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General: How many of you bike like an asshole?

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    • CommentAuthoro_O
    • CommentTimeDec 1st 2008
     
    lane splitting
    wrong way down one way streets
    skitching etc.



    i know i do.
    • CommentAuthorhenrydec1
    • CommentTimeDec 1st 2008
     
    wow. I could never get around if i didn't. i run reds like no other, speed, cut/split lanes. just as bad as it gets altough this is jun i got hit by a car and now i try to be more cautious. honestly that just means i look over my shoulder every time i turn in to on coming traffic.
  3.  
    you know, in the california dmv handbook it shows a diagram of how a biker gets into the lane to turn left, and it literally shows the biker cutting the car off to do so.
    so when i car honks at me for cutting them off for getting into the turning lane, i give them a big ole middle finger in confidence knowing the law of the road has my back
    • CommentAuthorOtto Rax
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2008
     
    i too do those things, but im cautious and as courteous as possible about it. its the joy of riding a bike, not being stifled by vehicle laws. i find skitching all but worthless on a track bike, unless you're loafing up a hill. lane splitting....well that's just bikers' path of least resistance. i don't bike like that cause i'm an asshole. i bike like that because i can. a car can't split lanes, a car can't piggyback up a hill, a car can't go down a one-way street without messing up the correct flow. that's where we make up time
  5.  
    I cut lanes and use the crosswalk without dismounting and I ride on the sidewalk sometimes. I don't skitch and I rarely blow redlights. I generally prefer to ride on residential streets, instead of busy thoroughfairs, if given the choice. I do enjoy confronting drivers who have wronged me or have endangered my life. I think thats when my assholyness really shines. I love to use logic and profanity to get my point across in a heated redlight conversation. I love to ask difficult questions like "why don't you look behind you when you are backing up?" or "which vehicle has the right of way when I am going straight and you are turning left?". I have also slammed the door on a few peoples ankles as I pass by while they obliviously try to murder me and go shopping.
  7.  
    A car doesn't have to be creative when trying to get somewhere. Cyclists do. I never blow red lights (unless there is really NO ONE around) because that's just dangerous. I ride on the sidewalk all the time, because it's often the fastest way to get places. The way I see it is that you gotta do what you gotta do. My commute is about 45 minutes. But if I followed every law and didn't cut through parking lots and such, it would take me damn near an hour and a half with all the traffic. As long as you keep the rubber side down, all is cool.
    • CommentAuthordeermatt
    • CommentTimeDec 3rd 2008
     
    I always cut lanes, because there's usually alot of traffic in my area. I would never just full on blow through a red light, thats a death wish , but I slow down , look, then go through the red light . I dont wear a helmet but sometimes I think I should . I dont skitch unless its like a taxi, I wouldnt want some bike rider holding onto my car (if i had one) .
    • CommentAuthorSir Duke
    • CommentTimeDec 5th 2008
     
    I run reds all the time in DC but much less so in LA. I think it's the nature of the traffic, street size, etc.

    Should def wear a helmet more often.
    • CommentAuthorVman
    • CommentTimeDec 5th 2008 edited
     
    when i stop at red lights i trackstand right in the middle of the pedestrian crossing --in front of the cars waiting for the light-- just to b in plain sight of all the dumba$$es in vehicles who would crunch me without hesitation on green. not extremely dumbass-esque or anything...but the peds shoot me some wicked glares. & i just pop my collar

    I also enjoy weaving through crowds on my campus...not really giving a shit if people spazz and freak out when i pass real close >:) muahah
    • CommentAuthoryoxscotty
    • CommentTimeFeb 11th 2009
     
    i just found this thread, glad to know i'm not the only one who rides like this most of the time.

    in ottawa most people are nice, just really dumb. i make sure to look over my shoulder to ensure i'm not passing too close to 'danger' and just go for it. i live in a one way street and bike up it all the time. ride on sidewalks too if traffic is too bad. i've never skitched though, that's just asking for it. i don't want to give bikers a worse reputation than they already have here.

    i hope others offer input to this thread!
    • CommentAuthordirtle
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2009
     
    riding with traffic is for me a dance: now I ride up in front and cut a turn through a huge intersection, showing all the car folks i'm here, i am aware of what they're doing, and they better respect what i'm doing...

    now I pull out and tame down for a moment so the driver in the truck who drives like a stress fest can go by me. no confrontation today...

