Drivers need to back off

[Hamilton Reef]

In sharing the road with bicyclists, drivers need to back off

I have a few words for drivers who are on the road with bicyclists. Quite simply: Move the heck over. Bicyclists have road rights too.

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/108099646891150.xml

[Joe_G]

I live on M29 that goes thru Fairhaven, Clay Township and Algonac. I give the cyclists all the room I can, Which is usually 10 feet or more (Best I can do). Amazingly, as I'm following other people, They actually swerve in the direction of the shoulder, cutting things pretty close. I believe M29 out this way is a federally funded, designated bike path. There's a lot of signs that say so anyway. When I first moved out here, my wife and I bought a tandem bicycle, so that we could enjoy the path. Let me just say, that a bike path that's on the shoulder of a state hi-way, is very nerve racking. If we had the common courtesy of an average car pilot, that would give us enough room to at least enjoy the ride in semi-solitude.
We would have a very cool 3000 acre ride around the St Johns Marsh. We did it once, we have it figured down to 5am to 8am only. Any other time of day is suicidal. So we have a nice tandem bike, which we got some positive comments on about how sweet it is, collecting dust in the garage for 4 years now. The traffiic only gets worse. I don't think there is any solution to the problem.
But...That's just my situation. I can only imagine the serenity of a decent, off road bike path thath's set in an outer
situation. The word "urban" has become more and more distorted to me as each and every day goes by. I specifically moved to an urban area in the year 2000. Now I'm lucky if I get out of the driveway in an agonizingly 15 long minutes. So. I got a boat, not trying to brag at all, and I find that the only true serenity that can be found in these so called "urban areas", are out on the water, as long as your home by 10 am :D :D :D

[The51stState]

I used to bike a couple hours every day, but I was almost hit a few times. One dumb lady hit me in the arm with her passenger side mirror. It is pretty scary at times. I can't believe the bone heads that don't give you any room, and then some get mad at you and flip you off.

[dongiese]

I'll Give them room when they put license plates on them. Ann Arbor is very high traffic area and the cyclists ride down the center of the street. funny I can still here my mother saying "Don't ride in the road".

Really I give them room just gets me they have to ride in road and there is a bike path or side walk.

[TrailFndr]

Really I give them room just gets me they have to ride in road and there is a bike path or side walk.
I would think that if there is a Bikepath, riding in the road itself should be illegal.

I give bikes as much room as I can, but att he same time...Bike riders MUST be aware of, and follow ALL traffic rules, or I simply will call 911 and report unsafe riding...

[Burksee]

I'm sorry but I'm gonna vent a little here......

Bicyclists that ride on the road are a menance and a saftey hazard to themselves and others around them! I drive M-59 thru Oakland county several days a week and there is a very nice paved bike path/shoulder all the way from Pontiac out past Hartland but there are regularly bike riders that think they have some god given right and ride on the road and endanger me, my family, themselves and others around them. I mean come on! M-59 is a major road, not some little traveled secondary road! I'm using M-59 as an example but I see it every where! And by the way, how come its an "option" and not "required" that cyclers ride on the bike path/paved shoulder when available? And why isnt it an option for me to drive my truck or car on them? In most cases you'll find that those paths have been paid for by "road taxes" that mostly come from "motorists", not "bicyclists"! I'm sorry but I dont agree with it! And another thing I'll give them dam bicyclists all the room they want once the owners of bicycles start paying fees such as for a registation, licence, insurance and some type of "gas tax" like motorists do that paid for the nicely paved streets and roads they get to ride on! In the mean time stay on the shoulder and out of my way! Personally I have nothing against bicycles or there owners,the responsible ones anyways. I own one! And I'm just smart enough to ride it where I'm not going cause any motorist any grief or be a hazard to myself or anyone else! *That my two cents on the subject. :mad:

[Chris_Davis]

I'm not aware of any bike path in the state. There are multi-use trails, but those are more dangerous than riding in the street. In the State of Michigan, a bicycle rider has to ride as far to the right as practicable. There are a lot of reasons not to ride the shoulder. This time of the year the shoulder is full of glass, sand/dirt, rock salt and various other obstacles.

Bicycles are less of a menace than people who commute in a motor vechicle by themselves. If a third of the people who drive to work would ride a bike there would be more room on the road, less accidents and less road repair.

Why should a bicyclist have to pay a gas tax? Gas taxes, motor vechicle taxes and fees are not paid to grant access to the roads, they're paid to maintain the system. A 170 pound man on a 20 pound bike with tires 20mm wide has very little effect on pavement. Besides, most people who ride also own and drive cars and trucks.

Licenses for bikes, sure I'll pay. Can I have a refund on my health insurance premiums? I shouldn't have to pay for people who spend their day in a car, eating McDonalds and getting obesse. A lot of us insure our bikes, it's smart when your paying four grand for a bike to make sure it's covered.

