Why are cyclists seen as sacred by the left?

[Wilber]

Actually the rules of the road are made around cars and do not necessarily apply to bicicyles.

They may have been made around cars but they are the only rules there are. They do apply to bicycles.

Bikers have superior visibility,acceleration is much slower and they have greater manuverability.

Debatable. The horizontal body, head down position of many cyclists is not condusive to good visibility. Vehicles have superior mirrors as well as windshields, defoging systems and windshield wipers. Not to mention, much superior lighting systems.

Poor acceleration is not a safety feature.

At equivelent speeds particularly in wet conditions, their superior maneuverability is also debatable. Vehicles have a lot more rubber in contact with the road. When comparing race cars and racing motorcycles with similar power to weight ratios, the car is invariably faster around a road course.

Personally I treat any pedestrian or cicylist like an unpredictable child walking beside the road and give them a wide berth.And when I'm the cicylist I am cautious and very aware.

A wise thing to do. I think it is common courtesy to give a cyclist or pedestrian as much room as you safely can. I know I appreciate it when I am walking or riding.

[blueblood]

Here's a better idea, bikes can go on the damn sidewalk. The streets have massive vehicles going at 20-50 clicks. A bike goes what 20 clicks when on a good clip. It's a no-brainer. Cars and big trucks can't stop on dimes, bikes can. It's bad enough driving big trucks when little cars dart around you and don't give you space, I can't imagine dealing with a bicyclist. Bike riding on streets is as dangerous as taking a walk down back roads during harvest. What is it with people who feel entitled to use the road with a bike because they legally can?

[cybercoma]

No. Bikes can't go on the sidewalk. It's illegal in most municipalities.

[blueblood]

No. Bikes can't go on the sidewalk. It's illegal in most municipalities.

That's something that should be fixed now shouldn't it?

[Black Dog]

That's something that should be fixed now shouldn't it?

No. See, there's these things called "pedestrians"...

[blueblood]

No. See, there's these things called "pedestrians"...

See there is this thing called a bike can stop on dimes and the guy can get off his bike and walk it when there are too many of them. It would take quite the situation for a bicyclist to kill a pedestrian, not so much for a car killing a bicyclist. Keep the slow stuff on the sidewalk.

[Wilber]

Right, let bikes go anywhere they want and to hell with everyone else.

[blueblood]

Right, let bikes go anywhere they want and to hell with everyone else.

It's the lesser of two evils. Inconvenience people walking or run the risk of being road pizza, choose wisely.

[Wilber]

It's the lesser of two evils. Inconvenience people walking or run the risk of being road pizza, choose wisely.

Only if you are a cyclist. Next pedestrians will have to wear helmets and protective gear to protect themselves from cyclists. The speed differential between cyclists and pedestrians is too great. Most sidewalks are not wide enough to accommodate both, hence the term sidewalk. Even before cars they were called sidewalks and boardwalks.

[blueblood]

Only if you are a cyclist. Next pedestrians will have to wear helmets and protective gear to protect themselves from cyclists. The speed differential between cyclists and pedestrians is too great. Most sidewalks are not wide enough to accommodate both, hence the term sidewalk. Even before cars they were called sidewalks and boardwalks.

Do you know what the speed differential is for cars and bicycles?

Are you saying that bicyclists can't get off their bikes and can't walk them?

I'd sooner have an inconvenienced pedestrian than a bicyclist road pizza. And it's much easier to dodge a pedestrian on a bike than a bike weaving in and out of traffic. You have far more visibility, maneuverability, and stopping ability on a bicycle than a truck. Have you ever drove a tandem axle truck in tight spaces? Not a good time, and let's not get into driving a super b train on urban truck routes with cars weaving around.

[Wilber]

Do you know what the speed differential is for cars and bicycles?

Are you saying that bicyclists can't get off their bikes and can't walk them?

Differential is at least two to three times. Yes they can get off but will they? A cyclist pushing their bike is a pedestrian.

[blueblood]

Differential is at least two to three times. Yes they can get off but will they? A cyclist pushing their bike is a pedestrian.

They will if the sidewalk has enough pedestrians to impede the flow of cyclists enough to reduce the speed to where they have to walk. You have to remember a cyclist dodging a pedestrian is far safer than a car dodging a cyclist and running the risk of a car on car collision. Bikes are more suited to dodging than cars and trucks.

[Wilber]

They will if the sidewalk has enough pedestrians to impede the flow of cyclists enough to reduce the speed to where they have to walk. You have to remember a cyclist dodging a pedestrian is far safer than a car dodging a cyclist and running the risk of a car on car collision. Bikes are more suited to dodging than cars and trucks.

Safer for the cyclist maybe but not for the pedestrian.

[blueblood]

Safer for the cyclist maybe but not for the pedestrian.

Is a bicycle going to turn a pedestrian into road pizza?

[Bonam]

Sorry but why shouldn't trucks have sideguards? Seems a sensible safety feature.

As for cyclists, the roads in many areas are still woefully ill-equipped to deal with bicycle traffic. I bike to work daily, it saves me money and is good exercise. There's a physically separated bike route most of the way, which works great. The last 15 blocks or so to work I have to get off that route and ride a busy downtown artery. The reality is, getting on the road in that area would be as good as suicide, staying on the sidewalk is the only safe thing to do.

