Bad Drivers, Cyclists, and Pedestrians

Safety
61

Well, most of my experiences with bike riders when I lived in Seattle was bad, spend 10 to 20 minutes trying to get around them, because it’s unsafe to pass, and once you do get around them you stop at a red light, they jump to the front of the line, passing on the right or going down the sidewalk, did I mention there was a sidewalk that I have NEVER seen anyone walk on, run the red then you get to spend another 10 to 20 minutes trying to get around them again. Or the bike riders who decided they need to be in the middle of the road slowing down traffic, so I get to drive at a whole 5 mph on a 35 mph road, then there are the times I get to slam on my brakes because they run the red, etc.

Are there good bike riders who follow the rules of the road, I’m going to say yes, but I haven’t seen any.

62

I ride the same way bluegill does. not totally within the law, but close enough for everyone, especially me, to be safe

63

I do get passed by some bicyclists while I’m waiting at a red light. I think it’s worth it to get to work two minutes late rather than losing my life fifty years early. I might put that on a bumper sticker (next to the “3 feet – it’s the law” and “share the road” bumper stickers).

64

I hate bicyclists with a passion. More times than not, the biker will ride on a curvy main road with no shoulder only to make you slow down, try to pass and nearly have a head on collision with another driver. Two or more people in both cars lives are now at risk. All so this A-hole can exercise or take the scenic route. I agree they never obey the laws either. Whats worse is when theres an empty side walk next to them. They argue its illegal to ride on it! Yeah, like a cop is going to ticket you for keeping the f out of everyones way, making it safer for EVERYONE! (Did I mention I hate bicyclists?). The worst is when they ride double wide. Ugh

65

As an avid bicycle rider, what made a me a threat to cars passing me was being accosted by dogs which sometimes drives you out into the road way. Without a doubt, he best defense against them is the pepper spray “Halt” which we still use today. It works so well, you don’t even have to hit the dog in the face. One day, a neighbor hood dog came out of no where and started running after us. I casually pulled out the Halt and sprayed toward to dog. A gust of wind carried the spray into my wife’s face who was behind me. My wife started screaming in pain. Her screams were more then sufficient to “scare” the dog away. That is proof positive that you can still be humane when it comes to dealing with an “attacking” dog. It is hard on wives though.

66

I had an encounter yesterday with a driver I suspect suffers from ignorance/apathy (“I don’t know and I don’t care”) syndrome. I was on a 2 lane 2 way 25mph street and stopped at a stop sign intending to cross a 3 lane 1 way 30mph street with traffic crossing from my left to right and no stop signs. An older Honda stopped on the opposite side of the 3 lane apparently intending to also cross (no turn signal). When traffic cleared I proceeded to cross. The Honda proceeded to begin turning left into my path then stopped. I continued while the 20 something male driver of the Honda laid on the horn while apparently screaming obscenities and giving me the finger! I gave them a WTH look and continued on my way. My advice? “Expect the unexpected”.

67

^
I empathize with you sgtrock, but I want to give you another possible scenario.
Perhaps that ignorant driver was ignorant of a non-functioning directional signal on his car.

That doesn’t make him any less culpable if he hit you, or any less ignorant overall, but as we all know, there are a whole lot of people on the road who have no clue about what is or is not functioning on their car, so it is entirely possible that he signaled for a turn, but that his turn signal has been burned-out for (pick one):
a week
a month
a year
an eternity

;-))

On an almost daily basis, I see cars that are down to one stop light, as a result of both the center-mounted stop light and one of the others being non-functional. Most likely, non-functioning directional signals are almost as common as non-functioning brake lights.

68

VDCdriver In the scenario I described a non functional or deliberate non-use of turn signal was not a factor. Thru traffic has 100% right of way over oncoming left turn traffic.

69

^
I fully understand that you had the right of way.
I am merely speculating that this numb/ignorant/aggressive/apathetic driver may have had a non-functioning turn signal, in addition to trying to strong-arm his way in front of traffic that did have the right of way.

70

VDCdriver Accurately determining if a drivers turn signals are non-functional can be problematic. Here from my experience are the most common locally observed reasons for lack of turn signals in order of most likely cause.
1.) Hands are to busy: driver cannot pry cellphone away from ear for the 2 seconds required to engage turn signals.

2.) Total apathy: Driver simply does not care.

3.) Disclosure of intent (justified): Driver (1) needs to change lanes on multiple lane highway or interstate. Use of turn signals by driver (1) will alert driver (2) currently in target lane who is a little ways behind. Driver (2) will very likely use maximum acceleration preventing lane change by driver (1)! I’m serious. This happens nearly 100% of the time!

