Unbelievable! [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

namasste

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 10:19

great photo! No one is safe when it comes to stupid idiot that decides to drive a car after drinking. What a tragedy.

Coming from a cyclist.....be aware of your surroundings when driving.

That is why I do most of my riding on country roads.
I don't disagree but as a cyclist, I'll add...be aware of your surroundings when cycling. Being on two wheels does relieve us of this responsibility. Even on country roads I have had problems, sometimes, my own fault as I was oblivious to cars on the road thinking I was all alone out there.

My prayers go out to those affected by this horrible crime (let's call it what it is). Drunk drivers should have MUCH harsher penalties imo. I simply don't get why it seems that the legal system takes it as lightly as they do. For any naysayers to that, I live in Ohio where you now get a special license plate after two DUI convictions. On my 20 minute commute into work today, I counted 8 of them. Are you kidding me????? Why in the world are these people allowed behind the wheel of a car? Again, imo, they forfeited their right to drive when they put innocent people in harms way through their own selfish irresponsible actions. Shame on them and those that allowed them back on the road. Yes, this is a VERY hot button with me. Rant done, thanks for tuning in.

rhodesx6

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 10:24

I don't disagree but as a cyclist, I'll add...be aware of your surroundings when cycling. Being on two wheels does relieve us of this responsibility. Even on country roads I have had problems, sometimes, my own fault as I was oblivious to cars on the road thinking I was all alone out there.

My prayers go out to those affected by this horrible crime (let's call it what it is). Drunk drivers should have MUCH harsher penalties imo. I simply don't get why it seems that the legal system takes it as lightly as they do. For any naysayers to that, I live in Ohio where you now get a special license plate after two DUI convictions. On my 20 minute commute into work today, I counted 8 of them. Are you kidding me????? Why in the world are these people allowed behind the wheel of a car? Again, imo, they forfeited their right to drive when they put innocent people in harms way through their own selfish irresponsible actions. Shame on them and those that allowed them back on the road. Yes, this is a VERY hot button with me. Rant done, thanks for tuning in.
Here's why....How would our LEADERS get to work if drunk driving caused you to lose their license.

Maddog12

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 10:25

...be aware of your surroundings when cycling. Being on two wheels does relieve us of this responsibility. Even on country roads I have had problems, sometimes, my own fault as I was oblivious to cars on the road thinking I was all alone out there.

I agree. We cyclists have to be smart and aware too.

namasste

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 10:32

Here's why....How would our LEADERS get to work if drunk driving caused you to lose their license.

sad, but probably true. without getting waaaaay off on a tangent, it's just more evidence of how skewed our value system has become. it's not that important that you drive sober but God forbid you miss work. I've been clear with those that work for me, get a DUI, don't bother calling in, your final check will be mailed.

olly_k

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 10:55

I don't disagree but as a cyclist, I'll add...be aware of your surroundings when cycling. Being on two wheels does relieve us of this responsibility. Even on country roads I have had problems, sometimes, my own fault as I was oblivious to cars on the road thinking I was all alone out there.

My prayers go out to those affected by this horrible crime (let's call it what it is). Drunk drivers should have MUCH harsher penalties imo. I simply don't get why it seems that the legal system takes it as lightly as they do. For any naysayers to that, I live in Ohio where you now get a special license plate after two DUI convictions. On my 20 minute commute into work today, I counted 8 of them. Are you kidding me????? Why in the world are these people allowed behind the wheel of a car? Again, imo, they forfeited their right to drive when they put innocent people in harms way through their own selfish irresponsible actions. Shame on them and those that allowed them back on the road. Yes, this is a VERY hot button with me. Rant done, thanks for tuning in.

In the UK if you are caught over the legal limit you go to court and then your life is seriously screwed as you don't drive away (and probably lose your job too!). It is taken very seriously here and rightly so.

Playm

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 11:26

I agree. We cyclists have to be smart and aware too.

As someone who lives/works in the country where cyclists often come to ride, I applaud your comment. I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage cyclists to be conscious of their road manners.

We have many one lane and narrow two lane roads back here. I'll share a few experiences with cyclists:

One day, when carefully (slowly) driving a one ton dually with a few tons of hay home on a one lane road, I came around a blind corner to find five cyclists abreast. When I saw I had no place to go, I came to a complete stop FOR THEM only to have THEM yell at ME like I don't have any right to be on the roads where I live. It tends to leave a pretty bad impression of these *visitors* from the city. Their arrogance is not appreciated.