    the balance helps me be confident that it's ok to be a dick sometimes because i am open to backing off too if and when.

    this works well in the bay area. my boy out in philly gets a shit storm for biking in the arrogant motorist's lane, so maybe it's a street culture thing too.
  13.  
    I ride mostly around the University District in Seattle. The motorists here don't have a clue how to deal with cyclists, so I am generally pretty cautious. But if a car is holding me up, I have no problem with making an aggressive move around them. I try not to hold up motorists, so I feel like they shouldn't be hindering my efforts to get where I need to be.
  14.  
    i ride about 14 miles home evryday from my school. I have to make a couple of very weird turns. Today someone honked at me for running a stopsine. I gave the driver the good old middle finger and it turned out to be a cop. Luckily it was just my uncle saying hello. lol
  15.  
    Scotty, you ride like my grandma.
    • CommentAuthoryoxscotty
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2009 edited
     
    simon,
    how did you know she rode fast and heard? the ole slut gotcha cummin again??

    we'll see who drives you to the airport tomorrow fucker
    • CommentAuthorstinky pete
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2009 edited
     
    There will always be A-hole drivers AND riders, and I have been both more than once.

    I feel there are pro’s and con’s for all sides of this discussion.

    I do believe that natural selection favors against the bike though. Please, ride safe kiddies.
    • CommentAuthorsfbee
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2009
     
    Definitely an asshole. I cautiously blow through stop signs/lights, and split lanes when necessary (not needed nearly as often in Houston, since the traffic is rarely that dense and there are plenty of safer back roads to take). We don't have to deal with getting doored as much here, but in trade we get a much higher volume of douche bags in jacked up trucks and SUVs, all of which have no regard for cyclists, so the middle finger pretty much remains permanently extended. Have had a few occasions where people threatened to throw down, none of which followed through (one ending with a cable lock to their tail gate, leaving a nice sized dent).

    I've been pulled over twice for blowing stop signs (both of which were clearly safe to run), neither resulted in a ticket though. I did get pulled over for riding in the road once through a heavily biked, by a cop who clearly had no clue about the local bike laws, stating that it's illegal for me to ride in the road where ever a paved (or roughly paved in this case) path exists.
    • CommentAuthor6dayracer
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2009
     
    Yeah I ride in traffic all the time. In downtown Portland it's definitely the fastest way to get around. Even through most of the suburbs there are bike lanes or nice side streets to ride. I moved to Seattle supposedly more biker friendly than Portland, and never came across a single bike lane, and a million drivers with no idea where they're going. DANGEROUS! I paid off my rent for 3 months and moved back to Portland ASAP. Except for the rain, I can't imagine a more biker friendly place to live. Case in point: Our new mayor Sam Adams used to be the transportation coordinator and would regularly travel to Europe to get tips on bike laws and host very interesting discussions at the Bikeapalooza fests here. But yeah, when I hear a horn, my middle finger is instantly in the air. Most of the time though it's my friends, I find out later. Haha. If I'm paying taxes to pave roads my bike sure as hell has equal rights to the road as cars do!
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2009
     
    i'd like to think mpls/stpl is giving portland a run for its money. supposedly ranked no. 2 most bike friendly city in the country, from what i heard.
  21.  
    Posted By: 6dayracerYeah I ride in traffic all the time. In downtown Portland it's definitely the fastest way to get around. Even through most of the suburbs there are bike lanes or nice side streets to ride. I moved to Seattle supposedly more biker friendly than Portland, and never came across a single bike lane, and a million drivers with no idea where they're going. DANGEROUS! I paid off my rent for 3 months and moved back to Portland ASAP. Except for the rain, I can't imagine a more biker friendly place to live. Case in point: Our new mayor Sam Adams used to be the transportation coordinator and would regularly travel to Europe to get tips on bike laws and host very interesting discussions at the Bikeapalooza fests here. But yeah, when I hear a horn, my middle finger is instantly in the air. Most of the time though it's my friends, I find out later. Haha. If I'm paying taxes to pave roads my bike sure as hell has equal rights to the road as cars do!