My track record, I commute to work everyday (minus about 3 weeks during the worst part of winter), go to the grocery store, go fishing and just have fun all on the bike. I've never been hit riding in the road, I've been hit by a car twice while riding on the sidewalk and I've hit 1 rollerblader and a group of runners on a multi-use trail. Sidewalks and trails are no place for a vehicle that travels at 20mph.

[Burksee]

Chris,
I figured there'd be someone pipe up about "my opinion" of bicycles on the roads. After reading through the beginning of your post I was getting the opinion that you were one of the "responsible ones" but as I read on I find your comments just as absurd as you feel about mine.

I mentioned "bike paths" as the nicely paved shoulders that parallel the roads you drive a car on. You don’t want to ride on them because they’re a little dirty? Call and complain to the city/county/state about it and be sure to mention about all the money you bicyclers pay for the maintenance and upkeep of the roads! LOL!

You mention wanting a rebate on your health insurance? People like you put more people in danger of being killed that all the fast food places in the world! Your quote: "Can I have a refund on my health insurance premiums? I shouldn't have to pay for people who spend their day in a car, eating McDonalds and getting obese." Wow! That’s just being thoughtlessly rude! And your comment: "A lot of us insure our bikes, it's smart when you’re paying four grand for a bike to make sure it's covered." LOL! $4,000 for a bicycle! OK, I'm getting the picture now; the spoiled rich brats want to be catered to at the expense of the poor working class. Have your driver take you in the Beamer dude!

And what is this all about? "Why should a bicyclist have to pay a gas tax? Gas taxes, motor vehicle taxes and fees are not paid to grant access to the roads, they're paid to maintain the system. A 170 pound man on a 20 pound bike with tires 20mm wide has very little effect on pavement." True a bicycle puts very little wear and tear on out roads, but gas and motor vehicle taxes were what paid for the building and maintaining of these said roads, How much money goes into any roads being built and maintained for by taxes or monies coming from the use or sale of a bicycle? Thinks again!

Another one of your quotes worth mentioning: "I've been hit by a car twice while riding on the sidewalk." OK, with out further explanation I'll leave that one alone. You are correct in your comment about "Sidewalks and trails are no place for a vehicle that travels at 20 mph." What's the matter the walkers to slow and getting in your way? Now, apply that terminology to why motorists going 45+ mph don’t want bicycles on the road! Once again I must say, I have nothing against bicycles. Like horses, quads and cross county skiers there’s a place for them and it isn’t on roads used by automobiles! I was hoping for a worthier adversary to debate this subject, guess I'll have to wait! ;)

[Chris_Davis]

Chris,
I mentioned "bike paths" as the nicely paved shoulders that parallel the roads you drive a car on. You don’t want to ride on them because they’re a little dirty? Call and complain to the city/county/state about it and be sure to mention about all the money you bicyclers pay for the maintenance and upkeep of the roads! LOL!

I think you're thinking bike lane, while I'm thinking multi-use trails. Most people consider multi-use trails (i.e. Lansing river trail) bike paths. Bike paths are specific (usually) paved trails seperated from motorized traffic and pedestrians. I'm not aware of any in Michigan, I've done some voluntary work with Michigan State to develop non-motorized routes through campus. The paths will be divided, sperating bikes and pedestrians allowing for a safe and faster mode of trasnportation around campus.


You mention wanting a rebate on your health insurance? People like you put more people in danger of being killed that all the fast food places in the world! Your quote: "Can I have a refund on my health insurance premiums? I shouldn't have to pay for people who spend their day in a car, eating McDonalds and getting obese." Wow! That’s just being thoughtlessly rude!


I don't see how a bicycle can endanger anyone except the rider, while on the road. Riding a bike is a positive way too combat obesity, one of America's biggest problems. Plus, it makes traffic managment and parking in bigger cities easier.


The obesity quote is not any more rude to me, than someone suggesting bicycles not being able to use the road. Our health insurance costs rise everyear, largely because of our weight, lack of physical activity and improper diets. A pay more in health insurance so others can spend their day in the car, they pay more in transportation costs to ensure I have a safe place to ride a bike.


And your comment: "A lot of us insure our bikes, it's smart when you’re paying four grand for a bike to make sure it's covered." LOL! $4,000 for a bicycle! OK, I'm getting the picture now; the spoiled rich brats want to be catered to at the expense of the poor working class. Have your driver take you in the Beamer dude!

Hardly a spoiled brat, I had to join the Armed Forces to get enough education to land a state job. I scrimp in other areas to afford nice bikes. If it wasn't bikes, I'd probably have a decent fishing boat, or a car for that matter.


And what is this all about? "Why should a bicyclist have to pay a gas tax? Gas taxes, motor vehicle taxes and fees are not paid to grant access to the roads, they're paid to maintain the system. A 170 pound man on a 20 pound bike with tires 20mm wide has very little effect on pavement." True a bicycle puts very little wear and tear on out roads, but gas and motor vehicle taxes were what paid for the building and maintaining of these said roads, How much money goes into any roads being built and maintained for by taxes or monies coming from the use or sale of a bicycle? Thinks again!


