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That is what you get for living in Austin *NM* random thoughts Send a noteboard - 29/06/2010 02:38:20 PM
Because, lemme tell ya, when I'm driving to and from work on roads where the speed limit is either 60 or 65 mph and having to watch carefully to avoid literally DOZENS of bicyclists, it annoys the hell out of me. Just the other morning I was coming home at around 430 AM and right as I reached the intersection of [60 mph Farm to Market road] and [65 mph State Hwy] I had to stop for a red light. Not so, apparently, for the two bicyclists who rode the length of the first road on the shoulder before slooowly rolling out into the intersection as they repeatedly glanced both ways for traffic approaching the green light (probably at a speed of 70 mph or more, downhill and coming out of a curve) and nonchalantly ran the light. In the dark, no less. It's right up there with the packs of bicyclists riding those same roads side by side on the shoulder: 1) It's illegal to drive on the shoulder and 2) when you insist on riding abreast it means I have to either get over a lane (when that's possible) or cruise my ton of 65 mph steel by you a lot more closely than either of us would like. So, to a point, I hear what MK and others are saying. A few years ago, last time I took defensive driving, the guy teaching the class spoke about driving a VERY high traffic state highway where the speed limit is about 60, only to have to evade bicyclists riding in a pack and taking up THE ENTIRE RIGHT LANE. Freakin' bike convoy doing half the posted speed limit on half the road: Please try not to get too upset with the person who inevitably kills several of you (surprising how often that happens in this bike crazy town. ) It's sad that down in Houston they actually have to put up SIGNS on the FREEWAYS saying bikes are prohibited by law, but I see why they do. Impeding the flow of traffic is such a bad idea they made it illegal, folks. ;)

Yet this was not your situation, not at all. You weren't one of those idiots riding in packs of a dozen down interstates and state highways. You were in a residential neighborhood; it's quite likely if you'd been traveling as fast as you could on your bike you would've been SPEEDING. Maybe since "it was late" and there was no one else around the guy DID think he had the "right" to speed a little, but a passing cop would probably have disagreed, and the fact darkness reduced visibility of things like bicyclists, children and animals is one reason why the limit is so low there. Maybe he thought you should've been on the sidewalk, but, as you say, the law also disagrees with him there: A bicycle is a vehicle, and it's required to travel on the street, not the sidewalk. I'm not going to lie and say I've never gotten annoyed by a bicylist on a downtown or residential street--but I recognize that that's MY problem, because they have not only the right but, as long as they're on a bike, the RESPONSIBILITY to be there.

