bicyclists are self-entitled assholes who think they can run red lights

[beer]

I swear to ****** god, one of my goals in life is to cripple one of these assholes that thinks they don't have any reason to stop at red lights. I live in SF where motorists/bicyclist run-ins are common, but their sense of self-entitlement just really, really pisses me off.

I got into a shouting match at 2nd and Brannon about 30 minutes ago- the light turned green and I took off, and a bicyclist entered the intersection and fell to the ground in an attempt to avoid my car. I had 100% right of way. Somehow it is my fault the mother ****** ran the red light - they just don't feel they need to stop.

The city here does not enforce red light rules against bicyclists at all. Therefore, it seems, they do not think the have any reason to stop. At any red light. Ever. One of them got mowed down by a cement truck onto turning onto 101 last month. What the hell do you expect, you choose to not stop at red lights, you get killed, and it's the city's fault for not protecting your ass? Now we can't turn right at Market and Octavia because your worthless ass thinks you don't need to stop. And it's a perfectly useful intersection - the reason why we can't turn is simply because you complained to the city. And guess what? I think a few more got hit since the cement truck incident - for not stopping.

/rant

 

[Leros]

:thumbsup:

 

[jadinolf]

:thumbsup:


They break every rule in the book and the cops just look the other way.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Reminds me of "The Almost Live! Guide To Living In Seattle" where the narrator is talking about the need to respect bicyclists and share the streets with them, while you see bikes and riders rolling up over the windshield of the car as John Keister drives through them.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Reminds me of "The Almost Live! Guide To Living In Seattle" where the narrator is talking about the need to respect bicyclists and share the streets with them, while you see bikes and riders rolling up over the windshield of the car as John Keister drives through them.

Almost Live FTW!!!

I think I'm gonna go watch that now...

 

[LordMaul]

Yeah, it's pretty funny how they think they "have all the same benefits as a car gets" and they ride on the road and right down the middle of the lane and whatnot, but as soon as traffic stops, they love to just ride between the lanes, barely missing side mirrors, and blow through the red light. Same as a car, my ass; let's see that car behind you cram itself between the lanes and drive through the light. Jackasses.

 

[Agentbolt]

It really seems to be a San Fran issue, mostly. Here in Tucson there's plenty of bikers and they get along pretty well with the motorists on the road. Part of that probably has to do with the fact that cops here will crack skulls if the bikers are caught screwing around on the road. Which is at it should be, a fender-bender with a bike = dead bike rider. They need to be more careful than someone in a car.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: jadinolf
:thumbsup:


They break every rule in the book and the cops just look the other way.

They can break every rule they want, it's fine. I break a rule enough times, I get a ticket. They break a rule enough times, they get plowed by a cement truck. Or me.

Nature has a funny way of equalizing these things.

 

[Ricemarine]

:thumbsup:

Bicycles should seriously be on sidewalks or bicycle lanes when provided, definitely not the road meant for cars... Hitting a pedestrian would be much better than getting run over by a car.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
:thumbsup:

Bicycles should seriously be on sidewalks or bicycle lanes when provided, definitely not the road meant for cars... Hitting a pedestrian would be much better than getting run over by a car.

They have a right to the road. The sidewalks here are too packed with people.
On the road = obey road rules

/thread

 

[Ronstang]

It is San Fransisco and you are questioning a sense of entitlement?

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: beer
One of them got mowed down by a cement truck onto turning onto 101 last month. What the hell do you expect, you choose to not stop at red lights, you get killed, and it's the city's fault for not protecting your ass? Now we can't turn right at Market and Octavia because your worthless ass thinks you don't need to stop. And it's a perfectly useful intersection - the reason why we can't turn is simply because you complained to the city. And guess what? I think a few more got hit since the cement truck incident - for not stopping.

/rant

I remember reading a story about this in Chronicle, but I don't remember them mentioning that the biker ran the light. I think it was the other way around: a commuter too eager to make a right turn moved down the biker, who was perfectly within her rights to be there.

 

[paulney]

I got into a shouting match just a couple of days ago with some mr. Beer Gut behind the wheel of a 15-year old Corolla or the like. I was biking in the neighborhood coming up on the stop sign. This guy was already at the stop sign, making a right turn. I'm slowing down anticipating him do the turn, so I can do a right turn as well. It's a 25mph run-of-the-mill neighborhood street.

The guy starts to make a turn. I'm coasting up to his rear. Then steps on the brake in the middle of the turn. Then parks. I apply the brakes harder and stop behind him. I can see him cursing inside, so I lean over and ask him what's the problem.

The problem, according to him, is that all the bikers are idiots, and while he was going to make a legal right turn, I was going to cut inside and get mowed down. By being good 10 feet behind him. Right.... I told him to get on with his effing turn and get going.

