Bicycle Rant

[The Big D]

Every bicyclist in my area is VERY near...

...the 334.5 MILE long Great Allegheny Passage upon which a bicyclist can ride from Washington, DC, to Pittsburgh, PA, UNIMPEDED by motorized vehicles.

A cyclist can ride flat, uphill, downhill...however they want. Still some want/demand to ride on roadways. My town has designated bike lanes on city streets. ZERO IDEA WHY...ZERO.

Be safe...be well.

 

[Czar]

The trails in my county are not maintained thru taxpayer $$. Totally by local sponsors and donors. Federal grants for some of the construction

Just pointing out federal grants are still taxpayer money. I do see lots of fundraisers for bike paths though which is good.

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[delcrossv]

Seeing how some folks are posting their rides, it thought it funny how after racing, TT's randos etc, I'm back riding my first new bike-bought 30 years ago. Some sort of circle of life thing

 

[llowry61]

Seeing how some folks are posting their rides, it thought it funny how after racing, TT's randos etc, I'm back riding my first new bike-bought 30 years ago. Some sort of circle of life thing

For the record, I am not opposed to the activity or it's heathy benefit to the riders or sharing the road. I am opposed to how some of the folks in my area are really inconsiderate.

One thing I see that I really like on the bike above is a rear view mirror. I can't imagine riding without. I very rarely see one on any of the bikes I see folks riding. I never see any signaling like I saw in the video. Once in awhile, I will see a rider the little helmet mirror.

 

[delcrossv]

For the record, I am not opposed to the activity or it's heathy benefit to the riders or sharing the road. I am opposed to how some of the folks in my area are really inconsiderate.

One thing I see that I really like on the bike above is a rear view mirror. I can't imagine riding without. I very rarely see one on any of the bikes I see folks riding. I never see any signaling like I saw in the video. Once in awhile, I will see a rider the little helmet mirror.

Well, the bikes rather unique layout makes it possible to use a full size mirror. That said, all of mine have some sort of mirror,either on the bike or my glove.

I (and I teach my kids to) always signal, follow the traffic laws and be courteous. Really helps keep one alive

 

[jrobin]

Shotgun has the responsibility to open the door and clip ‘em if riding abreast. (Single file is ignored. Zero points for clipping. Best avoid: Generally frowned upon in polite company.)

If three abreast and well clipped, taking out three at a go, double points accrue = 6. Two abreast gets ya three.

Various variations are possible, but most points by the time you get home wins.

Like that.

Intentionally dooring or clipping would be attempted murder.

Best not to forget that cyclists might not be a helpless as you think them to be and might have something to say about you trying to kill them.


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[BC38]

The trails in my county are not maintained thru taxpayer $$. Totally by local sponsors and donors. Federal grants for some of the construction

Federal grants aren't taxpayer $$? Where are they getting the money to make those grants then? AFAIK the federal government has no source of revenue other than what they take off us taxpayers.

 

[BC38]

Intentionally footing or clipping would be attempted murder.

Best not to forget that cyclists might not be a helpless as you think them to be and might have something to say about you trying to kill them.

LOL, REALLY?!?
Can you please cite the statute that says causing a bicyclist to crash can be charged as attempted murder?
Hyperbole (or hyperventilate) much?
Not saying that intentionally causing a bicyclist to crash is OK, because it isn't. Would likely even be charged as assault, since that is what it is. But attempted MURDER? That's a real stretch, unless you can cite a law that says it is.

 

[jrobin]

A buddy of mine had a short rant about bicyclists that seems appropriate. He said...

"Want me to share the road? Share the expense and responsibility. Register, insure and pay taxes on your bike to maintain the roads - just like I do with my car. Follow ALL of the rules of the road that cars have to follow. When bicyclists share the expense and responsibility for the road, then I'll happily share the road."

I am a cyclist and have five cars. I think I pay my share of road taxes.

BTW not every locality has the same laws for cyclists and motorists. In my city stops signs are yields for cyclists.


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[BC38]

I didn't know I don't have to pay taxes! WooHoo!

What taxes do you pay related to riding your bike on public roads?
His point was that he pays registration fees, and gas taxes on his car that are specifically earmarked for maintaining roads.
Bicyclists don't pay any of that. So his argument is that since they aren't paying any of those taxes for every mile they ride on the road, he doesn't feel like they have the same right to use it. Or MORE right to use it, which is what you might think based on the way some of them act. They also aren't paying for any kind of liability insurance to ride on the road. So if they run over a pedestrian, who pays?
His point is if they want equal access they should have to pay for it just like everyone in a car does.
And yeah, I know, most bicyclists have cars and pay taxes for every mile they drive. Doesn't change the fact that they are paying nothing towards the roads for every mile they bike on them.

 

[Onomea]

Intentionally footing or clipping would be attempted murder.

Best not to forget that cyclists might not be a helpless as you think them to be and might have something to say about you trying to kill them.

Since a couple of posters have taken my tongue-in-cheek post, an attempt at humor, seriously, for the record, I do not advocate violence against bicyclists. Or anyone else, for that matter.

A joke, fellas! (I thought my comment so outrageous that it did not occur to me that some might take it seriously!)

