Bikers on MacArthur Blvd. MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's call it what it is. This is about drivers who are pissed that they have to slow down. Everything else is window-dressing.

Look how many drivers blow the speed limit on that road. Who are you to throw the rule books at the cyclists? Oh the safety the safety you say. Right.

Even if that is true--and I'll admit, I absolutely get pissed off at having to drive 10 mph in a 25 zone because some weekend warrior is too cool for the bike path--so what? That's a perfectly natural and defensible reaction. How would cyclists feel if they had to ride behind pedestrians for 3 minutes at a time at a walking pace until it was safe to pass? To say nothing of the many near misses I've endured from cyclists as a pedestrian in a crosswalk? Get off your high horse. Speaking only for myself, I always give cyclists a wide berth, even if it is very frustrating, but it should be a two-way street.

You just hit on one of the reasons why cyclists ride on the road instead of the bike path along MacArthur, in Rock Creek, and other places. The paths are multi-use and if it's not pedestrians walking two, three, four abreast, it's someone with a dog on a retractable leash or a kid weaving around on a tricycle that cyclists often get caught behind until it's safe to pass. And yes, it can be a couple of minutes. For all the people who are anti-cyclist on MacArthur, where would you have people ride? The bike paths really are not conducive to riding for exercise -- if you don't believe me, go out and try to really ride -- so what other solutions are out there? People have already said Glen Echo killed bike lanes. Where do you want people to ride?

Pool together some of the $$ you spend on ridik gear and build some velodromes like they do in Europe. If you want American culture to support your sport, do it responsibly in a bike only environment.

Europeans cycle on their roads. They have very cyclist-friendly laws. This velodrome thing is in your head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there is a bike path, why do they need to be on the road. I am all for sharing the road where there is no lane or path for bikes. The fact that the path is not in good condition for riding shouldn't be an excuse. The roads are not in ultimate conditions and cars still need to use them. Also, that the path is being used by walkers and other bikers is not a good excuse either. Roads are full of cars and they are still used by cars.

Yes it is a good excuse. Pedestrian paths are riskier because you have kids who have no idea about safety, joggers with earbuds who can't hear any warnings, people stopping abruptly and turning around on the path with no thought that a bicycle might be coming their way.

Anyone with some common sense knows that the bigger risk is a bike-pedestrian collision.

Let's get right to it: you don't like the inconvenience of the cyclists.[u] Sure, there are some safety issues.but they are your red herring. Cyclist/Car collisions on MacArthur are as rare as hen's teeth. Stop the nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any idea how dangerous you make that road. I know it must be fun to dress up like Lance Armstrong and ride your bike in the road despite the fact that there is a bike path NEXT to the road. But do you ever stop to realize that, in order to avoid hitting you, cars routinely swerve into the other lane making a very, very unsafe situation for everyone. There are so many turns in the road that cars either have to swerve around you or drive 5 mph for a mile or two in order to safely get past you.
Honestly, when I'm in a car, I fear for your safety with all these cars backing up behind you and accelerating/swerving to avoid you. But, mostly, I fear that there will be a serious accident with cars swerving all over an already windy road.
Please, just use the bike path!!

You're a bitch. My husband is an avid cyclist on that road and drivers like you regularly endanger HIM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any idea how dangerous you make that road. I know it must be fun to dress up like Lance Armstrong and ride your bike in the road despite the fact that there is a bike path NEXT to the road. But do you ever stop to realize that, in order to avoid hitting you, cars routinely swerve into the other lane making a very, very unsafe situation for everyone. There are so many turns in the road that cars either have to swerve around you or drive 5 mph for a mile or two in order to safely get past you.
Honestly, when I'm in a car, I fear for your safety with all these cars backing up behind you and accelerating/swerving to avoid you. But, mostly, I fear that there will be a serious accident with cars swerving all over an already windy road.
Please, just use the bike path!!

You're a bitch. My husband is an avid cyclist on that road and drivers like you regularly endanger HIM.

No, sweetheart, you are. Just because you're husband is an avid cyclist does not mean that he should inconvenience and endanger everyone else on the road. I saw a cyclist on MacArthur this morning speed through a stop sign and almost caused a collision. The cars were stopped, he never did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's call it what it is. This is about drivers who are pissed that they have to slow down. Everything else is window-dressing.

Look how many drivers blow the speed limit on that road. Who are you to throw the rule books at the cyclists? Oh the safety the safety you say. Right.

Even if that is true--and I'll admit, I absolutely get pissed off at having to drive 10 mph in a 25 zone because some weekend warrior is too cool for the bike path--so what? That's a perfectly natural and defensible reaction. How would cyclists feel if they had to ride behind pedestrians for 3 minutes at a time at a walking pace until it was safe to pass? To say nothing of the many near misses I've endured from cyclists as a pedestrian in a crosswalk? Get off your high horse. Speaking only for myself, I always give cyclists a wide berth, even if it is very frustrating, but it should be a two-way street.

