"cars only" neighborhood?

[DDBB]

Finally have decent riding weather here in N Michigan (sort of) and we've been exploring local roads close to home. There is a development close to ours that has some very high priced houses all with water views. Doing a loop from our house around this development is just a 7 mile ride but there's very little traffic and a lot to look at. I was riding the route yesterday when a guy coming at me in an SUV stopped me and asked "are you lost?" His tone was not friendly at all. I told him I wasn't lost, just out for a ride. He then asked if I lived in the development and I said "nope" he shook his head and started muttering something so I just started pedaling away. I got the distinct feeling I was not welcome in "his" development on a bicycle. I'm sure if I had been driving my wife's BMW I would have got a smile and a wave instead of the rude questioning. Sadly in this country it seems a lot of places don't welcome bicyclists, drive your gas guzzler all you want but ride by expensive houses on a bike? you are not to be trusted.. sad.

 

[rich c]

Lots of people don't like cyclists. From the time they were invented, right up to present time. I get yelled at, mocked for having panniers ("hey mister, nice bags!" followed by laughing), and people that race around me in their cars. It's just the way people are.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

To my knowledge, most developments start out as private property, but it's generally desirable to put in roads to serve the community and deed the roads to the local government so that, once they're built, their perpetual maintenance is the taxpayers' responsibility. It would be possible, I suppose, for a developer to retain ownership of the roads and therefore be able to dictate who could use them, but road maintenance isn't cheap and there's not really anyway to ensure that the developer will remain responsible, and solvent, so, pretty much by law and tradition, roads are public.

TT

 

[DDBB]

The roads in this development are public roads maintained by the county. This incident is a case of a homeowner thinking he can dictate who rides around his development. I certainly don't look like a thief and AFAIK there has been no crime wave lately here. We also ride prudently, wave and greet anyone we see. It's just sad to see the lack of acceptance of a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transportation whether for recreation or commuting. I wonder how long it will take for the USA to become more bike friendly (if ever)

 

[TForan]

Just another jackass. They are everywhere and to be ignored.

 

[Ian Moone]

Finally have decent riding weather here in N Michigan (sort of) and we've been exploring local roads close to home. There is a development close to ours that has some very high priced houses all with water views. Doing a loop from our house around this development is just a 7 mile ride but there's very little traffic and a lot to look at. I was riding the route yesterday when a guy coming at me in an SUV stopped me and asked "are you lost?" His tone was not friendly at all. I told him I wasn't lost, just out for a ride. He then asked if I lived in the development and I said "nope" he shook his head and started muttering something so I just started pedaling away. I got the distinct feeling I was not welcome in "his" development on a bicycle. I'm sure if I had been driving my wife's BMW I would have got a smile and a wave instead of the rude questioning. Sadly in this country it seems a lot of places don't welcome bicyclists, drive your gas guzzler all you want but ride by expensive houses on a bike? you are not to be trusted.. sad.

I would have Smiled and Waved ... One finger ! ??

 

[AHicks]

Another vote to ignore him. He's a victim of a northern Mi winter - been cooped up too long.

 

[keithd]

Wow, I live in a development that is private that is we still maintain the roads until we can get the town to vote taking them over. It is a quiet neighborhood with winding looping roads and beautiful views. We have people that drive up to the entrance, park their vehicle just to walk the development. Some others ride their bicycles from the bottom of the hill, to ride the loops of our development. I sit on my porch wave and talk to these people coming by and think to myself how lucky am I to live in a place that so many people come to enjoy.

 

[pnop]

Why do you care?

 

[Deleted member 4210]

Finally have decent riding weather here in N Michigan (sort of) and we've been exploring local roads close to home. There is a development close to ours that has some very high priced houses all with water views. Doing a loop from our house around this development is just a 7 mile ride but there's very little traffic and a lot to look at. I was riding the route yesterday when a guy coming at me in an SUV stopped me and asked "are you lost?" His tone was not friendly at all. I told him I wasn't lost, just out for a ride. He then asked if I lived in the development and I said "nope" he shook his head and started muttering something so I just started pedaling away. I got the distinct feeling I was not welcome in "his" development on a bicycle. I'm sure if I had been driving my wife's BMW I would have got a smile and a wave instead of the rude questioning. Sadly in this country it seems a lot of places don't welcome bicyclists, drive your gas guzzler all you want but ride by expensive houses on a bike? you are not to be trusted.. sad.

At least he only asked a question. In other places, they just shoot. (No questions asked)

 

[Dionigi]

Finally have decent riding weather here in N Michigan (sort of) and we've been exploring local roads close to home. There is a development close to ours that has some very high priced houses all with water views. Doing a loop from our house around this development is just a 7 mile ride but there's very little traffic and a lot to look at. I was riding the route yesterday when a guy coming at me in an SUV stopped me and asked "are you lost?" His tone was not friendly at all. I told him I wasn't lost, just out for a ride. He then asked if I lived in the development and I said "nope" he shook his head and started muttering something so I just started pedaling away. I got the distinct feeling I was not welcome in "his" development on a bicycle. I'm sure if I had been driving my wife's BMW I would have got a smile and a wave instead of the rude questioning. Sadly in this country it seems a lot of places don't welcome bicyclists, drive your gas guzzler all you want but ride by expensive houses on a bike? you are not to be trusted.. sad.

It’s a much bigger socioeconomic issue.