<p>WashDad-</p>
<p>I am amazed at the amount of glass and garbage I’ve seen on the roads since I started biking. Glass beer bottles are recycleble only when they’re not broken on the side of the road. I have looked for beer / wine cooler’s ect in plastic bottles. The golf courses seem to get them but I haven’t found them in the stores.</p>
<p>PAMom- For the record, I have written two letters to the town, and another two to the commanding officer of the state police barracks responsible for the portion of state highway used by this group. No response from one, the other responded with the standard “unless we see it or you can provide reasonable proof” statement.</p>
<p>The incident about the elderly pedestrian I witnessed personally. The cyclist went out of his way to literally knock the woman off the paved area, no question about it… these are not “kids” riding, many are thirty and forty something “professionals”. I’ve seen far more civilized behavior from motorcycle gang members. (No offense meant to any motor cycle gang members.)</p>
<p>I made the effort to stop my vehicle and aid the woman, who was quite obviously shaken. Of the 6 following cyclists, none would or could identify the offender when I described his cycle and clothing. </p>
<p>This is the type of mentality and behavior that evoked my comment. </p>
<p>It’s only a matter of time before this “safety in numbers” disregard of the rules of the road results in some one being killed.</p>
<p>In light of the reaction, I’ve asked that my initial post be stricken.</p>
<p>Violadad, I didn’t take your comment seriously and I don’t believe you should be ‘hooted out of the room’ for it. If we all took someone’s angst and frustration so literally in public matters, we’d never have any reason or consensus.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has been disrespectful to violadad or asked him to go away. Just expressing our valid responses to his post -with respect.</p>
<p>Violadad - I can believe that the law enforcement would respond that way. I would still suggest a letter to the cycling club. My husband belongs to one here and I know that if they receive complaints such as yours they will relay the information to all members by e-mail and remind them about the rules of the road. Our club would take this seriously as they don’t want a particular crowd to ruin it for everybody. If you tell the the day of the week and the route they were on they will know which group it is ( as they are often grouped by ability and doing specific courses) and can address it. Of course your club could be less diligent than ours, but it may be worth a shot.</p>
<p>I still cannot comprehend your other event of intentionally knocking a woman over - That’s just bizarre behavior for anyone. Not saying you didn’t see it I just cannot understand it!</p>
<p>violadad - get out your camera or your camera cell phone and take photos. Also, get your neighborhood organized. That’s why the police in my area started a campaign to enforce traffic rules targeting bicyclists. And no, they are not discriminatory - our police already had a reputation for enforcing rules for automobiles. I get pulled over everytime a bulb has gone out in tail or head lights - not for a ticket, but for a ma’am do you realize you have a light out and you really need to get it fixed.</p>
<p>My area is very popular with non resident bicyclists and bicycle groups. There have been several bicycle-bicycle, bicycle-car and bicycle-pedestrian incidents with some individuals ending up in the hospital. </p>
<p>My own H got a ticket for failing to stop at a stop sign on his bicycle. The officer told him he needed to stop and put his foot on the ground and as he did not do so he received a moving violation for running a stop sign!</p>
<p>Soon word was out amongst the bicyclists and bicycle groups and they have been much more observant of traffic rules - including my H!</p>
<p>that’s awesome westcoastmom - it can only help make it safer for everybody!</p>
<p>My final post here - I just wanted to add one little thing concerning the cyclists who couldn’t identify the offender:
In our cycling club there are hundreds of members and others that may show up to try out a club ride before joining. The cyclists you spoke with may very well not have known who the person was even if you were able to give a description. He may also have been someone unknown to them and maybe even somewhat inexperienced ( perhaps he was out of control physically -clearly mentally! )
But they must have stopped to speak with you so clearly they weren’t being hooligans.
It’s a shame that a rough group has made such a bad name for cycling in your area.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters that some of these cyclists seem to leave check their road sense at the door once they get on the bike. They feel the road is theirs alone and are happy to ignore traffic laws, create dangerous situations for themselves and others, and block vehicle traffic at will. The weekend warriors are probably the worst offenders. Not all of them behave this way fortunately. Luckily, a member of my work group is an avid road cyclist so if I encounter any aberrant cycling behavior on a weekend I just yell at him on Monday about it. </p>
<p>For you cyclists, here’s a great cycling book about a round-the-world cycling trip - “Miles From Nowhere” by Barbara Savage. It’s a great read even if you aren’t a cyclist.</p>
<p>Apropos of which: Got a call from my daughter an hour ago, sobbing. She was driving down the local arterial (4 lanes, 45 MPH speed limit) when the cars in front of her slammed on the brakes, and the car in the lane next to her veered into her lane. She veered as far left as she could, and hit the brakes, but hit the car in front of her. Everyone’s OK (well, Mom’s new car has seen better days) but she’s still shaken.</p>
<p>Cause? A bicyclist crossed the road against the red light, making all the cars on the thoroughfare screech to a stop to avoid hitting her. After the chaos she pedaled serenely away…</p>
<p>Great to hear that you enjoy the bike, Lake!</p>
<p>The triathletes in my town have petitioned the city to shoot the birds that attack them on the rural roads. This has stirred endless discussion in the editorials and newstalk radio stations.</p>
<p>I was a regular cyclist a number of years ago and always wondered why we had to ride with the traffic! I felt infinitely more comfortable riding against the traffic so I could keep a keen eye on what was coming at me. Got nasty stares from other cyclist and some horn honks. But I never came close to getting in an accident where the cyclist always looses. No tickets either!</p>
<p>originaloog</p>
<p>i have ridden in the city for many years and i can absolutely guarantee you that the most dangerous thing a cyclist can do is ride AGAINST traffic. i have seen several accidents happen this way because 1) pedestrians stepping off the curb are not looking for you 2) cars turning from side streets onto the street you are riding on are not looking for you --they’re looking the other way 3) same for cars and truks backing out of driveways. i have seen at least one very ugly incident where the cyclist lost and several others where the cyclist or the pedestrian came very close. </p>
<p>my pet peeve isn’t unruly or aggressive drivers – that’s par for the course in the city and you learn to deal. but in the country i have had several close encounters with loose dogs who love to chase bikies. needless to say, these aren’t poodles either. in the country i always bring an extra water bottle filled with salt water to squirt at chasing dogs. first time i was subject to a dog attack i took a nasty spill before fido’s owner came running out to get him.</p>
<p>orig:
I got a ticket in junior high for riding my bike on the wrong side of the street- an eight lane street on which I rode a couple of miles to school and at that tender age, I felt safer when I could see the cars coming.</p>
<p>It really buggered the standardized test scores on that days big huge statewide exam :(</p>