For about three years now, starting, really, since my visit to the US Social Forum back in June of 2010, the lightbulb has been going on re bicycles and the subcultures that are forming around this technology. 

 

It's fascinating.    There's the Cycle Chic thing from Europe, which bleeds over into the Tweed Ride scene, which also overlaps with the urban biking thing, which mixes hipsters and a more politically committed indy subculture, and bleeds into the "commute by bike movement'...which crosses into road biking.

 

Then there are the Moujntain Bike, BMX and  cylcocross types. 

 

Then the more mainstream sports riders and road bikers.

 

And the generic recreation riders.

 

And here in Dayton (and probably other places) there is the more low-income beater bike riders, who are'nt really a self-concious subculture,  but are pretty visible on the street and on RTA. 

 

This whole scene is really rich.  Now Im finding there are publications focusing on this stuff.

 

Urban Velo (for city riders, but with a bit of vague edgy feel to it)

 

Momentum (sort of a feminist angle, but also urban/utiltiy riders)

 

Bicycle Times (again more to the urban cyclist/but also a bit of the sports angle...they recently had an article on "rRandoneuring"). 

 

Bicycle (deffo for sports cyclists and road bikers, but good general purpose stuff).

 

...then there appears to be a host of zines and blogs.  Probably the most famous in Bike Snob, who also published a book on the bike scene, back in 2010. 

 

 

 

 

So im going to post a bit on this.  You all can too, if you have any opinions, observations, or links and examples....

Urban Biking seems to be getting a lot of press.  There are guides to it like

The Urban Cyclists Survival Guide...and Urban Bikers Tips and Tricks...which is a good illustrated how-to on the topic. Ive read the second and am reading the first.

 

...and, forthcoming from the MIT Press, is ths perhaps a more serious policy/technocratic discussion on urban cycling:

 

City Cycling

 

City Cycling offers a guide to this urban cycling renaissance, with the goal of promoting cycling as sustainable urban transportation available to everyone. It reports on cycling trends and policies in cities in North America, Europe, and Australia, and offers information on such topics as cycling safety, cycling infrastructure provisions including bikeways and bike parking, the wide range of bike designs and bike equipment, integration of cycling with public transportation, and promoting cycling for women and children.

 

 

And here in NEO, we now have the Great Lakes Courier, which I think covers most of the subcultures you mentioned  8-)

 

http://greatlakescourier.com/

 

All of us who ride bikes have stories. We tend to talk about feats of balance and speed, and about how we interact with cars. We talk about hardware and pavement. We talk about big rides, dream rides, fast rides. Whatever kind of bike you ride, and whatever the reason, the Great Lakes Courier is a place to tell your stories.

 

Anyone reading this probably knows 2012 is a great time to be riding a bike in Cleveland. You've seen some of the reasons every day—all those people out on bicycles, traveling here and there Some are going to work. Some are going to get bagels. Some are going to pick up the kids. Some are just out and about, enjoying a bit of physics as they go.

 

You can see rows of bikes parked outside shows at Pats in the Flats, or the Happy Dog, or the Beer Engine, or the Root Cafe. If you want real numbers, NOACA has them: In 2010, bicycle ridership had gone up fifty percent, county wide, over counts done the same way 4 years earlier. In some places--in Lakewood and University Circle, for example, the increase was even more dramatic. And that was 2010. In the year since then, anyone who pays attention to the roads in and out of downtown knows the number of cyclists has only grown. Consider the Critical Mass rides, which were drawing about a dozen people in at the late nineties, and now draws as many as 350 riders on a summer day.

Minneapolis has Mpls Bike Love. I plan on attending the craft beer pub crawl.

 

http://mplsbikelove.com/

 

Of course, there are alleycat races which are geared towards bike messengers and hipsters. And bike polo which attracts an interesting crowd.

Speaking of bike polo, I need to get a chance to check out the bike polo court near UC. I think I heard it's the only public bike polo court in the country.

I donated $1000 to the Rails to Trails Conservancy during the 1980s and 1990s.  I "leveraged" the creation of thousands of miles of exclusive trails.  Massive trail usage has led to record sales of bicycles and a healthier America.  It has given millions of Americans an appreciation for the squawk of a blackbird, too!