*sigh*
It's not just an SF problem.

 

[NatePo717]

Originally posted by: beer


They have a right to the road. The sidewalks here are too packed with people.
On the road = obey road rules

/thread

:thumbsup:

I nearly hit a guy biking across a 6 lane intersection today. Was at a stop light waiting to turn left (car to my right was an SUV and was slightly ahead of me so I couldn't see to my right. Light turns green I start to go. All of a sudden this guy on a bike come out from in front of the SUV and I nearly plow into the guy. As he's passing in front of me he give me a really dirty look. I should have floored it.... This is in Rochester, NY.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: beer
I swear to ****** god, one of my goals in life is to cripple one of these assholes that thinks they don't have any reason to stop at red lights. I live in SF where motorists/bicyclist run-ins are common, but their sense of self-entitlement just really, really pisses me off.

I got into a shouting match at 2nd and Brannon about 30 minutes ago- the light turned green and I took off, and a bicyclist entered the intersection and fell to the ground in an attempt to avoid my car. I had 100% right of way. Somehow it is my fault the mother ****** ran the red light - they just don't feel they need to stop.

The city here does not enforce red light rules against bicyclists at all. Therefore, it seems, they do not think the have any reason to stop. At any red light. Ever. One of them got mowed down by a cement truck onto turning onto 101 last month. What the hell do you expect, you choose to not stop at red lights, you get killed, and it's the city's fault for not protecting your ass? Now we can't turn right at Market and Octavia because your worthless ass thinks you don't need to stop. And it's a perfectly useful intersection - the reason why we can't turn is simply because you complained to the city. And guess what? I think a few more got hit since the cement truck incident - for not stopping.

Examples need to be made of this. If the city won't enforce it, my 3400 lb vehicle will.

/rant

feel better now....

 

[0roo0roo]

critical mass and self righteous sf bikers have created more enemies than allies. buncha asses

 

[I Saw OJ]

Around here is obnoxious pre-teens riding around on their bike who dont give a flying fvck about traffic or any kind of rules of the road. I'm really thinking about getting a train horn for my truck to scare the sh!t out of those kids when I drive by.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
:thumbsup:

Bicycles should seriously be on sidewalks or bicycle lanes when provided, definitely not the road meant for cars... Hitting a pedestrian would be much better than getting run over by a car.

They have a right to the road. The sidewalks here are too packed with people.
On the road = obey road rules

/thread

Exactly.

Remember to share the road motorists!

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
:thumbsup:

Bicycles should seriously be on sidewalks or bicycle lanes when provided, definitely not the road meant for cars... Hitting a pedestrian would be much better than getting run over by a car.

They have a right to the road. The sidewalks here are too packed with people.
On the road = obey road rules

/thread

Exactly.

Remember to share the road motorists!

The sidewalks here are usually not packed, and are often empty (or at least the places I go to ). So when I see a bicyclist going 15 mph on a (for example) a 35 mph road when the sidewalks have no pedestrians... It's annoying...

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
:thumbsup:

Bicycles should seriously be on sidewalks or bicycle lanes when provided, definitely not the road meant for cars... Hitting a pedestrian would be much better than getting run over by a car.

They have a right to the road. The sidewalks here are too packed with people.
On the road = obey road rules

/thread

Exactly.

Remember to share the road motorists!

The sidewalks here are usually not packed, and are often empty (or at least the places I go to ). So when I see a bicyclist going 15 mph on a (for example) a 35 mph road when the sidewalks have no pedestrians... It's annoying...

Whats the problem ?

 

[ppdes]

Same behavior here in Albany. I see them run reds all the time. Have also had to put up with the type who ride slow in the middle of the lane just to block cars. That makes them feel safer than being passed apparently. Amusing that they become all safety conscious when it only slows down other people and not themselves.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Not this tired old sh!t again. :roll:

Some drivers are assholes.
Some cyclists are assholes.

/thread.

 

[Vonkhan]

heh, try NYC ...

SF will seem like heaven after tht

 

[Azraele]

I agree with DividedBYZero.

As for the OP, yes, it was wrong for the cyclist to run the red light. It was wrong for both of them to get in a shouting match. If you're that concerned with it, take it to a city council, armed with stats and information, personal experiences and testimonies from people. Take it to the news. Make noise to make changes for the safety of all. Just spouting off angry words about wanting to cripple one does not solve anything.

 

[b0mbrman]

I would say that many, many bicyclists are decent people who follow rules and try their best not to get in anyone's way....

but...

Yes, I had the same thing happen to me a few times while living in the Bay Area: A bicyclist runs a red light, I have to slam on my brakes and pray the guy behind me notices in time to not hit me, and then the bicyclist shouts at me for not looking...