Bicycles and Cars in "Road Wars" (News Report - Los Angeles)

[mbbrwr]

black people think bikes are for sidewalks because none of them own road bikes. they are used to toy bikes where you pedal backwards to brake....or they dont have brakes at all.

in the hood black people bike on the sidewalk. its a fact.

[kasrkinmullet]

We don't have separate bike paths where I live but we have really wide side lanes for bikes. I think it works pretty well, I've never had a problem with cyclists and I've never had a problem with cars when I've been riding.

[ESOE08]

fuck that foo Mcfakris634

[zero2blur]

I remember once I was driving and I stopped at a four way stop behind a car. He stopped and waited as a cyclist blew threw the opposing stop sign. The guy in the car in front of me leaned out of his window and yelled, "HEY, THERE'S A STOP SIGN THERE!' and pointed at the stop sign. As the cyclist rode by, he yelled, "FVCK YOUUU!!!' at the driver. THIS is why I have problems with cyclists...

[jpete3027666]

@zero2blur so you based your opinion of an entire population of people on ONE event?  Idiot.

[zero2blur]

@jpete3027666 More: I was at a park. As I was stopped, preparing to turn left into a parking lot, the oncoming bikes did not stop. I leaned out and said , "Hey there is a stop sign there." And the guy said, "Huh? oh yah, whatever." How about last week when there was a red light and the bike rider blew through it? Or the riders who wear all black at night with no lights? I am very aware of all riders and respect all of them. I'm just telling you what I have observed and you can't handle it.

[jpete3027666]

@zero2blur for every event where a cyclist was a jerk, I can probably think of 100 of a driver being a complete ass towards a cyclist

[zero2blur]

@jpete3027666 Sorry to every cyclist that cars are mean to, I have been nearly killed by a semi truck while on a bike. So I know both sides.

[thesum41s]

All you people talking about how one side is right and the other side is wrong are all idiots. I drive a truck and ride a bike, I know that drivers can be assholes as well as bikers. If you're in a 35MPH zone and you're doing 10 then get the hell out of the way. Also if you're driving along and just cut off a cyclist then don't be suprised to get a U-lock through your side window on the way past. My point is that both parties need to quit being assholes and try to be a bit more respectful

[TheBbergner86]

Road = Cars

If a bike can go the speed limit, has license plates, insurance, and not be a inconvenience to everybody else on the road... then they are more then welcome to SHARE the road.

If not you will be given the same consideration bikers give to cars.... zero

[10lx]

@TheBbergner86 "then they are more than welcome to SHARE the road"...but you are not the law and therefore it is not up to you to decide who is welcome or who isn't! The law allows cyclists to use the road with equal rights. You might not like it but you just have to accept it.

[mcfakris634]

@paniciao I really don't care what you think. Maybe you need to concentrate on what you are doing on your little cycle. I am not intending to hit anyone, but there seems to be a large outcry of cyclists expressing their rights. All I was stating was that your rights do not do a whole hell of a lot when you are hit by a car. But that is just my two sense.

[heroblue15]

i hate that if theres no bike lane us the dam sidewalk pleazzzz dnt be dumb and use the whole road. they do that so much here in florida they litteraly ride in the middile of the road if they have too

[mcfakris634]

I love the people that explain their cycling rights. I am sorry but when i am in traffic, there are a million other thing for me to worry about. I DONT ever want to hit someone, so don't take it that way. However you are more agile, and can brake quicker. That is great if you can take up a whole lane, but at the end of the day, is that what is important to you. Because when you meet the grill of my SUV I am going to win, and when a life is lost, especially yours, does it really matter?

Ridesafe!

[upcycle]

@mcfakris634 people that threaten to hit cyclists are criminals, even when they do it just after saying they don't want to hit someone. And thankfully more and more motorists that use thier vehicles as weapons are being punished and often lose thier license to drive, and pay cilvil and punitive damages to the cyclist. OOOPS, there goes the SUV, the house, the bank account...

