Cyclist is dead, driver taken to hospital for "breathing problems".

As a D&R customer and cyclist, I'm keeping all involved in my thoughts.

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4921781

As a Cyclist and customer my thoughts and prayers to the both the
cyclist and drivers families.

I'm sorry for them too.
Please rethink urban cycling, suburban cycling too, for that matter.
I like cycling, but the reality is that there are too many dumb,
thoughtless, and plain mean drivers for it to be generally practical these
days. I don't even ride my motorcycle any more because of the idiot driver
problem.
Our kids are not allowed on the road without an adult along either, and
that's only in the local, fairly sheltered environment.
Is it worth exposing yourself to tragedy to prove you are entitled to use
the roads?
The rude cyclists who intentionally interfere with traffic aren't helping
the situation either!
Wilson
"henry" wrote in message
ups.com...
As a Cyclist and customer my thoughts and prayers to the both the
cyclist and drivers families.

On Thu, 18 May 2006 22:19:01 GMT, "Wilson" wrote:

I'm sorry for them too.
Please rethink urban cycling, suburban cycling too, for that matter.

Good advice. Folks who like scooters, four-wheelers, or other
recreational vehicles don't get to use the public roadways.


I like cycling, but the reality is that there are too many dumb,
thoughtless, and plain mean drivers for it to be generally practical these
days.

Certainly there are rude drivers, but most of the rudeness and arrogance
I've seen has been on the other side. Even when they are given a wide,
dedicated bicycle lane, these lugnuts insist on riding in the bike lane
right *on* the white line next to traffic, forcing traffic to move to the
left, often violating lane markers to allow the cyclists their state-given
5 feet of clearance.


I don't even ride my motorcycle any more because of the idiot driver
problem.
Our kids are not allowed on the road without an adult along either, and
that's only in the local, fairly sheltered environment.
Is it worth exposing yourself to tragedy to prove you are entitled to use
the roads?
The rude cyclists who intentionally interfere with traffic aren't helping
the situation either!

I live on a road that is two-lane with approximately a 12 to 18 inch
blacktop shoulder. This particular road has several corners and curves
around hills. Speed limit on the road is 45 and should be that speed for
the area in which we live. It is a low-density population area with
approximately 4 miles of travel to reach the nearest highway, any slower
would be a travesty and inconvenience to those who live in this area and
use that road to travel to work and engage in commerce. We have a
significant number of cyclists who use the road for recreational purposes
and are dead-set that they are going to enforce their right to make sure
that cars give them the legal 5 feet of clearance out of the roadway by
riding on the white line or to the lane side of the white line. Forcing
traffic to swerve around them to give them the clearance requires the
passing car to use the oncoming lane. Someday one of these cyclists is
going to be on the blind side of one of those hills and a car is going to
have to decide between a head-on collision or hitting the cyclist. While
the cyclist may be in the right as far as the clearance to be allowed,
being right doesn't make up for somebody being dead.




Wilson
"henry" wrote in message
oups.com...
As a Cyclist and customer my thoughts and prayers to the both the
cyclist and drivers families.




+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Mark & Juanita wrote:
On Thu, 18 May 2006 22:19:01 GMT, "Wilson" wrote:

I'm sorry for them too.
Please rethink urban cycling, suburban cycling too, for that matter.

Good advice. Folks who like scooters, four-wheelers, or other
recreational vehicles don't get to use the public roadways.

You seem to have skipped over the operative word - public.

As far as the other stuff (pick one):
It's a two way street.
Live and let live.
Can't we all just get along?

R

On 2006-05-19, RicodJour ranted thusly:
Mark & Juanita wrote:
On Thu, 18 May 2006 22:19:01 GMT, "Wilson" wrote:

I'm sorry for them too.
Please rethink urban cycling, suburban cycling too, for that matter.

Good advice. Folks who like scooters, four-wheelers, or other
recreational vehicles don't get to use the public roadways.

You seem to have skipped over the operative word - public.

As far as the other stuff (pick one):
It's a two way street.
Live and let live.
Can't we all just get along?

On my way to school one day (this was some time ago) I was riding my
bike on the two lane, one way road toward the hospital, on the right
side, and a little out from the edge because of the glass, various bits
of sharp crap, and the occasional car littering the edge of the road.
Doing otherwise would at least involve me swerving out into the lane
to avoid the parked cars and that's not a recommendable thing for the
cyclist.

I notice a whine behind me and look back to see the black fender of
a bmw nosing up dangerously close to my rear wheel just to the left.
I'm approaching the right angle (left) turn in the road, sprint and cut
it, then the car roars ahead (actually using the other lane!) to get to
the approaching stop sign ahead, but can't manage it in time.

I turn right, and I hear the roar again as the car jumps ahead, and
right in front of me moves over to the side and slams on the brakes.
Stops, then turns in to the parking lot on the side.

