I just don't fucking get it.

[mangosteen]

To the bicyclist that I almost ran over on the way home a few minutes ago:

Wearing dark clothing
on a dark bicycle
at night
making a wide turn
onto a dimly-lit street
WITH NO REFLECTORS
AND NO LIGHTS
IS NOT OKAY!!!!

NOT FUCKING OKAY AT ALL!!!!!

GOT IT?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?

Comments

[xeger.livejournal.com]

I saw a 7-8 year old boy get run into by some blithering idiot on a bicycle yesterday. We're talking "child, crossing at crosswalk. Crosswalk has crossing guard, sign, whistle, lights, and traffic stopped in both directions" . . . but no, cyclist doesn't even slow down.

Hits the kid, leaves the kid in tears, cradling his wrist - and buggers off.

Damn but I wanted to door him.

[debkitty.livejournal.com]

Unbelievable. I am so tired of hearing cyclists complain about how they get mistreated. They seem to want all the benefits of cars (cars turning left must yield to them going straight) without any of the responsibilities (actually heeding traffic signals). I would love to reach my arm out my open window and clothesline one of them.

[xeger.livejournal.com]

The worst part of this is that I -am- a bicyclist... but I don't do that shit.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

That's a very broad brush you're tarring with, there...

JB, his front and back lights, his reflective ankle thingies, and his helmet...and his most-of-the-time heed of traffic signals. (I like to think that when I don't, a reasonable person would agree with my judgment.)

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

I have little patience for a cyclist who does not obey all traffic signals at all times -- same as a car. You're under the same rules as a car. Cars running red lights get busted. Bikes should too. However, I see a lot more bikes running reds than I do cars. Something's not right here.

The only excusable time to run a red is when the stoplight is clearly broken. For a cyclist, that includes lights that change only when the pressure sensor triggers -- I know a solo biker isn't heavy enough to trip an in-road pressure sensor. However, if there's a car there, or reasonably close by, wait.

[debkitty.livejournal.com]

Allow me to rephrase - the cyclists who bitch are the same ones who ignore the singals.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Not at all. The cars around here (on average) treat bikes like shit, no matter what they're doing, and how politely and correctly they do it. Really.

I just haven't bitched about it in Matt's LJ. :)

[debkitty.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. We are in two different areas. Perhaps my statements apply only to the geniuses in my area.