Why to people ride opposite traffic?
#27
Senior Member
I often had near collisions with cyclists in the opposite traffic, coincidentally, all of them are not wearing helmets.
This is why I only ride a cheap bike. The wiser cyclists who are familiar with my city advice to only have "disposable bikes" and I would probably never ever bother with carbon parts.
This is why I only ride a cheap bike. The wiser cyclists who are familiar with my city advice to only have "disposable bikes" and I would probably never ever bother with carbon parts.
#28
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To try and run me down when I am in a bike line with clear arrows pointing in the direction I am going.
I had this happen to me and was not happy. The idiot going the wrong direction had the gaul to be mad at me.
People love to be dangerous to feel like they are safe in their own personal bubble.
I had this happen to me and was not happy. The idiot going the wrong direction had the gaul to be mad at me.
People love to be dangerous to feel like they are safe in their own personal bubble.
#29
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#30
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Is this a lame attempt at sarcastic humor, or do you really not realize that municipalities are responsible for installing sidewalks? Sure, homeowners might be responsible for maintenance, but they do not build sidewalks.
#31
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- Lack of training on bicycling skills by parents (I don't blame it on schools or other government agencies). .
- Parental paranoia - kids at taught to ride on the sidewalk as its not safe riding in the street with all those big SUVs that constantly weave all over the road (driven by parents of kids), and kids are taught to ride facing traffic so you can see danger approaching (as long as you're not looking at your dumbphone).
- Lack of enforcement by local LEOs (other priorities take up their time).
- Foreigners with different upbringings. In some third world countries folks learn to ride facing traffic.
- . . . and ignorance or indifference by some who don't care. .
#32
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I agree with you but riding in NYC is not exactly the prototypical experience. For one thing, some people might be paranoid about drivers behind them that they may not be able to see and because drivers are often so careless, I could see them bumping into cyclists who are going in the same direction as well.
Last edited by mikedk13; 09-12-20 at 07:27 PM.
#33
I'm not sure how things work where you live but in the West, it is almost always the developers who are responsible. It's the cost of developing. They're also usually responsible for parks and other goodies. The municipalities usually have to deal with upkeep and whatnot.
#34
NYC is a very special case... I always rode with traffic in NYC when I lived in NYC (I rode mostly in the outerboroughs, BK, QNS, rarely in Manhattan), but I always figured that people always ride against traffic in NYC in NYC to avoid having to go a street or avenue out of their way, since so many streets are one way.
#35
I'm not sure how things work where you live but in the West, it is almost always the developers who are responsible. It's the cost of developing. They're also usually responsible for parks and other goodies. The municipalities usually have to deal with upkeep and whatnot.
#36
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No doubt NYC is a special case. But let's take Manhattan for instance. And it's hard to talk about with a good diagram. But if you live one block away on the side you happen to already be on. Do those folks really ride across the street, up the block and cross it back (three times, once to cross, and then 90 degrees left and cross again and then one more time)? Of course that last part I assume they might walk it across so they just have to cross the street once and not 3 times.
Upon reflection, I did ride the wrong way a fair number of times, so maybe not literally always, it was usually because I was being lazy and coming from one direction or another and it was easier to go the wrong way around, but I consciously tried to avoid it as a matter of principle. It would usually happen when I was coming by to the my apartment at the time from my brother in law's and it was easier to go the wrong way literally 10 yards to the front of my apartment door than go down one avenue and back around. My apartment was right at the corner of a one way street.
Like someone said about ped's earlier in the thread, it's extra opportunistic in NYC for both cyclists and peds.
Now that I live in the suburbs, yes, always with traffic (although my current town also has an excessive number of one way streets off of Main St (but at least Main St isn't one way...).
Last edited by mikedk13; 09-12-20 at 08:55 PM.
#37
Senior Member
Now, I should correct myself on the sidewalks: ultimately, yes, you are correct that developers put in sidewalks, and homeowners are often responsible for maintenance. So, given that developers will pass on the construction cost to home buyers, they (home buyers) are ultimately responsible. However - and this is a big 'however' - these things must be mandated by a municipality, and in fact some are now relieving homeowners of the financial responsibility of maintenance -- as well they should. A sidewalk is a classic 'public good' that should be provided by government.
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#38
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Lately when I am in the bike lane I have noticed people walking and jogging in the lane. Even where there are ample sidewalks , folks are taking the bike lanes forcing the cyclists into the street traffic. I don’t understand why people don’t want to use the sidewalks for walking. Even if I ring my bell and warn of my approach they just keep pushing the stroller ignoring the fact that their feet are stepping on a bicycle painted on the asphalt with the words “bike lane” ! Defiance is alive and well. I just think a lot of folks are angry and looking for confrontation. It is different times we live in. Best not engage just keep pedaling.
as far as bikes riding the wrong direction, usually homeless or school kids. I was out at the coast in Ventura where they have bike rentals and I saw a lot of that as well as riding through traffic without stopping at lights or stop signs.
as far as bikes riding the wrong direction, usually homeless or school kids. I was out at the coast in Ventura where they have bike rentals and I saw a lot of that as well as riding through traffic without stopping at lights or stop signs.