I'm stopped anyway, so I scratch my head, walk my bike over, and go ball
out the about middle aged Medical Doctor. His passenger friend defends
him, saying I'm hogging the road. I reminded him he just risked my life,
who is in some really lame oath (California doesn't use the Hippocratic
oath no more... too humble) sworn to protect it, and he rolled his eyes.

er
--
email not valid

Mark & Juanita wrote:

: Certainly there are rude drivers, but most of the rudeness and arrogance
: I've seen has been on the other side. Even when they are given a wide,
: dedicated bicycle lane, these lugnuts insist on riding in the bike lane
: right *on* the white line next to traffic, forcing traffic to move to the
: left, often violating lane markers to allow the cyclists their state-given
: 5 feet of clearance.


I live in the same city you do, Mark, and I have seen this sort
of behavior by cyclists maybe five times in 17 years.


-- Andy Barss

Certainly there are rude drivers, but most of the rudeness and arrogance
I've seen has been on the other side. Even when they are given a wide,
dedicated bicycle lane, these lugnuts insist on riding in the bike lane
right *on* the white line next to traffic, forcing traffic to move to the

I'm curious. As someone who obviously doesn't bike, when would you even
have the opportunity to see rudeness of motor vehicles to bicycles? As
a motor vehicle driver, I admit I've never seen anyone in a car being
rude to a bicyclist. As a biker, I see it often. By the way, the
situation you describe above is hardy 'rude'. It's called avoiding
debris and other obstacles in the road. A bicyclist is much safer
holding a line close to the white line than darting out to avoid
obstacles.

On Fri, 19 May 2006 06:59:01 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:

Mark & Juanita wrote:

: Certainly there are rude drivers, but most of the rudeness and arrogance
: I've seen has been on the other side. Even when they are given a wide,
: dedicated bicycle lane, these lugnuts insist on riding in the bike lane
: right *on* the white line next to traffic, forcing traffic to move to the
: left, often violating lane markers to allow the cyclists their state-given
: 5 feet of clearance.


I live in the same city you do, Mark, and I have seen this sort
of behavior by cyclists maybe five times in 17 years.


Drive up to Continental Ranch early on any Saturday or Sunday morning. It
is the norm rather than the exception. The most egregious offenders are
those most nattily dressed as bicyclists vs. someone in cutoffs and
t-shirt.



+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

They actually stay to the side where you're at? Around here, many of them
have taken the attitude that they are equal to a car. The ride right IN
traffic and expect you to slowly fallow them. Of course, when it comes to
traffic jams or intersections, they are no longer equal to a car and no
longer fallow the law.

"Mark & Juanita" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 18 May 2006 22:19:01 GMT, "Wilson" wrote:

I'm sorry for them too.
Please rethink urban cycling, suburban cycling too, for that matter.

Good advice. Folks who like scooters, four-wheelers, or other
recreational vehicles don't get to use the public roadways.


I like cycling, but the reality is that there are too many dumb,
thoughtless, and plain mean drivers for it to be generally practical
these
days.

Certainly there are rude drivers, but most of the rudeness and arrogance
I've seen has been on the other side. Even when they are given a wide,
dedicated bicycle lane, these lugnuts insist on riding in the bike lane
right *on* the white line next to traffic, forcing traffic to move to the
left, often violating lane markers to allow the cyclists their state-given
5 feet of clearance.


I don't even ride my motorcycle any more because of the idiot driver
problem.
Our kids are not allowed on the road without an adult along either, and
that's only in the local, fairly sheltered environment.
Is it worth exposing yourself to tragedy to prove you are entitled to use
the roads?
The rude cyclists who intentionally interfere with traffic aren't helping
the situation either!

I live on a road that is two-lane with approximately a 12 to 18 inch
blacktop shoulder. This particular road has several corners and curves
around hills. Speed limit on the road is 45 and should be that speed for
the area in which we live. It is a low-density population area with
approximately 4 miles of travel to reach the nearest highway, any slower
would be a travesty and inconvenience to those who live in this area and
use that road to travel to work and engage in commerce. We have a
significant number of cyclists who use the road for recreational purposes
and are dead-set that they are going to enforce their right to make sure
that cars give them the legal 5 feet of clearance out of the roadway by
riding on the white line or to the lane side of the white line. Forcing
traffic to swerve around them to give them the clearance requires the
passing car to use the oncoming lane. Someday one of these cyclists is
going to be on the blind side of one of those hills and a car is going to
have to decide between a head-on collision or hitting the cyclist. While
the cyclist may be in the right as far as the clearance to be allowed,
being right doesn't make up for somebody being dead.




Wilson
"henry" wrote in message
oups.com...
As a Cyclist and customer my thoughts and prayers to the both the
cyclist and drivers families.





+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough


+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----+

"CW" wrote in message
.net...

They actually stay to the side where you're at? Around here, many of them
have taken the attitude that they are equal to a car. The ride right IN
traffic and expect you to slowly fallow them. Of course, when it comes to
traffic jams or intersections, they are no longer equal to a car and no
longer fallow the law.


Same here. They're carried away with their attitude in their spandex
outfits and about the only time you see one riding well off the white line
is when he/she has a partner riding next to them - on the white line, so
they can visit with each other while ignoring traffic. I have no sympathy
for bike riders who complain about cars on the road - it is after all a
road, and most times by far, it's the bike rider that causes the problems.

--

-Mike-