Drivesafe!

[mcfakris634]

@upcycle since you are determined that I am a criminal you can check my record. Yea, a speeding ticket, I'm a rebel, I know! Apparently I cant even state a point with out you flipping your shit and saying that I am going to use my vehicle as a weapon. Oh, and just as a side note, I would rather lose my materialistic things, than my life. Hard for the cyclist to sue when they are deceased, no?

And since I was not clear the first time, I would be DEVASTATED if I hit someone!

[paniciao]

@mcfakris634 I think You are one of those motorists checking his cell while behind the wheel of an automobile. Really now a million ??? I would rather ride agressive than safe the life I save maybe my own. If You have a million things on Your mind You don't belong behind the wheel. CONCENTRATE AT THE TASK AT HAND !!!!!!!!

[samstterhamstteer]

@mcfakris634 your a loser, you live your life with that mentality all the time? good luck with your future how about you hit the biker purposely cause your too damn close cause you have no patience and he doesnt die but the rider happens to carry a 9mm like myself and happens to shoot your dumbass ever think of that? of course i would never do that cause i dont solve my problems like you do but your an idiot change your mindset you talk as if you where a 15 year old kid.

[samstterhamstteer]

@mcfakris634 and stop copy pasting the same comment on other videos i must have seen it couple times now, same one are you proud of your dumb mentality?

[jpete3027666]

@mcfakris634 you're a moron

[zivkovicable]

@mcfakris634 You're not in traffic. You are traffic.

[Charles2337]

I always give way to cyclists, but sometimes they can be real annoying.

[emforty2]

everday i pray for heavy traffic and higher gas prices

[PlebScrubber]

@emforty2 a bike is no more a vehical than a pogo stick is a vehical... sure you can ride on it but its got no motor, cant keep up with the majority of traffic and offers no protection for the rider.

[emforty2]

@PlebScrubber brilliant analysis no motor i ddin't know that btw its spelled "vehicle"

[PlebScrubber]

@emforty2 btw your supposed to use a capital I when refering to yourself... get a life

[mcfakris634]

@PlebScrubber that is my thing. If I drive 10 in a 40, people flip out, but it is okay for bikes to do that. Stop signs are just another thing all together, however I try not to stereotype...

[upcycle]

@mcfakris634 maybe the solution for you is to get on a bike, so you can go 10 and not have people in cars flip out? Just a thought for your consideration.

[mcfakris634]

@upcycle aha, as if I would ride a bike. I would not put my life out there for a driver to hit me. I would be bussing and walking before you'd see me on a cycle. I am happy with my automobile, I like to have metal as a crumple zone, not my body.

[upcycle]

@mcfakris634 some interesting work being done in development of airbag body suits 4 motorcyclists. & anyways, the technology is evolving to where humans will not be driving cars anyways. computers will take on more and more of this menial task of getting people from place to place. Freeing up humans to use their time for other thijngs that may give them more meaning or better serve them, perhaps like sleeping or reading, or posting comments on youtube videos about the "road wars".. hahaha

[mcfakris634]

@upcycle hey, I am down for whatever cuts down on road deaths...

[joinerman418]

Stupid fucking bikers have a sidewalk, quit being such an equal rights faggot and do what is safe and correct. BIKE LANES ARE BIKE LANES< NOT A FULL ROAD

[DietLite1986]

I have had it with these IDIOT bicyclists preaching about "sharing the road".

If there is no sidewalk or if the speed limit is 20 mph and you can keep up, then fine.

However, i see bicyclists going down busy 40 mph streets @ 15-20 mph. Do these idiots realize the amount of dander they put themselves in while cars are going twice as fast as them right on their tail. quit bitching stupid bicyclists and get on the fucking sidewalk!!!

[mcfakris634]

@DietLite1986 I just think that they are naive for preaching they are part of traffic. If I rear ended another car at 20 there will be damage, not a fatality. As far as safety, biking is a joke.

