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Can't stand 'em! Sorry but these inconsiderate idiots need to go or at least be licensed.

Here are my issues:

1. Many...MANY of them do NOT obey traffic laws. I see them constantly going thru red lights and stop signs or they do not signal when turning.

2. I see signs for drivers saying "Share the road" meaning share it with bikes. Well, how about if THEY share. I see them riding two and three abreast and carrying on conversations while they back traffic up for miles or worse, they ride in these packs of 25 or more so there is no way to pass them and they end of snarling traffic for miles behind them.

3. The Women bikers can stay, just make sure to wear the spandex!

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2. I see signs for drivers saying "Share the road" meaning share it with bikes. Well, how about if THEY share. I see them riding two and three abreast and carrying on conversations while they back traffic up for miles or worse, they ride in these packs of 25 or more so there is no way to pass them and they end of snarling traffic for miles behind them.

Well actually this is a completely legal action and done by bike riders to keep from being injured by careless drivers. One of the more dangerous things you can do in Charlotte is ride against the curb by your self as that is only inviting drivers to pass by you sometimes very closely.

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Can't stand 'em! Sorry but these inconsiderate idiots need to go or at least be licensed.

Here are my issues:

1. Many...MANY of them do NOT obey traffic laws. I see them constantly going thru red lights and stop signs or they do not signal when turning.

2. I see signs for drivers saying "Share the road" meaning share it with bikes. Well, how about if THEY share. I see them riding two and three abreast and carrying on conversations while they back traffic up for miles or worse, they ride in these packs of 25 or more so there is no way to pass them and they end of snarling traffic for miles behind them.

3. The Women bikers can stay, just make sure to wear the spandex!

1. Yes, because motorists never speed, run stop lights/signs, float between lanes, etc etc. I'm sure you've never done any of those things..... :whistling:

2. Cyclists are entitled to the entire lane. You'll just have to wait.

3. Wow, a sexist comment to finish your ignorant diatribe. Way to carry yourself with dignity and class.

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1. Yes, because motorists never speed, run stop lights/signs, float between lanes, etc etc. I'm sure you've never done any of those things.....
Ok, point taken HOWEVER, motorists are required to have license on them and on their car. How about the same for them?

2. Cyclists are entitled to the entire lane. You'll just have to wait.

Fine, just don't tell me to "share the road" if these idiots are not going to.

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I live in a cyclist friendly area for Charlotte and have never seen any egregious action from those riding bikes. The ones I have seen hug the side of the road and its not a big deal for me to give them a wide berth. There are bad motorists and cyclists of course but they seem to be in the minority in my opinion.

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"Fine, just don't tell me to "share the road" if these idiots are not going to."

Do you pull over on a two lane road everytime someone wants to go faster than you?

Also it is important to realize that a "speed limit" is just that, the limit. It is not the suggested speed for the road. Sharing the road is not a polite suggestion either, it is the law.

I have no car payment, and have spent a dollar in gas in four months. I am also in incredible shape, have better physical stamina that when i was 18, and have a stress free ride to and from work everyday. :yahoo:

Who is the bigger idiot? How much have YOU spent on your car this year? How much is gas going for now days?

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Ok, point taken HOWEVER, motorists are required to have license on them and on their car. How about the same for them?

Fine, just don't tell me to "share the road" if these idiots are not going to.

if these are the only "idiots" that YOU have to deal with in life, then you've got it made. i love seeing all the riders... most seem courteous and responsible and are excersizing leagally. i would suggest you try and stay on 4 lane roads and highways as you won't encounter such a gruelling situation (fade to violins).

VIVE Le PELOTON!

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As a former bike messenger, I think the road belongs to the cars. I'd much rather illegally take the sidewalk than ride the road any day. A bike is great for exercise, recreation and commuting, but I think a courteous rider should hug the curb or let a line of traffic pass. Jusy my $.02.

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-----

:blink:

Sometimes inflection gets lost on-line......but I have a bad feeling about that post.

I can't understand why any driver would care if there is a cyclist on the road? Are some driver's that unsure about their driving abilities that they can't pass when it's clear? I get frustrated when I see cyclist run red lights, but I've also seen a cop pull over a cyclist for this, so just like car driver's there are risk to breaking the law.

It seems that this thread has attracted an ultra-conservatitve crowd, but what's more conservatitve than a person excercising their rights to transport themseleves in any way they see fit. What seems socialist ("commie") to me is for someone to be told that people with bikes don't have the right to be on a public road....does a person have to buy a car to use a public road? isn't THAT social engineering?

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As a former bike messenger, I think the road belongs to the cars. I'd much rather illegally take the sidewalk than ride the road any day. A bike is great for exercise, recreation and commuting, but I think a courteous rider should hug the curb or let a line of traffic pass. Jusy my $.02.

