Conn. vs. NY bicycle acceptance difference on tour
07-24-20, 05:47 AM
#26
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There are effectively no county governments and little state government. It is all separate towns and people get entitled and insular.
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
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07-24-20, 07:07 AM
#27
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07-27-20, 09:23 PM
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We just toured the North Shore of Long Island and the Connecticut Shoreline. Though separated by a few miles of water or highway, the driving culture was completely different. Narrow, heavily traveled “country” roads on the north shore and north fork saw universal competent passing even with fast driving.
Connecticut was terrifying.
Connecticut was terrifying.
In fact, I had such a wonderful time that I finally became comfortable with the idea of riding on roads, where previously I'd been all but exclusively sticking to rail trails.
A couple of times I ventured places where the speed limit and lack of a shoulder made that in retrospect a decision I'll probably not repeat, but people were fairly reasonable about that, too.
Not meaning to diminish or doubt anyone else's experience, I just don't think you can generalize by state, but really have to consider particular localities, types of road, times of day, and what sort of day a particular driver is having.
Last edited by UniChris; 07-28-20 at 08:01 PM.
08-02-20, 10:39 AM
#29
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As a contrasting experience, I had a truly wonderful time riding on the roads of southeastern Connecticut this spring, from the shoreline up to about 15 miles inland.
In fact, I had such a wonderful time that I finally became comfortable with the idea of riding on roads, where previously I'd been all but exclusively sticking to rail trails.
A couple of times I ventured places where the speed limit and lack of a shoulder made that in retrospect a decision I'll probably not repeat, but people were fairly reasonable about that, too.
Not meaning to diminish or doubt anyone else's experience, I just don't think you can generalize by state, but really have to consider particular localities, types of road, times of day, and what sort of day a particular driver is having.
In fact, I had such a wonderful time that I finally became comfortable with the idea of riding on roads, where previously I'd been all but exclusively sticking to rail trails.
A couple of times I ventured places where the speed limit and lack of a shoulder made that in retrospect a decision I'll probably not repeat, but people were fairly reasonable about that, too.
Not meaning to diminish or doubt anyone else's experience, I just don't think you can generalize by state, but really have to consider particular localities, types of road, times of day, and what sort of day a particular driver is having.
I will carry on riding legally on the roadways of my state.
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
08-02-20, 10:40 AM
#30
The Drive Side is Within
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What was he doing on her bike?[/QUOTE]runing it over with his lexus es350
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
08-02-20, 12:58 PM
#31
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Just because people weren't "aggressive" about it does not change the reality that they were not good situations for either myself or those drivers.
It's not like there was anything I had to do on that road specifically; I went for a ride and tried out a road as on a map it looked like it might be useful for a future Century course. After riding it, I decided it wasn't a very good choice. But on the scale of that sort of distance, there were plenty of other roads to chose from. As it happens I've ended up doing my long rides elsewhere, anyway. And it happens that I learned there's a road there I'd rather avoid, too. And another one that's a good alternative, though maybe not so great at rush hour...
There's cycling politics... and then there's recognizing the situation you are in and thinking about alternatives for next time.
Last edited by UniChris; 08-02-20 at 01:07 PM.
08-03-20, 11:14 AM
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We just toured the North Shore of Long Island and the Connecticut Shoreline. Though separated by a few miles of water or highway, the driving culture was completely different. Narrow, heavily traveled “country” roads on the north shore and north fork saw universal competent passing even with fast driving.
Connecticut was terrifying. Horns, screaming, cutting off me or my kids to run us off the road — tailgating inches off my back wheel and leaning on the horn... and it really seemed like every other driver had an angry, enraged look on their face, even when we were just resting with our tour bikes on the side of the road. Restaurants and state parks had a similar difference in vibe.
Why are these states so different?
Last edited by rydabent; 08-03-20 at 11:25 AM.
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08-03-20, 11:22 AM
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Btw an example of what I was talking about. In one tech class I was asking the instructor a question. My question was somewhat halting because the question was complicated. A guy from NY piped up and said spit it out. I stopped right there, and said to him golly Joe where im from, I am considers one of the fast talkers. The class gave him a good laugh.
08-10-20, 05:25 AM
#34
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I agree...I have lived in both states and the people aren't as friendly in CT. If I went to a private beach at the shore, someone would always ask who I was, or who I knew...The countryside is mostly a polluted mess due to their silver and metal history. After I moved to Central NY everyone seemed so chill and relaxed. The countryside is beautiful with water everywhere! You can buy a nice home in the Finger lakes with skiing nearby for less than 200k.
10-11-20, 05:55 PM
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I agree...I have lived in both states and the people aren't as friendly in CT. If I went to a private beach at the shore, someone would always ask who I was, or who I knew...The countryside is mostly a polluted mess due to their silver and metal history. After I moved to Central NY everyone seemed so chill and relaxed. The countryside is beautiful with water everywhere! You can buy a nice home in the Finger lakes with skiing nearby for less than 200k.
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