[samstterhamstteer]

@mcfakris634 if you read end someone going 20 then your an idiot

[Driftordie15]

wrong about sidewalk black bitch you get ticket if your on the sidewalk

[thaihungthinh]

wow! sooo dangerous to ride a bicycle in L.A. area, made me cringe with fright, America better shape up and learn to ride a bike to work or just basic transportation.

[TheMango121]

"bikes are for sidewalks, not streets".... She needs to read some bike safety.

[gangstapmpm]

that bitch is so stupid. bikes arent for sidewalks. they are vehicles and have every right on the road.

[mcfakris634]

@gangstapmpm I agree 100% with your rights to be on the road! good for you for exercising your rights. While we are being idealistic, wanna solve world hunger with me, AIDS, or child abuse:D

[Mazapagon]

Bike riders not following the law tend to be little more than an annoyance to others. Car drivers not following the law can result in much worse than an annoyance for others. If a cyclist collides with a car, what do you think generally happens?

So... should those who drive big rigs bully the four wheelers who are an annoyance to them?

[CheckThisOutFoo]

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL!!

[lagolake1]

lol these bicyclists think that car drivers have to go out of their way here in LA. They end up slowing traffic even more

[ahutch70]

segregation of cyclists is simply taking away the cyclist's legal right to use our nation's roads !

[TheVexatiousLitigant]

The standard of driving in an area is a direct reflection of the standard of Policing in the area. They can charge with careless or dangerous driving but choose not to and what you see in the video is the end result.

[ujustlostTheGAME12]

bikes are for side walks. lol yeah okay have you ever tried riding a bike through town. try it sometime. it'l give you a new respect for bikers. i think everywhere should have a bike lane

[FastDashEight]

Here in my part of the IE, I'm real excited that they're utilizing the old Pacific Electric San Bernardino line as a bike trail. When they complete it, it should reach from Rialto to San Dimas or so. I mentioned that this project was giong to be the 210 freeway of bicycles

[MrIce807]

The sideWALK is for WALKING!!!! Not bikes. Like it or not bikes arent toys but transportation.

[paniciao]

@MrIce807 yes and that woman who said that should take a look in the mirror and think about her choice of words.

[dmayfield2]

regardless of who's right or who's wrong a 40 lb bike is no match for a 2000+ lb car if i was riding a bike on a busy street i would watch my own ass not worry about "well i have the right of way" yes there are stupid drivers out there hell 85% of the people on the road cant drive but at the same time you can probably apply that same logic to the number of idiot bikers out there who dart across streets or otherwise ride dangerously. i think bikers should be licensed to ride just like drivers

[calfan3]

as jadesdaddy03 just stated...that black dumbass lady is incorrect. sidewalks are for pedestrians.....roads and roadways are for vehicles. a vehicle is a device for transporting people or things. a bike=vehicle. dumbass lady

[Blenkey117]

yank car drivers seem like dicks. just cos they wna maintain there meter gap behind the car infront. scooters are the way forward!

[dmayfield2]

scooters are gay motorcycles

[jadesdaddy03]

Ignorance "...bikes are for sidewalks". NO, bikes are Pedestrian VEHICLES. Which is why they MUST obey traffic laws.

[totoroben]

they stick a "bikes are for sidewalks" person in every one of these segments. It really makes my blood boil. Recreational trails are great, but do they get me where I need to go? Not always. Most of the time there is no alternative to main arterials and they should institute traffic calming measures to make cycling safer.

[Losuol]

@jadesdaddy03 No Bikes are for sidewalks. When you're going 60 km/h and there's a bike on the side on a two-lane street it doesn't seem equal or safe...

[waddleduckie1]

Cars drivers also run red lights and they also often are inexcusable when it comes to manner and not observing safety precautions. Drivers do not own the road as much as bicycles do. Cyclists must share the roads with drivers whether they like it or not since automobiles do contribute to pollution due to high emission and gas consumption. Also the arrogance of car drivers will make them highly at risk for future accidents that will result in the death of any innocent cyclists.

