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Road Safety - Cycling

You've noted the added danger of riding a bike in a car's world. Have you considered wearing armor while riding the bike? Ever considered wearing a light or some light reflective garment at all times? Do ya suppose the car that ran into you couldn't see you?

Guess what? It is a car and a bike world.

Drivers must share the road, its the law.

The driver didn't see me because came racing out of his apartment complex, and didn't stop before trying to turn on to the road and he wasn't looking. I could have been a freaking lighthouse and he wouldn't have seen me.
 
You would be amazed how many drivers nearly hit me, or pull out in front of me at a crossing where I have the right of way, or do a left hand turn at a crossing without seeing me crossing traffic.

Do a few thousand miles of bike riding in a large city and get back with me.

I grew up in Orange County, CA. Nobody rides their bike in the road, or uses center turn lanes...
 
I grew up in Orange County, CA. Nobody rides their bike in the road, or uses center turn lanes...

I don't ride in the road, I ride in the bike lane or the sidewalk. But, If I am crossing a road, at the light, there may be cars that are turning left (right in your country) and they don't see that I am crossing with the light, like any other vehicle. You don't ride much, or you would understand.
 
At least, you won't have to navigate the 3,000 metal monsters called cars on the street. And if you're attempting to ride the bike under icy conditions, you have further problems than just how to ride in the street.

Cars don't step out of storefronts. Cars can only enter the scene from a roadway of some sort. One can see and know the roadways and prepare for the arrival of a car at an intersection. That's why roads are better than sidewalks.
 
Hi. I'm just inquiring about cycling and road safety.

Should cyclists travel against traffic? This would allow cyclists to see oncoming cars. They'd have a better chance of dodging any close vehicles. Any collision with a fast car, whether from behind or head-on, would be very dangerous. So we must choose the optimal one for avoiding the collision in the first place, rather than slightly reducing the impact of a potential collision.

Back in the 70's they taught us to go against the traffic. But someone somewhere decided that bicycles were equal to cars and put them on the road with traffic.

Europe BTW generally just gives bicycles their own space away from cars.
 
Why is riding a bike on the sidewalk illegal?

I have seen signs that clearly state no bicycles on the sidewalks. I have lived all over the country and every place has a different set of rules. You can't even roller blade on the sidewalks in a lot of places. Some states only allow children to ride on the sidewalks.

No-Skateboarding-Bicycles-Sign-K-7508.jpg
 
Hi. I'm just inquiring about cycling and road safety.

Should cyclists travel against traffic? This would allow cyclists to see oncoming cars. They'd have a better chance of dodging any close vehicles. Any collision with a fast car, whether from behind or head-on, would be very dangerous. So we must choose the optimal one for avoiding the collision in the first place, rather than slightly reducing the impact of a potential collision.

Bikes should travel in the same direction as motor traffic. A 30-40 MPH increase in relative impact velocity increases lethality drastically in case of an accident.
This is completely different from pedestrians where the relative speed difference is negligible whether moving with or against motor traffic, and the advantage provided by having your eyes on oncoming traffic is the most important factor.
 
Someone should tell them this. The vast majority of them routinely run red lights and break the rules here.

There are terrible bicyclists much like there are terrible drivers. Cyclists are supposed to stop at red lights, and there are certainly a seemingly large group of them who don't obey any traffic laws and then act indignant when they come into conflict with cars. Here, there's a lot of road cyclists...a lot. I've seen really good ones that are obeying laws, queuing properly, etc. But I've also seen the dudes in spandex riding like they own the roads and yelling at cars. Though we've also had a fair share of cars that act aggressively as well. I don't think cyclists do any good for themselves when they're breaking all the rules, purposefully holding up traffic, acting like spoiled children, etc.

But if both driver and cyclist are obeying the laws and aware of each other and behaving like adults, then it's not a problem.
 
Why is riding a bike on the sidewalk illegal?

Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Cyclists are not pedestrians, they are road traffic. Cyclists cannot ride on the sidewalk for the same reason a motorcycle cannot.
 
Not motorized vehicles should not be on roads for motorized traffic, the speed differential is too great.

Depends on the road.
 
I don't ride in the road, I ride in the bike lane or the sidewalk. But, If I am crossing a road, at the light, there may be cars that are turning left (right in your country) and they don't see that I am crossing with the light, like any other vehicle. You don't ride much, or you would understand.

I ride all the time... I don't obey any traffic rules when I do either (at least not many). I go with the flow and where I deem it is safest and fastest.
 
There are terrible bicyclists much like there are terrible drivers. Cyclists are supposed to stop at red lights, and there are certainly a seemingly large group of them who don't obey any traffic laws and then act indignant when they come into conflict with cars. Here, there's a lot of road cyclists...a lot. I've seen really good ones that are obeying laws, queuing properly, etc. But I've also seen the dudes in spandex riding like they own the roads and yelling at cars. Though we've also had a fair share of cars that act aggressively as well. I don't think cyclists do any good for themselves when they're breaking all the rules, purposefully holding up traffic, acting like spoiled children, etc.

But if both driver and cyclist are obeying the laws and aware of each other and behaving like adults, then it's not a problem.

You will never find me in spandex!
 
Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Cyclists are not pedestrians, they are road traffic. Cyclists cannot ride on the sidewalk for the same reason a motorcycle cannot.

It depends on where you live. It is allowed here, but you have to be responsible. There are times where I am driving on a marked bike path on a busy street, then...poof, the bike path is gone, in that case, I get up on the sidewalk, and go back down if or when a path re-appears. Phoenix is getting better, they just paved a 28 mile long path along the Grand Canal, you can ride from Tempe to Surprise, and they have put on demand lights up at all the street crossings (they haven't turned them on yet though), which makes it much safer. Scottsdale has the demand lights on their canal paths, and they even have protected bike paths that run parallel to busy roads that have plenty of room, and a half wall between the road and the bike path.

