Yeah that was a kick ass move by the bus driver, but it is NEVER going to safe to ride a bike on a road like that in this country. Pass all the laws you want, make everyone hold hands and sing kumbaya, but riding around in the middle of a lane on a road like that and you are going to get to hear whitney houston singing to you through a Marshall amp with Cobain on the guitar.Seems like a pretty busy/fast/narrow road for cyclists to be on......just sayin'.
Depends on the area. Here in Madison people ride bikes on roads similar to that all the time, and there are enough cyclists on the road that people know to look out for us. Not fun, but not suicidal either...Yeah that was a kick ass move by the bus driver, but it is NEVER going to safe to ride a bike on a road like that in this country. Pass all the laws you want, make everyone hold hands and sing kumbaya, but riding around in the middle of a lane on a road like that and you are going to get to hear whitney houston singing to you through a Marshall amp with Cobain on the guitar.
Depends on the area. Here in Madison people ride bikes on roads similar to that all the time, and there are enough cyclists on the road that people know to look out for us. Not fun, but not suicidal either...
edit: A cyclist was killed on this bridge only 2 months ago. The (79 year old) driver paid a $500 fine and had her license suspended for 6 months.
Why? It's 35mph speed limit, and 2 lanes in each direction. That's NO different (ok, 5mph higher speed limit) than the road that I linked to on google maps. There's nothing wrong with the road, only the assholes driving on it. The 17 year old in the video was driving aggressively (he starts out behind the silver car, and when he hits the cyclist he's *in front* of it), *and it appears that he was trying to pass the bus on the right. The bus starts out in the right lane, shifts over to the left to pass the cyclist, and the driver of the black car tries to pass (illegally) on the right.The driver's actions are obviously inexcusable, but based on the layout of that road, cyclists should not be allowed on that bridge. It's not safe for riders and drivers alike.
This is why I don't ride on the road anymore.
How is it not safe? There is an entire lane to the left of the rider. It's only "not safe" because drivers are impatient dickheads.The driver's actions are obviously inexcusable, but based on the layout of that road, cyclists should not be allowed on that bridge. It's not safe for riders and drivers alike.
qfthow is it not safe? There is an entire lane to the left of the rider. It's only "not safe" because drivers are impatient dickheads.
This is what they are doing in cities that are more bike-friendly, especially when the traffic count doesn't require the full 4 lanes. Kinzie St in Chicago is a great example.Great move by the bus driver for sure! Looks like the cyclist wasn't seriously injured.
You guys do raise a good point however. Much of the infrastructure currently in place in the US does not really take cyclists into account. We all know telling cars to "watch out for cyclists" only goes so far, and often ends with cyclists getting killed. To really address multi-use here, 1 of the 4 lanes could be dedicated to cyclists (complete w/ lane markers and plastic poles), or one of the two sidewalks could be reserved for cyclists (like the golden gate bridge)
This.Why? It's 35mph speed limit, and 2 lanes in each direction. That's NO different (ok, 5mph higher speed limit) than the road that I linked to on google maps. There's nothing wrong with the road, only the assholes driving on it. The 17 year old in the video was driving aggressively (he starts out behind the silver car, and when he hits the cyclist he's *in front* of it), *and it appears that he was trying to pass the bus on the right. The bus starts out in the right lane, shifts over to the left to pass the cyclist, and the driver of the black car tries to pass (illegally) on the right.
This too. I avoid riding on roads like the plague. My commute involves about 1.5 miles at the end which requires riding on a similar road (except not so busy - it's in a business park). And I handle that stretch the exact same way that guy does - ride SMACK in the middle of the right lane.This is why I don't ride on the road anymore.
I wrote a blog post on this exact idea yesterday, although it was in relation to the delivery guy in Manhattan that Tracy Morgan "doored" earlier in the week. It was an hour after sunset, and the delivery guy didn't even have (according to Tracy) the base-level of lights legally required for riding after dark.Pesqueeb's article said:So tell us: Cyclists, do you rigorously follow traffic laws?