I used to be skeptical of those rail-trails...until I started using them.  I continue to be amazed how far I can go on these, and how quickly....and how close I can get to corn, soybeans, and livestock  :wink:

I used to be skeptical of those rail-trails...until I started using them.  I continue to be amazed how far I can go on these, and how quickly....and how close I can get to corn, soybeans, and livestock  :wink:

 

When I was a kid and young adult - 1970s, through the late 80s - I rode almost exclusively on "surface" roads. Well, separate bike paths were not that common in the 1970s. Around Dayton only the Great Miami Bike Trail existed, and originally it only went as far south as Stewart Street and as far north as Siebenthaler Ave. (I think.) I had brass balls in terms of mixing with vehicular traffic. I would take rides, for example, from east Dayton where I lived in all four directions: east through Beavercreek to Yellow Springs, south down to Warren County (as far south as Ft. Ancient a few times), north to Troy and Covington, and southwest to Germantown and Franklin. I even remember riding places like from Belmont to the Huffman overlook near Fairborn - I considered that a minor, 2 hour ride.

 

Two things happened in the late 80s: when I moved back to Dayton, there was a lot more bikeway path mileage around Dayton than I ever encountered in the 70s, including extensions to the Great Miami trail and, of course, the Little Miami trail had opened up. And, sprawl and increased traffic had pretty much destroyed the best aspects of riding east or south  from in city Dayton (which were my two favorite cycling directions back in college.)

 

Maybe it's age or maybe it's lack of recent experience, but riding on a normal street is outside the norm for me now, and it makes me quite nervous. For one big thing, I am quite aware how distracted drivers have gotten. And imbecilic Idiocracy standards have taken hold in our society - people are just plain stupider than ever - I am concerned about stupid chances that drivers would take now in passing me on a bike, etc.  Lastly, everyone is in a hurry, and IMO a low level of road rage has become the norm in most drivers.

 

In other words, I now have no use for a bike as a public road transportation alternative. For me it's all about the trails. I want to live with all my faculties intact and not have a horrible accident caused by some numbskull driver's impatience.

 

Trails are really boring, though. They usually lack hills, and the scenery is homogenous - either a tunnel of trees, or corn fields.

 

I actually think drivers, overall, have improved their attitude toward bicyclists over the years. In the 70s, stupid local briar drivers would yell or honk their horns at me because I had the temerity to ride a bike on a public road. Today, drivers appear to be somewhat more aware of the rights of bikes. That is much more than balanced out by much increased traffic densities, and much increased driver distraction and driver impatience.

 

I've noticed the last few times I have been in Kettering that Forrer Blvd. has been reduced to 1 vehicular lane in each direction, plus a VERY wide bike lane, painted with accommodation for exiting vehicular traffic. That is only possible because Forrer was sized for the presence of the Delco plant, and since that has disappeared, the reduced traffic volume allowed a dedicated bike lane.

 

I think for bicycling to become more a part of US culture as a day to day thing, we need many more dedicated bike lanes such as that on Forrer Blvd. It's not perfect, but most people are not gonzo enough about cycling to worry about squeezing into vehicular lanes. Yeah, you're technically legal, but most drivers don't want you there and resent you being there.

 

IE - with reference to the Dayton area, in my dreams I would like to see dedicated bike lanes on all major N-S and E-W suburban arteries: Woodman, Wilmington, Far Hills, Whipp, 725, Spring Valley Pike, Social Row/Austin, etc. I believe resources like that would boost ridership substantially. Weaving a bike up and down wheelchair curb ramps onto sidewalks is dangerous. The only problem is, there is absolutely no public or private sector incentive to do this. I suspect that if we have substantial increases in oil prices (unlikely in the forseeable near term) - enough to become a substantial hardship to most drivers - you would see public demand for such an alternative.

 

In conclusion:

 

When I was young, I could see myself being a part time cycling activist/advocate. Now, for me, it's weekend recreation and exercise. And I used to ride my bike in town kind of to prove a point that I was there. I have no interest in that now.

 

The right time (historically speaking) to have done more integration of bicycle traffic with the urban environment is long past - like perhaps in the 90s when public budgets were flush. There's little money or will now.

 

And one last thing. The expansion of the paved bike trails throughout the Miami Valley is truly wonderful. The Xenia-Jamestown Connector is one of my favorite local trails. I think there is an unexploited potential to make trails like that one, and some of the others around the area, more of a regional overnight-stay recreational resource. The only problem with that is that almost all bike trail-specific businesses tend to die after a year or two unless they are in extremely highly trafficked areas.