 

[delcrossv]

LOL, REALLY?!?
Can you please cite the statute that says causing a bicyclist to crash can be charged as attempted murder?
Hyperbole (or hyperventilate) much?
Not saying that intentionally causing a bicyclist to crash is OK, because it isn't. Would likely even be charged as assault, since that is what it is. But attempted MURDER? That's a real stretch, unless you can cite a law that says it is.

Could be, depending on circumstances.

Texas for example:
Texas's Vehicular Homicide and Manslaughter Laws and Penalties | DrivingLaws.org

Just add "malice aforethought" and manslaughter becomes murder

In any event , assault with a deadly weapon. So the cyclist is justified in pulling out his piece and plugging 'ya. "He was trying to run me over , Officer!"

Stay safe.

 

[BC38]

I am a cyclist and have five cars. I think I pay my share of road taxes.

BTW not every locality has the same laws for cyclists and motorists. In my city stops signs are yields for cyclists.


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I pay taxes and registration on eight vehicles.
Does that give me the right to walk down the middle of the road, impeding traffic and flipping off anyone who dares pass too close to me for my comfort, or who doesn't treat me like I'm another vehicle?
Because that is what a lot of bicyclists do - and to them that is what "share the road" means. Of course they also expect pedestrians to share the sidewalk too - when it is convenient for the bicyclist. Can I do that in my car too?
Don't get me wrong, I ride my bike on the street too - in my neighborhood. But I don't impede traffic on busy multi-lane streets and act like everyone else needs to accommodate me.

 

[DeathGrip]

If you don't like the way I drive,

Stay off the sidewalk.

 

[BC38]

Could be, depending on circumstances.

Texas for example:
Texas's Vehicular Homicide and Manslaughter Laws and Penalties | DrivingLaws.org

Just add "malice aforethought" and manslaughter becomes murder

In any event , assault with a deadly weapon. So the cyclist is justified in pulling out his piece and plugging 'ya. "He was trying to run me over , Officer!"

Stay safe.

Yeah, if you KILL a bicyclist you can be charged with manslaughter - or even murder if they can prove you did it with malice and forethought. But you aren't going to be charged with attempted murder just for causing them to crash - when they don't die - even if you did it intentionally. Still a bridge too far.

 

[jrobin]

LOL, REALLY?!?
Can you please cite the statute that says causing a bicyclist to crash can be charged as attempted murder?
Hyperbole (or hyperventilate) much?
Not saying that intentionally causing a bicyclist to crash is OK, because it isn't. Would likely even be charged as assault, since that is what it is. But attempted MURDER? That's a real stretch, unless you can cite a law that says it is.

Here is an example.

In the News: Driver faces attempted murder charges for alleged intentional crash – VeloNews.com


And a definition of attempted murder:

Attempted Murder Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc.

Attn:

(b) Impossibility. It shall not be a defense to a charge of attempt that because of a misapprehension of the circumstances it would have been impossible for the accused to commit the offense attempted.


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[delcrossv]

Yeah, if you KILL a bicyclist you can be charged with manslaughter - or even murder if they can prove you did it with malice and forethought. But you aren't going to be charged with attempted murder for causing them to crash and they don't die - even if you did it intentionally. Still a bridge too far.

That's jurisdiction/circumstances dependent. The "reasonable apprehension of death of serious bodily injury" justification in the use of deadly force on the part of the cyclist DOES apply regardless.

That's not a risk I'd be willing to take, no matter how annoying they are.
Edit:
Thanks jrobin, I knew there were cases out there.

 

[jrobin]

I pay taxes and registration on eight vehicles.
Does that give me the right to walk down the middle of the road, impeding traffic and flipping off anyone who dares pass too close to me for my comfort, or who doesn't treat me like I'm another vehicle?
Because that is what a lot of bicyclists do - and to them that is what "share the road" means. Of course they also expect pedestrians to share the sidewalk too - when it is convenient for the bicyclist. Can I do that in my car too?
Don't get me wrong, I ride my bike on the street too - in my neighborhood. But I don't impede traffic on busy multi-lane streets and act like everyone else needs to accommodate me.

The accusation was that cyclists don’t pay taxes. Not that some cyclists can be jerks.

Share the road signs. That’s another issue. I prefer “bike may take whole lane”. It’s less ambiguous to motorists.


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[BC38]

Here is an example.

In the News: Driver faces attempted murder charges for alleged intentional crash – VeloNews.com


And a definition of attempted murder:

Attempted Murder Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc.

Attn:

(b) Impossibility. It shall not be a defense to a charge of attempt that because of a misapprehension of the circumstances it would have been impossible for the accused to commit the offense attempted.


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Yeah, he is being charged with attempted murder for the two that he intentionally ran over. For the one he forced off the road the charge is assault - like I said. In fact he is being charged with 1 count of vehicular assault for each of the 3 bicyclists - but only attempted murder for the two he deliberately ran over.

 

[BC38]

The accusation was that cyclists don’t pay taxes. Not that some cyclists can be jerks.

Share the road signs. That’s another issue. I prefer “bike may take whole lane”. It’s less ambiguous to motorists.


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More precisely the "accusation" (actually assertion) is that bicyclists don't pay taxes to ride their bikes on the roads.
And until they start paying a licensing fee and some kind of per mile tax (like the fuel taxes) he is correct. They are not paying taxes to ride their bike on the road.