Last year, a logger friend, driving his tractor home, was passed on a corner by an impatient cyclist. The biker found himself facing a head on collision with an oncoming car.. so he reached out, touched the tractor wheel and was pulled underneath the wheel. This was behind my friend - so he didn't even know the cyclist was there or was passing.. until he felt the *bump* that he'd run over something and looked back. While it was extremely tragic for the cyclist - since he was killed - it was his impatience that caused the accident... something my friend will have to carry with him for the rest of his life. The news reports don't explain the long term residual consequences of events like that.

Another time, I was hauling horses through these narrow mountain roads, only to round a corner to see three cyclists abreast and one with A BABY trailer in the center of the road!! I wish there were classes for cyclists about safety and common sense. People who don't haul LIVE FREIGHT don't always realize that you can NOT just slam on the breaks and stop on a dime. That cyclist is probably alive today simply because, in this case, there was no oncoming traffic.. and I was able to swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid him. It really scared me. .. and again, could be avoided if they simply followed the rules of the road instead of thinking they're driving in a public park.

.. end of mini-lecture. Moral of the story is, visiting the country can be nice, but it's not a public park... the rules of the road are in place for safety. .. and just because a group of friends decide to cycle on these roads for the day, doesn't justify rudeness to those who live/work/drive here every day.

I thought I would just give you guys a perspective that you may not have thought of.

ilmk

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 11:30

Unbelievable. :(

In the UK if you are caught over the legal limit you go to court and then your life is seriously screwed as you don't drive away (and probably lose your job too!). It is taken very seriously here and rightly so.

It should be taken very seriously. My uncle lost the use of his legs for years (much therapy he's walking again) He was able to throw his son out of the way (minor cuts from the getting thrown) but he lost his girlfriend when a drunk smashed into them on the side of the road.

IMO it's just plain stupid... to place yourself in idiotic danger is one thing... not so cool when you destroy others lives.

Anke

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 11:34

I was stunned when I saw this image in the newspaper this morning. Horrible image.

gary88

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 11:42

Wow, that's just terrible. I agree that drunk drivers really need to be punished more severely. Too many lives are lost due to the carelessness and disregard for others that these idiots have.

Maddog12

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 12:34

The good thing about the country roads where I live....you can see more miles (unless the corn is up:lol:) so we have a little more reaction time. Still, have to be alert at all times.

We had a cyclist around here that got hit and killed by driver who was text messaging while driving.

20droger

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 12:55

The driver in that tragedy was apparently an American living in Brownsville, Texas, who was driving drunk in Mexico, just over the border. Talk about an Ugly American!

I truly hope he enjoys his encounter with the Napoleanic Code and Mexican jurisprudence.

AngryCorgi

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 14:27

Interesting shot...I don't recall there being many trees in Matamoros, yet the street appears to be lined with them.

That's a horrific accident though.

bbqKing

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 22:17

.. end of mini-lecture. Moral of the story is, visiting the country can be nice, but it's not a public park... the rules of the road are in place for safety. .. and just because a group of friends decide to cycle on these roads for the day, doesn't justify rudeness to those who live/work/drive here every day.

I thought I would just give you guys a perspective that you may not have thought of.

Great point

Alot of people cycle out here where i live and the roads are narrow and very hilly,speed limit is 50mph so you top a hill doing 50 in a 1ton van or a truck pulling a trailer and all of the sudden there are 5 or 6 people riding side by side covering over half of the road (idiots). They think they own the road,,,,,,,,,guess what? that 1 ton van owns the road:D

Now the drunk driver in this case should be run over by a semi-truck

LeesaB

3rd of June 2008 (Tue), 22:21

Great shot, glad someone was able to capture it, I think I would have dropped my camera to help.

Sometimes I think about that, that someone has to cover the event that happens even a tragedy to record it for whatever reason. But more often then not, I tend to run to the aid of people or "get in the middle" of something and later think " I should have just taken shots of it"

You ever run into those kids that walk in the street and refuse to move....I think i will hand them a copy of this photo next time I run into them!

Night all..

HuskyKMA

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 00:43

Saw this on ESPN this afternoon, what a tragedy. The penalties for drunk driving need to be much more severe than they are.