 

It would be SO cool if bicycles one day replaced the station wagon or minivan as a primary family or couples getaway vehicle of choice. I'm not holding my breath, though.

and in Cincinnati http://cyclecincy.com/

Personally, I don't like all the bike subcultures.  And I've participated in some of them (like the tweed event).  With every bike organization, I've felt this vibe of arrogance. 

 

Bicycling is about mobility and human achievement.  It's about relying on the bicycle for getting where you need to go and also getting the exercise for a healthier lifestyle.  If there's anything that annoys me it's the people that brag about their expensive or vintage bikes (and they hardly ride them) or the whole "bicycle fashion culture."  I realize the themes behind the organizations can draw people together, yet at the same time I worry it makes bicycling appear somewhat exclusive. 

 

I look at bicycling strictly utilitarian.  If we thought about it more as a means of transport and less of recreation we'd have a hell of a lot more dedicated bike-ways and lanes built.

http://www.ohiobikeways.net/

 

Looks like the rest of Ohio could learn from SWO in terms of implementing connected bike trails that go places. I know Cincinnati is working on connecting the urban core to the network; I hope Columbus is doing the same. From Columbus to Cleveland, this map is a total mess.

 

Dayton and Beavercreek are really will connected. I agree it could be a regional draw.

 

I really hope the Lake Erie and Ohio River trails have their implementation kicked up a notch.

and then there's this

 

Shittercat Sprint "Race Street Scramble"

^ And that's the type of stupidity that's going to set back the movement. 

 

I lost count of the red lights run (in front of cops!), door zones, pinch points, high-speed near-misses with pedestrians, and instances of general idiocy.  First time one of these alleycats mows down a pedestrian or murders himself hitting a mirror or dumpster and it'll be all over the news.  And the comment boards will light up with people condemning cyclists, in this case correctly.  And by extension, those of us working for a culture that presents cycling as a compatible use will be lumped together with them.  Car drivers who are just starting to come around to sharing the road with us will once again view us as threatening, unsafe, competing uses and we'll be back to square one.

 

Drag racing cars is illegal because it's crazy dangerous.  This is the exact same.  We as cyclists are just starting to make inroads on the streets-are-for-cars-only mentality.  This crap will only hurt us.

Damn, I've always heard that Cincinnati drivers were *way* more polite than Cleveland, and now I've seen proof.  No one opened a door in a path, pulled all the way against the curb, or "topgunned" (pulled around, in front, and hit the brakes just long enough to light the lights)....

^^OHSnap --- agreed.

Wow, that video. Those people arent doing anything good for biking besides putting themselves and others in danger, not following the road laws, and pissing people off.

 

I didn't know that was in Cincinnati at first. I didn't realize the city had so many skywalks.

Those guys are nuts. Bad idea, all around.

 

^ Yeah, the skywalk network is still fairly extensive, even though much of it has been torn down.

Eh, who cares? A barista here was just walking to his car and got every limb broken from a motorist hit and run, and I know of at least 2 people in Columbus who were injured in hit and runs: and thankfully recovered. Are those drivers setting back the motorist movement? No. So who gives a shit about a race where they'd most likely only harm themselves: you shouldn't. This whole, cyclists being held to a higher standard than motorists is motorist propaganda pure and simple and I can't say I'm surprised to see it more prevalent in Ohio (though I used to complain about lawbreaking cyclists too here and there, until it dawned on me both are equally lawbreakers).

 

Cars blow through red lights all the time, and the vast majority drive over the legal speed limit: lawbreakers! In fact it wasn't long ago I had a green light for a bit and only started to approach the intersection because the driver had no intention of slowing but I approached slowly and she reluctantly slowed towards the last minute to let me pass. If I had darted forward with my legal right of way while ignoring the speed she was driving I would most certainly have been killed, but lets complain about cyclists even though motorists break just as many laws and infinitely more human bodies. Bleh, no wonder strides in Ohio aren't happening with regards to biking when a self-hating cyclist mentality is so prevalent. Maybe motorists need to earn our respect and not the other way around.

And, sprawl and increased traffic had pretty much destroyed the best aspects of riding east or south  from in city Dayton (which were my two favorite cycling directions back in college.)

 

Maybe it's age or maybe it's lack of recent experience, but riding on a normal street is outside the norm for me now, and it makes me quite nervous. For one big thing, I am quite aware how distracted drivers have gotten. And imbecilic Idiocracy standards have taken hold in our society - people are just plain stupider than ever - I am concerned about stupid chances that drivers would take now in passing me on a bike, etc.  Lastly, everyone is in a hurry, and IMO a low level of road rage has become the norm in most drivers.