[skeletonbite]

Don't let how you think things *should* be distract you from what actually *is*. Especially when it's at your expense.

[skeletonbite]

If you're walking down the side walk and see a loose, rabid dog in your path, you have a right to walk right up to it and pass it. But you'll probably get attacked.

I ride a bike almost daily, and I avoid relying on motorists' skills and attention when it's my life/health on the line. If they're not paying attention, and I'm in the middle of the road, I get sent to the hospital while they're left with a dent.

[EnjoyFirefighting]

In germany xou may go on the sidewalk with bike until you are 10 years old (or 11) after that you have to go on the road or if there is a seperatly bike lane, you have to use it. When you go on with the flowing traffic, it's quite safe. At some parts in my city (about 2000 years old) I'm faster, at some parts the traffic is bit faster

I go by bike nearly every day; if not, I walk

[MixtecaConJaguar]

it all comes down to sharing, being considerate and cautious. The roads for everyone baby!

got to fix my bike.

[TheRealLaker]

In the UK the road infastructure is to old in alot of places to build proper bicycle lanes. However I feel that women is wrong about bicycles haveing a right to a whole lane. Legally we are aloud to use the road, but we don't pay road tax so motorised vehicles should take priority. I sometimes feel a shared walkway system would work, in which areas without cycle lanes you use the path but have to giveway for pedatrians.

[Dershnof]

I agree on some of this. Cyclists CAN take up a lane if they feel its just too dangerous for a car to pass safetly. Secondly the bike paths cross intersections and driveways in which people dont tend to look for bicycles coming..and pull out in front or cut them off. Bike paths can be more dangerous than riding in the road sometimes..thats why they ride in the road..to be visible to other drivers and to be safe.

[dollydagger509]

Sidewalks are not for bikes, lady. It is illegal to bike on sidewalks, at least here in Washington. You will get a ticket here if you are caught biking on a sidewalk. SideWALK...for walkers.

[IWANTALEXUS]

That may be so for your state. Many states leave this decision to local municipalities. If there's not the 36" of actual roadway to be dedicated to a bicycle only lane, then riding on the side walk is generally permitted. An example is City of Phoenix AZ Ordinance #G-5219 2 July 2008 Chapter 31 Streets and Sidewalks Article IX Sec. 36-113.Pedestrian right-of-way. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk he shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian.Code 1962, § 37-25.05)

[IWANTALEXUS]

(continued) Also consider the legal, financial, and public relations problems that occur in areas that don't have bike lanes, yet enforce the bicycles prohibited on sidewalks. If a bicyclist lived in such an area, was obeying all laws while riding, and was hit & injured by a vehicle,...well, their attorneys would have a field day, not only suing the driver, but suing whatever governmental agency for gross negligence. Also the PR stigma of "That place isn't friendly to bicylists." More lost $.

[dollydagger509]

So smart, you are. :)

[Dershnof]

Riding on sidewalks can be every bit as dangerous, as some car drivers tend to block the way or pull out of a driveay and run right into you w/o even knowing. Where I live you can ride on the sidewalk but I dont and neevr will..just too dangerous..and your not visible to other drivers as if you were in the road.

[SeargantSwashy]

haha I lol'ed when i heard her say bikes are for sidewalks. This a person whos never ridden a bike in her life. Also, who the fuck gave dollydagger a negative for this? It IS the law. Sidewalks are for pedestrians dumb fucks.

[peaceandloveletsblow]

"everything's so expensive, and traffic is so bad, and I'm really fat.... let's go to mcdonalds, I'll drive!"

[SCHIZOPHRENlC]

damn westchester to burbank. i know exactly how far that is, fool's insane.

[inertialdrift]

it has always been a war with cars and bikes. road sharing isn't what drivers do the best. as a biker and a motorist, i put myself in two points of view, i consider my safety but the safety of the cyclist first. i'm with 3,000+ lb of steel & he flimy 15-35 lb bike.

if LA does become something like Davis, that would be a miracle. as the saying goes, if you can ride a bike in downtown la, you can ride pretty much anywhere. if you get honked, let it go. difference between alive and 6 feet under.