I'll share something. I was walking back from class last week and a group of about a dozen of us were waiting to cross the road. The lights changed and all of the cars stopped, and we started across. But then a cyclist came weaving between cars, hit me and bounced off another guy before hitting the ground himself. He yelled at us to get out of the road, then jumped back on his bike and rode off. Shattered the screen on my new cell phone and ripped my tshirt as well.

As a cyclist and cycling fan, I will say that there are two major problems in the driver/cyclist relationship. The first is that drivers normally aren't thinking that they need to be watching out for bicycles on the road. Heck, most of the time they don't even see motorcycles. The other is that a lot of cyclist seem to think they don't have to follow the same rules as automobile drivers or pedestrians, and that everyone should be watching out for them. That's obviously what the guy that hit us was thinking.

speedypalomino

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 01:24

olly_k

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 04:29

I came around a blind corner to find five cyclists abreast.

I must admit this actually annoys me - I can't think of any reasonable reason to ride like this , it only causes drivers to have to overtake in the most inappropriate places and take unnecessary risks!

Tandem

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 08:50

Not to pile on the cyclists,,,, but I too live in a rural area that is popular for the "Lance Armstrong wanna be crowd" I drive a one ton dually hauling either my horses or cows and have been verbaly attacked because I didn't give a wide enough berth,, I just point to my plates,,, I've got a sticker that shows,, I've PAID to drive on this road!!! And I also remind them,,, they have no idea who or what is behind the wheel,, pointing out my USMC decal on the back window.... This almost always remedies the situation.... :0)

Bear
The law is the same even if you are a little old lady - 3 foot minimum passing distance. If you don't have room to legaly pass you are required to wait until the way is clear. Perhaps some day I can get a picture of you and your plates to show in court.

I drive on narrow, hilly, winding roads almost daily and I often have to slow down behind cyclists. Sometimes it might take 30 seconds for the road to clear. <gasp!> Doesn't ruin my day nearly as much as killing someone, though.

What does the law say?

Washington State law classifies bicycles as vehicles, with all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle driver. This means that bicycles have a right to be on the road; they also bear the responsibility to obey traffic laws. Cascade Bicycle Club is working to promote safe and legal cycling and to educate drivers about how to safely pass a cyclist.

Why 3 feet?

The Washington State driver’s manual mandates allowing at least three feet of space when passing a bicycle. Many other states have laws requiring three feet as the minimum safe passing distance. One state even requires five feet for passing.

The Washington State Driver’s Manual states:

The safety of bicycle riders on the road is a responsibility shared by both motorists and cyclists. All bicyclists have the same rights, duties, and responsibilities of a motor vehicle driver. Motorists and riders who don’t obey traffic laws can be ticketed.

Oh, by the way, nice photo! Pulitzer material?

20droger

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 08:52

I find it interesting that a thread about a picture of a drunk driver plowing into a group of racing cyclists, properly engaged in a legitimate bicycle race, has become a thread on how some cyclists don't respect the rights of others.

Yes, some cyclists are idiots. However, it is my opinion that a greater percentage of motorists are much bigger idiots.

Some months back, I was driving in Tucson and happened to be following a truck belonging to a commercial landscaping company. As we passed a pair of cyclists, who were properly cycling in the marked bicycle lane, the truck driver intentionally downshifted to belch a big cloud of diesel smoke at the cyclists. There was no reason for it whatsoever, other that he was the rear end of a very unpleasant horse.

Ask me if I will ever use or recommend that landscaping company.

There being many cyclists in Tuscon--it being a "bicycle-friendly city" (ha!) with lots of well-marked bicycle lanes--I see this type of behavior all the time. The world abounds with motorists who are rude idiots.

