I'm averaging one jerk per week

[Mr. Coffee]

As both a Ebike rider and a driver I see both sides of this, any ebikers that literally take up an entire car lane blocking auto traffic going less than the posted speed limit is out of line, cars are bigger than us, we can be seriously injured.
Riders with an entitled I own the road just like cars perspective, need to check their attitude.

Most state laws give cyclists the right to take the lane when necessary. Most state laws also allow a vehicle operator to "impede traffic" if necessary for safety.

So no, motorists don't have the "right" to kill or seriously injure you if you are in the way.

I agree, sort of, with not being a jerk. But on the other hand you get a lot more respect from overtaking vehicles if you are jinking unpredictably than if you cower on the shoulder cringing as monster trucks pass you. And please make sure you at least ruin their paint job when they run you down.

 

[Ebiker33]

What is our rights as Ebikers and what is practical and realistic in the real world are two very different things; that goes for all modes of transportation, even just walking.

I have been cut off by large semitrailers that didn't see me or just didn't care, when in my car, it was my right to stay in my lane and continue at the posted speed, but I might have died doing that.
And when I say cut off I mean I was right beside the middle of a double trailer, it was break hard and swerve or be crushed.
Every 4 wheel vehicle is bigger than us, we need to be watching out and not assume everybody sees us or cares.
I face the "I am bigger than you so watch out" attitude every day from drivers, I hate that, but we need to be aware of the mentality of some people.
And then there is the attitude of pedestrians that just stroll across busy roads at a super leisurely pace J-walking away from lights or any cross-walk, not even looking either way, just depending on cyclists and cars to just be fully aware and good natured and slow down or completely stop, they seem to forget they are just one inattentive driver away from serious injury or death.
Those doing this probably don't know over 7000 American pedestrians die each year in America.

 

[tomjasz]

our rights

There are no road "rights". Driving, or riding any vehicle on public roadways is a privilege. When users start viewing their privileges as "rights" we start down the road rage path.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

This video was from just a bit ago on my way to the grocery store. While the two vehicles in question passed me at an appropriate distance, 4' minimum, they went into oncoming traffic in excess of the speed limit to do so. This is what I see every day. They didn't need to pass me right then, the road was clear behind the car in front of them. Waiting 4 seconds they could have passed safely without interfering with the oncoming traffic. Of course, the second one was a BMW, they just don't know any better.

In regards to the person that asked about the motor noise, that wasn't motor noise that's the knobby tires on the RR2.

 

[Ebiker33]

There are no road "rights". Driving, or riding any vehicle on public roadways is a privilege. When users start viewing their privileges as "rights" we start down the road rage path.

Mr. Coffee used the term and I was replying in that context, it's a bit of a perspective, but I hear your point.

 

[tomjasz]

Mr. Coffee used the term and I was replying in that context, it's a bit of a perspective, but I hear your point.

Thanks. Road "rights" is a frequently bandied-about term. But I think Mr's Coffee's context was a bit different, regardless the point was well taken!

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Maybe because that is what the freaking law says. Washington State RCW 46.61.755:

Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.​

(1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780, except as provided in RCW 46.61.190, and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
(2) Every person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or crosswalk must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian by this chapter.

More at wabikes.org

 

[jabberwocky]

I think people are conflating two things:
-People have the right to use the public roadways as long as they are obeying all applicable laws. Its not a permission based system, aside from any license requirements.
-People don't have the right to drive free of all restrictions. You can lose the above right by not obeying the laws.

The reality is that the US system bends over backwards not to acknowledge the second one. Our society is so car-centric that authorities are loathe to suspend driving privileges except in the most egregious circumstances.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

This one happened last week, what do you guys think? A little too close all so that he could save 23 seconds in getting home?

 

[tomjasz]

What gave you the right to pass the bus with its light flashing?

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

What gave you the right to pass the bus with its light flashing?

Those were it's 4 ways, not it's kid lights. Kid lights are at the top, 4 ways are in the middle. He was backing into his own driveway and blocking traffic to do so. Kid lights are red, not yellow.

 

[SDGuitarMan]

For me it's even less than that as I get older.....

 

[Mulezen]

On my rural roads I get a few knuckleheads a week—but usually impatient to pass and then gunning it downhill with me going 3O mph And on a curve. That’s why I carry a first aid kit…not for me but for the poor slub they head. My closest calls come from deer (so close I could smell her) and little old ladies on Sunday morning late for church. I avoid Friday afternoons because of the drunks but 15 miles in town these two ladies didn’t

Survivor of 'random, drunken violence' that killed cyclist calls for change

Natalie Rainer and Carla "Jonah" Holland were cycling along Osborne Turnpike on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 13 when they were hit.

www.wtvr.com