    Man, I wish Ann Arbor MI. were more like Portland!
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeFeb 13th 2009
     
    whoa MASH SF!!!!! Lets all move to Brooklyn!!!!! I need to pick up my pista concept this week and get my Aerospoke painted bright pink. Oh shit! I almost forgot my insanely large messenger bag that I need to move my notebook to my trig class!
    • CommentAuthordirtle
    • CommentTimeFeb 13th 2009
     
    useless.
    • CommentAuthorje taime
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2009
     
    I probably ride like a twat, but I find I did more so in america than here in England. Cyclists here are much more obedient of red lights and such because the police can be so crap to us.
    • CommentAuthorstinky pete
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: jam guywhoa MASH SF!!!!! Lets all move to Brooklyn!!!!! I need to pick up my pista concept this week and get my Aerospoke painted bright pink. Oh shit! I almost forgot my insanely large messenger bag that I need to move my notebook to my trig class!


    Ha! Yea, I get your point. (lol!) Still there's room for us all out there isn't there?


    PS, THANK's Mr. Greg Smith, that looks SO much better...!
  26.  
    TRANSPORTATION ANARCHY! That's what bikes are all about. If I go ten blocks without violating either a law or just common sense my self esteem drops dramatically. Intimidating drivers is the best, making them know that if they hit you, they're going to be late for work, their car insurance is going to skyrocket, and they'll have nightmares for a month.
    • CommentAuthormrymeski
    • CommentTimeMar 5th 2009
     
    I just find riding like an asshole Ironic sometimes. I always blow stopsigns, redlights when they are clear, cut lanes, ride down one ways etc but I'm also very alert about it. I never use the bike lanes because I live in the Campus neighborhood where they are all full of dead leaves and broken glass. Anyway, one day i get a heads up from a friend that the cops are out to get reckless bikers on campus that day so I decide to follow all the rules, staying in my bike lane and stopping at every light/sign, and suddenly I get hit by a fucking truck OUT OF NOWHERE because my peripheral vision was skewed from being too far over in the lane. I'm never going to follow the laws again.
  28.  
    Posted By: sfbeeDefinitely an asshole. I cautiously blow through stop signs/lights, and split lanes when necessary (not needed nearly as often in Houston, since the traffic is rarely that dense and there are plenty of safer back roads to take). We don't have to deal with getting doored as much here, but in trade we get a much higher volume of douche bags in jacked up trucks and SUVs, all of which have no regard for cyclists, so the middle finger pretty much remains permanently extended. Have had a few occasions where people threatened to throw down, none of which followed through (one ending with a cable lock to their tail gate, leaving a nice sized dent).

    I've been pulled over twice for blowing stop signs (both of which were clearly safe to run), neither resulted in a ticket though. I did get pulled over for riding in the road once through a heavily biked, by a cop who clearly had no clue about the local bike laws, stating that it's illegal for me to ride in the road where ever a paved (or roughly paved in this case) path exists.


    same shit in dallas , ive been ticketed 4 times now just for riding around
    gotta love it
    • CommentAuthorHyde
    • CommentTimeMar 7th 2009
     
    Thanks assholes! I had a cabby flip me off this morning & I did nothing wrong. I blame you!
    • CommentAuthorGian
    • CommentTimeMar 7th 2009
     
    Much of the time I ride like this, unless im too tired to keep up on the big streets. I just find it so much more fun, and stopping is a pain and a half most of the time (especially for those of us rockin tiny cogs or big chainrings).
  31.  
    Its aaaaaaaaalll GOOOOOOOOOD sds holla!!!
    • CommentAuthortangsuto
    • CommentTimeMar 8th 2009
     
    I feel like sometimes biking like an asshole (to cars) is the only way to go. Of course I try to be as safe as can be, and if there is a more viable safe route, I'd take it, but sometimes there isn't. And like a Gian said up there, what's the point in stopping if you really don't have to.

    What really gets me are the surprised looks from people when you do something like lane splitting. If they just drive like a normal human being, they really shouldn't have an issue with this. They act like they don't have another 8 feet of road to drive on. Or some people just drive like stopping for you for 2 seconds really messes up their schedule. People just need to relax.
  33.  
    ran my first red today! ^_____^
    • CommentAuthorhipster
    • CommentTimeMar 9th 2009
     
    i don't. i don't obey all traffic laws but i stop at lights and slow for intersections. thinking it's cool to bike like a jerk is pretty stupid.
    • CommentAuthortangsuto
    • CommentTimeMar 9th 2009
     
    Posted By: hipsteri don't. i don't obey all traffic laws but i stop at lights and slow for intersections. thinking it's cool to bike like a jerk is pretty stupid.