AngryCorgi

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 12:29

Great point

Alot of people cycle out here where i live and the roads are narrow and very hilly,speed limit is 50mph so you top a hill doing 50 in a 1ton van or a truck pulling a trailer and all of the sudden there are 5 or 6 people riding side by side covering over half of the road (idiots). They think they own the road,,,,,,,,,guess what? that 1 ton van owns the road:D

Now the drunk driver in this case should be run over by a semi-truck

I experience a mixture, in the Las Colinas area, of veteran cyclists that obey traffic laws and act in a courteous manner and what I like to call "yuppy cyclists" who just jumped on recently like it's a popular fad to wear cycling spandex. These newbies, unfortunately, often times ignore traffic laws altogether. My pet peeve is the lack of signalling for turning. The other day, a couple of the yuppy cyclists were traveling the opposite direction I was on a street with a speed limit of 30mph. When I was coming close to passing them there was a break in the median for turning, which the cyclists apparently intended on using to turn into an apartment complex situated on my side of the road, while I intended to turn right as well and had my blinker on. These two yahoos decided that slowing and stopping, even if necessary to yield, was not happening, nor was signaling for a turn. They coasted through the turn and tried to time it with my passing, like beating a train at the crossing. The first cyclist cleared just in front of me and caused me to hit my brakes while the second slammed on the calipers just to the left of my bumper. I then let the cyclist go ahead of me in the turn, even though I still had the right-of-way. He and the girl that passed ahead looked at each other and were shaking their heads like I did something wrong!! So many of these idiots think they are allowed to violate traffic rules, and I have never seen any cyclists ticketed. To be fair, the yuppy cyclist percentage is probably only like 20-25% of the cyclists I have seen out there; most are courteous and ride with more sense than many drive.

The event in mexico was horrific and clearly the man responsible should be spending a great percentage, if not the rest, of his remaining life in prison.

gjl711

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 12:48

One has to wonder where the race officials were. If this was an organized race I would have though that they would have closed the course to traffic during the race much like is done for a marathon.

BottomBracket

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 14:38

Great point

Alot of people cycle out here where i live and the roads are narrow and very hilly,speed limit is 50mph so you top a hill doing 50 in a 1ton van or a truck pulling a trailer and all of the sudden there are 5 or 6 people riding side by side covering over half of the road (idiots). They think they own the road,,,,,,,,,guess what? that 1 ton van owns the road:D

Not to pile on the cyclists,,,, but I too live in a rural area that is popular for the "Lance Armstrong wanna be crowd" I drive a one ton dually hauling either my horses or cows and have been verbaly attacked because I didn't give a wide enough berth,, I just point to my plates,,, I've got a sticker that shows,, I've PAID to drive on this road!!! And I also remind them,,, they have no idea who or what is behind the wheel,, pointing out my USMC decal on the back window.... This almost always remedies the situation.... :0)

Bear

OK, is the USMC decal supposed to mean anything here? I don't get it. I admit the 5 or 6 cyclists riding abreast on the road are idiots, I mean it is really stupid to do that, but your attitude isn't much of an improvement either. If you think driving a '1 ton van" gives you ownership of the road then perhaps your license should be revoked.

Using the public roads is give and take - motorists and cyclists should respect each other and share the road. I am an avid cyclist, and I drive a car too. Like the others here, I find it interesting that the bike race accident photo has caused some people here to rant against cyclists. It clearly shows that these people do not think bicycles should be allowed on the roads.

gjl711

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 15:35

... It clearly shows that these people do not think bicycles should be allowed on the roads.
Not necessarily. I too am an avid cyclist though not the Lance Armstrong type as I’m more into touring than racing. Here in Naperville the behavior of many weekend cyclists is beyond abysmal. The rudeness and the “I own the Fu*&ing road” attitude is so pervasive that driving on a weekend morning your going to have a run in with a group or two. I can easily see how drivers get frustrated as a group of bikers, sometimes 15 or more all decked out in colorful spandex are riding 3 or more abreast taking up the entire lane riding at 15 MPH where the speed limit is clearly marked as 55 and not moving over to allow cars to pass. Then yelling obscenities when you do pass. It’s hard to remain civil and not engage in a bit of name calling.

BottomBracket

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 15:42

I agree, John, that some cyclists are real jerks. I have several acquaintances who are the same way and I do my best not to ride with them. It is unfortunate though that the actions of some colors the whole cycling community, and it is their actions that are remembered.

AngryCorgi

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 15:55

Not necessarily. I too am an avid cyclist though not the Lance Armstrong type as I’m more into touring than racing. Here in Naperville the behavior of many weekend cyclists is beyond abysmal. The rudeness and the “I own the Fu*&ing road” attitude is so pervasive that driving on a weekend morning your going to have a run in with a group or two. I can easily see how drivers get frustrated as a group of bikers, sometimes 15 or more all decked out in colorful spandex are riding 3 or more abreast taking up the entire lane riding at 15 MPH where the speed limit is clearly marked as 55 and not moving over to allow cars to pass. Then yelling obscenities when you do pass. It’s hard to remain civil and not engage in a bit of name calling.

