Watch your A$$!!! There are more like this one

Discussion in 'The Roadie Hangout' started by SAR_boats, Apr 11, 2009.

  1. SAR_boats

    SAR_boats Booze Bikes n Boomsticks

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    2,426
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    consultant
    Location:
    Other
    Home Page:
    Just read this article by some asshat yuppie who is attending MSU. Remember to ride defensively when on the road. And when that doesn't work, f*ck it, ride offensively.

    http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/04/bicyclists_need_to_stay_on_sidewalk


    Bicyclists need to stay on sidewalk

    Zack Colman
    Black 2001 Saturn SC2. That’s the car I drive — and if you’re a bicyclist on the road but not in a bike path and you see my car, I hope you’re wearing a helmet, because I might run you over.
    Maybe not intentionally.
    But you see, with all these things I can do in my car nowadays, such as choose a different song on my iPod, send a text message while driving or fall asleep at the wheel because I had to wake up for a worthless 8 a.m. biology lab, I might not notice you.
    And, considering you are where you should not be, I might hit you.
    The simple fact of the matter is, MSU has so kindly provided sidewalks for people on foot and Rollerblades, and MSU’s ordinance should be revised to require bicyclists be there too. The university has outlined bike paths on certain roads, but bicyclists can’t just create imaginary bike paths like they do.
    I cannot drive my car on the sidewalk, so why must you ride your bicycle where I drive?
    Many of my friends ride bicycles on campus, so I’m not trying to berate a whole demographic of students. I appreciate bicyclists who advocate environmentalism, since they are making up for the damage I do with my car.
    I respect bicyclists who use bicycles as a form of exercise, since people certainly can never get enough fitness in their everyday routines.
    But for as much as I respect and appreciate bicyclists, I will not hesitate to honk at them when they are interfering with the roads.
    My concern is not merely about inconvenience.
    Bicyclists on the road are a driving hazard to people in automobiles, since many bicyclists make turns without using hand signals and ride too close to other vehicles when there is no designated bike path.
    For example, I was driving to work Tuesday when a bicyclist pulled up in front of my car in the right lane on Farm Lane going northbound where it intersects with Shaw Lane. There is no bike path at this portion of the road, and I needed to be in the right lane to avoid the left turn only lane, but the bicyclist was in the way.
    Instead, I had to speed ahead and veer away from the fast-approaching rear end of the car in front of me, just barely making it into the right lane.
    Some will say I could be more patient on the road.
    But roads are for cars, not bicyclists. The bicyclist should not have been in the car lane.
    It’s possible some bicyclists are trying to live out their dreams of being Lance Armstrong, and the smooth terrain offered by the roads where big, people-killing cars are designed to travel on are more desirable than the sidewalk pavement.
    I get it, bicyclists — you’re in the Tour de France. Well, in your head at least.
    But in reality, my gas-guzzling, carbon footprint-leaving car is trying to get around you, the bicyclist. And you, the bicyclist, prefer to coast, not along the side of the lane but in the exact middle.
    Maybe in your head you are actually driving a car. Maybe that’s why you believe you should be behind a pickup truck and in front of 15 other cars trying to pass you.
    And maybe you are Armstrong, so talented and in shape and able to pedal so, so fast. But Armstrong’s average speed in the 2001 Tour de France was 24.9 mph, which is 0.1 mph less than most of the speed limits on and around campus.
    Plus, I’ve had difficulty finding students who actually obey the speed limit anyway.
    It’s common for motorists to drive at least 5 mph above the speed limit, which makes your task to out-pedal Lance Armstrong all the more daunting. And considering you’re not actually Armstrong (even if you do wear a skintight yellow bicycle uniform), you likely are not going 24.9 mph.
    And, oh yeah, Armstrong is competing when he is bicycling — your leisurely ride through campus might not even register on a police radar.
    But, hey, snap out of it. You’re not Lance Armstrong.
    And those are the headlights of my black 2001 Saturn SC2 bearing down on you.
    Zack Colman is the State News opinion writer. Reach him at [email protected].
    Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2009
     
  2. sandblast

    sandblast One less 29er

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    286
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Buisness phone systems
    Location:
    Idyllwild
    Notice the link to his e-mail.
     
  3. MTBMaven

    MTBMaven This is Shangri La

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2006
    Messages:
    2,646
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    GIS Coordinator
    Location:
    Pasadena, CA
    Also note how many responses the article has received in about 3 days. Nearly all the ones I saw were pretty negative against the writer.
     
  4. duke777

    duke777 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2006
    Messages:
    3,969
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    IT
    Location:
    Sac Town!
    LOL another wonderful product of our great education system. Got more sperm than brain cells.#-o
     
  5. DownHillPhil

    DownHillPhil Team Rider

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2007
    Messages:
    2,693
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Photography
    Location:
    South Bay 310
    He has a point. :?:
     
  6. FyrFytrRyn

    FyrFytrRyn RTB to a WNL

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2006
    Messages:
    1,603
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Occupation:
    estudiante'/naysayer
    Location:
    yucaipa/"oak glen"
    aww man.
     
  7. sasquatch9billion

    sasquatch9billion Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2007
    Messages:
    2,125
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    Non-profiteer.
    Location:
    Alhambro
    Home Page:
    No dipshit, a bike has the same rights to the road as an automobile.
     
