bike lanes save money/lives/health

BubberMiley · July 24, 2014

Why should bicyclists be able to do it?

Because they don't have their own lane, which you are unwilling to give them. You're completely unwilling to offer any solutions at all, other than they should drive fat-ass cars or walk or take transit. That's not going to happen.

And BTW, where is it the law that you have to have a bell? Can't cyclists just confuse the elderly by politely calling out "on your left!"?

bush_cheney2004 · July 24, 2014

....So it's your convenience vs the convenience of hundreds of car drivers who have to figure out how to get past your moving roadblock.

Yes....some of these cyclists live in a world where only there value system matters....after all...they are saving the Earth! Other users of a public resource be damned. Cars bad...bicycles good.

BubberMiley · July 24, 2014

Yes....some of these cyclists live in a world where only there value system matters....after all...they are saving the Earth! Other users of a public resource be damned. Cars bad...bicycles good.

I was just joking when I said this thread would devolve into the typical us-vs.-them right/left battle. Some people can't look at any issue, even riding a bike, without adding politics to it.

It does remind me of the drug debate, where people think that believing the stereotypes surrounding the people who do the activity is sufficient justification for denying them the freedom to engage safely in the activity.

Edited July 24, 2014 by BubberMiley

The_Squid · July 24, 2014

You can't share the road when you don't move at the proper speed of traffic. If I drove my car down the road at half the speed of traffic I'd be pulled over and get a ticket for obstructing traffic. Why should bicyclists be able to do it?

Ask your legislators... they made the rules. Cyclists who commute would love nothing more than to be able to do so safely out of the traffic flow.

And this is another great reason for separated bike lanes.

Edited July 24, 2014 by The_Squid

guyser · July 24, 2014

Police officer observes cyclist outside of the lane paved and painted for his/her own safety

Good cop, good boy....being alert.

....stops scofflaw cyclist...writes traffic ticket.

Typical dumb cop, bad cop, there is no law that says they HAVE to use it . If they deem it unsafe, so be it.

Cyclist immediately begins to whine and plea his/her case. Cop laughs....drives off in his designated motor vehicle traffic lane.

Naw, what one would deem whining is namely some idiot who doesnt know the law (seems you dont either) and mistakes the guy pleading his case against getting a ticket for a non-ticketable offence.

What is it with the right, they make up laws willy nilly? How stupid

Edited July 24, 2014 by Guyser2

GostHacked · July 24, 2014

You can't share the road when you don't move at the proper speed of traffic. If I drove my car down the road at half the speed of traffic I'd be pulled over and get a ticket for obstructing traffic. Why should bicyclists be able to do it?

Let me know when rush hour moves more than 20kph on the Queensway. Talk about vehicular congestion.

Bonam · July 24, 2014

The vast majority of taxes are paid by the upper classes and the upper middle classes, virtually all of whom have cars, often multiple cars.

Most bicycle riders are middle and upper middle class people who do also own cars, often multiple cars, but choose to ride their bikes to certain locations.

bush_cheney2004 · July 24, 2014

Hey...can I legally ride my adult size Big Wheel in Vancouver traffic ? Take that, evil single occupant cars !

Edited July 24, 2014 by Michael Hardner
Moderators removed unnecessary image

Mighty AC · July 24, 2014

Actually, what I foresee going forward is the end of the private automobile. Once these cars can drive themselves around, it will make little sense to put one in the garage all day. You'll simply summon one through an app and it shows up and takes you away. No taxi drivers needed either.

A driverless, on demand car share service would be great! They would fit in well with the transit based, bikeable, walkable future.

Black Dog · July 24, 2014

Well, I do it. Police are not subject to laws, that's why they don't bother.

Neither of these statements are true.

Roads are built for cars, not slow moving bicycles.

Also not true.

I'm fine with bicycles having separate lanes as long as they don't impede the roadways.

In practice this means bikes would be limited to recreational trails since any on-road separated bike lane would conceivably "impede the roadway".

Don't know why this puts you into such a snit.

You're confused: the "snit" derives from having my motivations for choosing cycling impugned by people whose only experience with it as a mode of transport is whizzing past them in their cars.

So it's your convenience vs the convenience of hundreds of car drivers who have to figure out how to get past your moving roadblock.