4.)Mechanical/electrical fault: Turn signals are actually non-functional.

Fortunately non-functional brake lights are quite rare. I have encountered 3 in the last 5 months. 1 in September and 2 this month. This is more than the normal amount.

71

@sgtrock21–Obviously, from afar, nobody can determine exactly why somebody’s turn signals are non-functional. I was merely offering a possibility.

As to your suggestions…

  1. Very likely
  2. Also very likely
  3. Yes, I observe this also, on a fairly frequent basis
  4. Yes, definitely a possibility
  5. You are luckier than I am. I encounter non-functional brake lights much more often than you do!
72

VDCdriver Thank you for the clarification. I confuse easily these days. I still don’t understand why the “numb/ignorant/aggressive/apathetic” driver was foaming at the mouth because I did exactly what I was supposed to do?

73

Someone posted they really don’t like bike riders . They irritate me as well , because they can ride and enjoy it and I can no longer make those 75 mile rides I used to make .

74

I am a cyclist from time to time, pet peeve I call them the fat boys, they are fat and ride side by side basically making a 2 lane road a 1 lane road. Cannot think of an unflaggable term for them. Me I ride with the traffic, will run a stop sign if no one is there while on my bucycle, but will yield to drivers that have the right of way. Even got a thumbs up from officer for doing so, as I must guess many do not yeild.

I see so many people walking or riding a bike into an intersection without even looking for any traffic, I am on heightened alert while driving lest I hit an unflaggable term for them

75

VOLVO V70 My parents taught me at a young age to judge people individually. Judging groups of people by the negative actions of a few is much less than fair. I have previously stated my jealousy of cyclists for some reason being given a pass when violating laws that motorists including motorcycle riders would be punished severely for violating. These are not always bad cyclists. They consider safety and courtesy to those they share the road with.

76

Just because you know you are right, does not guarantee you are.
This could be the “King” of bad cyclists!

Bicyclist attempts to raise awareness with custom traffic signs
Posted: Apr 09, 2015 9:42 AM PDT
SALEM, OR (KPTV) -
A bicyclist who grew tired of confrontations with drivers took matters into his own hands and created traffic signs to raise awareness of the law.
David Fox posted the signs across the street from the Capitol Building in Salem.
The signs indicate that according to state law, cyclists are allowed to use the entire road lane.
Fox said he had a bad experience with a person driving a car , and he wanted to raise awareness.
“He honked his horn; I kept to my lane, so he pulled up next to me and said I need to use the bike lane, of course with a couple expletives in there,” Fox said. "Once every six months or so, I’ll get an aggravated driver who screams at me, and it’s typically because they don’t know the law."
The law states that cyclists should ride as close to the curb or the edge of the roadway as possible, but there are exceptions that allow cyclists to use the full lane, as long as they’re not impeding traffic.
Fox said he’s since taken the signs down, but he hopes they spark a discussion about sharing the roads.

The news report showed a video of him cycling in the middle of a traffic lane towing a trailer while angry motorists swerved around him. He references ORS 814.420 (2) © and ORS 814.430 (2) © on his signs. How does this help the idiot’s argument?

§ 814.420¹
Failure to use bicycle lane or path
• • exceptions
• • penalty
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a person commits the offense of failure to use a bicycle lane or path if the person operates a bicycle on any portion of a roadway that is not a bicycle lane or bicycle path when a bicycle lane or bicycle path is adjacent to or near the roadway.
(2) A person is not required to comply with this section unless the state or local authority with jurisdiction over the roadway finds, after public hearing, that the bicycle lane or bicycle path is suitable for safe bicycle use at reasonable rates of speed.
(3) A person is not in violation of the offense under this section if the person is able to safely move out of the bicycle lane or path for the purpose of:
(a) Overtaking and passing another bicycle, a vehicle or a pedestrian that is in the bicycle lane or path and passage cannot safely be made in the lane or path.
(b) Preparing to execute a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
© Avoiding debris or other hazardous conditions.
(d) Preparing to execute a right turn where a right turn is authorized.
(e) Continuing straight at an intersection where the bicycle lane or path is to the right of a lane from which a motor vehicle must turn right.
(4) The offense described in this section, failure to use a bicycle lane or path, is a Class D traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §700; 1985 c.16 §338; 2005 c.316 §3]

