General Discussion

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)

72. I'm in SF and frustrated with cyclists like you describe

Thu Sep 27, 2012, 07:16 PM

Sep 2012

I think most of them aren't like this, but the proportion who ride aggressively is definitely up in this city in the past few years.

Sometimes it does take some effort to avoid being hit. That's bad. It's a bike, there should be practically no threat.

Cars are still more worrisome to me in downtown SF than bikes, but unlike years ago, I really do have to worry about cyclists now and that's new.

And don't get me started about the critical massers who surrounded a car one evening. I asked them if they were detaining the people in the car and if they were, I offered to call the police to come to take over. The massers bolted.

Not a fan.

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Bicycle vs. Pedestrian [View all] AtomicKitten Sep 2012 OP

making the cyclist pay for your medical costs for one loli phabay Sep 2012 #1

fortunately I'm covered by Healthy SF AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #10

I'm in SF and frustrated with cyclists like you describe CreekDog Sep 2012 #72

I have a Friend the was a messenger in SF orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #138

I'm 55 I ride my bike everyday and orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #2

yup even the dog wins if there is a stop sign loli phabay Sep 2012 #3

They usurp the road by not riding inside orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #6

I think a bicycle has the right to use the full lane, esp. with no bike lane CreekDog Sep 2012 #78

Laws differ from state to state wtmusic Sep 2012 #92

Bicyclists are not that easy to discern, in a car lane. WinkyDink Sep 2012 #98

what the law says trumps that CreekDog Sep 2012 #100

bullshit. Warren Stupidity Sep 2012 #135

I live in upstate NY and a cyclists would be orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #137

that is a different argument from "required to ride inside the white line". Warren Stupidity Sep 2012 #139

Also different, but correct the law of probability orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #140

Absolutely wrong, of course. PavePusher Sep 2012 #150

Any details there or just a BLERT ? orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #152

Not true, although these "fast facts" would tend to give that impression. wtmusic Sep 2012 #141

The cyclists I deal with as a ped, are as rude to peds as car drivers are to them. CrispyQ Sep 2012 #4

I have no tolerance for assholes who choose orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #8

Question for you or anyone else who might know... Whiskeytide Sep 2012 #29

I always announce I'm passing -- on their left-- EXCEPT often when passing a little kid. Gidney N Cloyd Sep 2012 #32

I was taught by my bike club to always let your presence be known to any pedestrian Trailrider1951 Sep 2012 #33

Thanks to you and Gidney Whiskeytide Sep 2012 #35

i always announce "on your left" frylock Sep 2012 #41

Any kind of announcement I think is good nadine_mn Sep 2012 #47

I jog on a bike path a man told me I had no orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #67

Yep, you need to pay attention to the path. a la izquierda Sep 2012 #91

I'm saved really, sorry about your crash orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #99

You really should never pass on the right wtmusic Sep 2012 #89

i ride with a bear bell.. frylock Sep 2012 #129

thanks, I'm getting there AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #11

Time for the bicycle shit parade taught_me_patience Sep 2012 #5

lol whats not to hate. loli phabay Sep 2012 #9

I ride on two wheels as well and have been irritated by many bicyclists in the area as well. Whovian Sep 2012 #17

In most states, the bike has a right to the entire lane obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #23

Mine is licensed, tagged and will easily do 100 mph+ Whovian Sep 2012 #48

Me, too. I ride my bike every day Berlum Sep 2012 #102

It really is obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #21

I like cycling and am glad people do it, I've defended it on DU for years...BUT CreekDog Sep 2012 #75

very reasoned post frylock Sep 2012 #79

There's a shit parade of bicyclists? R. Daneel Olivaw Sep 2012 #83

You didn't miss a thing (except your ribs) frazzled Sep 2012 #7

I'd be terrified riding a bike here in SF. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #13