 

In other words, I now have no use for a bike as a public road transportation alternative. For me it's all about the trails. I want to live with all my faculties intact and not have a horrible accident caused by some numbskull driver's impatience.

 

Oh yes, riding around in Centerville/Washington Twp & the Dayton Mall area...be verrrry careful!

 

I've cycled to Waynesville and down to Cesars Creek Gorge and back but I would only do that on an early Sunday morning when the traffic is lite.  I don't feel comfortable doing road-riding during normal business hours for the reasons you state, which is why I  also do my shopping-by-bike very early on weekends, when traffic was light.  I will do some mix of road and sidewalk riding after work to go to the PO and library, but you have to know what makes sense to do on what road, and when.

 

THough so far (knock on vinyl) most drivers seem to be pretty good about giving some space...once I had a close pass by some SUV, and one other I got a horn, but I think those where high-school kids, so maybe not too serious.  But yes, best to ride in very off-hours.  And I use the sidewalk or paths if possible...they've redone the sidewalk along Lyons so it functions as sort of multi-use bikepath/sidewalk, which makes more sense than riding in 50 MPH traffic...

 

@@@

 

Personally, I don't like all the bike subcultures.  And I've participated in some of them (like the tweed event).  With every bike organization, I've felt this vibe of arrogance..... 

 

...... If there's anything that annoys me it's the people that brag about their expensive or vintage bikes (and they hardly ride them) or the whole "bicycle fashion culture."  I realize the themes behind the organizations can draw people together, yet at the same time I worry it makes bicycling appear somewhat exclusive. 

 

Yeah, this why I would never really participate in this stuff...too much of a loner and I don't have the "right" bike for it..... tho its entertaining to read about.  Besides I live in Dayton and there just isn't ...er..a 'critical mass' (pardon the pun) of hipster cyclists for this kind of scene.

 

The vintange stuff...I sort of see them as like these hot rod/vintage car cruise-ins we see around here in Dayton.  People just ride to these things to show of the car, and I don't think they really use their 57 Chevy or old Merc for day-to-day transportation.  Same with bikes.

 

@@@@

 

Trails are really boring, though. They usually lack hills, and the scenery is homogenous - either a tunnel of trees, or corn fields.

 

Yeah, I noticed this, though I prefer more landscape than tunnel of trees.  The trail btw Tipp and Dayton is pretty nice though...yet .river trails can also be bland, Ive noticed...one is essentially riding in the bottom of a huge drainage ditch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

^ I agree completely. Except that if bicyclists are not responsible and law-abiding citizens OTHER people will make generalizations about biking. It isn't about who's right and who's wrong. It's about how we convince people we are right! Bikers make up a small minority of transportation in Ohio. Why allow people to be so reckless and turn current motorists away from biking?

I was up in Chicago and they have went bike crazy.  There are bikes everywhere.  And one almost ran a 4-way stop and hit my car when I was over in "Roscoe Village".  Chicago is a massively congested city and now you add cyclists to that mix ???  Watch out!

If a car runs 10 red lights and makes other vehicles slam on their breaks in near misses, I guarantee they would get arrested/ticketed. What those people did on their bikes is obnoxious. They could have caused several accidents, as well as hurt others. Im not saying motorists are better overall, but all vehicles should follow the road laws and respect others around them. Imagine being a pedestrian crossing the street and having those bikes swarm past you almost hitting you. Now add a child to the mix with you crossing the street.

There are a ton of so-called "self-hating cyclists" in NYC, too. Read Streetsblog, you will find plenty. It's not an Ohio thing at all.

I would love to see this done to Superior avenue downtown.

 

 

And

http://averagejoecyclist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Burrard-Dunsmuir-128.jpg

 

 

I lost count of the red lights run (in front of cops!),

 

No kidding! 

 

I nearly sh@t a brick when he was passing that cab....and then almost running into the van....

 

I get annoyed by having cyclists in front of me when I'm driving.....who ride away from the curb and take up a lot of the road...but that race was beyond annoying.... this was down the main shopping street in downtown Cincy on a late afternoon...

I would love to see this done to Superior avenue downtown.

 

Wouldnt have a door zone to worry about....

