is is that bad out there?

[Righteousbabe]

It's that bad in Dallas. Dallas was voted one of the most cycling-unfriendly cities in the U.S. in a recent issue of Bicycling magazine.

[OakLeaf]

I have to say that everyone I know who doesn't ride - including a lot of motorcyclists and my own DH - basically has that attitude towards road cyclists. Some of them (mostly people I don't know, or maybe just not in my presence) are more aggressive and explicit about it than others, but they all seem to feel the same way.

[Biciclista]

I'd say in Seattle things are no worse maybe better. Most people are cautious, friendly and patient. But there's a small minority whose actions we remember
and talk about.
like the jerk who I delayed by 5 seconds (maybe) and had to peel out to impress us all how LATE he was now. (and then he pulled into a driveway 2 blocks up)

[sfa]

I find that most drivers in my area in Maryland are courteous and patient and definite rules followers--even if they don't necessarily like being stuck behind a cyclist, they aren't going to do anything stupid, illegal or dangerous to force the situation.

Sarah

[IFjane]

I echo the comments of those of you who say their roads are relatively safe and the traffic is patient and careful. I like to say I ride on some of the safest, most beautiful roads in the country here in Madison (VA).

However, I am leaving for CO soon to ride in the Triple Bypass. I sure hope things calm down by then!

[Crankin]

My experience is pretty much like Lisa's here in the NW burbs of Boston. Most drivers are OK, as there are so many cyclists around, they are used to us. However, you don't need to go too far to the east to find more aggressive or clueless drivers. Also, the beach areas are pretty bad for cyclists.
There have been some issues with cyclists in Carlisle (the town next to me), but I would say it is the police who are being aggressive. I know someone who got a $50.00 ticket, but he was riding like jerk.
Then there was the guy who told my husband to "Get a car," when he was riding home from work last week. He was taking the lane, on a very pot holed winding main road (Rt. 126 in Lincoln), going about 24 mph, which is not much slower than cars go.

[Cataboo]

I find that most drivers in my area in Maryland are courteous and patient and definite rules followers--even if they don't necessarily like being stuck behind a cyclist, they aren't going to do anything stupid, illegal or dangerous to force the situation.

Sarah

Most are like that and definitely usually out where I ride, I don't run into anything....

. However, there's always a few that are... The other day the bf & I were cycling up a steep hill, no shoulder and basically a tall hedge right on the side of the road (it was somewhere up on 97)... a car passed me, gave me plenty of room... then decided to swerve towards him as someone shouted DANGER WILL ROBINSON out the window. He was a tad bit startled.


I've had cars swerve onto the shoulder towards me shouting stuff when biking up 15... it's a highway, the cars are going 70 mph+ and theyre going to swerve at cyclists???

[snapdragen]

I think you should get a big pointy stick and attach it to your bike so it sticks out and scratches his car.

Karen

I was thinking more along the lines of purple or red spray paint.......

[sfa]

I was thinking more along the lines of purple or red spray paint.......

DH thinks it should be legal to hit bad drivers with paintball guns. It WOULD make it easier to identify the jerks on the road by the amount of paint on their cars.

Sarah

[Mr. Bloom]

Ask bacarver if it's bad.

Just 40 miles from our house, she's been clipped at least twice and hospitalized once from a dog attack...