I am a bike rider and sometimes I wil glide through stop signs or red lights... rfranklin Sep 2012 #12

as a suv driver i also glide through stop signs and red lights loli phabay Sep 2012 #15

how long you been driving strawmen? frylock Sep 2012 #52

only at halloween. not a strawman just using the logic that cyclists can break the law loli phabay Sep 2012 #57

i promise you that you break the law every time you get behind the wheel.. frylock Sep 2012 #80

off course i do everyone does loli phabay Sep 2012 #87

Haha. I saw what you did there. WinkyDink Sep 2012 #101

The car (or SUV) is most likely to be cause of accident with a bicycle... rfranklin Sep 2012 #116

not if it involves a cyclist blowing a stop sign and hitting a pedestrian loli phabay Sep 2012 #118

my bicycle with rider weighs perhaps 190 pounds hfojvt Sep 2012 #131

There you go again, quoting Newton and the laws of physics... rfranklin Sep 2012 #134

i think you need to read again. my point was my suv wasnt involved loli phabay Sep 2012 #146

no, the mass and the force is the point hfojvt Sep 2012 #149

I honestly have no problem with buzzing AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #16

In some areas, it's legal for bikes to do this obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #25

I very seldom see bike obey traffic lights/signs if there no traffic coming. Stupid. Logical Sep 2012 #14

I have some sympathy for bike riders when they are on an incline. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #19

You are wrong. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #56

Shit, then why do cars stop? Logical Sep 2012 #61

because they are motorized and about 400 times heavier CreekDog Sep 2012 #85

LOL, you said if there was no traffic around it would not matter. So why does the size matter? Logical Sep 2012 #88

what's the point of arguing with straw men? CreekDog Sep 2012 #93

if there's no traffic, then what's the harm? frylock Sep 2012 #53

Hell, then why do cars stop? Either you want to be treated like a car or not. Which is it? Logical Sep 2012 #60

you're asking the wrong person.. frylock Sep 2012 #77

There are two kinds of people who ride bikes WilliamPitt Sep 2012 #18

You sound like a responsible rider who values his well-being. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #24

The same thing holds for car drivers obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #26

Also known as WilliamPitt Sep 2012 #27

Roger That DaveHee Sep 2012 #31

nonsense.. frylock Sep 2012 #54

+1 wtmusic Sep 2012 #74

yep.. frylock Sep 2012 #81

Yup nadinbrzezinski Sep 2012 #65

when I am driving a car hfojvt Sep 2012 #132

Many cyclists also don't realize pedestrians can't hear them coming from the rear. yellowcanine Sep 2012 #20

It's really chaotic around SFSU. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #44

some pedestrians will also wander around the path.. frylock Sep 2012 #58

"Wander[ing]" happens to be a PERQUISITE of walking! Are we all in the Army now?? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #104

Yes but just be aware of who is sharing the path. yellowcanine Sep 2012 #106

of course not, but is it too much to ask that a walker not take up 2/3 of a 20' wide path? frylock Sep 2012 #123

"just before I overtake them"--What?! Don't you know that can spook a person to jump the WRONG way?? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #103

Far enough back, wide berth, and regular voice will not spook them. Hasn't happened yet so must yellowcanine Sep 2012 #107

i've had people practically jump out of their skin by calling out "on your left" frylock Sep 2012 #125

are you suggesting that a cyclist should just slow down to the speed of the pedestrian.. frylock Sep 2012 #126

I've almost been hit by other cyclists on my bike sakabatou Sep 2012 #22

I once watched two idiots run into each other, they both ran the stop signs. hobbit709 Sep 2012 #30

Me, too. And I've seen a couple ugly collisions close up. Gidney N Cloyd Sep 2012 #38

I recall making a left turn into a parking lot a while back. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #46

If I am on the wrong side, I usually go on the sidewalk sakabatou Sep 2012 #82

Hiring a lawyer to take him to the cleaners. MicaelS Sep 2012 #28

My medical costs are covered but I've lost time off work. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #39

certain bicyclists are just awful bigwillq Sep 2012 #34

thank you AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #40

I've heard before that half of all bicyclist deaths were the fault of the bicyclist who died XemaSab Sep 2012 #36

When I lived in the Santa Cruz area, I recall a bicyclist AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #45

For cyclists older than fourteen wtmusic Sep 2012 #73

Was the real problem the car with dark tinted windows - hedgehog Sep 2012 #37

It sure would have helped had that last car's windows not been tinted. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #43

As a pedestrian crossing a road properly, you have right of way. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #42

Thanks to all. I'm signing out to get some work done. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #49

I am so sorry you got hurt! nadine_mn Sep 2012 #50

Every mode of transportation has people who will irritate somebody using the same or different mode central scrutinizer Sep 2012 #51