So, yeah, in your situation I'd have been tempted to get his plate number and report him to the cops; sorry you had to put up with that. :(
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I got screamed at by a motorist while riding my bicycle today - 28/06/2010 05:44:45 AM 1743 Views
Ummm - 28/06/2010 06:01:19 AM 1365 Views
Let me guess. You live in an American suburb. *NM* - 28/06/2010 06:12:24 AM 581 Views
Sorry, but no. - 28/06/2010 06:17:20 AM 1175 Views
I think you missed the part... - 28/06/2010 06:22:35 AM 1115 Views
Now that I've calmed down a bit, I'm going to actually address your points. - 28/06/2010 12:16:10 PM 1491 Views
hey now! - 28/06/2010 01:18:16 PM 1014 Views
See apology below. *NM* - 29/06/2010 08:34:17 AM 598 Views
it's okay dude i was just giving you a hard time *NM* - 29/06/2010 09:24:56 AM 590 Views
I understand that what he said offended you - 28/06/2010 04:11:57 PM 1255 Views
My social capital at this site is pretty low, so I don't mind admitting that I agree with MK. - 28/06/2010 04:12:42 PM 1120 Views
This point: - 28/06/2010 06:37:32 PM 1232 Views
Not in the United States. - 28/06/2010 07:25:56 PM 1214 Views
Highways are, of course, a different matter. - 28/06/2010 07:32:50 PM 1170 Views
I know - 28/06/2010 07:34:04 PM 1274 Views
Re: I know - 28/06/2010 08:27:04 PM 1166 Views
Re: I know - 28/06/2010 08:38:14 PM 1267 Views
That makes me mad. - 28/06/2010 08:46:58 PM 1244 Views
Don't be mad - 28/06/2010 08:52:47 PM 1079 Views
Re: I know - 28/06/2010 09:15:22 PM 1232 Views
To your last question: Arlington County, VA - 30/06/2010 03:29:55 AM 1047 Views
It is illegal to drive on the shoulder. - 29/06/2010 09:43:40 AM 1244 Views
Maybe I should have said "modern roads." - 28/06/2010 08:20:55 PM 1223 Views
Perhaps. - 28/06/2010 08:36:15 PM 1274 Views
I think we just disagree on the necessity is all. - 28/06/2010 09:00:44 PM 1057 Views
Matters of degree, I suppose. - 28/06/2010 09:07:40 PM 1058 Views
Yes, because that cyclist is SUCH a hazard to you in your car. - 29/06/2010 01:03:05 AM 1197 Views
The central issue is people. - 29/06/2010 09:52:22 AM 1186 Views
you keep talking about cyclists on highways as if it applied to all roads. - 29/06/2010 02:37:31 PM 1245 Views
There are TWO equally important points there: - 30/06/2010 01:15:17 AM 1239 Views
Re: I think we just disagree on the necessity is all. - 02/07/2010 09:19:13 PM 1201 Views
Two words: Public Transportation - 30/06/2010 03:32:05 AM 1203 Views
three words: share the road - 30/06/2010 04:08:28 AM 1238 Views
Re: three words: share the road - 01/07/2010 08:03:54 AM 1285 Views
Re: Two words: Public Transportation - 30/06/2010 08:43:51 AM 1376 Views
Re: Two words: Public Transportation - 01/07/2010 08:05:37 AM 1213 Views
Re: Two words: Public Transportation - 01/07/2010 08:40:10 AM 1155 Views
How the hell is a 7,000 person town Urban? - 01/07/2010 08:52:45 AM 1228 Views
Re: How the hell is a 7,000 person town Urban? - 04/07/2010 12:30:43 AM 1168 Views
Re: How the hell is a 7,000 person town Urban? - 05/07/2010 09:03:03 AM 1249 Views
I'd say you have it exactly the wrong way round. - 01/07/2010 09:41:27 AM 1310 Views
You can't be serious. If you do think that's always (not just sometimes) a viable option, then... - 30/06/2010 09:20:03 AM 1138 Views
Really? - 01/07/2010 08:07:29 AM 972 Views
Have you heard of Britain? - 01/07/2010 08:38:11 AM 1196 Views
My city doesn't have ANY. not even shuttle buses. *NM* - 01/07/2010 06:00:22 AM 658 Views
My city doesn't have anything eather. *NM* - 04/07/2010 12:32:52 AM 754 Views
You do realize that... - 28/06/2010 08:38:39 PM 1196 Views
Bikers can be equally as rude, I agree. - 29/06/2010 03:00:18 AM 1207 Views
heh - 29/06/2010 04:45:46 AM 1178 Views
Despite your subject line, I'm glad to see that we agree with each other more than MK and I do. - 29/06/2010 10:13:29 AM 1287 Views
Get your head on straight, you silly cyclist - 01/07/2010 08:02:58 AM 1079 Views
Now now, there's no need to be rude. - 02/07/2010 12:04:16 AM 1283 Views
Re: Now now, there's no need to be rude. - 04/07/2010 05:53:01 PM 1065 Views
What part of "there are no alternatives" don't you understand? - 04/07/2010 09:10:23 PM 1134 Views
What part of my post did you not read...? - 05/07/2010 09:01:32 AM 1300 Views
I agree entirely. - 28/06/2010 05:27:36 PM 1317 Views
Really???? - 28/06/2010 04:59:12 PM 1197 Views
that's always really annoying - 28/06/2010 06:27:07 AM 1352 Views
Re: I got screamed at by a motorist while riding my bicycle today - 28/06/2010 03:25:22 PM 1014 Views
Are they supposed to use sidewalks anywhere? *NM* - 28/06/2010 04:58:50 PM 560 Views
I doubt it. *NM* - 28/06/2010 05:32:17 PM 506 Views
my daughter rides her bike on the sidewalk all the time - 28/06/2010 06:07:01 PM 1181 Views
Not sure, but - 28/06/2010 06:53:14 PM 1066 Views
That all depends on what kind of road, I guess. - 28/06/2010 07:09:52 PM 1199 Views
we actually have a lot of cyclists on one of our 50mph roads - 29/06/2010 01:08:31 AM 1095 Views
I would - 28/06/2010 07:25:22 PM 1084 Views
You've alluded to that a few times now. - 28/06/2010 07:42:05 PM 1058 Views
a lot of the time they do in smaller cities - 29/06/2010 01:05:38 AM 981 Views
Of course. Most bikers not in the mid-size to larger cities do. - 29/06/2010 03:06:03 AM 1044 Views
Re: Are they supposed to use sidewalks anywhere? - 02/07/2010 09:57:46 PM 1074 Views
That sucks - 28/06/2010 04:34:35 PM 1017 Views
You have every right to be on the road. The guy was an ass. - 28/06/2010 07:30:23 PM 1139 Views
I'm so glad I actually READ what you said before responding. - 29/06/2010 09:16:25 AM 1204 Views
?? I thought it was matter of COURSE that bikes weren't allowed on the highway - 29/06/2010 09:27:06 AM 1143 Views
Should be, but it's not. - 29/06/2010 09:59:35 AM 1146 Views
Question for you. - 29/06/2010 10:22:13 AM 990 Views
the law says they have to to ride in single file as close to curb as is practical - 29/06/2010 03:31:55 PM 1058 Views
and i haven't said that anywhere. - 29/06/2010 02:39:06 PM 1034 Views
That is what you get for living in Austin *NM* - 29/06/2010 02:38:20 PM 626 Views
about the driving on the shoulder thing - 29/06/2010 02:49:29 PM 1237 Views

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