  8. Ride2live32

    Ride2live32 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2009
    Messages:
    1,957
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Custom Fabricator, soon to be cooking chef
    Location:
    Ramona, CA
    No he doesnt have an point... because remember "hikers and horses has the right of way, we bikers have to stop for them" so whats the point riding on sidewalk if we have to stop for these pedestrians to go by? it would be same time distance to walk if there was so many students walking to school instead of riding bicycle. I rarely ride on sidewalk only if the road is crowed with cars, and narrow that might be risk. And if theres not much person on sidewalk.
     
  9. DownHillPhil

    DownHillPhil Team Rider

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2007
    Messages:
    2,693
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Photography
    Location:
    South Bay 310
    This argument is idiotic because both sides are justified in their respective minds. Why even bring it up?
     
  10. Framekiller

    Framekiller Professional Lurker.

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2007
    Messages:
    283
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    professional slacker
    Location:
    South Bay 310
    Zach Colman is an idiot. Not because he feels that bikers should use the sidewalk, but because he openly admits that he "choose a different song on his iPod, sends a text message while driving or falls asleep at the wheel because he had to wake up for a worthless 8 a.m. biology lab." When you are behind the wheel of several thousands pounds of moving metal, pay attention.
    -Gotta wake up before 8am? Go to bed earlier instead of going out partying.
    -Texting while driving? Don't be an idiot. I would rather you talk on the phone than text.

    Look, I'm not perfect, I change radio stations and songs while driving, but not at the expense of other people. As far as road riding goes, as long as the bike stays far to the right when he can, and does not knowingly and purposely impede the flow of traffic, I am cool with it.
     
  11. Ride2live32

    Ride2live32 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2009
    Messages:
    1,957
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Custom Fabricator, soon to be cooking chef
    Location:
    Ramona, CA
    good point then lol
     
  12. sasquatch9billion

    sasquatch9billion Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2007
    Messages:
    2,125
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    Non-profiteer.
    Location:
    Alhambro
    Home Page:
    Bikes don't belong on the sidewalk. Bikes are considered vehicles and have the same rights to the road as cars.
     
  13. Iwannabinsocal

    Iwannabinsocal boutique brand elitist

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2009
    Messages:
    777
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    I have a fun job
    Location:
    Seattle area
    This guy is going to be hating his inbox tomorrow morning, I won't pick him apart on his obvious ignorance in this post, but just call him a complete tool.....
     
  14. Dh Oly

    Dh Oly New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    unemployed
    Location:
    Menifee
    sweeeet....:lol:
    you guys make such a big deal out of stupid shiiit.. cmon niggaz.. =D
     
  15. Pain Freak

    Pain Freak Dead or Alive

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2005
    Messages:
    11,163
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Occupation:
    Da Boss
    Location:
    Fontucky
    Home Page:
    He's doing us a favor. He's pointing out the shiat roadies have to deal with. It's a tongue in cheek attempt at humor. Also works to raise the ire of people who do ride. Get them to speak out,take action.
     
  16. whybother

    whybother New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2008
    Messages:
    753
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    the biggest problem in my opinion is the people who intentionally try to hit you with their car. i don't understand why people feel the need to do this, but guess that it is jealousy based or something. eventually one of these people will actually take me out and it won't be an accident and that pretty much sucks.

    friday at lunch i was riding on a local road and a black acura tried to hit me and my co-worker. there was no reason for it. we were on the shoulder, not impeding traffic, and traveling near the speed limit (it was on a descent).

    i do my best to avoid busy streets, and would love to have bike lanes everywhere.
     
  17. mcinvale

    mcinvale New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2008
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    I dunno, internet?
    Location:
    La Mesa
    Home Page:
    if bikes have the same rights as cars on the road, they need to follow the same laws. stop signs, red lights, right of way, etc... you can't have it both ways.
     
  18. sickboy433

    sickboy433 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2008
    Messages:
    320
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    local 433 union ironworker
    Location:
    Whittier
    Look bikes as much as I hate to admit it belong on the road. I'm not a roadie but if you can get a DUI on a bike its the same but yes its a common courtousy issue . Bikes stay in your area cars stay in yours . Yes I do hate it when bikers try to own a lane and hold up traffic but I also hate when I come off a trail to go home and nearly get ran over it sucks remember its a. me me me world f ck you horray me. I would say its Just O. C. But its every where so just chill the F ck out !!!!!!!!!!
     
  19. speckledtrout

    speckledtrout Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2007
    Messages:
    2,442
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Occupation:
    actor
    Location:
    Silverlake in Los Angeles
    I think we're all agreed that bikes do indeed have the right to be on the road. But with that legal right comes the need to follow the laws and rules of riding a bike on the road.
     
  20. Kid A

    Kid A now with 40% more bacon

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2006
    Messages:
    6,532
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    working 4 da man
    Location:
    O 2 da C
    awwwww, cut the guy a break. clearly his is still in pain from the smackdown NC handed msu in the tourney. besides boats I thought u stopped trolling college boards looking for coed's. :p
     

Share This Page

Help keep STR alive, please click the donation button below