You are going to see a huge explosion of people on e-bikes, it makes sense. I work at home, but when I have to visit the office, its a nice 3.5 mile ride, and our building has a dedicated bike room where you can lock up, air up, and there are showers and lockers.
 
Hi. I'm just inquiring about cycling and road safety.

Should cyclists travel against traffic? This would allow cyclists to see oncoming cars. They'd have a better chance of dodging any close vehicles. Any collision with a fast car, whether from behind or head-on, would be very dangerous. So we must choose the optimal one for avoiding the collision in the first place, rather than slightly reducing the impact of a potential collision.

Cycling paths, simple and makes it much safer for cyclists.
 
Hi. I'm just inquiring about cycling and road safety.

Should cyclists travel against traffic? This would allow cyclists to see oncoming cars. They'd have a better chance of dodging any close vehicles. Any collision with a fast car, whether from behind or head-on, would be very dangerous. So we must choose the optimal one for avoiding the collision in the first place, rather than slightly reducing the impact of a potential collision.

No. Ride with traffic. :doh
 
Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Cyclists are not pedestrians, they are road traffic. Cyclists cannot ride on the sidewalk for the same reason a motorcycle cannot.

Begin pedantic rant...

Should not. Not cannot.

I have ridden sidewalks on both bicycle and motorcycle. So it can be done.

End pedantic rant.
 
Begin pedantic rant...

Should not. Not cannot.

I have ridden sidewalks on both bicycle and motorcycle. So it can be done.

End pedantic rant.

That's some good old fashioned conservative values there. :roll:
 
Guess what? It is a car and a bike world.

Drivers must share the road, its the law.

The driver didn't see me because came racing out of his apartment complex, and didn't stop before trying to turn on to the road and he wasn't looking. I could have been a freaking lighthouse and he wouldn't have seen me.

You chose to fight the 3K pound pile of metal with your body and a bit of metal...and your lament why you were hurt? Better have your head examined because, due to the accident, I think you've lost the ability to reason.
 
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I have seen signs that clearly state no bicycles on the sidewalks. I have lived all over the country and every place has a different set of rules. You can't even roller blade on the sidewalks in a lot of places. Some states only allow children to ride on the sidewalks.

View attachment 67257613

But do you know why these groups aren't allowed to be on the street? My guess from the grouping of 'street illegals' from the sign is these groups contain youngsters. I wonder if these signs appear throughout the city or only in areas where youngsters congregate? Why doesn't the municipality in question having the street ban build a bike and arena for youngsters? Maybe the city already has? Maybe a dog park, too (for dogs)?
 
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You chose to fight the 3K pile of metal with your body and a bit of metal...and your lament why you were hurt? Better have your head examined because I think you've lost the ability to reason.

No, I didn't choose to fight any car. The driver was in error, he wasn't looking, and he hit me, he even admitted it.

You really don't know the subject well, all you have is your biased opinions towards bike riders.
 
No, I didn't choose to fight any car. The driver was in error, he wasn't looking, and he hit me, he even admitted it.

You really don't know the subject well, all you have is your biased opinions towards bike riders.

You're basing you safety as a bike rider on car drivers not making mistakes????
 
You're basing you safety as a bike rider on car drivers not making mistakes????

An assumption proven fatal for roadkill. Yet, crossing the roadway always seemed so safe before...
 
You're basing you safety as a bike rider on car drivers not making mistakes????

No, I am always vigilant. but it is not a choice to fight a car.

Drivers have to share the road, its the law. I always have my helmet on, I have my rear view mirror, which is an incredible safety tool. And, I don't ride with earbuds in and music blasting, so I can hear what is going on. What I do have, that is way cool, is a helmet that has speakers built in above the ear, I can connect to my phone via blue tooth for calls or for music or radio. It isn't so loud that I can't hear what is going on, or other bikers. I bought a helmet like this for my girlfriend, when we ride, both of our helmets are on intercom mode, that way we can talk to each other as we ride, has a range of several hundred feet. And it is a lot of fun.

I really want to ride today, but it is gonna be about 102 after I finish work, which will be good weather next week when it is 110 here.
 
What I do have, that is way cool, is a helmet that has speakers built in above the ear, I can connect to my phone via blue tooth for calls or for music or radio. It isn't so loud that I can't hear what is going on, or other bikers. I bought a helmet like this for my girlfriend, when we ride, both of our helmets are on intercom mode, that way we can talk to each other as we ride, has a range of several hundred feet. And it is a lot of fun.

I've been on so many nature rides when I wished talking was easier.
 
But do you know why these groups aren't allowed to be on the street? My guess from the grouping of 'street illegals' from the sign is these groups contain youngsters. I wonder if these signs appear throughout the city or only in areas where youngsters congregate? Why doesn't the municipality in question having the street ban build a bike and arena for youngsters? Maybe the city already has? Maybe a dog park, too (for dogs)?

I know where I live in NE PA a lot of the roads especially in the older cities are not wide enough for trucks and you cannot safely pass a bicycle in most areas. Even a lot of the alleys there is not enough room for a car and a person walking. So most teenagers bicycled, roller bladed, or skate boarded on the sidewalk. The laws were made by the elderly who did not drive but actually used the buses and sidewalks. It was a matter of wild teenagers and frail old people sharing the sidewalk. The teenagers did not have a voice in the situation. I am sure it was a case of the elderly being afraid of collisions with teenagers. I am 6'3" 300lb. man that is now 60. If a teenager knocked me down it could be life threatening. While I may look big and powerful and I am I have also had a hip replacement. I fall wrong and I am in a wheelchair the rest of my life if not worse.
 
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