[swangonce]

Westchester to Burbank and back = 34 miles. That is one ugly ride, I would think, for the KFI guy.

[inertialdrift]

its not that bad to be honest. true the traffic congestion is up there during rush hour. but the distance/trip is very reasonable especially for us road bikers.

[thismitebealrite77]

Veloution!

[troncrete1]

i ride everywhere i go in NYC. and it is a war, we have bikelanes but cabs park there. also its illigal to ride on the sidewalk in NYC. but its not just cars, even today i was riding down the street and some asshole just walked against the walk signal and i fucking hit him. there is nothing to do other then take the space you need and have the right to. so far my record is, hit by 5 cars, hit too many to count, 4 redestrians and one other biker. it is a war, suck it up and fight!

[emforty2]

Oil companies please increase the price of gas to $12 a gallon so that there would be LESS cars on the road PLEASE !!

[Unseenshot]

Well if that happened there would be more things affected than just cars, delivery trucks that bring your precious little bike to the store so you can buy it would have to spend more on gas making the company up the price of the bike so you would be paying more for tires, chains, etc.

[renisans]

I ride my bicycle along the dedicated bike paths in Irvine and I wouldn't give that up even with the 90+ degree temperatures out there. I hope that L.A. can follow the models of Davis and Portland in future civic design - and that will only happen so long as gas prices stay high.

When you've got drivers by the balls via $120+barrel oil, some hearts and minds will eventually follow. The rest can devolve into the pitiful, plaintive apologists for a fast fading American entitlement to cheap oil.

[BayAreaBiker2001]

I think the reason for this attitude is due to the money that goes into the use of a car. Because cars cost 50-100 times as much as a bike, drivers somehow feel entitled to certain rights that bikers don't. Bikers' rights need to be clarified so motorists can at least understand. I think this attitude dates from the 1940's, when bikes were considered toys. It took an oil crisis to make bikes attractive, but it did not last long.

[LightWarrior1]

Hi all. I've ridden bicycles in los angeles off and on for 20 years. It doesn't take very long to realize that this city in particular was designed and developed unfortunately, not for bicyclists but rather, for gas guzzling automobiles. So, as a keeping alive strategy I've done as so many other cyclists do and ride with all of my senses at their optimum performance. I can literally smell from a block away a distracted motorist who is falling asleep at the wheel or is trying to do 20 things

[spacerconrad]

"bikes belong on sidewalks"? Wow... what an idiot. She probably believes bikes are all toys bought at Kmart, too.

[Dershnof]

Yeah lol.

[drewlfc27]

Look at London if you want some bike tips - cycle commuting has gone up like 400% ina few years...

[suedetimz]

yeah, it's a war. thankfully the price of gas is outrageous so there are more soldiers enlisting in the bicycle army everyday... i think once people actually start riding they will fall in love with it and stop driving.

[cbsteffen]

People can't give up driving very easily and ride bicycles nearly all the time instead in America. The distances are too big.

[Unseenshot]

Yes especially in America imagine taking a trip to New York or Cali on a bike with all your suitcases and whatever else you bring with you it would take months to get there. Take a plane you say, well you just used about 75x as much gas as a car would to get to your destination.

[BayAreaBiker2001]

I manage just fine. I have ridden to San Francisco 21 times, a distance of 70 km. I once rode to Hollister, a 100-km trip, in 11 hours. I have also biked to Oakland, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, and even Sausalito.

[ChicosAddict]

Share the road, people! Amen...bikes do NOT belong on sideWALKs.

[wsblend]

The people who have a "the road is for cars" mentality have it only because they are impatient children who can't accept being impeded for a few moments of their day. Grow up, people.

