Idiot cyclists.

stevek

I commute home every day and have a bit different times. I usually take the same route. But I swear most of the people I see are stupid. Well poorly trained.
Ok here I am stilling behind three cars at a stoplight. Right behind a cop no less. With the cars parked there is only a little room to go past them. Well what do you know but this guy on a spendy racing bike and matching shorts and jersey scoots down the shoot. Well the light turns green and a car turns and almost gets creamed. I was surprised the car seen him since no one would expect to see someone there.
Well he gets stuck at the next light and turns left like I do I see him in my sights and pour on the coal. I catch up then pass him at about 25mph. now this has to be humiliating a overweight 232 pound guy that does not even have matching clothes and does not have racing wheels (G) but I figure he deserved it.
Here I am waiting to cross a one way street. Traffic is backed up in one lane I am about to cross where a car in the closest lane comes so I wait. Just as the car that was waiting to go starts this female rider passes me right in front of the car. What I am stilling there for my good health???? Lucky the car stopped in time.
I am the only one that is behind cars or in the right lane for a turn. Everyone else is way over to the right. Now this is perfect to get mashed and no one seems to know it. I see it over and over from so many riders. They all have helmets and yellow vests and drive like idiots (G) I always feel good if and when I pass them most of the time.

MidBunchLurker

You know those moron motorists that you encounter out there while you're commuting? Well, put those same people on bikes and you get the moron cyclists you mention above...

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nick.

www.nickcoyne.com

stevek

sad part is I see less of them then cyclists. well mabye about the same. now when I am walking I see a lot of bad drivers (G)

Saucy

Sorry but I can't back you up on this one. Personally, I typically will go "down the shoot". I'm confident in my abilities to avoid cars so I don't wait in the "car lane" if I think I can get through. Cars making the right turn are supposed to shoulder check (not to mention make a turn signal) so if they fail to do that they are in the wrong, not me. Having said that, knowing how stupid some drivers are, I typically slow down and keep my eye on movements to see if someone is turning.

stevek

well the driver had a turn signal on and the biker did not see it or ignored it.
but I am glad you will trust drivers. myself it is a risk I don't see a reward for. I rather wait a little longer to live longer.

recycle

This probably all varies somewhat by location and conditions. I will usually pull up on the right of a whole stream of cars to an intersection UNLESS I see a right turn signal ... then I stay behind that one. I do try to notice things like the angle of a cars front wheels ... just in case. I also do usually wear orange or yellow to increase my chances of being seen.

I find that I'll do almost anything once in a while ...
-run a red light on an early Sunday morning ride w/ almost no traffic
-scoot onto a sidewalk to get through an especially tight and high trafficked intersection
-dash one block the wrong way down a one-way street when construction or some situation just trashed the other street I would take
-ride around the block without a helmet if I'm just checking my gear or brake adjustment

However, as a general rule I don't advocate any of these behaviors and would answer a poll that I ALMOST NEVER do them. Nonetheless there are times where they seem/are quite safe.

I think it is one of the greatest pleasures of biking ... being in the moment and making your own ride smoothly down, around and in or out of whatever circumstance is presented.

An Occasional Idiot Cyclist (because I think it's really smarter and definately more fun than being too wedded to the rules!!) in Chicago

tcklyde

Yeah, there are definitely idiot cyclists. I've seen people run red lights at rush hour and expect tired, frustrated motorists to see them and stop and let them through. Not only rude but dangerous. But in my experience, in a very bike friendly part of the world, motoroists are by far worse offenders. I can't even express how many times eager drivers have sped up to pass me and then make a quick right turn, forcing me to brake -- and some times hit the passenger door. They flip me off, honk, swerve wildly, ignore their mirrors, and drive in the bike lane. Most bike commuters are not hard core bike enthusiasts -- at least not in my part of the world -- they're students, underpaid professionals, and fitness lovers. All they -- and I and we -- want is a narrow slice of road and a bit of courtesy: a turn signal, some patience, and the recognition that the street belongs to us, too.

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Harry