Last edited by Kabuki12; 09-12-20 at 09:06 PM.
#39
If I'm following you correctly, exactly that. And probably in middle of the street.
Upon reflection, I did ride the wrong way a fair number of times, so maybe not literally always, it was usually because I was being lazy and coming from one direction or another and it was easier to go the wrong way around, but I consciously tried to avoid it as a matter of principle. It would usually happen when I was coming by to the my apartment at the time from my brother in law's and it was easier to go the wrong way literally 10 yards to the front of my apartment door than go down one avenue and back around. .
Upon reflection, I did ride the wrong way a fair number of times, so maybe not literally always, it was usually because I was being lazy and coming from one direction or another and it was easier to go the wrong way around, but I consciously tried to avoid it as a matter of principle. It would usually happen when I was coming by to the my apartment at the time from my brother in law's and it was easier to go the wrong way literally 10 yards to the front of my apartment door than go down one avenue and back around. .
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#40
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I'm not sure how things work where you live but in the West, it is almost always the developers who are responsible. It's the cost of developing. They're also usually responsible for parks and other goodies. The municipalities usually have to deal with upkeep and whatnot.
Its actually a mix. Most municipalities have standards for developers to develop open land/lots - building set-backs, street width, sidewalks, % of acreage devoted to parks, # of street lights, street signs, sewer/water/electric/gas lines, etc. Developers put those in and 'donate' the public infrastructure to the municipality (sidewalks, ug pipes, etc). For HOAs its a little different, as these days some of that infrastructure can be left as HOA ownership and the HOA's responsibility to maintain it - water & sewer lines, fire hydrants, street lights, street pavement itself, green space, and sometimes sidewalks, etc.
#41
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Lately when I am in the bike lane I have noticed people walking and jogging in the lane. Even where there are ample sidewalks , folks are taking the bike lanes forcing the cyclists into the street traffic. I don’t understand why people don’t want to use the sidewalks for walking. Even if I ring my bell and warn of my approach they just keep pushing the stroller ignoring the fact that their feet are stepping on a bicycle painted on the asphalt with the words “bike lane” ! Defiance is alive and well. I just think a lot of folks are angry and looking for confrontation. It is different times we live in. Best not engage just keep pedaling.
as far as bikes riding the wrong direction, usually homeless or school kids. I was out at the coast in Ventura where they have bike rentals and I saw a lot of that as well as riding through traffic without stopping at lights or stop signs.
as far as bikes riding the wrong direction, usually homeless or school kids. I was out at the coast in Ventura where they have bike rentals and I saw a lot of that as well as riding through traffic without stopping at lights or stop signs.
Also, there's a lot of stuff to wak/jog into when you're not paying attention due to having your smartphone's headphones on full blast.
#42
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Best answer I've ever found is the misapplication theory that the asphalt pavement is 'softer' and more forgiving on your joints. The running world has extrapolated this from roadway design in that road are designed to hold certain loads, and any loads over that amount (like a heavily-laden truck) will 'flex' the asphalt; that's why you see a lot of roads with load-limit signs. a 150lb runner extrapolates that the asphalt is softer, and will provide some joint 'cushioning' thatwill benefit him/her. However, they are extrapolating too far in that the 'flex' or 'cushion' only applies when you get to loads in the thousnads of pounds of weight.
Also, there's a lot of stuff to wak/jog into when you're not paying attention due to having your smartphone's headphones on full blast.
Also, there's a lot of stuff to wak/jog into when you're not paying attention due to having your smartphone's headphones on full blast.
p.s. - even felt when on asphalt paths that transition to concrete sidewalks.
Last edited by OldTryGuy; 09-13-20 at 07:06 AM.
#43
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Written by a "non pavement pounder?" . I can't RUN thanks to bone on bone knees from bowed legs so my 5K's to marathons and up to 33 mile WALKS do not create the impact forces that many runners experience but there is a difference felt between concrete and asphalt and that is at 140lbs.
p.s. - even felt when on asphalt paths that transition to concrete sidewalks.
p.s. - even felt when on asphalt paths that transition to concrete sidewalks.
Yes, all asphalt paths are not built the same. Those used by heavy trucks are built a lot better to handle excessive weight, while a MUP path has a less-sophisticated roadbed under that asphalt and would be easily damaged by similar heavy truck traffic. Cheers
#44
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Some people apparently believe they are safer riding against traffic as if they were pedestrians. I see this even in the bike lanes here, which are clearly marked with arrows painted on the pavement to indicate the proper direction.
Go figure.
Go figure.
#45
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While driving last week on a 45mph speed limit 2 lanes both direction with a center island AND A SIDEWALK just feet away I had a 3 wheel trike rider riding salmon style in a bike lane.
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From https://bikeeasy.org/blog/archives/1385/
- One study, dryly called “Risk Factors for Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Collisions at Intersections”, found that riding the wrong way is three times as dangerous as riding with traffic, and for kids the risk is seven times greater.
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#49
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#50
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From https://bikeeasy.org/blog/archives/1385/
- One study, dryly called “Risk Factors for Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Collisions at Intersections”, found that riding the wrong way is three times as dangerous as riding with traffic, and for kids the risk is seven times greater.
https://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/Accident-Study.pdf
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