01-15-2010, 03:26 PM
(most) people wouldnt even consider running a red light in a car, why do you feel ok to do it on a bike? If you are unconcerned of the saftey, is it because you dont have a license plate and think it is not an enforcable law?
Ive been riding bikes in traffic around town since I was 11, and I have never and will never run red lights, stop signs, lane split or do anything else counter traffic. Why would I?
In DC, which I commute to/in everyday, seeing a cyclist obey a traffic law is a rarity, they rarely even slow at red lights, frequently lane split, ride wrong way down streets etc. Ive even been cussed at and had my side view mirror hit by a cyclist while he was lane splitting because i was apparently too close to the center line for his tastes. That takes incredible arrogance and entitlement.
The "Im responsible for myself and my risks do not affect others" is complete bullshit. Ginger witnessed an accident recently where a cyclist rode right out in front of a car, the driver had almost no time to react and hit the cyclist, but the blame as written up by the attending officer was still 100% drivers fault. If that cyclist died due to her injuries that guy would have been in a world of legal hurt with jail time etc and it is the fault of your bad decisions.
Not to mention, you can still hurt pedestrians pretty bad (ive almost been hit while crossing intersections)
and yeah, a lot of cyclists, especially roadies and commuters are pricks
Ive been riding bikes in traffic around town since I was 11, and I have never and will never run red lights, stop signs, lane split or do anything else counter traffic. Why would I?
In DC, which I commute to/in everyday, seeing a cyclist obey a traffic law is a rarity, they rarely even slow at red lights, frequently lane split, ride wrong way down streets etc. Ive even been cussed at and had my side view mirror hit by a cyclist while he was lane splitting because i was apparently too close to the center line for his tastes. That takes incredible arrogance and entitlement.
The "Im responsible for myself and my risks do not affect others" is complete bullshit. Ginger witnessed an accident recently where a cyclist rode right out in front of a car, the driver had almost no time to react and hit the cyclist, but the blame as written up by the attending officer was still 100% drivers fault. If that cyclist died due to her injuries that guy would have been in a world of legal hurt with jail time etc and it is the fault of your bad decisions.
Not to mention, you can still hurt pedestrians pretty bad (ive almost been hit while crossing intersections)
and yeah, a lot of cyclists, especially roadies and commuters are pricks