Pedal vs. Metal

this would only happen in oregon, especially portland...too many drugs and too many trees to love. no one has anyway to let their frustrations out in that hippie state/city!

tstout@lakemac.net 7/29/08 9:32 a.m.
I'm a cyclist and it is very alarming that some many cyclists are running read light and not obeying the laws of the road. Why do we have laws for? The cyclist who run red light should be ticketed just as a car that runs a red light. It is very important that all cyclist wear a helmet it does not matter how old you are. Helmets down save some of the brain cells we have. Cyclist pay attention to what you are doing it is a lot cheaper then going to the hospital.

The real problem is that motorists are so used to having the road to themselves that they don't know what to do about the flux of cyclists. We all had a bike growing up and with that bike we could ride pretty much everywhere. Cyclists keep that mentality that the traffic law don't necessarly apply to them. They don't have to take a traffic safety test and therefore don't need to oblige to the laws. My suggestion is that maybe cyclists should take a similar test and receive a license to ride in the bike lane. It sounds silly but if it lowers injuries and death, maybe it would be worth it.

And I'm dying to know: Why don't police ever cite cyclists for breaking the law? They're promoting this complete lack of regard. That's just fantastic, Portland Police. Great work.

Why do cyclists feel they're above the law? They're contradicting themselves and don't even realize their own irony: They're pissed that drivers "act as if they don't exist", yet they're creating accidents by blowing through red lights and cycling as though they always have the right of way. It's not always the drivers' fault if they accidentally hit a cyclist because the cyclist failed to stop at a stop sign or red light. They must obey laws just like everyone else in order to avoid accidents and promote a peaceful society where we all follow the same rules. I don't understand why cyclists feel it's "too much work" to stop at red lights - would they rather risk getting hit by traffic? The same thing would happen to someone in their car if they plowed through a red light. I agree - it's a pain in the ass to have to stop at so many red lights. But: IT'S THE LAW!! Get over yoursleves. You're not better than anyone else. Let's all obey the laws.

I have observered both bike riders and vehicle traffic in Portland for about 13 years. I have noticed that when it comes to following the rules of the road that must vehicles follow the rules of the road. Little things like going the proper direction on the roadway and stopping for stop signs and driving on the correct part of the lane, I have found that most vehicle drivers follow these rules and when they do not they will be stopped by the police when the infraction is observed by the officer. However, I have also noticed that the bike riders do not follow the rules of the road. They will not use the bike lanes that are provided they will go the wrong way on the street, they will not stop for stop signs and they will not signal the direction they are going or when they are stopping or slowing down. When a bike rider is stopped for a traffic violation they become angry with the officer for stopping them. Most of the time they are not carring ID on them that is required by Oregon State law, they will give false information to the police officer because they "do not want the stupid ticket". Also the accidents between cars and bikes needs to be looked at also. Just because a bike is involved in an accident vith a vehicle does not always make it the vehicles fault. When a bike rider is hitting a vehicle in the side when the bike rider is behind the vehicle then it is the bike rider who is at fault not the vehicle driver, this is part of the rules of the road you do not pass a vehicle on the right when the vehicle is making a right turn. It is the same for the "Critical Mass" bike group that the last Friday of the month when they take over the roads and violate all of the laws and rules of the road, and get upset if they are given a ticket for violating the law. Vehicles and bikes share the roads and the bikes need to understand that vehicles have a place on the road to drive and bikes have a place on the road to ride. The big issue here is follow the laws and rules of the road.

What I see here in Colorado, is arrogant cyclists riding 2 and 3 abreast in the road, forcing traffic into oncoming lanes to get around them. They almost DARE you to hit them. Bicyclists need to pay for insurance and registration fees just like the rest of us that use the orads, and they need to follow the same rules of the road.

Riding a bicycle in the midst of motor traffic does benefit mankind in one very important way. It rids the gene pool of people ignorant enough and stupid enough and arrogant enough to do it. But it is a slow acting panacea.

Here in Colorado, bicyclists ride 2 and 3 abreast in the road, forcing cars to enter into oncoming traffic to get around them. They are the most uncourteous, arrogant group I've ever seen on the roads....they also need to be held responsible when they cause traffic accidents. They should also be made to pay for registering bikes on the road, and having insurance.

tstout@lakemac.net 7/29/08 9:29 a.m.
I'm a bicycle rider it does matter if you ride a bike or drive a car laws are put out for a reason. The bicycles who run red lights should be ticketed just like the cars. Cyclists need to wear bike helmets it does save some of the brain cells we have. I do pay attention out on the road when I'm driving my car to give the cyclists enough room.

Youngwarriors information should be required reading for all cyclists and law enforcement. 80% OF CYCLISTS AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION RAN THE RED LIGHT AS CAPTURED BY A TELEVISION STATION CREW. 80%!!!!!! It's simply not true that a few bad cyclists ruin it for the good ones. The good ones are in a very small minority.

I see the problem as this: The roads were designed for cars and cars only. I don't see how cars and bikes can work together on the same pavement, drivers see bikers as arrogant and reckless while cyclists see car drivers as aggressive or not paying enough attention. Bike lanes are better than nothing, but I think the better solution is creating entirely separate routes entirely. Maybe shut down a east-west corridor for bikes only? Salmon St?

My parents taught me to get out of the way when a car was coming. While a lot of things have changed, good old plain consideration should not. No one is above the law and many cyclist are blatantly oblivious to that law and extremely inconsiderate. Not one owns the road and everyone should obey the laws. In motorcycle class we were taught that safety is first and that you can't win over a car or truck. Safety should be first for everyone. You shouldn't expect others to watch out for you - you should watch out for yourself.

What a bunch of children.