| SilverFire |
I travel down 76 Ave from 99st to 50st (yes it's possible, but only on foot or bicycle) every day on my bike and have to wonder. The eastbound lane is well marked as a bike route, and I was wondering what the markings actually do for us cyclists.
My first thought was that it was supposed to raise drivers' awareness of us, but since I get nearly sideswiped (like less than 6"leeway) 5-10 times a day and it's not like I'm going at peak hours (1-1:30 pm & 12:30-1am), so I can't help but think that's not it. Maybe we need to get some of those bike cops from Whyte Ave to take a few runs down there...
I seem to remember something about how bike route roads are supposed to be wider than normal lanes too. Do I remember right? If so, why is that one narrower? (Cars are always crossing the center lane by a foot or so even when there's nothing to go around).
Last but not least, if it's well marked in one direction, but not the other, does that mean it's only a bike route only in one direction? Not that it really matters - If I see 4 cars on my way home, it's a busy night.
Thanks! |
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| AuZZZie |
a.) Until recently you had no idea where the lanes where in this city.
b.) Why the fuck would a cyclist "lane" be wider than a cars lane. Pretty sure a car is slightly larger
c.) Bikes don't belong on the road if you ask me. Thats not relevant just my 2 cents.. :thumbup: |
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| SilverNeonRacer |
re c) the law seems to thing they do belong on the road and as such they need to follow the rules of the road.
And even if you're riding you bike down say down 109st in the right lane cars by law should pass you the same way they would pass another car or motor bike, by fully changing into the next lane, go around then come back in.
When I used to ride in Edmonton my mountain bike, or when I was 14-15 I used to sell Dickie Dee on those big ice cream bikes.. if people got to close I'd give their car a smack as it went by with my hand, not enough to cause any damage....but enough that they heard it.... well knew something happened. |
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| SilverFire |
1)Also irrelevant because you can now. It's clean and bare. I actually have less of a problem when the roads were bad BECAUSE nobody could see the line.
2)"Cyclist lanes" AREN'T wider than car lanes, In fact they ARE a lot narrower than car lanes. However, I'm not talking about cyclist lanes, I'm talking about "bike routes"which are specifically designated to be shared between cars and cyclists.
3)That's fine, you're entitled to your own opinion. Just remember that in the traffic act, there is no distinction made between bicycles and motorcycles as far as road use goes. Not to mention the courts DON'T take kindly to car-cyclist collisions. The guy who hit me when he sideswiped me because he didn't think I ought to be there was convicted of dangerous driving and hit and run. And I didn't even get hurt... We are to be on the road, and that's that.
As far as kids go, I actually agree with you, but commuters are a different case. They travel MUCH faster than kids, and don't cause nearly as many issues when they do things right. Granted, cyclists don't always do things right, but neither do drivers, so it's not like there's a difference there...
SilverNeonRacer -
109 St. is actually a nice road to ride on. Down most of the length of it there's a bus/taxi/bicycle lane. Those are a cyclist's best friend. Nice, wide lanes that we (pretty much) have to ourselves. Busses and taxis by far treat us the best as far as leeway goes, and there's not a lot of that traffic along there in the first place. The only thing is that north of Whyte, it becomes turning lanes, so we have to pay attention to the car coming up beside us in case they decide to change lanes into us, but again, that's no different from driving a car... |
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| NESTLE |
thiers nothing you can do, people hate bikers on the road and always will. regardless of biker lanes or big signs that say biker lane people will still come close to you.
stupidest fucking thing ever = pedal bikes on the road.
I know i sound like an asshole when i say that, but i got more then half the town on my back with that statement |
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| AudiInProgress |
| Bikes should be on the sidewalks with people walking. |
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| NESTLE |
| oh and your bike lane is under the snowbank right now. so get out of "our" lanes! |
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| Jord@n |
| When you're going 30+ km/h on a bike, it's not exactly 'safe' to people on the sidewalk. Just be careful and let bikers have their room, you pass them right away and it's not a big deal. |
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| SilverFire |
quote:
Bikes should be on the sidewalks with people walking.
quote:
When you're going 30+ km/h on a bike, it's not exactly 'safe' to people on the sidewalk. Just be careful and let bikers have their room, you pass them right away and it's not a big deal.
Just remember that when you get your wish and someone blasts into you at 30km/h...
Anyway, can we stay away from the whole debate as to where we should be? I think we all know what the majority thinks... (and how little they do it).
quote:
oh and your bike lane is under the snowbank right now. so get out of "our" lanes!
FYI, the snow is gone all the way to the curb and about 6 inches past it.
