[SDCBC] Pet peeve: cyclists have "no choice" but to be unsafe/crazy

[Danette Hoffert]

Tom,

Thank you for your reasonable input here.  I have and do "take the lane" on
Highway 101 (do NOT call it PCH).
I have done it solo, with a friend or two, and with a huge bike club.  The
hostility expressed toward me/us is unbelievable.  I/we have had water
thrown at us, a water bottle thrown, swearing, gestures, beeping horns,
ridden off the road (more on this one), and various angry statements, "get
in the bike lane," comes to mind (a big truck mind you).  It is so
frightening and unpleasant that I ride elsewhere whenever possible.

Recently, a group from my bike club (I was sick that week) was
systematically ridden one by one into the ditch by a plumber in a truck.
These were all experienced cyclists and were "taking the lane."  Police were
called and guess what?  They were told to stay in the bike lane and the
police man sided with the road-raging plumber.  In North County, a man
attacked a pack of riders and put someone in the hospital - pins in hip,
broken collar bone, etc.  This guy actually got in trouble as there were
numerous motorists who served as witnesses(non-bicycling witnesses).

*I believe better bike lanes such the as the 56 trail and no parking next to
bike lanes are still the safest bet for everyone involved.*  Taking the lane
creates hostility in this city.  Try the 101 when there is an accident on
the 5 and it is a two-lane temporary "highway" with LA drivers ready to kill
you.  Try taking the lane then.  Recently, that was the case.

There are classes (which I have taken) and there is reality.  Better/safer
biking routes is one of the solutions.  Is that not the purpose of the
upcoming meetings?  There are rights of bicyclists as stated in various
laws, but try explaining that to a hostile person in a metal cage who has
been sitting on the 5 South for 3 hours and now wants a shortcut.

Danette



On Feb 19, 2008 3:46 PM, Tom Lettington <tlettington at san.rr.com> wrote:

> Serge,
>
> One variable not discussed is the cyclists "seriousness" factor.  By
> this, I mean the difference between a rider on a bike giving the
> appearance of a "road worthy machine" pedaling steadily in a straight
> line at a speed of 12-18 MPH vs a beach cruiser toodling along at 5-8
> MPH. I'm not pre-judging how different the data would be, but it
> would be interesting to see.  When we teach road skills to a wide
> variation of cyclists, not all are going to look like you do when
> they "take the lane".  I suspect cyclists in the later category would
> incite more road rage in motorists who believe bicycles don't belong
> in the roadway and thus would likely result in more close brush
> "lesson teaching" behavior.  I also suspect the data sample size
> would need to be quite a bit larger to show this.
>
>     - Tom
>
> At 02:18 PM 2/19/2008, you wrote:
> >[WAS: specific information about Encinitas community meetings re:
> >Coast Highway]
> >
> >As long as we're sharing pet peeves, I am going to share mine here,
> >which is when bicyclists promote the false but widely held notion
> >that cyclists often have to be crazy and are often forced into
> >unsafe situations while trying to "survive" in traffic.
>
>
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-- 
Danette M. Hoffert's email
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