[Dershnof]

Yeah I have a friend who keepss aying ''the road is for cars not bikes''. Its this kind of attitude amoung car drivers that is gonna get bikers injured or killed more often I swear.

[ccrinc]

how can you stand the smog while riding?

[Califflorida]

Try adding a loud car horn to your bike.

[fableelbaf]

I've found some nice bicycle lanes and am happy to take them as much as possible even if longer way around. But bottom line, I'm not gonna fight cars. The roads were built for them to start with.

[BayBoy7]

Wrong, what are at present streets mostly used by car drivers, in many areas, were once indian foot paths, later used by carriages, wagons, bicycles, and streetcars, before the tracks were ripped out by a car industry consortium, and the lanes re-striped for cars. Remember the San Francisco Wheelman who demonstrated for better roads circa 1900. Freeways were built for cars, streets were not.

[fableelbaf]

I'm a PT cyclist.

Actually, bicycles don't belond on sidewalks, that's illegal in most places.

They belong on the road, and to the right as far as safe. However they do have to consider opening doors.

I think the San Francisco mass demo blocking is wrong approach to bicycle tolerance.

Cyclist should feel safe on right, but also have to be careful. After all, they will lose vs. a car.

[monos70]

"Bikes are for sidewalks, not for the streets" Denise Mckinney says. And we have someone that replied: "America was designed for cars, not bikes"

do these people ever wonder why the US is the most Overweight nation in the world? I'd love to see them what an engine feels like by being on a bike rather than them "Exercising" their precious right foot over the accelerator.

[BayBoy7]

We can take a full lane if we need to, if there are potholes, if there's any source of danger, sometimes the safest thing for us to do is to just use the full lane of traffic, the cars can go around, it costs them 3 seconds and they'll be on their way."

[1:40]-Monica Howe, L.A. County Bicycle Coalition

So true, thank you for all your hard work Monica.

[FrameDrumAndFlute]

Riding a bicycle on the side walk is not safe for the biker. Cars pulling out of driveways are not expecting something as fast as a bicycle to be there.

[jbibm]

People in America are just so stuck in their cars. Good for those of you on bikes

[acrett]

if the bikers wouldn't have a holier than thou disposition things would work a little better. cars=1-2 tons of metal moving 15-45 mph on streets, legally. bike=10-15lb of whatever titanium material driving not qucker than 15mph on the street as well. you do the math. THIS IS NOT EUROPE, AMERICA WAS DESIGNED FOR CARS, NOT BIKES!!!!!

[babbsiscool]

not 15 more like 25 to 30 miles per hour on the flats down a hill they get up to 60 and 70 and they take up no space so get used to it if it worries you you obviously cant drive.

[acrett]

it obviously doesn't worry me since im not the one who will likely be killed driving a bike like an ahole on the streets thinking that they're better than all the cars on roads which were made for cars. 60mph? i don't think so. and 25 on the street w/ all the other bikes? i don't think so as well

[babbsiscool]

ya you must be fast and ugly yes sixty ive passed cars on the highway but i was going seventy those bikes are fast and in a 25 on a flat i pass cars too you can sprint on a bike up about 45 if you want the roads are designed for a speed not for a particular mode of transportation.

[acrett]

then why don't you drive in the middle of the street?

[babbsiscool]

we dont ride in the middle of the street that way the cars can get around us when you are going down a big mountain hill that fast however you do.

[acrett]

?

what did you just say

[upcycle]

a bicycle with an electric assist hub motor could reasonably do 35 mph with human power contribution, even on a cheapo mountain bike. However, at that speed, bike should have disk brakes on front wheel. see video "man motors on hybrid bike"

[imluvinyourmum]

tour de france riders average 24 mph on flat sections, i dont think many people could top those guys, id say 15 would be above average when you consider we are talking about the general public

the way i see it any type of vehicle should be allowed to use the road as long as they obey all the rules, this means sticking to the speed limit. going 10km over OR under the speed limit in australia is illegal so i think bikes should have the same rules, if your not fast enough get off the road

[babbsiscool]

nmber one we are not in austrailria number two the tour de france riders are going over a hundred miles on any given stage so when you are only going twenty to thirty miles its not that hard. they sprint to about 50 miles an hour so really at 25 they are just cruising. in a 40 mile time trial they average 31 to 34 miles an hour.

