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Things people blamed on bicycles

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Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#572

Cycling is cheap, often faster than driving (in my city), healthy, less noisy, creates vastly less pollution, less dangerous to pedastrians... And I'd guess that about 95% of drivers that I come across are respectful of the danger they present - overtaking with enough space, and not at too high a speed (my city doesn't have great bike lanes). Unfortunately, a typical journey involves passing more than 20 cars, which…

The problem of dangerous interactions between drivers and cyclists is much smaller here in the Netherlands, mainly due to two reasons. The first reason is the infrastructure, both visible and invisible. Separated bicycle lanes are commonplace and in the few places where they intersect with car traffic, care is taken to make crossing safe and comfortable. This visible infrastructure is complemented by the concept of "…

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Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#573
post #465

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a blind pedastian, I disagree violently. I typically hurt myself once a week because a careless cyclist put their bicycle in an inappropriate place. In front of a shop, because they are just going in for a minute, for example. Cyclists do the most harm to blind individuals in a city. Cars cant even come close.

I once saw a blind man step out of a bus shelter onto a pavement. A cyclist who was riding on the pavement immediately hit them and knocked them to the floor. The cyclist did not stop, they just shouted 'Sorry' and carried on cycling up the pavement. If cyclists wish to have a good reputation amongst the general public then as a group they need to realise there are some really bad apples spoiling the bunch, and work…

This happens so rarely it is quite memorable. However, we are all accustomed and innured to poor driving behavior.

Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#574

Bicycles convert their owners to horrible people. And I speak from personal experience, when I ride my bike I always become super angry at others. Cars that might cut me off (ok that is mostly fair), but I also get angry with pedestrians, traffic lights, uphills, bad paving etc. I think know why, because any of the above require me to pedal even harder, when I am already tired. Maybe e-bikes are a better option for m…

As someone who cycles everywhere (at least when I cant get a train/bus) cycling always leaves me quite relaxed by the end, although I do tend to stay away from roads when I can (benefits of decent infrastructure).

Everyone seems to get angry when on or near roads, this isn't really exclusive to cyclists.

Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#575

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just need a way to deal with bike theft. My number one concern is parking my pretty decent bike within view of where I’m sitting or not leaving it unattended for over five minutes. I’m insured, but I have a bond with my wheels! If anyone has recommendations for stealth theft detection/tracking devices I’m all ears.

In my experience it's mostly a matter of not having the most desirable bike or the shittiest lock. Put a $100 u-lock on a $300 bike, and you can almost be assured that you'll have neither. Put a nice enough lock on yours, and you can be pretty sure you won't have the most easily stolen bike either. At least in the US, road bikes are pretty much immune to being stolen because they're seen as terminally uncool by the l…

My experience having recently had my road bike stolen would disagree. You're spot on about fancy bikes automatically being a target and the importance of your lock job being at a minimum more difficult to get through than the neighbor's. I now have a cheap single speed for my "around town" bike along with a heavy kryptonite ulock.

Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#576
post #463

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What made him think they were trying to race him?

I actually saw it a few times because my father would make note of it beforehand. Guy going in parallel to the road on the sidewalk, looking sideways and gunning it to make it before the car makes a turn. Or worse: also going in parallel, but making a left turn onto the road without looking.

Looking sideways from a bicycle is not something you do for fun, it's a way to see what drivers are up to. Especially when they drive up beside you it's pretty hard to know what they will do.

Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#577

Quoted post unavailable.

>Now do one of these for climate change; (holdup) I guess somebody already did. https://www.whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/globalwarming... How long before this gets [[flagged]] i wonder.

It's going to get flagged because it's not really a constructive comment. You're essentially asking for it to be flagged.

Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#578

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is something I never understood. Why so many bike theft? a regular new one is 3-4 hundred$ and cannot be sold that easily (Say vs electronic goods). Why theft is so popular? I mean thief can steal one for their own purpose, but then what? He steal another one every weeks? I dont get it.

Steal the bike, sell it on craigslist/facebook marketplace/etc for $100, profit. It can often take less that 5/10 minutes to steal a bike which is a pretty good RoR. How could we stop it? Probably the best way would be stronger regulations on community marketplaces/pawn shops/ebay/etc. ATM, they don't GAF about selling stolen goods.

I also think the police just don't take it very seriously. Certainly that's the case here in SF. I've reported a number of stolen bikes over the years and my impression was of massive indifference. After bike number 7 was stolen, I just gave up. A few years later I'm thinking about buying a bike again, and risk of theft is my number one concern.

Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#579
post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the UK, it's illegal for a motorist to cross a solid white center line on their side of the road to overtake a cyclist unless the cyclist is traveling 10mph or slower. I estimate less than 1% of motorists obey this law. Rule 129: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-t... Some rules in the Highway Code are guidance only, but those marked with uppercase "MUST" or "MUST NOT" have legal force.

Here in NSW Australia it is almost the exact opposite now. You are permitted to cross the centre lane to overtake a bicycle (if it is safe) and need to keep a 1 to 1.5 metre gap to the bike. https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-s... .

That's the law here in the UK, too, as long as the centre line isn't solid (which is what mrob was citing).

Most roads don't have solid centre lines.

Re: Things people blamed on bicycles

#580

Earlier quoted context omitted.

seems like a cheap shot at vegans for no reason though

A lot of people are annoyed by the evangelical aspects of many peoples' veganism, as it comes across as virtue signalling.

Thanks for stating the obvious, but there's nothing here to indicate veganism has anything to do with poor bike placement.
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