I realize most money for road construction and repair comes from user fees, once again, fees that most cyclists pay anyway. Think of cyclists not paying as a tax credit. It's an incentive to get more people to ride instead of drive.


Another one of your quotes worth mentioning: "I've been hit by a car twice while riding on the sidewalk." OK, with out further explanation I'll leave that one alone.

Crossing streets while on sidewalks is dangerous. Most drivers never stop at the white line, they just pull up to the intersection.


You are correct in your comment about "Sidewalks and trails are no place for a vehicle that travels at 20 mph." What's the matter the walkers to slow and getting in your way? Now, apply that terminology to why motorists going 45+ mph don’t want bicycles on the road!

It's not about walkers getting inthe way, sidewalks weren't intended for bicycles. Even traveling at a slow speed on a bicycle, someone coming out of a business isn't expecting a bike riding at 7 or 8 miles an hour to be there. I expect Michigan to catch up with most of the Nation on sidewalk legislation. Most places cyclists over 16 aren't allowed to ride on the sidewalk.


Once again I must say, I have nothing against bicycles. Like horses, quads and cross county skiers there’s a place for them and it isn’t on roads used by automobiles! I was hoping for a worthier adversary to debate this subject, guess I'll have to wait! ;)

I can see how some would be concerned with cyclists on the road. There are a certain amount of jerks on the road, wether in a car or on a bike. People have an easier time remembering when they had a problem with a biker because it happens far less than when they have a problem with another driver.

The League of Michigan Wheelmen (cyclists) were the first group to ever lobby for "good" roads in Michigan.

[Burksee]

Chris, I apologize, I can see I was definitely wrong in my assumption about your background.

About the $4,000 bike though, to be honest most guys on this site would have spent the money on a boat! ;) By looking at your last post I can also see that you’re very computer literate, got me beat! Nice presentation and layout!

You are correct, I did mean "bike lane", wrong choice of words on my part. As far as "endangerment", have you ever watched drivers in front of you passing a biker? Some don’t get over, some will "lock'em up" right behind the biker and some don’t look at on coming traffic before they veer over into the other lane to pass a biker! Its down right scary! I also see bikers becoming more the "victim" as "road rage" becomes more of an issue.

I'm not saying I'm changing my opinion or thoughts about this subject but I would like to thank you for your input and opinions, it’s definitely given me another view of the situation! :)

[Beave]

This is one of those debates that polarizes people. Personally, I've about been to the point of laying on my horn and running a few bikes off the road at times.

I live in an area that gets 1000's of people on bikes on a weekend day in the summer. There's some big bike race or something through the area so for months leading up to it you'll have people riding the course. The "course" is just a bunch of country 2-lane roads with 55mph speed limits. Now imagine a constant flow of bikes down the road all day. Literally 1000's of them.

Most of the bikers don't stop for stop signs, and quite a few have been hit or have run right into the side of a vehicle because of it. They don't signal before they turn. They like to ride in groups of 4 or more across a lane and refuse to get over.

I'll start treating bikes just like cars when they start paying for a license and start following traffic laws. When you get them on both sides of the road they'll back traffic up so badly that you can't pass because traffic going both ways is bunched up behind bikes. So enjoy letting your car idle along and hope you didn't have to be anywhere soon because even though you're 2 miles from where you're going, you won't get there for 10 minutes.

[WAUB-MUKWA]

Gas goes to $3 a gallon, like it will soon and all you non-believer's will be wishing you had a bike. Bikes have just as much right to be on the side of the road as the old men and old ladies that walk for excersise. You honk me off the road in your car and i'll call your bluff right back at you and get in your impatient face. I've rode 1,000 of miles and it's the arrogent people like half here that need to chill out and make way. Just like anything else there are the bone head's everywhere.

In some towns, cities it is illegal to ride on the sidewalks. I had one punk kid blow his horn at me for riding along the right side of a 4 lane mall entrance. I sped up and got right in his face and asked him if he had a problem with me riding my bike LEGALLY on the side of the road? He just stammered something about you're supposed to ride on the sidewalk. I corrected him and said it was ILLEGAL in this town to ride on the sidewalk. I'll confront you and prove you're wrong. His puppy dog look on his face as he walked to go to work at the radio shack made me smile. I had one other farm boy drive me off the side of the road on a country road. Of course he got the finger and when he slammed on his brakes and pulled over I sped up to call his stupid bluff and he drove off like the wuss he was.

Yea, yea, i've seen it all. The punks who pull up beside you and lock up the emergency brake and speed off laughing as you fill your shorts.

Move over, make way and think if that was you LEGALLY riding on the side of the road how you would feel is some dork almost killed you on your bike.

[trout]

Early today, a biker was pedaling down M-25 here and ran into a parked
U-haul.
He rode daily as I was told.
He died at the scene.
I'm sure the Times Herald (Port Huron) will have more on the story as the Facts come in.
Regardless of what happened, any activity on the highways can be very dangerous.
No place for games or a lapse in safety.