Bike people are the worst

[CD Boogie]

https://pagesix.com/2019/07/16/sean...25.360075911.1563195502-1296241293.1561480257

Surprising no one, Sean Avery is one of the douches who crusades for bike rights. I get that bike lanes should be respected, particularly in a place like New York City. But people take it too far.

The other day we were driving and this guy was riding his bike down the middle of the road, going like 15 mph, not giving way. The speed limit on this road was 40 and he was just pedaling along like it was a no-wake zone. So we went around him, half in the lane, half in the shoulder. And he went ballistic, waving his arms. I honestly thought he was gonna create a situation and I told my lady that if he hits my car at all, I'm gonna get out and confront him. He didn't; he went straight as we turned.

A little while later, he passed in front of our lane from the other direction, and was once again waving his arms at a motorist who apparently didn't recognize his biker rights.

I ride a bike all the time. I love it. But I always ride against traffic -- so that others can see me and I can react to their movements -- and I never assume that others will treat me like a freaking car. Want those rights? Stay in a designated bike lane or get a big boy bike. It's called a motorcycle. Otherwise, get the eff out of the way.

 

[Azrael]

So we went around him, half in the lane, half in the shoulder

?

 

[Azrael]

But I always ride against traffic

As a matter of traffic law, I'm pretty sure this is incorrect no matter what state you live in.

 

[CD Boogie]

?

What's unclear? He was in the middle of the lane. I passed him on the right so that my car was straddling both the lane and the shoulder.

 

[Azrael]

What's unclear? He was in the middle of the lane. I passed him on the right so that my car was straddling both the lane and the shoulder.

Seriously?

That doesn't seem optimal.

Or legal.

 

[CD Boogie]

As a matter of traffic law, I'm pretty sure this is incorrect no matter what state you live in.

That could be so. But I live in a residential neighborhood and not a city, and I am usually riding with my daughter behind me, and I feel a lot safer knowing a car sees me first and is not riding up on her. Bikes, to me, are for recreation. If you live in the suburbs and need to ride a bike everywhere, it's probably because you got a DUI ;)

 

[typefitter]

That could be so. But I live in a residential neighborhood and not a city, and I am usually riding with my daughter behind me, and I feel a lot safer knowing a car sees me first and is not riding up on her. Bikes, to me, are for recreation. If you live in the suburbs and need to ride a bike everywhere, it's probably because you got a DUI ;)

Your Hot Bike Take aside—cyclists die all the time under the wheels of inconvenienced cars—the problem with this scenario is a lot of motorists turning right only look to their left before proceeding, assuming nothing is coming the other way in their lane. Same with pedestrians, who might step out in front of you. I get it with your daughter, but she'd be safer, I think, riding in the correct lane, tucked in front of you.

As an aside: Having finally realized that I can't run anymore, I have become an extremely avid cyclist this summer, with my beautiful black bike and my calves shining in golden light. Magnificent, is the word you're looking for. It's the best, and I should have done it a long time ago.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

(And, if you try to pull that pass-on-the-shoulder crap on him, he will catch up to you and he will fight you.)

 

[cyclingwriter2]

I do feel bad for cyclists who get hassled by drivers, but then I also get frustrated when cyclists do the same thing to walkers on trails. And I doubt that the ones who get hassled by cars are the same ones who buzz me and write diatribes about runners and walkers social media, but for a community that is supposed to be about sharing the road, there is a vocal minority that doesn’t seem to get it.

Also, less than five times, but it still has happened: a driver with a share the road bumper sticker has almost hit me while running over that past 20 years.

 

[typefitter]

(And, if you try to pull that pass-on-the-shoulder crap on him, he will catch up to you and he will fight you.)

That's funny, but I'm actually my most chill on a bike. I'm like a dog with his head out the window. I have no idea why it took me this long to start really riding.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

So you broke several traffic laws and don't know the proper way to ride a bike on the road.

The bicyclist waves his arms in the air because of your illegal maneuvers, and he's the bad guy.

Got it.

 

[CD Boogie]

So you broke several traffic laws and don't know the proper way to ride a bike on the road.

The bicyclist waves his arms in the air because of your illegal maneuvers, and he's the bad guy.

Got it.

Glad you can follow along.

 

[playthrough]

I would edit this title. Scooter people are the worst.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

In NYC, cyclists can be ticketed for not riding in the bike lanes. Fine. But if that's the case, then the bike lanes need to be protected.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I ride a bike all the time. I love it. But I always ride against traffic -- so that others can see me and I can react to their movements -- and I never assume that others will treat me like a freaking car. Want those rights? Stay in a designated bike lane or get a big boy bike. It's called a motorcycle. Otherwise, get the eff out of the way.

Riding against the traffic is against the law here. It might be where you live too.

 

[CD Boogie]

In NYC, cyclists can be ticketed for not riding in the bike lanes. Fine. But if that's the case, then the bike lanes need to be protected.

Absolutely they need to be protected. I don't think Sean Avery is the best spokesman for that crusade, however. I'd listen to his wife, though.

 

[CD Boogie]

Riding against the traffic is against the law here. It might be where you live too.

Interesting. I'd always heard people saying you should ride against traffic so that you and the motorist can both react to each other. My neighborhood has a bike path in most areas and also sidewalks, so the time when I'm on the rode is infrequent anyway. If a car is coming, I usually tell my daughter to just stop and let it pass. Again, it's a mindset that bikes and cars should not be co-existing in the same area. I know that's not possible everywhere, but riding your 10-speed in the middle of the road, acting like you have the same right to be there as motorists, is a losing battle.

 

[Azrael]

riding your 10-speed in the middle of the road, acting like you have the same right to be there as motorists, is a losing battle.

cyclists on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists

California Driver Handbook - Sharing the Road

it's the same in most states

 

[CD Boogie]

cyclists on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists

California Driver Handbook - Sharing the Road

it's the same in most states

If the bike bro had been clipping along at 40, I would have just settled behind him. He was basically being that jackass who makes a point to drive 55 in the far left lane, a scold who thinks that doing so is their magnanimous way to slow traffic to what they deem an acceptable speed.

 

[Azrael]

If the bike bro had been clipping along at 40, I would have just settled behind him.

If he's too slow, pass him.

On the left.