As for "your" lanes - that's why I'm asking why the city even bothers to put up those little blue signs every few hundred meters if it's not to specifically designate them as "our" lanes too. (As in sharing. You know what that is, right? Learned it in playschool?) |
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| Grogdor |
It is not legal to ride your bike on the sidewalk unless you're under 14yrs old (judging by the commentary, this may very well apply to some of you). When on the road, cyclists have the same rights (lane use, safe left/right turns, etc) and responsibilities (being aware of what's around you, signaling!) as any other vehicle. That also means riders shouldn't try blasting across pedestrian crossings, unless you dismount and walk your bike, at which point you're considered a pedestrian.
The majority of drivers have little respect for two-wheeled commuters, and even less for the pedal-powered variety. We can be slow, but usually not stupid enough to venture far from 50kph roads. It's unbelievable the risks people will take (with someone else's life) to shave a few seconds off their commute, instead of sharing the road safely. I've had several close calls and been threatened many times. Really my only defence is putting the bike between myself and their road-raging ass, as tire iron trumps bike pump... Now I've got a helmet-cam, which is not only great for downhill and singletrack, but has also resulted in one reckless driving and one illegal lanechange asshole tax. |
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| GOT BOOST |
quote:
Originally posted by Grogdor
It is not legal to ride your bike on the sidewalk unless you're under 14yrs old (judging by the commentary, this may very well apply to some of you). When on the road, cyclists have the same rights (lane use, safe left/right turns, etc) and responsibilities (being aware of what's around you, signaling!) as any other vehicle. That also means riders shouldn't try blasting across pedestrian crossings, unless you dismount and walk your bike, at which point you're considered a pedestrian.
The majority of drivers have little respect for two-wheeled commuters, and even less for the pedal-powered variety. We can be slow, but usually not stupid enough to venture far from 50kph roads. It's unbelievable the risks people will take (with someone else's life) to shave a few seconds off their commute, instead of sharing the road safely. I've had several close calls and been threatened many times. Really my only defence is putting the bike between myself and their road-raging ass, as tire iron trumps bike pump... Now I've got a helmet-cam, which is not only great for downhill and singletrack, but has also resulted in one reckless driving and one illegal lanechange asshole tax.
I believe it is illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk.
You are correct, the bicycles do have the same rights and are obligated by the same rules of the road.
In my opinion, the reason why the 2 wheelers are not respected is for the crap they pull. ie) They zoom past a line of cars stopped at a red light on the passenger side, narrowly missing doors, mirrors, etc. These same people, will then ride through on a crosswalk, then back onto the road. I have seen countless times where they will just swerve into traffic with out looking. :rolleyes:
They are the first one to call foul and "we have the same rules" when it is to their advantage, but they are the first ones to break them and put themselves and others at risk.
Sorry pal, but I do not respect cyclists on the road. I will give them their room, when I pass them but that is as far as it goes. If they are riding in a bicycle lane, then that is fine.
If they pull illegal crap in front of me such as swerving they are 100 points.
Mike |
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| Geofux |
| I respect most bicyclists because I used to ride mine a lot... but yesterday there was someone on a bike I had passed that was too far from the curb (3 feet at times), and generally weaving around. That pisses me off. |
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| Grogdor |
quote:
Originally posted by GOT BOOST
Sorry pal, but I do not respect cyclists on the road. I will give them their room, when I pass them but that is as far as it goes. If they are riding in a bicycle lane, then that is fine.
If they pull illegal crap in front of me such as swerving they are 100 points.
Mike
That's all I ask, I just don't like getting intimate with your sideviews. I myself am tempted to smoke cyclists who play pedestrian, or open my door into lane cutters... usually couriers, they can be idiots! Of course by law you're responsible for opening your door when safe to do so, even when parking. Actually last week I almost slid my car (going slow, in the snow) into a guy downtown who decided to hop out of his truck onto a tight residential... his fleshy ass or oncoming van? Hmm...
quote:
Originally posted by Geofux
I respect most bicyclists because I used to ride mine a lot... but yesterday there was someone on a bike I had passed that was too far from the curb (3 feet at times), and generally weaving around. That pisses me off.
Three feet is a little much, but sometimes skinny roadie tires+gravel+drainage don't leave you much choice. By law you're supposed to ride "as close to the curb as practical" so.. whatever that means.. swerving? 50 points, unless avoiding glass, then maybe 20 for not being aware of what's behind/beside you.
Thanks for the constructive replies to my emotional 4am rant :) |
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| Geofux |
| That is understandable, in some places... but no, there was enough decently clean road to his right that he could have used... |
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| AudiInProgress |
Let's see... Bicycle weighs what? 30lbs? Human weighs what? 170lbs? And I highly doubt there will be a cyclist riding his bike full-tilt at 30km/h on the sidewalk. But I digress...
Vehicle weighs? 4000lbs. Traveling 70km/h for arguement sake...
