Cycling and Hit and Run Drivers

[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. )

[MojoGrrl]

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...

This is why I hate riding anywhere in/near town. I live in a college town (also a huge cycling town) and every day I see students who have no business being on a bike because they have NO CLUE what they are doing and putting themselves and other people's lives at risk. Almost got hit by a young woman who appeared not to know how to control her bike and was giggling about how she almost ran into my (parked) car. One of my favorite sightings was a young man riding with a) no helmet, b) in flip flops, c) hands off the bars, because he was busily texting while he rode down a street on which cars are usually going way too fast. The complete lack of lights/reflective clothing or gear in the dark is horrifying. When we see those, my boyfriend and I always say, "That one's just asking to be killed."

[Owlie]

This is why I hate riding anywhere in/near town. I live in a college town (also a huge cycling town) and every day I see students who have no business being on a bike because they have NO CLUE what they are doing and putting themselves and other people's lives at risk. Almost got hit by a young woman who appeared not to know how to control her bike and was giggling about how she almost ran into my (parked) car. One of my favorite sightings was a young man riding with a) no helmet, b) in flip flops, c) hands off the bars, because he was busily texting while he rode down a street on which cars are usually going way too fast. The complete lack of lights/reflective clothing or gear in the dark is horrifying. When we see those, my boyfriend and I always say, "That one's just asking to be killed."

It's odd, because I've had more issues riding on the road here (in a suburban, nearly rural sort of setting) than I did in Cleveland (I was living somewhere fairly urban.) I think it's just a matter of people being used to seeing cyclists and pedestrians. Drivers there are used to a lot of people on bikes, many of them stupid people on bikes.