Hugging the curb or riding the sidewalk is actually much more dangerous. I am not risking my safety so that someone else can get somewhere 20 seconds faster.

I will ask you as well: When you are driving and someone wants to go faster than you do you pull over?

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I will ask you as well: When you are driving and someone wants to go faster than you do you pull over?

I speed up :)

Seriously, I don't mind cyclists. I'm bothered by bad drivers in general (bike or motor vehicle). Patience goes a long way; and an extra 20 seconds never bothers me. When I worked downtown as a bike courier, I had no problem sharing the road. I also had no problem getting out of their way. If that 20 seconds is important to them, let them have it. It never bothered me getting out of the way.

For the record I believe that cyclists should be punished for breaking traffic laws. I would like to see the city better enforce traffic laws across the city. Oh how I would love to see speed cameras on every street. :)

As motorists, if you are tired of cyclists being in your way, ask the city for more bike lanes. Currently cyclists only get 2% of the total funding for roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes over the next 20 years under the TAP.

Everytime you see a someone riding a bike you should be happy. It means cheaper gas and cleaner air.

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Can't stand 'em! Sorry but these inconsiderate idiots need to go or at least be licensed.

Here are my issues:

1. Many...MANY of them do NOT obey traffic laws. I see them constantly going thru red lights and stop signs or they do not signal when turning.

I'm an avid cyclist myself and I find this to be true. Bothers the hell out of me when my fellow cyclists run red lights, even though it's not always out of impatience. Sometimes getting a jump on the cars is the only way to guarantee oneself some space on the other side of the intersection - cars often tend to crowd bicycles out there.

Regarding signaling, though. Can you say that you absolutley always signal your turns in a car? Answer if you like, but this is supposed to be a rhetorical question. I do think you'll understand me when I say that if you DO always signal, you're in the overwhelming minority.

I've found that some motorists don't understand that a left arm bent upwards means a right turn - so I signal right turns with my right arm. I make it a point to signal most times- except when I determine it's unsafe for me to remove a hand from my handlebars. Sorry, hope you understand, I don't want to end up squished under your tires after bumping a piece of gravel, not being able to recover, and taking a spill.

2. I see signs for drivers saying "Share the road" meaning share it with bikes. Well, how about if THEY share. I see them riding two and three abreast and carrying on conversations while they back traffic up for miles or worse, they ride in these packs of 25 or more so there is no way to pass them and they end of snarling traffic for miles behind them.
I do not believe that riding in packs or even two abreast is legal. I sometimes do this when I'm cycling with a friend, but I always get out of the way of cars.

What is legal, however, is for a cyclist to take up an entire lane whenever (s)he deems it the only safe way to proceed. I force cars to wait by riding in the center of the lane when going through construction zones, over blind camel humps, and around blind curves, especially where the lane is not wide enough for a car to pass me but still stay right of center. If a car decides to try to pass me around a blind curve, staying mostly right of center, and a dump truck that takes up the entire lane is coming in the opposite direction, guess what they're going to do when they see that dump truck? The self-preservation instinct kicks in, and they move all the way right, squishing me rather than getting hit by the dump truck. Good drivers do not attempt to pass in this situation so they aren't bothered by me momentarily taking up the entire lane. And by riding in the center of the lane, bad drivers are more likely to wait rather than to cross completely into the opposite lane when they can't see what's ahead.

This is just riding defensively, to the extent allowed by the law. I expect you to respect that. If you can't, you can walk straight to your nearest DMV office and surrender your drivers license. Heck, I'd be glad to drive you there and then back home, or pay your cab fare.

I honestly wouldn't have a problem with requiring licenses for cyclists - though the requirements should not be so strict as the requirements for motor vehicles. A written test, perhaps. If such a requirement and such a test existed I would gladly comply. But it doesn't. Deal with it.

3. The Women bikers can stay, just make sure to wear the spandex!
Ha ha. Funny. <_<
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To Glimmertwin, in North Carolina bicyclists must ride in the road and drivers are supposed to yield to people on bicycles also. :whistling: So get used to it my friend! I ride my bike around Charlotte and have to deal with people blowing me off the road to prove their point and yelling out the window telling me to get on the sidewalk even though it is my right and the law to ride on the road. :angry:

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I am in agreement in regards to riding on sidewalks. Every bicycle advocate I have heard in speeches or at seminars cites that there are more accidents with bikes using sidewalks than using roads. However, outside of heavily used sidewalks in urban areas, i find biking on the sidewalk much safer and enjoyable than on the street. Union County is a problem area...b/c it is a cyclist haven where people from Meck come to traverse the winding two lane rds. Combline narrow roads, curves and hills with bikers and giant suv's doing 60 mph and you have a recipe for disaster. I'll just stick to my mt. bike trails!