 

 

 

This whole, cyclists being held to a higher standard than motorists is motorist propaganda pure and simple and I can't say I'm surprised to see it more prevalent in Ohio (though I used to complain about lawbreaking cyclists too here and there, until it dawned on me both are equally lawbreakers).

 

Wow! That's a a great point. The meme "bad cyclists making the rest of us look bad" has been around since the 1970s and the first rumblings of a "cycling movement".  It seems to imply that all cyclists will be paid back by motorists due to a few bad riders. You're right, motorists don't start profiling cyclists because they see a few cyclists running red lights. They just don't give a s---.

 

Is cycling a movement? It's certainly not like Occupy Wall Street. Unless you're right in a city that has cycling activists, you aren't aware that anything in particular is going on. There's an element of pomposity in making it seem more than it is. (Maybe related to the being held to a higher standard meme.)

 

IE, maybe the message here is: stop worrying what people who aren't practicing your hobby think and do what you want to do.

 

About the boring nature of cycling trails (rail trails): the main problem with rail trails is lack of services and access to points of interest. Rail trails are usually separated from stuff that you'd like to travel to or from. IE, there's no way to do your shopping using most separated bike paths.

This whole, cyclists being held to a higher standard than motorists is motorist propaganda pure and simple and I can't say I'm surprised to see it more prevalent in Ohio (though I used to complain about lawbreaking cyclists too here and there, until it dawned on me both are equally lawbreakers).

unfortunately in New York cyclists never seem to be held up to any standard (as bad as some motorists can be--especially taxis--at least for the most part they follow the rules). I constantly observe cyclists breezing through red lights totally oblivious to any pedestrians or motorists who have the right of way--I guess it's just way too uncool for them to actually follow the law. It's outrageous. The level of arrogance they display is unbelievable. I don't know what it's going to take for law enforcement authorities to finally start cracking down on this sort of behavior, but it has to stop, or cyclists will only start to become more marginalized and despised--and deservedly so.

If a car runs 10 red lights and makes other vehicles slam on their breaks in near misses, I guarantee they would get arrested/ticketed. What those people did on their bikes is obnoxious. They could have caused several accidents, as well as hurt others. Im not saying motorists are better overall, but all vehicles should follow the road laws and respect others around them. Imagine being a pedestrian crossing the street and having those bikes swarm past you almost hitting you. Now add a child to the mix with you crossing the street.

 

One major thing was missing from that video.  License plates.

 

They don't have to cost what drivers pay, but IMNSHO if you want to ride on the street with "all the rights of a car"....

 

 

Penalty for Rule-Breaking Bicyclists: A Remedial Class

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/nyregion/manhattan-court-sends-erring-cyclists-to-remedial-class.html

 

It comes amid broad agreement among bike advocates and the Transportation Department that compelling riders to obey traffic signals, go with traffic and stay off the sidewalk is critical to improving the image of cycling and ensuring the long-term health of New York City’s expanding bicycle network.

 

...

 

Mr. McKissick was hardly alone in complaining of unfair treatment at a class last week. Several cyclists admitted riding on the sidewalk for a few feet and complained that the sentence — often a day of community service in addition to the class — was excessive.

 

“It was literally three seconds,” Steve Galiczynski said of his short sidewalk ride to his parking spot on the Upper West Side, witnessed by a police officer. He said he had already spent a day cleaning up trash in Times Square. “This whole thing is nuts. It’s like I’m in a Russian novel — a crazy Russian novel.”

 

...

 

If there is one thing that unites New Yorkers who see bikes as a menace with others who view them as a mainstream form of urban transportation, it is a mutual disdain for the lawbreaking cyclist.

One major thing was missing from that video.  License plates.

They don't have to cost what drivers pay, but IMNSHO if you want to ride on the street with "all the rights of a car"....

Your August civics lesson: the streets in my community are paid for by property taxes, not "license plates".

One major thing was missing from that video.  License plates.

They don't have to cost what drivers pay, but IMNSHO if you want to ride on the street with "all the rights of a car"....

Your August civics lesson: the streets in my community are paid for by property taxes, not "license plates".

If I'm not mistaken, state routes are paid for, in part, by license plate fees.

 

Though the cost wasn't really the point, but the traceability.  If those were motorcycles (and they hadn't covered the plates), the owners would be in some trouble right about now.