I literally stop at every red light and wait till it turns green, just as if I were in a car. I roll deserted stop signs at ~7mph, just like I would do in a car. I take up my full lane as required by WI DOT and wait in line at the lights just like everyone else...If we, as cyclists, want to be taken seriously as legitimate vehicles using the road, we at least have to be held to the same responsibilities that cars are held to. That includes proper lighting at night, stopping for red lights, and so on. I’m not saying that we have to go overboard (full 3sec trackstand at stop signs in the middle of nowhere), but if you wouldn’t do it in a car, don’t do it on a bike. And if you wouldn’t drive a car at night without any headlights/tail-lights, don’t do it on a bike either.
The Wisconsin DOT agrees with you (not sure about other state's laws).This too. I avoid riding on roads like the plague. My commute involves about 1.5 miles at the end which requires riding on a similar road (except not so busy - it's in a business park). And I handle that stretch the exact same way that guy does - ride SMACK in the middle of the right lane.
Wisconsin DOT said:Narrow lanes
Ride in the center of the lane.
Keep at least three feet between yourself and passing or parked traffic.
Wide lanes
Ride just to the right of the actual traffic line, not alongside the curb.
Keep at least three feet between yourself and the curb or from parked vehicles. Motorists should be passing you with at least 3 feet of clearance.
Colorado agrees. There are two locations on my commute home where I practice this religiously.The Wisconsin DOT agrees with you (not sure about other state's laws).
I'd be lying if I said that wasn't part of the attraction.arrogant assholes purposely holding up traffic.
Sad but true. But its easier to say no bikes, or bikes must use sidewalk than to educate a nation on patience and safety. Restricting bike use may seem like a step in the wrong direction, but i think its obvious which solution will result in less loss of life.How is it not safe? There is an entire lane to the left of the rider. It's only "not safe" because drivers are impatient dickheads.
No. F'ing. Way.Sad but true. But its easier to say no bikes, or bikes must use sidewalk than to educate a nation on patience and safety. Restricting bike use may seem like a step in the wrong direction, but i think its obvious which solution will result in less loss of life.
The valley trail is on the sidewalk. It has signage and everything. At the pedestrian crossing it warns them about cyclists. Allentown and the Lehigh Valley is possibly one of the most cycling friendly towns in the US. They have a Velodrome there and UCI has a couple of events there every season. Rodale press is based in Emmaus PA (Bicycling Mag and others...).
The valley.... bicycle trail is on the sidewalk? Before the comments were disabled on the youtube site, the Bethlehem Police Dept stated something to the effect of: The pedestrian walkway was deemed unsafe, and therefore the temporary walkway was created on the street. Bicycles are legally prohibited in that temporary walkway, and so the cyclist was doing the correct thing by riding in the street.The valley trail is on the sidewalk. It has signage and everything. At the pedestrian crossing it warns them about cyclists. Allentown and the Lehigh Valley is possibly one of the most cycling friendly towns in the US. They have a Velodrome there and UCI has a couple of events there every season. Rodale press is based in Emmaus PA (Bicycling Mag and others...).
I've started having thoughts like this lately also, this coming from someone who logged 3k+ roadie miles a year at one time (mostly commuting). To me it's sad; ...but when I look back at the choices I get to make when it's time to go ride any one of the bikes I own, I choose the roadie less & less, in favor of riding trails without having to bring along that feeling like I need an extra set of eyes looking over my shoulder all the time.This is why I don't ride on the road anymore.
Compare the number of fatalities in cars to the number of fatalities on bikes, then let's talk about what will result in less loss of life.Sad but true. But its easier to say no bikes, or bikes must use sidewalk than to educate a nation on patience and safety. Restricting bike use may seem like a step in the wrong direction, but i think its obvious which solution will result in less loss of life.
Sad but true. But its easier to say no bikes, or bikes must use sidewalk than to educate a nation on patience and safety. Restricting bike use may seem like a step in the wrong direction, but i think its obvious which solution will result in less loss of life.
The average person is ritardondo. Not a reason to stop living your life, including choosing to bicycle among motor vehicles.Srsly. THe average driver is ritardondo.