Dorky bike shorts are a major warning sign. Bikes MUST follow the laws of the road,... HopeHoops Sep 2012 #55

LOL! "dorky bike shorts' I know exactly what you're talking about. WI_DEM Sep 2012 #143

Yeah, and it was a Dilbert cartoon - "Bike seats are uncomfortable. Solution? Dorky bike shorts." HopeHoops Sep 2012 #144

Assholes give dorky bike shorts a bad name wtmusic Sep 2012 #145

I like early '70s era basketball shorts. They're light and allow free movement. HopeHoops Sep 2012 #147

Excuse me, but my shorts are extremely courteous. wtmusic Sep 2012 #148

Yeah, I'll give you the pariah part, but ALSO APPLAUD YOU!!! HopeHoops Sep 2012 #151

You should see what it is like when you are out rollerblading Aerows Sep 2012 #59

Like drivers, bicyclists here are American and therefore, mostly assholes. I'm very sorry to hear Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #62

question for all the rule of law types posting in this thread.. frylock Sep 2012 #63

To paraphrase a local cop at Starbucks nadinbrzezinski Sep 2012 #66

speeding is nowhere near the problem of running traffic control signs. NutmegYankee Sep 2012 #69

but running a stop sign when no other vehicles or pedestrians are present.. frylock Sep 2012 #84

Driving a car is the leading cause of death in traffic fatalities. NutmegYankee Sep 2012 #96

The person on the bike in the OP didn't "roll" through the sign lumberjack_jeff Sep 2012 #90

yes, the cyclist in that instance was an asshole.. frylock Sep 2012 #95

I get that toe clips make long term stops awkward. lumberjack_jeff Sep 2012 #105

I can honestly say that I don't run stop signs on my cycle or R. Daneel Olivaw Sep 2012 #94

First glad you are out of the hospital nadinbrzezinski Sep 2012 #64

I really wish this site had a pamphlet option for printing: kentauros Sep 2012 #122

As a cyclist who rides 4,000 miles/year wtmusic Sep 2012 #68

My son, who is learning to drive, almost hit a cyclist, but it wasn't his fault. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #70

When I see someone riding without a helmet wtmusic Sep 2012 #86

I ride offroad as well as on. R. Daneel Olivaw Sep 2012 #97

These people ride every day of their life as transportation. Very few wear helmets outside of the US modem77 Sep 2012 #120

The average Dutch citizen rides 1.5 miles/day wtmusic Sep 2012 #121

In addition to what wt said.... PavePusher Sep 2012 #153

id disagree i used to bmx and mountain bike a lot and ive never had a helmet loli phabay Sep 2012 #124

how awful. Glad you and dog are ok Liberal_in_LA Sep 2012 #71

Here ya go... progressoid Sep 2012 #76

Ohhhh, AKitten! I'm so sorry this Cha Sep 2012 #108

Open and shut case - pedestrians come first bhikkhu Sep 2012 #109

Not always. wtmusic Sep 2012 #114

Republican cyclists. We're supposed to yield to whatever they want. valerief Sep 2012 #110

I'll admit I didn't read all the responses but here's my response for what it's worth. tech3149 Sep 2012 #111

In this part of Japan, Art_from_Ark Sep 2012 #112

What happened to the bicyclist? subterranean Sep 2012 #113

Mode of transport aside, that was an asshole, I hope you sued. Care Acutely Sep 2012 #115

Bicyclists... licensed, registered, insured. -..__... Sep 2012 #117

fuck that shit.. frylock Sep 2012 #127

" If you take a walk i'll tax your feet " George Harrison orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #133

I imagine your suggestion will be given all the consideration it warrants... LanternWaste Sep 2012 #154

People are at their worst in a car or store .n/t orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #155

I ride 5 miles every morning and I always stop at stop lights and stop signs. modem77 Sep 2012 #119

I roll stop signs all the time; I didn't hit you, or anybody else. So why bring me into this? nt Romulox Sep 2012 #128

Cyclists hit somebody on a pathway by my office atleast weekly Sen. Walter Sobchak Sep 2012 #130

Hope you are feeling better! lonestarnot Sep 2012 #136

I see this everyday walking in downtown Madison... WI_DEM Sep 2012 #142

Post removed Post removed Dec 2018 #156