[imluvinyourmum]

your facts are flawed

the top tour de france riders average 24-25 miles per hour, show me a link or source of a rider hitting over 30 avg over all stages, the record is something like 27 over all stages i believe

plus we are talking about the general public, not proffesionals

you may think you can ride as fast as a tour de france rider, but you cant :)

[tesla4d]

Actually, it's not so hard if you're only talking about a short commute.

Up until a short time ago, I commuted to work on a *Mountain Bike* and averaged nearly twenty mph, and could sprint to 35 for three city blocks.

I can't wait to see what I can do on a bike actually made for pavement.

[upcycle]

babbsiscool wrote:

"...hard. they sprint to about 50 miles an hour..."

I have hear of sprints of top elite bicyclists, of about 35 max on level ground on a super high tech bike with flat, even asphalt.

I think on typical urban roads with a low tech mountain bike, a 20mph short sprint is more reasonable for a reasonably good cyclist.

[monos70]

your facts are illogical.

Tour de France "are going over 100 MPH on ANY given stage" Then you say "they SPRINT to about 50 MPH" that's half of 100MPH and that's just sprinting!?!? This makes Lance Armstrong look like a turtle.

[upcycle]

I think it is important to consider that a non suspension bike with thin wheels can be dangerous on many typical urban roads (with or with motor traffic). Brakes on bikes at those speeds must better than typical bike brakes that squeeze the rim. Disk brakes probably best choice.

[imluvinyourmum]

ok guys take it this way, even if you think you are better than lance armstrong than why not spare a thought for the other 99.99% of cyclists who are at danger on the roads.

by argueing you are fit for the roads you give the government an escape goat instead of spending money to make footpaths/roads wide enough to encorperate bycicles.

imagine if every road they built or upgraded from 10 years ago up to today had a bike lane added, their wouldnt even be a debate anymore

[imcbeatreporter]

wrong way to think about it. fact is, you have to share the roads with slower vehicles all the time. example: street sweepers. should you have the right to run them off the roads 'cause they "go too slow"?

[walkman123456789]

dont call me an idiot dmwong go eat a bag of dicks

[seahorseoysterfish]

Using a car as a weapon has never been legal. Bicycles are inherently SAFE, it's impatient or careless car drivers who kill. Cars are safer when driven with respect for vulnerable road users, e.g. in France, where cycling has high status as a sport and ALL drivers give cyclists safe room. Ride predictably, get fit, and claim as much space as you need to stay safe. Keeping bikes on the road helps pedestrians feel safer (remember them?)

[walkman123456789]

why do bikers not go on the fucking sidewalk if its there. its no harder for them to get where they gotta go. dont go on the road the road is for cars. the city spends millions of dollars on sidewalks for you so use them, you stupid fucks

[dmwong7]

Because it's illegal you idiot!!

[Makdjor]

Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Bikes on sidewalks need to ride less than 10mph in most states. If you ride a bike over 10mph than you belong in the street driving as other vehicles do. Did you realize that there are more injuries and fatalities to pedestrians in auto accidents every year than to bicyclists in auto accidents?

[Dershnof]

yeah if you like getting cut off by car drivers who dont fucking LOOK when entering driveways or turning at intersections..and dodging pedestrains and waiting for them to get the fuck out of the way and riding on the grass to avoid hitting them..yeah you ride on the sidewalk. I'll stick to riding on the road thanks!

[Dershnof]

Shut up Douche

[upcycle]

I want to express that I think the news report title" Road Wars" is provocative for attention getting. And perhaps it may be part of the development cycle which leads to bicycling being the norm for the community of Los Angeles.

[mimib1230]

Davis looks hilarious. Did you see all of the cyclists? Man.