Edited November 30, 2011 by Bonam

[blueblood]

Sorry but why shouldn't trucks have sideguards? Seems a sensible safety feature.

As for cyclists, the roads in many areas are still woefully ill-equipped to deal with bicycle traffic. I bike to work daily, it saves me money and is good exercise. There's a physically separated bike route most of the way, which works great. The last 15 blocks or so to work I have to get off that route and ride a busy downtown artery. The reality is, getting on the road in that area would be as good as suicide, staying on the sidewalk is the only safe thing to do.

Side guards aren't the issue, bikes shouldn't be sharing the road with vehicles like that in the first place. This isn't 1913 when bikes and cars went as fast as each other.

They are expensive and safety features on heavy equipment are a pain in the ass. Here's a better idea, you see a big ass truck, leave. On my big trucks I have so many mirrors on the passenger door, My view of oncoming traffic is greatly obstructed because for some reason I need to see the ground right beside the passenger door.

[Bonam]

They are expensive

So are air bags, crumple zones, the electrical systems associated with all the types of safety lights, and other safety systems.

and safety features on heavy equipment are a pain in the ass.

They are also a fact of life. Safety features aren't going away. The trend is ever more and more safety features, in case you haven't noticed.

bikes shouldn't be sharing the road with vehicles like that in the first place.

I agree, but bike infrastructure is only being added slowly, and will likely never form a complete separate network like road infrastructure. That means in many area bikes will continue to have to coexist on the same pathways as either cars or pedestrians.

[blueblood]

So are air bags, crumple zones, the electrical systems associated with all the types of safety lights, and other safety systems.

They are also a fact of life. Safety features aren't going away. The trend is ever more and more safety features, in case you haven't noticed.

I agree, but bike infrastructure is only being added slowly, and will likely never form a complete separate network like road infrastructure. That means in many area bikes will continue to have to coexist on the same pathways as either cars or pedestrians.

Much like other gov't regulations that make things more prohibitively expensive. No risk no reward.

Yes, and my pile of safety shields that I have removed to make servicing/maintenance is getting larger and larger. Like the saying goes, if your stupid enough to have your hands around moving parts, you probably aren't going to last long shields or not.

Bike infrastructure downtown would be next to impossible, the real estate value is obscene and space is at a premium. But there are already paths, just the pedestrians might have to make some room.

[Bonam]

Much like other gov't regulations that make things more prohibitively expensive. No risk no reward.

True. Government regulations do make things continually more expensive. But the reality is the list of safety requirements and regulations is only going to continue to get longer and longer.

Yes, and my pile of safety shields that I have removed to make servicing/maintenance is getting larger and larger. Like the saying goes, if your stupid enough to have your hands around moving parts, you probably aren't going to last long shields or not.

You know, you can put em back on after the servicing/maintenance rather than tossing them in a "pile" Not everyone does their own maintenance, and having areas which people aren't supposed to touch during general use sealed off with "shields" only makes sense. Moving machinery is dangerous, and there is no reason not to incorporate safety precautions.

[eyeball]

...there is no reason not to incorporate safety precautions.

Bah...they're just a sop to left lib pansies that cut into profits.

[Archanfel]

deleted.

Edited November 30, 2011 by Archanfel

[Archanfel]

Sorry but why shouldn't trucks have sideguards? Seems a sensible safety feature.

As for cyclists, the roads in many areas are still woefully ill-equipped to deal with bicycle traffic. I bike to work daily, it saves me money and is good exercise. There's a physically separated bike route most of the way, which works great. The last 15 blocks or so to work I have to get off that route and ride a busy downtown artery. The reality is, getting on the road in that area would be as good as suicide, staying on the sidewalk is the only safe thing to do.

How about mandate all cyclists to have a cage around the rider like all cars do? I can guarantee you it's far more effective than side guards. Yet cyclists aren't even willing to pay for a helmet. Another way of getting side guards installed quickly is to tax all cyclists to pay for them. Would you be willing to do that?

You know that riding on the sidewalk is illegal and a danger to both the pedestrians and yourself, right? A turning vehicle wouldn't expect something zooming off a sidewalk. It's far safer to ride beside the vehicle where the driver can see you.

[Archanfel]

Is a bicycle going to turn a pedestrian into road pizza?

Yes. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/1020450--cyclist-fractures-pedestrian-s-skull-gets-400-fine

[blueblood]

True. Government regulations do make things continually more expensive. But the reality is the list of safety requirements and regulations is only going to continue to get longer and longer.

You know, you can put em back on after the servicing/maintenance rather than tossing them in a "pile" Not everyone does their own maintenance, and having areas which people aren't supposed to touch during general use sealed off with "shields" only makes sense. Moving machinery is dangerous, and there is no reason not to incorporate safety precautions.

Well we can all be poorer safe people then.

No, no they get tossed in a pile. Time is at a premium, and those shields take time farting around with. The best safety precaution is using your head. That means keeping away from pto shafts and gears/chains, and turning machinery off when servicing, and using blocks when dealing with weight suspended by hydraulics.

Edited November 30, 2011 by blueblood

[cybercoma]

Bah...they're just a sop to left lib pansies that cut into profits.

People that want to save lives are pansies? stfu.