic because the know they will have all eyes on them and that is what they secretly desire.

They may as well craft the helmets they wear in the shape and hue of traffic cones because they are equally frustrating, the only difference is I wouldn't do jail time for vehicular manslaughter for hitting a traffic cone.

I love this thread cyclists have miles of trails in my town that will get them anywhere around here yet they ride in the street at rush hour and muck everything up ......attention whores YUP!

Original Post by sybil878:

I don't know your city, but where I'm from cyclists use the street for the same reason cars to - it's the most direct route. Also the trails are often over run with people walking along listening to their ipods completely oblivious to the bikes coming up behind them - unsafe for both biker and walker. The reason we ride 2 up in a group is so that people like you will be forced to obey the rules of the road and treat a bike like a vehicle rather than mow down the poor individual trying to stay to the curb. Bikes have a right to use the road too.

WAIT, YOU MEAN CYCLISTS DON'T USE BIKE PATHS BECAUSE THE WALKERS GO SLOW AND DON'T PAY ATTENTION????

OH THE IRONY.

and shut up, no one said I didn't respect bikers as human beings on the road. Read then post.

Original Post by lalalacheesejah:

but I seriously don't understand why they (cyclists) can't use bike paths/sidewalks. 

Um, maybe because cycling on sidewalks is illegal

Original Post by lalalacheesejah:

You are wasting our tax money!

What money is being wasted? Cyclists pay taxes which go to construction and maintenance of roads the same as people who drive cars do, they have every right to use the public resources their tax money goes towards.

Original Post by lalalacheesejah:

Roads were built specifically for automobiles. 

 This is false.

Original Post by spirochete:

WHY? I'll tell you way. To torture us.

It's actually just to torture you specifically.  It's a big cyclist-conspiracy against you.  They have meetings the second tuesday of every month.  Big things planned for July, watch out. 

You must live near me.  It is maddening.   There are like massive groups of them everywhere.  I was just talking to my husband about it and he is a cyclist and he agrees that many (in this area) are inconsiderate and act like they are entitled to do anything they want regardless of what the rules are supposed to be.  I understand that everyone has a right to the road and all that but the cyclists need to follow the rules and be considerate as do motorists and pedestrians. 

I recently started biking but I generally ride at 5am and 9pm.  I use the sidewalk in heavy traffic areas even though it's against the law.  A cop telling me to get off the sidewalk is better than a cop scraping me off the street. 

That said, road bikers used to annoy me until I met some at the local bike shop.  I have a new appreciation for spandex clad biker legs. 

Original Post by lalalacheesejah:

Original Post by trhawley:

Sorry you got home 30 seconds later than planned.

 Yeah, no offense, but screw off, dude.  I know you are super into cycling, but I seriously don't understand why they (cyclists) can't use bike paths/sidewalks. You are wasting our tax money! lol I don't care if the bike paths are packed with pedestrians - maybe cyclists should consider investing in another mode of transportation that doesn't make all drivers want to hit them! I'm sorry that you feel it necessary to wear too-tight clothing while simultaneously slowing people down.

It really impedes the flow of traffic when cyclists are on the road, especially in the morning/evening rush hour. Roads were built specifically for automobiles.  I know that we are supposed to share the road...but I still don't like to.

:)

 You probably hate puppies and kittens too.

i was recently briefly annoyed by a spandex team of cyclists taking up the entire northbound lane of a 2-lane road...

but on monday, i witnessed a cyclist who was riding on the right hand side of a road that has no bike lane, as the law requires, and who was struck by a car when she was proceeding straight across a driveway that the car was turning into.  The car didn't wait for the cyclist to clear the driveway (to a shopping center), but just plowed into her.

I pulled over so that I could be a witness because the driver of the car didn't stay, but instead sped away.  I got the color and make, but not the license.

A fire truck was the first to arrive.  Then the ambulance.  Then the police.

All of those vehicles blocked a lane of traffic, leaving only one open lane, causing a massive traffic pile up at rush hour.

The girl's neck is broken, one of her legs is broken, and she had a bad road rash on her face, but she is alive.  They probably won't find the driver of the car unless there was a surveillance camera in the area, of which I have no idea.

brief annoyance...  broken bones & neck...   not on the same level of inconvenience I'm thinking...

(sorry to disrupt the flow of your rant, though) 

lol I don't drive really but I live in Boston and I've seen some CRAZY things go down between bikers and drivers.  The other day, a car hit a biker.  But here is the crazy thing- the biker DEFINITELY hit the car.  I think on purpose.  Then ensued to scream, curse, berade the driver.  It really is crazy to watch. 

On the other hand, I am a runner and I do adknowledge that we are sometimes known to clog the paths.  just yesterday i was running with my group and I noticed that we were running three wide, and we commented on how we shouldn't do that b/c its gotta be tough for bikers.  I guess we all just have to compromise somehow. 

anyhow, funny post (no offense bikers!)

Original Post by spirochete:

Original Post by sybil878:

I don't know your city, but where I'm from cyclists use the street for the same reason cars to - it's the most direct route. Also the trails are often over run with people walking along listening to their ipods completely oblivious to the bikes coming up behind them - unsafe for both biker and walker. The reason we ride 2 up in a group is so that people like you will be forced to obey the rules of the road and treat a bike like a vehicle rather than mow down the poor individual trying to stay to the curb. Bikes have a right to use the road too.

WAIT, YOU MEAN CYCLISTS DON'T USE BIKE PATHS BECAUSE THE WALKERS GO SLOW AND DON'T PAY ATTENTION????

 

OH THE IRONY.

and shut up, no one said I didn't respect bikers as human beings on the road. Read then post.

 ha HA! mind meld.

Well, I'm a Philadelphia pedestrian and I hate cyclists too. We have a lot of hipster douchebags (can you say that on CC?) on fixed gear bikes. Because these American Apparel-wearing, PBR-drinking sociopaths only care about being cool on their fixies, NONE OF THEM HAVE BREAKS. In case you didn't get that, here it is again: my neighborhood is overrun by kids riding bikes that HAVE NO BREAKS. So yes, there are quite a few accidents where bikes hit pedestrians.

I don't blame the cyclists for riding on the sidewalks, since drivers around here are crazy too. But for goodness sake please put some breaks on your stupid bike and don't ride while under the influence.

Personally, my favorite bikers to deal with, whether I am walking or driving, are the commuter-type - panniers, blinking lights, reflectors, mostly obey traffic laws.