This is kinda how the Las Colinas area has become, rider-density-wise. If 20% of the riders dismiss traffic laws, then you may never see an issue if maybe 25 people in a city ride regularly, but when the numbers hit the thousands, that 20% starts standing out more and more. It's a shame there are not police doing their job and ticketing the yuppie cyclists for failure to signal and such, or maybe the 20% or so that there are would lose interest in riding with the enforcement of those laws (and paying fees for noncompliance). It goes both ways, obviously, and there are some very bad drivers out there that should have their liscence revoked!

The issue that amplifies this for me, is that many cyclists (particularly in this area) like to sport enormous bumber stickers on their cars that say "Share the Road", in an obvious dig on some people's driving competency. Funny thing is I don't see any drivers with stickers on their cars that say "Learn To Obey Traffic Laws" with little bicycle profiles.

pmk

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 16:10

The hostility between cyclists and drivers is definitely growing, and we're all gonna lose.

I was nearly killed last night when a driver parked on a country road pulled out and took almost the entire road as I was coming down the hill at about 35mph. I rode the left hand gutter and am just lucky there wasn't anyone coming the other way. The driver then proceed to stalk me for, literally, two miles so I finally stopped. His first words were "why is that you cyclists ride in the middle of the road?" I asked him what this had to do with the fact that he nearly killed me because he didn't look out for oncoming traffic when pulling out, and that he had forced me off the road. He then went on a tirade about groups of cyclists taking over the road. I was out riding alone, but for this guy, I was somehow responsible. He truly didn't care that he came close to killing another human being. I was just a symbol of his hatred and distain, of no consequence.

Cyclists definitely should follow the rules of the road, but the holier than thou, I-own-the-road-bigotry of American drivers is quite disturbing. With more and more people looking to bikes as a good choice for transportation, I hope relations can improve.

pmk

AngryCorgi

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 16:14

Cyclists definitely should follow the rules of the road, but the holier than thou, I-own-the-road-bigotry of American drivers is quite disturbing. With more and more people looking to bikes as a good choice for transportation, I hope relations can improve.

pmk

Your statements are contradictary. If you are going to refer to all American drivers as one entity and then brandish them with a foul mark, I'm betting your personal relations with them aren't going to improve.

bbqKing

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 20:20

OK, is the USMC decal supposed to mean anything here? I don't get it. I admit the 5 or 6 cyclists riding abreast on the road are idiots, I mean it is really stupid to do that, but your attitude isn't much of an improvement either. If you think driving a '1 ton van" gives you ownership of the road then perhaps your license should be revoked

My point was that some day someone will top a hill out here doing the speed limit and there will be a load of cyclist doing 15mph hogging the road and they will lose and it will not be anyone's fault but theirs. The vehicle that the road was built for won:lol::lol:

Bycycle's should have brake lights,turn signals,headlights,Side mirrors,Insurance and do the speed limit just like everything else on the road:D I forgot to add STOP AT ALL STOP SIGNS and wait your turn

dirk712

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 21:10

wow, nice shot...

BottomBracket

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 21:32

20droger

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 21:52

bbqKing

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 21:56

:rolleyes:

bbqKing

4th of June 2008 (Wed), 22:47

Now the drunk driver in this case should be run over by a semi-truck

I bet you had a kick out of the photo that the OP referred us to.

Now to keep this on topic:
That's sad that things like this happen and no it's not a good photo to me,It's a photo of someone getting killed

rhodesx6

5th of June 2008 (Thu), 08:43

bbqKing
"...less likely to get nailed"
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Slaughterville,Oklahoma

Slaughterville????? with a smoker in your avatar...ahhahhhahah

20droger

5th of June 2008 (Thu), 09:12

Roadkill, the other other white meat!

Stefan A

5th of June 2008 (Thu), 17:18

Back when I was 50 pounds lighter I used to ride quite regularly. I considered myself a very considerate bike rider and I followed all the rules of the road as if I was in a car. I always biked off to the side. I always used hand signals when turning. I always rode in the same direction as the traffic. Yet, I had my share of abuse on the road. Having trash and bottles thrown at my was the norm. And of course people yelling at me to get off the road and get an effing car.