§ 814.430¹
Improper use of lanes
• • exceptions
• • penalty
(1) A person commits the offense of improper use of lanes by a bicycle if the person is operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic using the roadway at that time and place under the existing conditions and the person does not ride as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway.
(2) A person is not in violation of the offense under this section if the person is not operating a bicycle as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle that is proceeding in the same direction.
(b) When preparing to execute a left turn.
© When reasonably necessary to avoid hazardous conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or other conditions that make continued operation along the right curb or edge unsafe or to avoid unsafe operation in a lane on the roadway that is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side. Nothing in this paragraph excuses the operator of a bicycle from the requirements under ORS 811.425 (Failure of slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle) or from the penalties for failure to comply with those requirements.
(d) When operating within a city as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of a roadway that is designated to allow traffic to move in only one direction along the roadway. A bicycle that is operated under this paragraph is subject to the same requirements and exceptions when operating along the left curb or edge as are applicable when a bicycle is operating along the right curb or edge of the roadway.
(e) When operating a bicycle alongside not more than one other bicycle as long as the bicycles are both being operated within a single lane and in a manner that does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
(f) When operating on a bicycle lane or bicycle path.
(3) The offense described in this section, improper use of lanes by a bicycle, is a Class D traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §701; 1985 c.16 §339]

77

When you think you have seen it all! Yesterday when transporting my 6 year old Grandson We were following a small pickup with utility trailer on a busy city street at less than the 30mph posted speed and a greater than safe distance. The pickup driver signaled a right turn to a side street and started to turn then suddenly stopped. I safely stopped. The reason for the pickup unexpectedly stopping appeared. Another idiot cyclist riding the wrong way on the sidewalk and neither slowing or stopping for motor vehicle traffic. The cyclist then made a right turn to the marked PEDESTRIAN crosswalk I was now blocking. He safely stopped. He appeared to be mid 50s in age and was wearing a helmet. I interpreted his expressions and body language as “Why are you blocking my crosswalk”? Without thinking things through I lowered my passenger window and treated him to my extensive collection of the appropriate obscenities while inquiring why he was not using the perfectly adequate and properly marked bicycle lanes my tax dollars helped to provide. His expression changed to clueless. The pickup had cleared the traffic lane so I proceeded. Unfortunately my Grandson learned a few new words but he starts 1st grade next month and will eventually learn them anyway. Charlie Darwin must be spinning in his grave unable to comprehend why a scientifically impossible small percentage of these obviously defective members of the species fail to exit the gene pool as expected.

78

How about this? A guy gets run over and splattered all over the highway until the cops see him by chance. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/remains-of-st-charles-man-hit-on-highway-not-recognized/article_b6a2fd31-2f8c-5d32-94f8-c36eff4f3f2d.html

79

I drive the freeways of Southern California on an almost daily basis. So I’ve pretty much seen it all. It’s actually become rather terrifying. No matter how fast you go, you’ll have someone right on your tail.

Probably the most ‘distracted’ I’ve seen was a guy driving along while eating a bowl of cereal.

Not much better as a pedestrian, either. I won’t cross a street unless I am certain that the person at the stop see’s me. Assume nothing positive about any driver. That’s my motto.

80

Two incidents this week. Good cyclist/bad driver and good pedestrian/bad cyclist. I was following a large pickup on a 2 way 2 lane with center turn lane thoroughfare. Side and cross streets have stop signs. We approached a cross street where a cyclist on our left was properly waiting at a stop sign. The truck suddenly stopped at the intersection and motioned the cyclist to cross! The cyclist shook his head no and motioned for the driver to proceed. The driver remained stopped! Of course there is now on-coming traffic so I prepare to finally get moving. Silly me. The truck remains stopped and waits for the 4 on-coming vehicles to clear and again motions the cyclist to cross! The cyclist gives up and crosses. God loves idiots. Why else would he create so many of them?
The next day I was watching the “local” (60 miles North) news. They had opened a new bridge the week before. Center, 2 way light rail, flanked by very wide bicycle lanes, then pedestrian lanes. There is a pedestrian crossing where they push a button to stop bicycles and cross with traditional pedestrian signals. The bicycle lane has green, yellow, and red with the traditional round traffic signal lights replaced with the international bicycle signal. A 55 year old woman was walking her dog and pushed the button to cross. She got the walk signal and started to cross. A cyclist at full speed hit her and she suffered 4 cracked ribs, separated shoulder, and scrapes, cuts and bruises. The dog was not injured. There was a quite clear security video showing the cyclist pedaling faster when their light turned yellow and running the red light! It reminds me of George Carlin’s interpretation of traffic signals. “Green means go fast. Yellow means go faster. Red means put it to the floor!”