You just hit on one of the reasons why cyclists ride on the road instead of the bike path along MacArthur, in Rock Creek, and other places. The paths are multi-use and if it's not pedestrians walking two, three, four abreast, it's someone with a dog on a retractable leash or a kid weaving around on a tricycle that cyclists often get caught behind until it's safe to pass. And yes, it can be a couple of minutes. For all the people who are anti-cyclist on MacArthur, where would you have people ride? The bike paths really are not conducive to riding for exercise -- if you don't believe me, go out and try to really ride -- so what other solutions are out there? People have already said Glen Echo killed bike lanes. Where do you want people to ride?

Pool together some of the $$ you spend on ridik gear and build some velodromes like they do in Europe. If you want American culture to support your sport, do it responsibly in a bike only environment.

Europeans cycle on their roads. They have very cyclist-friendly laws. This velodrome thing is in your head.

Velodromes of France:http://globadom.com/six/velodromes/fran.html They are all over europe, silly.

[Anonymous]

No, sweetheart, you are. Just because you're husband is an avid cyclist does not mean that he should inconvenience and endanger everyone else on the road. I saw a cyclist on MacArthur this morning speed through a stop sign and almost caused a collision. The cars were stopped, he never did.

You don't care about the speeding through a stop sign, you don't believe that bikes should be allowed on the road. Bikes are here to stay. You will just have to adjust to that. I've driven on MacArthur Blvd numerous times and have NEVER had to drive behind a cyclist for 2 miles. Holy Hyperbole, crazy lady!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw a cyclist on MacArthur this morning speed through a stop sign and almost caused a collision. The cars were stopped, he never did.

Do you really want to trade anecdotes and statistics about whether cyclists or cars cause more danger / collisions / risk ??? We both know cars will lose that exchange.

If a cyclist breaks the law by running a stop sign, she should be ticketed. And so should the cars that run those same stop signs. But none of that means that cyclists don't have equal rights to use the roadways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No, sweetheart, you are. Just because you're husband is an avid cyclist does not mean that he should inconvenience and endanger everyone else on the road. I saw a cyclist on MacArthur this morning speed through a stop sign and almost caused a collision. The cars were stopped, he never did.

You don't care about the speeding through a stop sign, you don't believe that bikes should be allowed on the road. Bikes are here to stay. You will just have to adjust to that. I've driven on MacArthur Blvd numerous times and have NEVER had to drive behind a cyclist for 2 miles. Holy Hyperbole, crazy lady!

I never said cars should speed through a stop sign and I never said bikes should not be allowed on the road. Please take the time to read before you respond. I'm just saying that MacArthur is a dangerous road and having cyclists that hold up traffic and not follow the rules of the road should be ticketed and removed.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely get pissed off at having to drive 10 mph in a 25 zone because some weekend warrior is too cool for the bike path-

I don't think I misread you at all. You don't believe that bikes belong on the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a cyclist on MacArthur this morning speed through a stop sign and almost caused a collision. The cars were stopped, he never did.

Do you really want to trade anecdotes and statistics about whether cyclists or cars cause more danger / collisions / risk ??? We both know cars will lose that exchange.

If a cyclist breaks the law by running a stop sign, she should be ticketed. And so should the cars that run those same stop signs. But none of that means that cyclists don't have equal rights to use the roadways.

I bike...and I also drive. I would never bike on MacArthur because it's just too dangerous and I would not want to hold up cars. I think what people in this exchange are missing is common courtesy. Cars and bikes should watch out for each other. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I absolutely get pissed off at having to drive 10 mph in a 25 zone because some weekend warrior is too cool for the bike path-

I don't think I misread you at all. You don't believe that bikes belong on the road.

I didn't write that. It was another poster. So don't dare to tell me what I believe.

[Anonymous]

don't get so worked up pp - that's the poster I'm responding to. If you have a different opinion, please share (after you take your valium, of course)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:don't get so worked up pp - that's the poster I'm responding to. If you have a different opinion, please share (after you take your valium, of course)

Gee, thanks PP. Thanks for the invite to share on an anonymous message board. And valium is a little old fashioned, don't you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have a right to ride in the street. If they rode the path they would endanger pedestrians and the speed limit on the path is too low.

Bikers are terrifying on the bike paths, screaming "On your right," and then almost knock you over. I don't know the answer but the next time I'm out walking with my family and dog, and this happens, I'm going to scream at them. Bikers have no manners and I am fed up with them.

[ThatSmileyFaceGuy]

[snark] So then I guess we don't have to worry about building any more bike paths since the bikers won't use them [/snark]