    That's being smart. Just blindly going through intersections without looking is dangerous and stupid. There is a difference between biking like an asshole and being careless and dangerous. As you pointed out hipster.
  36.  
    How can riders expect drivers to respect riders and share the road when they themselves don't follow the rules. So much hypocrisy from bike riders! Do you really need to skid in front of me for no reason? Do you really need to trackstand in a line of 5 people? Do you really need to get blasted on PBR/Delerium/Budweiser right before going on a ride? Do you really need to yell at people in their cars? Do really need to blow past every stop sign/stoplight without making a full stop?

    Think of all the things you do and what you would think if a car/scooter/motorcycle/pedestrian did it. I'm just sayin...
  37.  
    Posted By: jayohachenHow can riders expect drivers to respect riders and share the road when they themselves don't follow the rules. So much hypocrisy from bike riders! Do you really need to skid in front of me for no reason? Do you really need to trackstand in a line of 5 people? Do you really need to get blasted on PBR/Delerium/Budweiser right before going on a ride? Do you really need to yell at people in their cars? Do really need to blow past every stop sign/stoplight without making a full stop?

    Think of all the things you do and what you would think if a car/scooter/motorcycle/pedestrian did it. I'm just sayin...



    Yea, it’s one of those “chicken & egg” things isn’t it?

    “I’m not going to fallow the rules or respect the other users of the roads till they do it first to me!” I’ve been as guilty as the next biking A-hole, bolth behind the bars and behind the wheel.

    I like to think of it in terms of “natural selection” though. Some days you get the bear, other days you’re going to end up a greasy spot on the road...
    • CommentAuthormusicengr
    • CommentTimeMar 10th 2009
     
    I folow the same logic riding a bicycle as I do when I'm riding a motorcycle: There are old riders, and there are bold riders, but there are no old bold riders. I have not had a case of road rash since about 1964. I believe my conservative riding approach is why.
    • CommentAuthordonnielego
    • CommentTimeMar 10th 2009 edited
     
    i just moved down to Savannah Ga.
    and you have to down here. no one uses there turn signals or anything.
    so you gotta be extremely aggressive.
    i've rode in ny, phila, dc, and baltimore.this is by far the most dangerous place for a cyclist.
    • CommentAuthorgergm
    • CommentTimeMar 10th 2009
     
    who cares? just go ride!
  41.  
    i bike like a rockstar! what what?!?!?
  42.  
    I try to be cool with red lights and look out when i split lanes cuz im not tryna get hit but fuck that ima dumai thang. I just cant stand when sum dumb hoe will cut up in the bike lane and i ride brakeless so i gotta thorw myself into traffic cuz this dumbass doesnt know how to respect my ridin vibe lol. Ima cus a car out.
  43.  
    weeeeerd, its like some aholes in a car are closer than they appear! hahahah
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeMar 12th 2009
     
    i know that this is an internet forum, and one with a young audience at that, but GOBSTOPTODROP it would really help your cause if you could string together a real sentence with recognizable words. i've got nothing against slang but really? are you joking?
  45.  
    dude have a fuckin sense of humor shit
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeMar 12th 2009
     
    im sorry, the humor shit portion of my brain must be malfunctioning..
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeMar 12th 2009
     
    i'm sorry again, i was still making fun of you. if you didn't catch that.
  48.  
    hahaha no your definitely funny hahahaha
  49.  
    haha i wasnt sure if this thread was about seriousness or totally made for joking. i think the subject line totally sounds like a joke but it could go both ways. on a serious note, i try not to bike like a complete asshole but its mostly because the cars are a little bigger than me. i do not feel bad if i have to kick a bumper or two when someone is up on my stuff, if you know what i mean. if that makes me an asshole, im not sure.
    • CommentAuthoradriano
    • CommentTimeMar 15th 2009
     
    protect yourselves, rebels.
    • CommentAuthorthadeust
    • CommentTimeMar 16th 2009
     
    sometimes if i feel spicy i ride on the left side of the bike path.

    actually i live in Eugene Oregon, and its ridiculous how cycle friendly this town is. there is bike paths and lanes everywhere, so i barely ever get the chance to have any asshole fun. southern oregon streets are more fun, the cars completely ignore you so its way easier to judge timing without having to worry about someone trying to swerve away from you or stopping suddenly because they are nervous driving around a cyclist and fucking something up.

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