I am going to post this is many areas as it involves many facets of transportation:

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/SPR/StatewidePlanning/access.ohio/Pages/default.aspx?utm_source=Greater+Ohio+Supporters&utm_campaign=e90e3eca0e-July_2011_Newsletter4_29_2011&utm_medium=email

This whole, cyclists being held to a higher standard than motorists is motorist propaganda pure and simple and I can't say I'm surprised to see it more prevalent in Ohio (though I used to complain about lawbreaking cyclists too here and there, until it dawned on me both are equally lawbreakers).

unfortunately in New York cyclists never seem to be held up to any standard (as bad as some motorists can be--especially taxis--at least for the most part they follow the rules). I constantly observe cyclists breezing through red lights totally oblivious to any pedestrians or motorists who have the right of way--I guess it's just way too uncool for them to actually follow the law. It's outrageous. The level of arrogance they display is unbelievable. I don't know what it's going to take for law enforcement authorities to finally start cracking down on this sort of behavior, but it has to stop, or cyclists will only start to become more marginalized and despised--and deservedly so.

 

To this I respond that motorists have killed 241 pedestrians and cyclists total in NYC last year (note that this figure does not include motorists killed). And I follow up that statement with a simple question. How many people did cyclists kill last year in comparison? This link for this year says it all as far as how well-behavd motorists are: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/03/nypd-7371-pedestrians-and-cyclists-injured-79-killed-through-june-2012/ . Motorists should be more marginalized and despised--and deservedly so.

 

So when I see cyclists blowing through red lights like in that video, yes of course it's dumb and I'd advise against it, but I just shrug it off and couldn't care less. Looking at the bigger picture it's just nothing to get riled up about.

This whole, cyclists being held to a higher standard than motorists is motorist propaganda pure and simple and I can't say I'm surprised to see it more prevalent in Ohio (though I used to complain about lawbreaking cyclists too here and there, until it dawned on me both are equally lawbreakers).

unfortunately in New York cyclists never seem to be held up to any standard (as bad as some motorists can be--especially taxis--at least for the most part they follow the rules). I constantly observe cyclists breezing through red lights totally oblivious to any pedestrians or motorists who have the right of way--I guess it's just way too uncool for them to actually follow the law. It's outrageous. The level of arrogance they display is unbelievable. I don't know what it's going to take for law enforcement authorities to finally start cracking down on this sort of behavior, but it has to stop, or cyclists will only start to become more marginalized and despised--and deservedly so.

 

To this I respond that motorists have killed 241 pedestrians and cyclists total in NYC last year (note that this figure does not include motorists killed). And I follow up that statement with a simple question. How many people did cyclists kill last year in comparison? This link for this year says it all as far as how well-behavd motorists are: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/03/nypd-7371-pedestrians-and-cyclists-injured-79-killed-through-june-2012/ . Motorists should be more marginalized and despised--and deservedly so.

 

So when I see cyclists blowing through red lights like in that video, yes of course it's dumb and I'd advise against it, but I just shrug it off and couldn't care less. Looking at the bigger picture it's just nothing to get riled up about.

 

From the article:

 

"In fact, the automobile industry lobbied to make jaywalking a crime in the twenties, leaving current traffic rules "like a brawl," according to one expert, "where the strongest brawler wins."

 

It's not a crime to jaywalk in NYC?  That would explain a lot.  So would the described behavior of bicyclists. 

 

If one of the guys in the above video had gotten t-boned by a semi, he'd be one of those "statistics".  How many of those 241 were themselves at fault?  Just because physics was not on your side doesn't mean the law should be.

 

 

This whole, cyclists being held to a higher standard than motorists is motorist propaganda pure and simple and I can't say I'm surprised to see it more prevalent in Ohio (though I used to complain about lawbreaking cyclists too here and there, until it dawned on me both are equally lawbreakers).

unfortunately in New York cyclists never seem to be held up to any standard (as bad as some motorists can be--especially taxis--at least for the most part they follow the rules). I constantly observe cyclists breezing through red lights totally oblivious to any pedestrians or motorists who have the right of way--I guess it's just way too uncool for them to actually follow the law. It's outrageous. The level of arrogance they display is unbelievable. I don't know what it's going to take for law enforcement authorities to finally start cracking down on this sort of behavior, but it has to stop, or cyclists will only start to become more marginalized and despised--and deservedly so.

 

To this I respond that motorists have killed 241 pedestrians and cyclists total in NYC last year (note that this figure does not include motorists killed). And I follow up that statement with a simple question. How many people did cyclists kill last year in comparison? This link for this year says it all as far as how well-behavd motorists are: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/03/nypd-7371-pedestrians-and-cyclists-injured-79-killed-through-june-2012/ . Motorists should be more marginalized and despised--and deservedly so.

