Pedal vs. Metal

KPTV in Portland did a survey of an intersection near a bicycle trail (Springwater Corridor). During their survey 80% of bicycle riders ran the stop sign at the intersection in spite of the fact that the traffic on the cross street (no stop sign for them) is mosty trucks.

I'm in DC and almost got hit by a bike the other day- I was turning right with a green right turn light when a biker came flying across the intersection in front of me and cut me off, flipping me off and stopping in the middle of my lane when he heard my tires squeal to a stop... he was the one running the lights and was mad at me! I watched him run two more lights and bring four lanes of traffic to a full stop at the next two intersections- it is madness!!

For the dummy that wished death on ChrisIL70, you may want to re read the comment. You don't get it. Everything said is true. I'm an american. I'm sad to see the way we're doing our own country. Look at what's happening with our elderly. Look what's happening to us. We've become a country of glutten addicts.

If I hear 'same road - same rules' again I may puke. The bikers only believe it to their advantage as they ride through redlight and stop signs and between cars.
They should be held accountable for their lawlessness.

NOTHING AGAINST BIKES BUT I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON EVERY ROAD. MANY ROADS DO NOT HAVE MINIMUM SITE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW HEAVY TRUCKS TO MEET AND REACT WHEN THEY FIND A BIKE RIDER BETWEEN THEM. HOWEVER I FIND THE BIKE RIDERS CONTINUE TO ACT AS IF HELL COULD FREEZE OVER BEFORE THEY WOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH DISASTOR WAITING TO HAPPEN. MOREEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE LAW IN EVERY STATE HAS PROVIDED FOR SUCH BIKERS, ONLY PRECIDENCE HAS WON OUT. IT WILL BE THE MOTORIST WHO PAYS WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS BEYOND HIS OR HER CONTROL.

The cyclists should be charged with citations for any and every traffic law that applies to motorists.
I have absolutely NO problem with people riding bikes. I encourage it. But they have to abide by the same traffic laws that everyone else does if they are going to be on public streets and highways.
Cyclists that want just as much legal rights to the roads have to abide by the exact same rules and laws.

It has nothing to do with bikes or cars. Parents used to teach children to be polite, to follow the rules, doesn't happen anymore - so people think whatever they want is right. If you are in my way, you are wrong and whatever I do to make things right, for me, is right. School teachers deal with this mentality daily

I recently spent the first two weeks of July in Portland. I drive and like my full size ruck.What I don't do while in city traffic is,read,play with the radio,comb my hair, put on makeup, or any other number of distracting activities while driving. I pay attention to my surroundings!! I did see a number of infractions from drivers,bicyclists and pedestrians. We all live in a society where we need to share, especially when it pertains to travel. As for the so called recent road rage, blame the media. A few incidents does not mean that we have road rage that is out of control. Learn to share people, pay attention to your surroundings and have a safe trip. FYI, I now live in a small city but did spend 20+ years driving in Southern California traffic and never had an accident. Be safe...

If I lived where it was possible to bike every place I went, I certainly would. However, I also would expect to obey all the laws and "rules of the road" that I would obey in my car. Only an idiot would assume that because they are on a bike, they have more rights and can take more liberties than those driving a car. I also think that drivers in cars need to be more responsible and respectful of walkers/runners/bikers. I do all three and can tell you that the majority of drivers don't hesitate to get as close as they can without hitting us. We have narrow shoulders so there's literally no where to go but drivers just want to push us off to the side. I get the feeling most of the time that they are sending us a silent message to "get off their road" It's everyone's road, it's everyone's right to be on that road. The problem is our society and all the self centered people. We could all be safe and happy if there was respect for others but sadly it's a thing of the past.

Basically, the people who complain in general about cyclists don???t seem to know that cyclists have as much of a legal right to use the road as they do. SOME cyclists break the law. SOME cyclists aren???t courteous. SOME cyclists are total idiots. SOME drivers of four wheelers also do all of the above. ALL cyclists help reduce traffic, pollution and parking problems. Not one 4 wheel driver helps lessen those problems. There are also more terrible 4 wheel drivers on the road, because there are more 4 wheel drivers. Not one 4 wheel driver has ever been killed by a dumb cyclist. If you really can???t do without your 4 wheel cage, ENCOURAGE others to become cyclists and your commute will be smoother and parking will be much easier to find.

Cyclists commonly disregard trafic laws, trafic lights, stop signs, and in general the rights of other be it pedestrian or vehicle. They prefer not to stop as it is "not thier style". In Denver, we even have a delivery service by cyclists which creates total havoc in out downtown area. Law enforcement must begin paying more attention to enforcing all trafic laws for cyclists, vehicles and pedestrians alike or there will continue to be conflicts, anger, damages, and potentially injuries/deaths. The SUV's will win the battle with a cyclist or pedestrian.

it seems that bikers are showing there pompous side. if they stay in there bike lanes and dont try to go in between cars should be okay. if there running red lights and holding up traffic they need to be ticketed like normal drivers. being a motorcycle rider. the fools on the pumped race bikes do all kind of crazy antics. i go the speed limit stay in the right lane and keep my eyes open. bikers should do the same and obey all laws.

I have always ridden a bicycle when I could. I promoted a tax or fee 30 years ago and still do. I think that a bicycle license fee and corresponding plates for the bicycle would help. It would avail the driver of a car a way to report violations (Much of the aggrevation caused by being unable to report someone on a bicycle) and give the road revenue account a boost to compensate for lower gas purchases (Many cyclists have only a bicycle and therefore add nothing to the coffers while yet enjoying the benefits provided by the money of others who are paying for good roads).

Yes, we can all agree that the "chosen" cyclists all have a right to the road. Yes, we all know that an automobile can cause severe injury to the rider. Recent incidents even in my area certainly displays a lack of education and "uncommon sense" ; 2 breats riders in a lane? Left turn rider blocking the left turn lane (no not sharinng the Right part of the left turn lane). If there is traffic whizing by a cyclist, who believes he has a right to that FULL LANE...someone is gonna get hurt or pissed off. So since there are more cars then bikes, error on personal safety, ride on the sidewalk WHEN POSSIBLE and stay very close to the curb side...DUH!

Cyclist in Manhattan Beach

I have a very simple observation, if bike riders want respect , then it would be best if they would observe the rules of the road and start to obey traffic laws. STOP does not apply only to motor vechicles and I am not psychic to know you are going to turn or not.