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I am in agreement in regards to riding on sidewalks. Every bicycle advocate I have heard in speeches or at seminars cites that there are more accidents with bikes using sidewalks than using roads. However, outside of heavily used sidewalks in urban areas, i find biking on the sidewalk much safer and enjoyable than on the street. Union County is a problem area...b/c it is a cyclist haven where people from Meck come to traverse the winding two lane rds. Combline narrow roads, curves and hills with bikers and giant suv's doing 60 mph and you have a recipe for disaster. I'll just stick to my mt. bike trails!

The major safety problem in riding on the sidewalk is that cars illegally pull through the sidewalk to get closer to the road they are turning on.

And yes, Union County does have some wonderful riding. Many of my 60-80 mile rides spend time there. :)

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I used bike everywhere in Charleston. I lived in Mt P for a few years and loved to bike to Sullivans Island/IOP. Its much flatter,less congested and less tiring in the Lowcountry :P I am too scared to cycle in Charlotte. I applaud and admire those that do. Many motorists disrespect the cyclists and treat them the same way they would an errant dog. A few months ago I witnessed a driver take out a cyclist going down East in front of City Tavern. He bounced right off the hood and landed back on the street. As a jogger that runs down East daily, the ped improvments for runners and bicyclists are great. I have had many close calls with people pulling out of all the businesses from Scott to Kings. Road improvements will not help if everyone involved is not more self aware and responsible.

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Speaking of that, I've noticed that pedestrians have taken to walking and running in the new bike lanes on East Blvd. This is extremely dangerous as they often do this not facing traffic and risk getting killed. When they put the bike lanes in my neighborhood, a 82 year old woman went for a walk with her dog, and instead of using the sidewalk, got in the bike lane traveling with the traffic and got creamed by a driver not paying attention. She never really recovered from all the broken bones.

Because of the danger, the city needs to put of signs advising pedestrians to stay out of the bike lanes. In addition, it is illegal in NC to walk in the road when there is a sidewalk.

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Speaking of that, I've noticed that pedestrians have taken to walking and running in the new bike lanes on East Blvd. This is extremely dangerous as they often do this not facing traffic and risk getting killed. When they put the bike lanes in my neighborhood, a 82 year old woman went for a walk with her dog, and instead of using the sidewalk, got in the bike lane traveling with the traffic and got creamed by a driver not paying attention. She never really recovered from all the broken bones.

Because of the danger, the city needs to put of signs advising pedestrians to stay out of the bike lanes. In addition, it is illegal in NC to walk in the road when there is a sidewalk.

So I finally get a bike lane and now have to dodge cars AND old ladies?!?!? :wacko:

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Well, I was running down the sidewalk along QRW a few weekends ago. I was very focused on my run and then out of blue I heard someone behind me whistle and yell "MOVE OVER" :shok: so I did. Then I heard laughing. I turned and a bunch spandexed bootyloopers zoomed by me down the road pointing at me and grinning. I thought it was funny too..after a second :lol:

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I wonder..if you folks were driving down Providence Road and two cars were driving next to each other, hogging both lanes and leaning out their windows talking to each other..going 10 mph...causing a major traffic back up...is THAT sharing the road or being courteous?

I know the Bike laws and they stink. If they are allowed on the road they should be required to pass a test, get a license AND license their bike. Is that too much to ask? For some of you environment wackos it is.

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If a bicyclist is impeding traffic in the left lane of a 4 lane road, then they are risking a ticket just as a car would be....the left lane is for passing only and to drive (or ride) considerably below the speed limit in it is a traffic violation.....I've never personally EVER seen a cyclist in the left lane that wasn't making a left hand turn.

As far as getting them licensed....sure why not, but do you really think that's going to make them peddle faster? Does my kid really need to wait until he's 16 until he can ride around in the neighborhood?

Are you a really important person that your life is being inconvenienced so much by about 0.1% of the population that special regulations should be enacted?

Come on, you have the right to drive your SUV 24 hours a day if you like, can't other people excercise their legal rights too?

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I'm all for their rights...but if we share the road, get them licensed. I think a provision could be made for "neighborhood" biking (such as kids) and road travel.

Also, for those of you saying that cars also break laws, how many cars do you see, in broad daylight at major intersections, stop for a red light, look both ways, then cruise right thru it? I would say slim to none.

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....Also, for those of you saying that cars also break laws, how many cars do you see, in broad daylight at major intersections, stop for a red light, look both ways, then cruise right thru it? I would say slim to none.

All of us have seen cars speed up and run lights all of the time which is a far more dangerous activity. The traffic courts and school are full of violators, and the red light cameras, caught 1000s/year in just 20 intersections.

If you are concerned about the danger on the streets you really ought to be concerned about this activity than the extremely small percentage of people who ride bikes on the roads here.

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