 

So when I see cyclists blowing through red lights like in that video, yes of course it's dumb and I'd advise against it, but I just shrug it off and couldn't care less. Looking at the bigger picture it's just nothing to get riled up about.

 

You're right.  When those cyclists blow the red light and they get plowed into by a car that had the green light, and therefore right-of-way, that's nothing to get riled up about.  Just another death to add to your count.  No big deal. :roll:

At the Broadway Forbes I-271 interchange, there's a light where the traffic crosses Forbes to continue onto the entrance ramp. 

 

5:45 this morning (already a heavy traffic time).  Bicyclist on Forbes riding on the left side of the road crosses the intersection on the "orange".  No lights or even side reflectives on the bike, dark clothing on the rider.

 

Just damn.....

...thats  reminder that I need to get some reflective tape on my bike and a night light for the front now the days are getting shorter and I might be riding at dusk.

 

Re jaywalking.  Growing up in Chicago this is something you learn...how to jaywalk.  Not that its illegal but how do it without getting creamed.  My grandfather was the one who was my jaywalking mentor.  EVERYONE jaywalks in Chicago....at least the natives....

 

Cycling though is a lot riskier.  During my last Chicago trip it was just wow...so many people out cycling...on fairly narrow busy streets like the diagonals..Lincoln and Milwaukee....cycling in a city already as congested and trafficy as Chicago is really too much for me....and I saw guided bike tours!  I'm sorry, no.  Just stop. 

 

 

Think of how much congestion would be alleviated if everyone in the loop in a 90+ square foot car were on a bicycle instead.

I'm sure I'm going to get flamed for this, but it must be said.  The vast majority of cyclists: 1) do not know the laws regarding cycling, or 2) know the laws, but don't care to follow even the most basic of them.  For the first time in over a week I finally saw someone following the laws by riding in the street, with traffic, and stopping at a red light.  The rest of the week I saw dozens of cyclists riding on the sidewalk, riding against traffic (one fool almost got hit) and blowing through red lights.  To top it off, a coworker of mine came in yesterday furious about his bike commute convinced that "all mankind is doomed".  Apparently, the idiots walking on the sidewalk across a bridge were taking up the "entire sidewalk" when he was trying to ride past them.  To be fair my experiences are limited mostly to downtown Cincinnati, but if all the supportive comments on the fools racing through traffic is any indication, there is no shortage of selfish/ignorant cyclists.  It's not fair that those that do follow the law get accosted by angry drivers/pedestrians.  However, given that most people's experiences with cyclists are with those that selfishly endanger themselves and others, it really isn't too surprising that people lump them together with the majority.

^That could have been a legit move depending on the bridge

OK - I admit it.  I don't wait for red lights.  I slow down and if there is no cross traffic, I go.  When walking, I also cross the street outside of crosswalks and even at crosswalks when the light is red.

Ditto. It's stupid to waste so much momentum to stop at every traffic light if there is no cross traffic - like many of Cincinnati's side streets with traffic signals. Just my two cents:

 

I don't wait at most traffic signals on lesser traveled routes to maintain momentum and speed. On some routes, like Mitchell Ave., I'll wait but watch the cross traffic signals (and pattern) and go through the intersection as their signal turns from yellow to red to get ahead of traffic, which enhances my visibility.

 

When biking, I use the right tire path to center of the roadway to enhance my visibility and to claim my lane. It forces traffic to pass me by occupying another lane and prevents motorists from doing the "squeeze" - you know, giving me a feet or so.

 

Generally, if you are respectful of motorists, they will be respectful of you. There are exceptions, though. I had some banker hotshot (wearing pinstripe slacks and a pink collared shirt) cut me off on the Ludlow viaduct, so I rattled on his windows to yell at him at a traffic signal. He proceeded to call the police and I waited for them. While the cop sided with me - noting that 90% of the cases that he sees are the motorists just being ignorant and stupid, there isn't anything that they can do unless an injury occurs. But if you (and others) call in a car with the plates frequently enough, the police apparently do take notice and can send an officer out. Something I did not know.

>With every bike organization, I've felt this vibe of arrogance. 

