Seattle's In-Your-Face Cyclists

[Robroy]

[Robroy]

[WestSideBilly]

The road is safer than the sidewalk for one reason. Cars are fairly predictable, albeit irrational, because they're limited by lanes and whatnot. Pedestrians (especially closer to the downtown core) can be completely random, and usually oblivious to everything around them.

Granted, if I hit a pedestrian the pain for both parties is relatively minor compared to getting run over by a car...

[The Tim]

[tomtom]

[lamont]

[The Tim]

[Robroy]

[tomtom]

[leaveseattle]

If cyclists have a license plate and insurance, then they would have the same rights as cars-

If a cyclists cuts in front of me, I hit him, he gets hurt, my car is dented, and the car behind me hits me from behind- well guess who's insurance pays that?

I doubt that cyclists get as many tickets as they deserve to get as well- and they really ought to stick to roads that can accomodate them-riding 4 across a country road with no shoulder and single laned, at 2 miles an hour and holding up traffic for miles- is rude. I grew up having to pedal anywhere I wanted to go, had I done that, someone would have either crept up on me and honked me into the curb(did happen) or told me exactly what they thought-

IF they want to be given the same considerations, they need to have the same registration, insurance and licensing requirements- and a little tact-

If I am towing I do not tow in the middle of rush hour on a single lane road going 2 miles and hour and obstructing traffic- why should they>

[Robroy]

[tomtom]

[biliruben]

2 MPH? WTF? I can walk 4 MPH. Anybody riding 2 MPH would almost certainly be on a sidwalk getting passed by people with walkers. Until the training wheels came off, of course.

Running over bikes and then your concern is what if someone bumps you from behind?

Thanks for the reminder and warning that folks like you still exist, leaveseattle. I just took a job that will have me commuting on my bike downtown again, after a 5 year hiatus. I need the proper fear instilled in me so I can live to see my boy graduate from pre-school.

I agree with most of what you said, Robroy. Ain't it swell when cars speed by you, then you are forced to eat their exhaust when they realize you are going faster than they want to, and have to hit the brakes?

[leaveseattle]

So, you get to ride your bike and get all the same rights to use the roads, but not pay for insurance, licensing, etc- because you want to bike?

What is good for the goose is good for the gander-

Just think, if you paid for your right to the road, they could use that money to build you special paths just for you to rule as you see fit- I would think that would be the best solution for your health and well being-safe, no pollution in your face, no angry drivers-seems to be a good solution. I know while in Olympia I took advantage of their bike paths-it was a relief to me and if it cost me 50-300 a year I would be thrilled to get off so cheaply to be healthy-

[Dave0]

It's hard to believe people like leaveseattle are still out there. Saying cyclists should stick to roads that can accommodate them is as ridiculous as saying cars should be restricted to certain roads. Roads are there for everyone to get where they need to go, and should be open to everyone no matter what mode of transportation they choose.

Motor vehicles have insurance and licensing requirements because they are multi-ton killing machines. Licensing requirements are needed to avoid having unqualified drivers (such as an 8 year old boy) out there killing people with a car. Such is not true for bicyclists, thus no licensing is needed. When was the last time you heard about a bicycle causing the death of someone else?

And seriously, 2 MPH?? I hate it when people have to exaggerate to get their point accross. In my mind it completely discredits anything else you say. The slowest cyclists out there ride around 10 MPH, and those are the ones that stick to the sidewalks cause they're scared of drivers like leaveseattle. The ones brave enough to face the street are going around 15 - 25 MPH. When I ride my bike in rush hour traffic I'm usually going the same speed or faster than cars cause their big and bulky and stuck in traffic, while I can just ride by them.