Do Cylists irritate Motorists & Vice Versa?

[anne_77]

I live in a community where a lot of people can't afford cars (or have lost their licenses!) so bikes are used both by people trying to exercise, and by people who have no other form of transportation. (There is no public transportation). So the motorists in my area are admittedly a little more used to bikes than they may be in some other communities. It's been my general experience that motorists respect cyclists that are predictable and don't ride on inappropriate roads. If you're predictable, the motorist knows what to do. If you stay off the ridiculously complicated, busy roads, you won't be as much of a hazard. Of course there are jerks out there, but a ton of people ride bikes in my town, and a lot use absolutely no common sense. They swerve in and out of cars, from the road to sidewalk and back on the road, run red lights, etc. As a motorist, I get made at them too. I guess what I'm saying is it's a two-way street.

Oh - and the honk - I get that too but I've learned from friends that in most cases it's actually an attempt to be polite and let you know they're there. So I don't take it personally.

[Geonz]

Yea, one of my biking buddies knows somebody who had a shirt made that says "I AM NOT A DUI."

One of the things I love about my Xtracycle (which I got back yesterday, YEA!!!, with a new wheel but not the disc brakes yet, but new brake pads) is that it's obviously *meant* for ... even if they can't figure out what, I'm an "intentional cyclist," riding instead of driving.

[MomOnBike]

One of the things I love about my Xtracycle (which I got back yesterday, YEA!!!, with a new wheel but not the disc brakes yet, but new brake pads) is that it's obviously *meant* for ... even if they can't figure out what, I'm an "intentional cyclist," riding instead of driving.

That's another thing I love about the 'bent. I'm obviously riding because I want to, not because I have, um, social problems. Makes my place on the pecking order a bit higher than otherwise, I think.