 

Not every but most.  Bicycling is pretty damn simple, pretty much as simple as walking or running.  I'm not sure what practical purpose all this social commotion surrounding it of late could possibly serve.  Generally the older guys that have been biking since the 70s like the guys at Queen City Bike are low-key about it.  The younger internet generation people are the ones for whom photos from bicycling group rides are taken to show-off on their Facebook pages. 

 

I grew up in a terrible area for bike riding but started going on 10+ mile rides on a dirt bike around age 11 or 12.  I biked many times as a kid along the horrible part of Colerain Ave. and the huge hills on the west side of Cincinnati like Race Rd. and Rybolt Rd.  So all this city riding stuff is no big deal to me. 

 

If someone wants to bike for real transportation, they need to ride by themselves on streets, because that's what they will be doing.  Bike trails are fine but you will never be truly "free" until you start riding on busy streets. 

 

OK - I admit it.  I don't wait for red lights.  I slow down and if there is no cross traffic, I go.

 

I'm that way with four-way stops, but the traffic has to be light...I gear down and look...and glide through if no traffic.  I >might< blow past a red light on an empty street on Sunday morning....but I would feel odd doing it.  When Im riding on the street my 'car mode'b or psychology kicks in and I follow the lights....

 

 

If someone wants to bike for real transportation, they need to ride by themselves on streets, because that's what they will be doing.

 

As I mentioned down here (or up here if yr from Cincy) in Washington Twp/Centerville they encourage cyclists to use the sidewalks on busy streets/highways, which I do.  But if the traffic is lighter I'll ride in the street, near the curb but not in the gutter. 

 

For crossing I usually get on the sidewalk at the intersection prior to the one I turn at, and 'go ped' for that one block and the crossing....easy to do since the curb cuts here have those depressed ramps with rubber strips on them....(yr not jumping curbs).

 

Bike trails are, for me, for "Sunday Drives'...only really usefull for recreation and testing endurance...seeing how far I can go (last Sunday it was a round trip to Xenia).

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree that the paved bike trails in our area can get monotonous.  There's really not a whole lot to look at on the ride from Cincinnati to Columbus, and I've biked the whole thing. Also, I hate being stranded out there when a thunderstorm hits.  If they had little shelters placed every mile or two it wouldn't be so bad.

 

Intercity riding on the state routes gives you more to look at and places to duck when a storm hits and places to get water and food.  I've done Cincinnati to Columbus in one day twice on the trail and Xenia is the obvious lunch stop, but there is no healthy food there that I've seen. 

I'm sure I'm going to get flamed for this, but it must be said.  The vast majority of cyclists: 1) do not know the laws regarding cycling, or 2) know the laws, but don't care to follow even the most basic of them.  For the first time in over a week I finally saw someone following the laws by riding in the street, with traffic, and stopping at a red light.  The rest of the week I saw dozens of cyclists riding on the sidewalk, riding against traffic (one fool almost got hit) and blowing through red lights.  To top it off, a coworker of mine came in yesterday furious about his bike commute convinced that "all mankind is doomed".  Apparently, the idiots walking on the sidewalk across a bridge were taking up the "entire sidewalk" when he was trying to ride past them.  To be fair my experiences are limited mostly to downtown Cincinnati, but if all the supportive comments on the fools racing through traffic is any indication, there is no shortage of selfish/ignorant cyclists.  It's not fair that those that do follow the law get accosted by angry drivers/pedestrians.  However, given that most people's experiences with cyclists are with those that selfishly endanger themselves and others, it really isn't too surprising that people lump them together with the majority.

 

I just witnessed a young woman get yelled at by an angry cyclist as she was standing in a bike lane--obviously in his way-- looking north on Broadway. Wow, I

guess she really deserved that!--oh, wait a minute, the cyclist was going in the wrong direction (to quote Gomer Pyle, USMC, "surprise, surprise, surprise!")--not anticipating that some a-hole would come barreling up against her from behind!! It must be nice to follow your own rules of the road  :-)

In terms of commuting:

 

Car Drivers:  :whip:

Bike Riders:  :x

Walkers:  :-)

Bicycling is pretty damn simple, pretty much as simple as walking or running.  I'm not sure what practical purpose all this social commotion surrounding it of late could possibly serve.

 

It's a fad.  There is sort of this ideological "green' thing going on, but also a lot of hipsterish styling, too.  Taken together its become a trendy thing.  Like "lofts" and urban farming and indy coffeeshops and "craft beer". 

 

Thinking back I'm trying to recall what started that big bike boom back in the 1970s.