But I had 3 incidences that I will not forget. One time I was riding off to the side of a small country road. An old man past me, and then stopped ahead of me, and proceeded to chew me out for being in the road. He could not be reasoned with. Then there was the time when this car slowed and travelled next to me at my speed. Then he switched on his windshield washer fluid which splashed all over me and my face. Good aim I guess. And then one time somebody threw a lighter (I think) right next to me and it exploded. Scared me real bad.

Pretty tragic picture

Stefan

gjl711

5th of June 2008 (Thu), 22:25

... Then he switched on his windshield washer fluid which splashed all over me and my face. Good aim I guess. ... I use to have an old Duster and it had a very high tech washer mechanism. It was just a rubber foot bulb next to the brake pedal. It was a wonderful thing as you could direct the stream wherever depending on how much pressure was applied to the rubber bulb. U use to take care of tailgaters by stomping on the bulb and shooting the stream clear over my car onto the car following too close. Very effective anti-tailgating device. :)

RandyMN

5th of June 2008 (Thu), 22:32

My point was that some day someone will top a hill out here doing the speed limit and there will be a load of cyclist doing 15mph hogging the road and they will lose and it will not be anyone's fault but theirs. The vehicle that the road was built for won:lol::lol:

Bycycle's should have brake lights,turn signals,headlights,Side mirrors,Insurance and do the speed limit just like everything else on the road:D I forgot to add STOP AT ALL STOP SIGNS and wait your turn

I am also a bike rider and as much as I hate delivery riders swirving through traffic, bikes racers do at least 20 mph and probably more like 30 mph and they have equal rights.

At least here in the United States they do.

I also drove professionally for over twenty years so I think I understand the view from both sides.

Maddog12

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 11:00

Cyclist on sidewalks is even more annoying. Cant think of how many times I have nearly been t-boned by bicycle while I was pulling up to a stop sign. This is really bad in college towns.

We cyclist always have to remember that, yes we have rights to the road too, but always have to be defensive and respectful. Motorist dont look for cyclists so make yourself visable.

AngryCorgi

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 11:13

Cyclist on sidewalks is even more annoying. Cant think of how many times I have nearly been t-boned by bicycle while I was pulling up to a stop sign. This is really bad in college towns.

...been a long time since I've seen that happen. Isn't that illegal?

We cyclist always have to remember that, yes we have rights to the road too, but always have to be defensive and respectful. Motorist dont look for cyclists so make yourself visable.

That goes both ways. Use of the roads carries the responsibility of looking out for everyone else on the road FIRST. That is why I want to smack anyone driving or cycling without using turn signals/hand signals when turning or changing lanes --- that is the only way anyone around you can know your intent and act in a manner to allow you the room to move along your desired course.

20droger

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 11:49

Cyclist on sidewalks is even more annoying.

...been a long time since I've seen that happen. Isn't that illegal?
Depends on the locale.

In Tucson, AZ, for example, the law clearly states that if a road has a marked bicycle lane, then a cyclist may NOT ride on the sidewalk. However, if a road does not have a marked bicycle lane, then a cyclist may ride on the sidewalk, but MUST yield to pedestrians.

However, what is the law is one thing; what people do is another. Yielding to pedestrians, for example, will happen when pigs fly supersonically.

gjl711

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 11:52

...We cyclist always have to remember that, yes we have rights to the road too, but always have to be defensive and respectful. Motorist dont look for cyclists so make yourself visable.
Been giving this a bit of though over the last few days and had a Heineken induced mini epiphany. I think that an animosity motorists have towards cyclists stems from the fact that cyclists are unpredictable. Some follow the traffic laws while on the road and behave as a car. Some don’t and are all over the place counting on the misguided notion that cyclists have the right of way as pedestrians do.
So, while driving, coming to a stop sign wanting to make a right turn and I pass a cyclist just before coming to a stop, I have some probability that the cyclist will blow through the stop sign and hit me or me hit them if I make that turn.

AngryCorgi

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 12:28

Yielding to pedestrians, for example, will happen when pigs fly supersonically.

:lol:

...because you know that pigs WILL be flying at subsonic speeds in the near future...

:D

AngryCorgi

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 12:31

...had a Heineken induced mini epiphany.