I'd much rather be hit by a cyclist on the sidewalk... Than be a cyclist myself and hit by a fucking car on the road. |
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| SilverNeonRacer |
quote:
Originally posted by AudiInProgress
Let's see... Bicycle weighs what? 30lbs? Human weighs what? 170lbs? And I highly doubt there will be a cyclist riding his bike full-tilt at 30km/h on the sidewalk. But I digress...
Vehicle weighs? 4000lbs. Traveling 70km/h for arguement sake...
I'd much rather be hit by a cyclist on the sidewalk... Than be a cyclist myself and hit by a fucking car on the road.
Heh.. when I was younger like 13-14 I was going full tilt down a sideway... 118th Ave and about I dunno.. near that 7-11 around 89st... I almost smoked some old lady who walked out of a bank, she steps out without a look and I almost clipped her... did a swirve thing she stood there shocked for as long as I could see back heh. |
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| AudiInProgress |
Great story. I'm sure she'd still rather be hit by a cyclist than a car...
Bikes belong on the sidewalk. |
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| SilverNeonRacer |
| I've been hit by both... heh... I think the bike hurt worse.. the Jeep I was on roller blades and jumped on his hood right before he hit me.. I wasn't injuried at all... bout an hour later when I got to work I hit the ground from shock heh |
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| Jizmo |
Arg! I hate those bikers. Everytime I see one I wish I could just flip a switch that opens my passenger door and swipe em off their bike. But unfortunatly that is murder, assault, hit and run, etc etc etc.
Please use sidewalks, please. Using the road is ok in some MINOR places, but when there's one lane and you're stuck behind the biker who you can't pass, the only thing that runs through my mind is getting the guy is shotgun to spit on the biker once we have a chance to finally pass the douchebag. You are worse then those people doing 10-20 under the speed limit.
I'll give it to them for being good to our Earth tho. I'm glad you (Bike Riders) will ride bikes to save emissions, so that us regular people don't have to. Makes our lives a little bit easier. |
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| SilverNeonRacer |
quote:
Originally posted by Jizmo
Arg! I hate those bikers. Everytime I see one I wish I could just flip a switch that opens my passenger door and swipe em off their bike. But unfortunatly that is murder, assault, hit and run, etc etc etc.
Please use sidewalks, please. Using the road is ok in some MINOR places, but when there's one lane and you're stuck behind the biker who you can't pass, the only thing that runs through my mind is getting the guy is shotgun to spit on the biker once we have a chance to finally pass the douchebag. You are worse then those people doing 10-20 under the speed limit.
I'll give it to them for being good to our Earth tho. I'm glad you (Bike Riders) will ride bikes to save emissions, so that us regular people don't have to. Makes our lives a little bit easier.
Talk to the Gov.. they made it law that bikes have to ride on the road, are you willing to pay the tickets the cyclists get for riding on the sidewalk? |
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| HEWSINATOR |
Go ride your bike on a sidewalk at 35 km/h and tell me how enjoyable it is.
It is the law, and you are asking me to break the law for your convenience? While it is the law, please be safe. If you ride, you likely know too many people that have been hit by morons who think it is their prerogative to either teach you a lesson for riding where you belong and buzz you, or just are plain unsafe and indifferent.
I personally know 1 person who has been killed and one person seriously injured by being hit.
Slow down a second, give some room, and pass. It is really not that difficult, I do it all the time. I know what it is like on the other side, and it is not pleasant to be clipped by car mirrors or I imagine to be hit.
The other things that people do not realize is how back draft effects a cyclist. Getting knocked into the curb because you buzz me is not very fun either.
Again, write your MLA, but until then, try not to kill me. Riding on the sidewalk makes zero sense, further, what about when there is no sidewalk?
Think about wholly, not just get pissed off because you have to slow down in your commute twice a week in the summer months. |
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| BLOCKER |
quote:
Originally posted by HEWSINATOR
Go ride your bike on a sidewalk at 35 km/h and tell me how enjoyable it is.
It is the law, and you are asking me to break the law for your convenience? While it is the law, please be safe. If you ride, you likely know too many people that have been hit by morons who think it is their prerogative to either teach you a lesson for riding where you belong and buzz you, or just are plain unsafe and indifferent.
I personally know 1 person who has been killed and one person seriously injured by being hit.
Slow down a second, give some room, and pass. It is really not that difficult, I do it all the time. I know what it is like on the other side, and it is not pleasant to be clipped by car mirrors or I imagine to be hit.
The other things that people do not realize is how back draft effects a cyclist. Getting knocked into the curb because you buzz me is not very fun either.
Again, write your MLA, but until then, try not to kill me. Riding on the sidewalk makes zero sense, further, what about when there is no sidewalk?
Think about wholly, not just get pissed off because you have to slow down in your commute twice a week in the summer months.
I think there is no better way to end this thread |
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