Future Darwin Award nominees?

[vikingchyk]

Two bicyclists. Riding side by side, taking up the whole right lane.[1] In the dark. And serious fog. Then through a traffic circle.

I'm guessing one of them was the same guy who ranted on our internal message board yesterday, about the jerk who changed lanes in front of him just before the traffic circle.

Seriously, that traffic circle has been a fustercluck since the day it opened, a few months ago. The daily f*ckery by the idiots in the cars is bad enough. I cannot imagine why someone would want to take their life in their hands by trying to bicycle to work through there - or anywhere else in this state >.<

[1] illegal, unless you can do so without impeding traffic. They were definitely impeding traffic.

[retro]

Is a traffic circle similar to a UK roundabout? A round 'island' surrounded by several exits/entrances to different roads.

[EricKei]

Yes. Same thing.

[retro]

I didn't think you guys had them. I know when I used to cycle, I'd dread going around a roundabout on my bike.

[Silent-Hunter]

Oh dear god inmy old state, they were putting them EVERYWHERE! Even places they didn't need to go, like a normal four way intersection! Now I really liked Washington state, but the traffic circles where a bit much. Hate that name too. Why does America have to have their own name for everything?

[taxguykarl]

At this risk.
I sometimes wonder if cyclists are trying to get hit. I had a near miss just last week with one running a red near dark with no reflectors or lights of any kind.

[Jay 2K Winger]

It really amazes me how many cyclists (or at least all the ones I tend to hear about) will always scream about "Share the road!" but then don't want to reciprocate.

[eltf177]

Oh dear god inmy old state, they were putting them EVERYWHERE! Even places they didn't need to go, like a normal four way intersection! Now I really liked Washington state, but the traffic circles where a bit much. Hate that name too. Why does America have to have their own name for everything?

You live in Boonsboro, MD? I guess then you're familiar with the Lovettsville "Squirkle". One of the dumbest designs ever created, and proof that VDOT engineers haven't a clue about the real world.

[Signmaker]

At this risk.
I sometimes wonder if cyclists are trying to get hit. I had a near miss just last week with one running a red near dark with no reflectors or lights of any kind.

It really amazes me how many cyclists (or at least all the ones I tend to hear about) will always scream about "Share the road!" but then don't want to reciprocate.

As a cyclist, I will say there exist two forms of adult cyclists:

A) Ones that share the road space, give as much room as they can to larger vehicles, obey all traffic laws, and are generally laid back unless you try to hit them.

B) Ones that believe cyclists need not follow any laws, and can ride wherever they want, however they want, with whatever equipment they feel like.

These two cannot be differentiated by age, ability, or price of their gear. I've seen lycra'd road warriors blow stop signs, and $99 Walmart specials ride like gentlemen.

[eltf177]

As a cyclist, I will say there exist two forms of adult cyclists:

A) Ones that share the road space, give as much room as they can to larger vehicles, obey all traffic laws, and are generally laid back unless you try to hit them.

B) Ones that believe cyclists need not follow any laws, and can ride wherever they want, however they want, with whatever equipment they feel like.

These two cannot be differentiated by age, ability, or price of their gear. I've seen lycra'd road warriors blow stop signs, and $99 Walmart specials ride like gentlemen.

This is indeed correct The problem is that driver's only notice the Type B's, leading to the incorrect adage that "all cyclist's are law-breaking jackasses".

[Jay 2K Winger]

This is indeed correct The problem is that driver's only notice the Type B's, leading to the incorrect adage that "all cyclist's are law-breaking jackasses".

I never said that. I know that every group of people have their good ones and the rotten ones. It's just most of us only ever hear about the rotten ones.

That's why I added that caveat "or at least all the ones I tend to hear about." Because, of course, the good ones rarely tend to make the news.

[eltf177]

I never said that. I know that every group of people have their good ones and the rotten ones. It's just most of us only ever hear about the rotten ones.

That's why I added that caveat "or at least all the ones I tend to hear about." Because, of course, the good ones rarely tend to make the news.

You didn't, I did. And you're right, people tend to notice the unsafe things but not the normal, everyday riders. It's the same with motorcycles; you notice the jackasses but never seem to notice the safe, sane ones. In fact, one of the nicest guys I ever met was a motorcyclist who I helped when an SUV turned right in front of him and damn near killed him. The SUV's driver made this one of the oddest experiences I've ever had...

[sms001]

This is indeed correct The problem is that driver's only notice the Type B's, ...

Even if they do notice A's, cagers have to operate under the assumption that bicyclists ARE Type-Bs for safety reasons, because there's no way to differentiate. So even if we're a good biker, they have to assume that we may do something stupid at any moment.

[retro]

You live in Boonsboro, MD? I guess then you're familiar with the Lovettsville "Squirkle". One of the dumbest designs ever created, and proof that VDOT engineers haven't a clue about the real world.

You should check the UK's equivalent. Swindon's "magic roundabout". Six clockwise roundabouts surrounding a central anti-clockwise roundabout. I pray I never have to visit Swindon. Or at least if I do, I hope I never have to use that roundabout.

[otakuneko]

Even if they do notice A's, cagers have to operate under the assumption that bicyclists ARE Type-Bs for safety reasons, because there's no way to differentiate. So even if we're a good biker, they have to assume that we may do something stupid at any moment.

Of course, that also applies to all other vehicles on the road. Everyone else is an idiot, so be prepared for them to do something stupid.