Hey, the best eureka moments are the ones derived from consumption of delicious beverages! ;)

20droger

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 12:47

On the other hand, as the cops often say, "Alcohol was involved."

gjl711

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 13:00

On the other hand, as the cops often say, "Alcohol was involved."
Thank goodness I have not been pulled over in my lawn chair yet. ;)

Rutha73

6th of June 2008 (Fri), 18:44

Thank goodness I have not been pulled over in my lawn chair yet. ;)

LOL! Try putting it in the street and then cracking a few open. Then report back and let us know what happened ;)

Nick Pro

7th of June 2008 (Sat), 06:09

I find this attitude of yours disturbing. You speak of a tragic road accident in terms of
winning and losing? You talk about bowling over a pack of cyclists as if it were a fun event, as evidenced of your smiley emoticons. I bet you had a kick out of the photo that the OP referred us to.

As an avid cyclist, I also find his attitude quite horrible. I have only been riding regularly for about a year now, and I can guarantee you that every ride atleast 3 or 4 people will scream something at me while they are driving by. Have you ever rode a bike further than 1 mile? 10 miles?

My father who used to race bikes still rides quite alot. Every time he goes out, I am in fear of his life. My dad and I were riding one day, and I was in the car because my pedal broke. We go to a fairly secluded small country road, and do a few laps. As I'm sitting there, I see this pontiac doing about 70 going over a hill, and right infront of me, tosses a bottle of Vodka out the window. I damn near cried right there.

20droger

7th of June 2008 (Sat), 08:51

Cheer up! When gas hits $15.00 a gallon, the Pontiac will be up on blocks, but the bike will still be going, and going, and going....

And it won't need no stinkin' batteries, either!

gkuenning

10th of June 2008 (Tue), 03:08

This race, like all races, was held on closed roads. The drunk driver had to violate the closure to get anywhere near the pack. Even more unbelievable than the accident is the way some of you have tried to blame the victims. For example:

Another time, I was hauling horses through these narrow mountain roads, only to round a corner to see three cyclists abreast and one with A BABY trailer in the center of the road!! I wish there were classes for cyclists about safety and common sense. People who don't haul LIVE FREIGHT don't always realize that you can NOT just slam on the breaks and stop on a dime.

OK, so let me get this straight. You were hauling live animals, which I think counts as fragile cargo. You were traveling at a speed that made it impossible for you to stop if there had been an obstruction in the road. You encountered such an obstruction, and you're angry at it for being there.

If it had been a jackknifed logging truck, you'd be dead.

I thought I would just give you guys a perspective that you may not have thought of.

Likewise.

The rule is simple: if you can't stop in the distance you can see ahead, you're driving out of control. If you're out of control, you're driving both stupidly and illegally.

Somehow, some people think cyclists are sinners because they travel relatively slowly. That would be, to be polite, incorrect.

namasste

10th of June 2008 (Tue), 09:02

I'll add an experience that I had just last night (although I've experienced this many times)...I like to think that I have better than average bike control which probably saved my can last night (I used to race CAT2 and now race DH mtb and bmx). That said, I commute by bike in a metro area and just last night was intentionally run off the road for no apparent reason. I was fortunate to be at a cross street where there was no traffic and I was able to hop a curb at 23 mph to avoid getting stacked. It's one thing to drive cluelessly but to intentionally attempt to harm someone simply because they are on a bike is a criminal act. Unfortunately I was too busy trying not to get crushed to get a plate # so I can only hope karma paid this clown a visit later. Later I thought about it and just couldn't figure out why some people are just so angry that they are willing to risk the life of another person (and possibly spend the rest of theirs in prison) simply because someone else was legally using a road that they too paid for as a taxpayer.

I guess I am just astounded by the selfishness and irresponsibility of some people. Same holds true of cyclists who ride stupidly. Maybe we just live in far too much of a "me" society for some to see how badly it influences their behavior.

AngryCorgi

10th of June 2008 (Tue), 09:28

I was able to hop a curb at 23 mph to avoid getting stacked.

Good grief! It's a good thing you had your senses about you at the time of the event. People who road rage on bikers should have their own special corner of hell.

Maybe we just live in far too much of a "me" society for some to see how badly it influences their behavior.

I think that really sums it up, more than anything else. Regardless of whether you ride, drive or walk, if you view the world as revolving around you, you become a burden to society.