The Off Topic Topic

[Tamas]

Since I started walking to work on a regular basis I've developed a burning hatred for cyclists.

An inordinate number of them doesn't give a flying fuck about things like traffic lights, street signs, being in the correct lane/sidewalks, weaving through pedestrians at a zebra crossing etc. And apparently 5 or 6 inches is enough safety distance when passing people from behind.

As a car driver,  I find it absurd that they can use the same roads as cars. In the busy traffic, tight lanes combination of my area, I often see (or partake) half a dozen or so cars crawling forward at about 10 mph because there is a single cyclist, and it is impossible to overtake due to traffic. Which of course ends up with the cars squeezing past at the first remote opportunity they can get, passing the cyclist by inches.

If you tried to do the same stunt with anything else (holding up traffic with a vehicle that is absolutely unable to keep up with the normal flow of traffic, while being extremely exposed to serious injury), they would not let you.
But apparently every bicycle comes with an attached universal moral high ground.

[Syt]

They have dedicated bike lanes in many parts of the inner city, and all along my commuting walk. Doesn't mean they care about it. "Red light? LOL I just cross the road with/between pedestrians/cut across the sidewalk!"

[Josquius]

Since I started walking to work on a regular basis I've developed a burning hatred for cyclists.

An inordinate number of them doesn't give a flying fuck about things like traffic lights, street signs, being in the correct lane/sidewalks, weaving through pedestrians at a zebra crossing etc. And apparently 5 or 6 inches is enough safety distance when passing people from behind.

As a car driver,  I find it absurd that they can use the same roads as cars. In the busy traffic, tight lanes combination of my area, I often see (or partake) half a dozen or so cars crawling forward at about 10 mph because there is a single cyclist, and it is impossible to overtake due to traffic. Which of course ends up with the cars squeezing past at the first remote opportunity they can get, passing the cyclist by inches.

If you tried to do the same stunt with anything else (holding up traffic with a vehicle that is absolutely unable to keep up with the normal flow of traffic, while being extremely exposed to serious injury), they would not let you.
But apparently every bicycle comes with an attached universal moral high ground.

Depends on the location IMO.
When I did my big bike ride from Kofu to Tokyo there was a point where I had to go through a several km long tunnel. The road was narrow, national speed limit applied and several wagons were passing through....it was scary as hell.
Cycling on such roads is a bit crazy. But there was no other way forward so I had to do it, going as fast as I could to get through.

In cities though where cars creep along at 20 mph as standard and the pavements are full of people?
There its just sensible to ride on the road.

You see it with plenty of other vehicles too in the countryside. Horse riders, travellers with horse and cart, tractors, etc...

[Maladict]

The obvious solution is to ride a bike yourself. 

[garbon]

They have dedicated bike lanes in many parts of the inner city, and all along my commuting walk. Doesn't mean they care about it. "Red light? LOL I just cross the road with/between pedestrians/cut across the sidewalk!"

Yes, cities need to make lanes available and then enforce penalties on cyclists who disobey laws. I was happy when NYC was cracking down on bicyclists who did crazy things.

[celedhring]

They have dedicated bike lanes in many parts of the inner city, and all along my commuting walk. Doesn't mean they care about it. "Red light? LOL I just cross the road with/between pedestrians/cut across the sidewalk!"

Yes, cities need to make lanes available and then enforce penalties on cyclists who disobey laws. I was happy when NYC was cracking down on bicyclists who did crazy things.

That's the approach Barcelona took,too. It's worked pretty well.

Largest issue remains cyclists on roads. Lots of deaths every year.

[CountDeMoney]

I have about as much sympathy for bicyclists as I do  for motorcyclists, neither one belong on the streets. It is just a question of simple math and physics. Four wheels good, two wheels bad.  You die, it's on you.

[Grey Fox]

bicyclists are glorified pedestrian and we should treat them as such. Motorcyclists atleast have some power to build speed.

[garbon]

bicyclists are glorified pedestrian and we should treat them as such. Motorcyclists atleast have some power to build speed.

Bicyclists are way faster than pedestrians. Can't really treat them exactly the same.

[Josquius]

The roads belong to pedestrians.

[Camerus]

It doesn't help that so many cyclists are aggressive, self-righteous asssholes.

[Josquius]

It doesn't help that so many cyclists motorists are aggressive, self-righteous asssholes.

Fixed. :p

Don't doubt there are a lot of dicks on bikes too. But there are an awful lot of drivers who see a guy on a bike and instantly see red.

[Tamas]

bicyclists are glorified pedestrian and we should treat them as such. Motorcyclists atleast have some power to build speed.

Bicyclists are way faster than pedestrians. Can't really treat them exactly the same.

Outside city centers, in a car traffic, there is no practical difference between a man walking on the road, or cycling. I'd go as far as saying a pedestrian on the edge of the road would block traffic less. yet, people are not allowed to walk there. Cyclists are free to create their own personalised traffic jams though.

[garbon]

It doesn't help that so many cyclists motorists are aggressive, self-righteous asssholes.

Fixed. :p

Don't doubt there are a lot of dicks on bikes too. But there are an awful lot of drivers who see a guy on a bike and instantly see red.

Sorry but his point stands. Most motorists do not seek to kill bicyclists*, happens because bicyclists don't follow normal traffic patterns.

*obvious there are exceptions like say that recent global newsworthy example

[Syt]

bicyclists are glorified pedestrian and we should treat them as such. Motorcyclists atleast have some power to build speed.

Bicyclists are way faster than pedestrians. Can't really treat them exactly the same.

Outside city centers, in a car traffic, there is no practical difference between a man walking on the road, or cycling. I'd go as far as saying a pedestrian on the edge of the road would block traffic less. yet, people are not allowed to walk there. Cyclists are free to create their own personalised traffic jams though.

Dunno about UK/Hungary, but in Germany, if there's no bike lane in the countryside bikes have to be on the outermost edge of the road, and if there's more than one, they have to ride behind each other, not next to each other. This is to ensure that cars can pass them easily.