[alanshemper]

Biking on the sidewalk is illegal.

[upcycle]

re: "Biking on the sidewalk is illegal."

It is illegal in some place and legal in other places. In Los Angeles, where the news report is from,it is LEGAL to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk.

[Dershnof]

It may be legal but its not any saefer.

[Dershnof]

I would ride on the road anyday over the sidewalk cause of the many dangers riding on a sidewalk presents. Its not hard to understand.

[mailpauljonescouk]

Great report exposing an increasing problem in cities worldwide. Well done!

[moviedude111]

i love beating cars and buses on my commute everyday, you see them so angry at being passed, especially when it is grid locked, and you are flying by at 40 km hour.

[fourwheeler1980]

Yes, but they smell so much better after their commute.

[nodeniro]

I throw beer bottles from my truck at cyclists. LOL

[BayBoy7]

What if someone assaulted your neighbor or relative or their child while they were riding their bicycle, Would you still "laugh out loud" ?

[fourwheeler1980]

Why would they be assaulted? Were they behaving in a deliberately provocative manner? Were they victimizing and terrorizing elderly people, as Critical Mass members have been accused of doing?

[anhcadefire]

what critical mass members have been accused of terrorizing elderly people? did you just make this up? fucking ridiculous.

[fourwheeler1980]

In California earlier this year. The video is on YouTube.

[anhcadefire]

can't find the video. you have a link?

[upcycle]

"Were they victimizing and terrorizing elderly people, as Critical Mass members have been accused of doing?"

I dodn't think the people interviewed were riding in "critical mass". And besides that, I know of many cyclists that have gotten harrassed on their bicycle before "critical mass" ever existed. I think the attitude of the general community is turning in favor of cyclists. I can explain my theories why.

[nodeniro]

Screw bike riders. Get out of the road ya idiots.

[mostliberal]

Fuck you, nodeniro. I ride my bike 2 1/2 miles to school and back, and it's a low profile tire (thin tire) bike with no shock absorption. Bikes of that kind go fast and are fragile; I tried riding the sidewalk, but it fucked up my back wheel to the point where it's bent. Asphalt is the only surface smooth enough for a safe ride.

[fourwheeler1980]

Dude, buy a more appropriate bike. Problem resolved!

[Dershnof]

I have 3 kind of bikes. A fast road bike that weighs 14 pounds..a hybrid bike with wider tires for city riding..and a mountain bike that can handle anything you throw at it. I ride the road bike most of the time since I am faster and they have no resistance..yeilding you faster speeds and quicker takeoffs.

[BayAreaBiker2001]

Asphalt/macadam was invented to accommodate the bicycle.

[steveparkes]

I get cut up in a dangerous fashion at least once every 10 miles in urban UK.

Most of the time it's just that the driver didn't take a long enough look (if they looked at all) and certainly didn't expect a cyclist doing 30mph in that section of the road but increasingly it's a deliberate act of violence.

I'm 6' 3" and almost 20 stone so white van man gets back into his vehicle when I tell him to but I worry for other cyclists who are intimidated.

[fourwheeler1980]

20 stone? Pedal faster and burn some of that fat off.

[BayBoy7]

Motorist/cyclist space conflict and road rage is a challenging social problem that will only get worse in the coming years as more and more Americans reclaim the streets for transportation cycling. This is a serious urban problem that will only result in escalating violence with drivers using their cars as an intimidating weapon and cyclists responding with other weapons and tactics. We need to address the transportation engineering question NOW if we are to remain civilized.

[fourwheeler1980]

Eventually you will go too far and wind up in our justice system, historically a difficult venue from which to effect significant changes in urban planning strategy.

[harm0n1ca]

I have to admit so far on my commute vehicles have been pretty reasonable with me when I'm on the road (touch wood). Maybe we just have more cyclists in Leeds, or maybe I've just been lucky!

[nagare67]

So interesting. Thanks for posting. Keep pedaling, we'll win!!