Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm just wondering what is the thought process in choosing to bike and hoping that nobody in a car or truck crashes into me but I'm going to do so anyway.

What's the thought process in choosing to drive and hoping that nobody in a car or truck crashes into you?

Or in choosing to walk?

I'm assuming that you do both of those things - even if the walking is limited to the parking lot, from your car to your destination.

Well when I drive the cars and trucks around me are large and visible and usually (of course not always) stop at lights and signs. I've never had a car come up behind me on the sidewalk to make a right turn while I'm trying to do the same.

When I walk I walk mostly on the sidewalk. If I have to cross the street I look both ways and use the crosswalk (which more cars stop for then bikers do). I wear visible clothing at night and avoid walking on 270.

What I don't do is complain about not being able to skateboard on the beltway.

75% of bikers I encounter on the road seem to have a death wish. I just don't want to be involved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm just wondering what is the thought process in choosing to bike and hoping that nobody in a car or truck crashes into me but I'm going to do so anyway.

What's the thought process in choosing to drive and hoping that nobody in a car or truck crashes into you?

Or in choosing to walk?

I'm assuming that you do both of those things - even if the walking is limited to the parking lot, from your car to your destination.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, me too!

I actually think they should be banned on all major roads such as Connecticut Ave, Constitution Ave, etc. They slow down traffic so much that I don't think it's worth it.

Agreed on the condition they build us a protected bike line.

Anonymous wrote:Yup, me too!

I actually think they should be banned on all major roads such as Connecticut Ave, Constitution Ave, etc. They slow down traffic so much that I don't think it's worth it.

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm just wondering what is the thought process in choosing to bike and hoping that nobody in a car or truck crashes into me but I'm going to do so anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that is an interesting point and tells me a lot about how some bikers think. The cars in the road that are able to maintain the speed limit driving on a road designed for car traffic are the impediments not the cyclist who cannot maintain the speed limit, cannot stop at stop signs or red lights, cannot brake quickly if need be and lastly, cannot use the bike path because it slows them down. That's some amazing mental gymnastics there. Look, I agree that most bikers are probably in better physical shape then most drivers but a lot seem to be mentally confused due to spandex off gassing.

OK, so you've got two major misconceptions there.

1. That the speed limit is something road users are supposed to maintain. It's not. It's the MAXIMUM legal speed, UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS.

2. That the road is designed for car traffic (i.e., road users in cars). Officially, it's designed for all road users. In practice, unfortunately, it is designed to favor some more road users than others, but that's something that needs to change. I'm not any more important when I'm going from Point A to Point B in a car than when I'm going from Point A to Point B on a bike, and neither are you.

Then there's also the question of why a road through a national park is mainly operated as a commuting artery for people in cars, but we don't need to talk about that.

But seriously, try getting on a bike some time. It might improve your mood.

Anonymous wrote:Now that is an interesting point and tells me a lot about how some bikers think. The cars in the road that are able to maintain the speed limit driving on a road designed for car traffic are the impediments not the cyclist who cannot maintain the speed limit, cannot stop at stop signs or red lights, cannot brake quickly if need be and lastly, cannot use the bike path because it slows them down. That's some amazing mental gymnastics there. Look, I agree that most bikers are probably in better physical shape then most drivers but a lot seem to be mentally confused due to spandex off gassing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Total BS. I drive on Beach Drive and Rock Creek Parkway daily and there are multiple douchebags in their idiotic outfits who think they are just too special for the perfectly good bike path right next to it. I bike a lot as well and when I have to be on the road, and there are 10 cars respectfully trailing along behind me, I move to the side and let them pass. Why is this so difficult?

Bikers who commute wear their outfits because it helps with comfort, not style. ( for the most part) I tried wearing regular pants and after a long ride it physically chafed and hurt my inner thighs like you wouldn't believe. Bikes are allowed on those roads and you will be better off if you just relax and leave earlier. Less stress.

Also, if you wear regular clothes and a driver hits you, then the police put "wearing dark clothing" in the crash report. Drivers already somehow manage to not see me when I'm wearing day-glo colors in the middle of the day right in front of them.

Maybe you should reconsider your decision to bike if it it is so unsafe on the roads with all those cars and trucks breathing exhaust fumes and barely paying attention to the road. You already know what the crash report would state.

Well, that's a familiar conversation.

-Why do people on bikes do this thing that annoys me when I'm driving?
-Because it's safer.
-If it's so dangerous, they shouldn't be on bikes in the first place!

The people getting in your way, when you're driving from Point A to Point B, are not people on bikes. It's other people in cars. Focus on that. Also, start supporting efforts for more protected bike lanes, which help everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m betting that if you just stopped passing cars on the right side which are slowing down to make a right turn, quit pedaling through red lights, and stopped running stop signs, that you suddenly would discover you are a LOT more visible to drivers.

Regardless of fashion.

I don't do any of that when I'm on a bike, and yet drivers regularly don't see me (including the high percentage of drivers who think that the red octagonal sign says "yield").

In contrast, I always see bicyclists when I'm driving, regardless of what the bicyclists are doing.

Odd, huh?

Anonymous wrote:

I’m betting that if you just stopped passing cars on the right side which are slowing down to make a right turn, quit pedaling through red lights, and stopped running stop signs, that you suddenly would discover you are a LOT more visible to drivers.

Regardless of fashion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Also, if you wear regular clothes and a driver hits you, then the police put "wearing dark clothing" in the crash report. Drivers already somehow manage to not see me when I'm wearing day-glo colors in the middle of the day right in front of them.

Maybe you should reconsider your decision to bike if it it is so unsafe on the roads with all those cars and trucks breathing exhaust fumes and barely paying attention to the road. You already know what the crash report would state.