Cyclists

Joe Wicked · #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 11:53 AM

For whatever reason the racer wannabes seem to be a lot more here in Texas than anywhere else I have been. The other day there was a large group taking up 2 of 3 lanes on a very busy road. traffic was backed up for miles. leaving 1 lane open when there are hundreds of cars is still blocking traffic. Also the light turned red right as I caught the group and not a one stopped. traffic started moving from the other direction and then stopped because they rode out. All it would have taken is for 1 person to not have been paying attention to the bike riders running the light and there would have been a major accident. They had also had the nerve to flip off the cars that honked at them. I am sorry, but I agree these people need to get off the road. I come across another cyclist often during the summer riding on the side of hwy 78. (2 lane hwy). He stays over to the side and will even stop and wait to cross the bridge where there is no shoulder if traffic is coming. Cyclists like this I have no issue with. I understand that there are times that I will have to slow for a cyclist, but there is no need for them to block traffic for miles because they feel that they have the right to be there.

At the same time there are motorists that need to get off the road too. That same stretch of 78 I have come across a lady in a Cadillac doing 35 (speed limit is 60) more than once. If someone tries to pass her, she speeds up and then slows back down when they fall back in line. When I have the opportunity, I lay back a bit and nail the gas when the last car is still comming. I pull out at the right time and have enough speed that it is too late for her to block me, but she has no need to drive that way.

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 02:46 PM

Joe,

I have no issues with cyclists if they obey the law, but it seems that about 90% of them around here won't. They spent $10 million re-doing this boulevard to make it a two lane one instead of four so they could put in a dam sidewalk to nowhere and a bike lane on each side, I think in the last three years I have seen three or four bicycles in the bike lane. The rest are out in the one traffic lane they left and won't move over at all. There was one bunch of about 30 that I came up behind up at Lassen and they were great. They all pulled over to the side of the road as it is narrow and steep and waved me by. That is a favorite route for the bicycle clubs around here to ride. They haul the bikes to the bottom of the mountain and then ride up and through the park.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 03:39 PM

To me it is not about whether or not they obey the law. The law allows them to be there. It is about being courteous to others. This applies to cars as well. For example I was hauling a lot of stuff for my patio project last summer and my truck was at/maybe over it's rated weight capacity. I was going about 40 in a 60. Even though it was not a passing zone, as soon as someone came up behind me, I pulled over to the shoulder and waived them by. I continued moving, but gave them plenty of room to continue about their day. If a person is just a few MPH below the speed limit, then fine, wait until there is an opportunity to pass otherwise it is just courteous to pull over and let someone go. I hear people complain a lot about truck drivers, bike riders, hot rodders, etc... and their driving, but I rarely have an issue with them. When I do, I have generally run across that moron. I tend to give first, and I tend to get respect back.