Cycling and Hit and Run Drivers

[tzvia]

There is a lack of tolerance for cyclists with some people. Or maybe it is a lack of tolerance for everyone who is 'in their way' as they dash (probably late and unable to properly handle simple things like getting up on time). As I leave the house on my morning commute, the first two streets are in an otherwise quiet neighborhood of single family homes and a public and a private school. 6:15 am and very few people or cars. Well, there is one person who either lives around here or takes the street because it is empty and he/she is in a real hurry every time they go by in their white Scion. I have seen them speed through a stop- on the left around a car that has stopped at the sign. He did it to me as I was making a left; just blasted around me on the left, turning into the right side of the intersecting street. How much time is that bozo saving here? 5 seconds? But he risks his life and mine with these antics in his little tiraid through the neighborhood. When I see him I stay far to the right as I can. This is the mindset that gets cyclists killed. The world needs to get out of the way for them.

On the other side, my neighborhood gets it daily visits from several cycling clubs, the fast 'A' riders in full kit that are attracted to the twisty streets in the Santa Monica mtns. That same left turn that Scion-bozo zoomed around me as I took off from the full stop, these 'entitled' cyclists just blast through themselves. You see, they don't have to stop, that sign is for cars and it makes them waste the energy they picked up going downhill down my street. The next two stops they just blast through; I mean, really; stop at the sign? Yep, great ambassadors for the sport they are as drivers who had the right of way now have to jam the brakes as they are forced to wait again for 20 or so brightly colored IMO stuck-up cyclists.

So you see, we don't have a 100% iron clad 'we are so innocent and are just being targeted and nobody cares' argument when our own often ignores the rules of the road and just assumes that the motorists and pedestrians will just let them through because they're wanna be pros you know.

Once a motorists rolled down their window and comment that they were surprised that I stopped at a light because 'no cyclists stop at that light' (that was in Santa Barbara).

Now I am not in any way excusing the hit and run driver from that accident in the post above, just saying that some of us cyclists are fanning the flames of the increasingly more irritated drivers who have to contend with hour long 20 mile commutes, only to have to make way for cyclists who can't even stop at a stop sign. As a group, we have to be responsible and not tolerate cyclists like those who, in an hour or so, will be blasting down my street and making that left turn without stopping, helping to create the next intolerant hit-and-run driver.

[zoom-zoom]

So you see, we don't have a 100% iron clad 'we are so innocent and are just being targeted and nobody cares' argument when our own often ignores the rules of the road and just assumes that the motorists and pedestrians will just let them through because they're wanna be pros you know.

Once a motorists rolled down their window and comment that they were surprised that I stopped at a light because 'no cyclists stop at that light' (that was in Santa Barbara).

Now I am not in any way excusing the hit and run driver from that accident in the post above, just saying that some of us cyclists are fanning the flames of the increasingly more irritated drivers who have to contend with hour long 20 mile commutes, only to have to make way for cyclists who can't even stop at a stop sign. As a group, we have to be responsible and not tolerate cyclists like those who, in an hour or so, will be blasting down my street and making that left turn without stopping, helping to create the next intolerant hit-and-run driver.

I need to make more of a point of hollering at fellow cyclists when they do stupid sh*t. It would be more effective if I could do so from my own saddle, though. When I'm in my car I know that if I yell at them that it will fall on deaf ears.

I find that a lot of times motorists go so over the top to give me a wide berth that it becomes annoying. At 4 way stops they often want to let me go first, instead of appropriately taking their turn...which then p*sses other motorists off and their ire is directed at me. It all would be so simple if motorists always treated cyclists as vehicles and if all cyclists always behaved predictably and like vehicles.