The only time I hold up traffic as a bike is when I make a left turn or when road conditions force me to take the whole lane (usually due to construction or streetcar tracks). In Toronto traffic seldom moves faster than a bike anyway, so I'm usually at my destination long before any of the people I've inconvenienced by my presence on the road.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Black Dog

Boges · July 24, 2014

What about these silly E-scooters? Would cyclists oppose people using those in your own bike lanes?

Black Dog · July 24, 2014

Because they don't have their own lane, which you are unwilling to give them. You're completely unwilling to offer any solutions at all, other than they should drive fat-ass cars or walk or take transit. That's not going to happen.

And BTW, where is it the law that you have to have a bell? Can't cyclists just confuse the elderly by politely calling out "on your left!"?

HTA 62(17) - Lights
a bike must have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector if you ride between 1/2 hour before sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise and white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on rear forks. Set fine: $20.00

HTA 75 (5) - Bell

a bike must have a bell or horn in good working order. Set fine: $85.00

Mighty AC · July 24, 2014

What about these silly E-scooters? Would cyclists oppose people using those in your own bike lanes?

I'm fine with e-bikes but draw the line at the recumbent variety. Just say no to reclination!! Edited July 24, 2014 by Mighty AC

Black Dog · July 24, 2014

What about these silly E-scooters? Would cyclists oppose people using those in your own bike lanes?

I would and do. They're much bigger than bikes, move at higher speeds and are almost completely silent. Unfortunately, here in Toronto, they've just moved ahead to allow them to use the bike lanes. Also, most e-bike operators I've encountered make bike couriers look like paragons of safety and consideration.

Boges · July 24, 2014

I would and do. They're much bigger than bikes, move at higher speeds and are almost completely silent. Unfortunately, here in Toronto, they've just moved ahead to allow them to use the bike lanes. Also, most e-bike operators I've encountered make bike couriers look like paragons of safety and consideration.

As long as they have pedals, you don't need a licence to ride one I believe. So they could make the argument they're no different that cyclists.

Black Dog · July 24, 2014

As long as they have pedals, you don't need a licence to ride one I believe. So they could make the argument they're no different that cyclists.

Except for being bigger and generally faster. The pedals on the scooter ones often don't actually work btw.

bush_cheney2004 · July 24, 2014

As long as they have pedals, you don't need a licence to ride one I believe. So they could make the argument they're no different that cyclists.

Right.....why would the "cyclists" object after insisting that their favorite form of pedal bike be approved ? The resulting three ring circus of pedal bikes and trikes would be most entertaining !

BubberMiley · July 24, 2014

Because they don't have their own lane, which you are unwilling to give them. You're completely unwilling to offer any solutions at all, other than they should drive fat-ass cars or walk or take transit. That's not going to happen.

And BTW, where is it the law that you have to have a bell? Can't cyclists just confuse the elderly by politely calling out "on your left!"?

HTA 62(17) - Lights
a bike must have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector if you ride between 1/2 hour before sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise and white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on rear forks. Set fine: $20.00

HTA 75 (5) - Bell

a bike must have a bell or horn in good working order. Set fine: $85.00

So that would be Ontario?

Bonam · July 24, 2014

Neither of these statements are true.

They kind of are. When's the last time you saw a cop get a traffic ticket? Or drive under the speed limit on a highway?

Black Dog · July 24, 2014

They kind of are. When's the last time you saw a cop get a traffic ticket? Or drive under the speed limit on a highway?

Cops flouting the law doesn't mean they are, in fact, exempt from obeying it. Scofflaw cops are a thing.

BubberMiley · July 24, 2014

I'm fine with e-bikes but draw the line at the recumbent variety. Just say no to reclination!!

Recumbents are awesome if you have lower back issues apparently. That's why it's always old guys in them.

bush_cheney2004 · July 24, 2014

Nope....recumbents are for everybody!

BubberMiley · July 24, 2014

Not for you, obviously.

Boges · July 24, 2014

Nope....recumbents are for everybody!

Tandem bikes are laughing at Recumbent bikes.

BubberMiley · July 24, 2014

Steering them seems a little sketchy, and they take up a lot more of the roadway. I wouldn't want Argus zipping past me with impatience and contempt if I were riding one.