[Crankin]

Zoom, I couldn't agree with you more. While I've actually had 2 incidents of anti-cyclist rage aimed at me and/or DH in the last couple of weeks, it's not so common around where I ride, at least in my experience. However, I do find fault with the drivers who go so far over the yellow line to pass that they are driving on the wrong side of the road, as well as the ones who think they are doing you a favor by waving you on at a 4 way stop. However, around here, drivers do that when you are in a car, too. The system of first come, first to go that worked flawlessly in AZ seems to be incomprehensible to drivers here.
I went grocery shopping this morning and I know that now it is the time of year that I never drive up Strawberry Hill Rd on a Saturday morning, because there are large group rides, as every club includes this road on a ride in Concord. So, I go just a little out of my way to get to the store. On my way back, it's usually fine, as riders are rarely coming down the hill, at least in large groups. As I was driving home, there was a huge group of riders coming up the hill. I knew that it was a Bike Ride for Ordinary People ride, as I get their emails, despite the fact I have never gone on one of their rides. I was sure glad I was going the other way. My friend rode with them once last year and most of the people had no handling skills at all. Someone crashed into her DH, who is not that keen on riding to begin with.
So, yes, un-law abiding cyclists piss me off as much as clueless and angry drivers.

[tzvia]

Well, the 'A' group went by this morning as I was going downstairs and I almost witnessed a massacre. A few doors up the street on my side someone was having a garage sale. There is little parking, and a car that was traveling on the opposite side decided to U turn to park on my side to go to it. But the leaders of the 'A' group had just topped the hill a few doors further down past the garage sale, and wouldn't you know, they did not stop at the stop-sign and just barreled down. About 5 cyclists from the group screamed at the U turning motorist who was not expecting anyone flying down the hill because there is a stop at the top and there was no one there when he glanced a moment before he began the U. He happened to look their way again and hit the brakes. They had enough room to zoom by- but that motorist just put his head on the wheel- couldn't tell if it was disgust or relief.

There was a solid yellow, the motorist was wrong and should have gone a bit further and made a right and turned in the side street, then make a legal left turn back onto my street. The cyclists were wrong in passing the stop. It could have been ugly.

{{{SIGH}}}

[Owlie]

I constantly get honked at at trail-road intersections because I look like one of those arrogant spandex-clad crazy people who refuse to stop at said intersections. Well, since the trails cross some pretty busy roads, you'd think it was in their best interest to actually stop...

[OakLeaf]

Well, you know, the "spandex" thing is just one more us-and-them. IME, cyclists in street clothes are no more likely to obey traffic laws. In fact, they're much more likely to violate them in extremely dangerous ways - riding on the wrong side of the street, riding without lights at night, turning left from the right lane, riding on the sidewalk. But they look more like car drivers than people in cycling gear, and granted a paceline blowing a stop sign is pretty noticeable, so the riders in street clothes get spared much of the road rage.

I'll always slow down for a crossing, but you know, if it's a busy road, it might be much safer not to come to a complete stop...

[rubysoho]

tzvia, the more I think about that group (and the car that always zips through the neighborhood) the more I wonder... Why not call the police? If it is as dangerous as you say and happens as often then I think it would be worth notifying the authorities. Doing something so simple could potentially save a life.

[Owlie]

Well, you know, the "spandex" thing is just one more us-and-them. IME, cyclists in street clothes are no more likely to obey traffic laws. In fact, they're much more likely to violate them in extremely dangerous ways - riding on the wrong side of the street, riding without lights at night, turning left from the right lane, riding on the sidewalk. But they look more like car drivers than people in cycling gear, and granted a paceline blowing a stop sign is pretty noticeable, so the riders in street clothes get spared much of the road rage.

I'll always slow down for a crossing, but you know, if it's a busy road, it might be much safer not to come to a complete stop...

I totally agree with that. When I lived in Cleveland, it was in a very "studenty" area, so lots of bikes, and lots of people doing STUPID things on bikes. No lights, riding against traffic, on the sidewalk...
The Lycra's just a convenient "othering" device.

(Some of the roads are such that there's a good chance you won't get a clear spot to cross for 3-5 minutes, depending on when you ride. I just use the opportunity to grab a snack and a drink. )