Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on July 11, 2012 at 6:17am

I am VERY new to daily bicycling having only started commuting in May.  I was really worried about cars when I first started.  Now I am equally worried about other bicyclists and pedestrians!  I have yet to understand the aversion of many cyclists to slowing down to avoid (a) scaring the heck out of someone and (b) colliding with a person, bicycle, or car.  

Do I stop at every stop sign--no, I do not.  I do slow at every stop sign, however to look for cars, bikes and people.  I do stop at every red light and wait for it to change.  I also hang back to pass if necessary.  Where is everyone in such a hurry to get to?  Are those extra two seconds going to make a difference in the day?  If they are, then why not leave earlier?

This seems to be a really varied community, and I have learned a great deal from many of the posters here in the short time I have been reading.  I still have not, however, heard any explanation for the "bad cyclist behavior"!

kiltedcelt said:

Interesting point at the end of the article. Someone is quoted as saying that cyclists, "should be taming their own". As in, we should all be speaking out against other cyclists we see doing reckless things - eg. riding too fast around pedestrians, flouting traffic laws, etc. I've been tempted to call out other cyclists for bad behavior but feel like I'm in the vast minority here in the Chicago cycling scene. I sometimes think I'm the only guy who stops for red lights and comes to a stop at stop signs. Also, on the LFP, if I'm passing a slower cyclist or pedestrian and I have the space, I move over into the opposite lane. If I'm going to be coming too close (2' or less), to the other people in my lane, I hang back and wait until the oncoming traffic is past before I make my own pass. Too many times I'm confronted by oncoming riders coming all the way over into my lane and forcing me practically onto the shoulder of the path so that they can pass slower people in their own lane. So many times I've been tempted to scream at them to wait their own damn turn versus forcing me over to make room for them. I've ridden a lot of places and frankly, Chicago has some of the dumbest, most rude, and potentially dangerous bike riders I've ever seen.

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Permalink Reply by djm on July 11, 2012 at 7:16am

I also have had too many head-on encounters on the LFP with cyclists who swerve into oncoming traffic when passing.  Recently there was a TT cyclist who was riding against HEAVY traffic at prime time in front of the North Avenue volleyball section, yelling at pedestrians and cyclists to get out of his way.

kiltedcelt said:

Too many times I'm confronted by oncoming riders coming all the way over into my lane and forcing me practically onto the shoulder of the path so that they can pass slower people in their own lane. So many times I've been tempted to scream at them to wait their own damn turn versus forcing me over to make room for them. I've ridden a lot of places and frankly, Chicago has some of the dumbest, most rude, and potentially dangerous bike riders I've ever seen.

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on July 11, 2012 at 7:38am

The LFP is not a good place to evaluate the local cycling community. More often than not it is the refuge of the dilettantes.  They ride in their own world, head down, with headphones on a bike suited for  a time trial, in an effort to win the Walter Mitty Criterium.  On the streets you will find a better sample.  Even the cyclist you find cutting across an intersection will notice you and is likely to respond to you. Yes, you will find the bro with a phone, a Corona and a backwards Cubs hat.  He is more a part of the urban landscape than a part of the cycling community.  The renewed popularity of cycling brings more riders (yeah) and many of them inexperienced or worse (boo).

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Permalink Reply by Derek on July 11, 2012 at 7:39am

My 2 cents on "bad cyclist behavior":

I started out as a timid cyclist in the loop but after figuring out a few normal routes, timing on lights, traffic patterns and gained some leg strength aggressive riding seemed to simply be safer.  Also every time I get on my bike in the loop my body goes on hyper alert status until I get to Milwaukee Ave and then it switches down to super alert.  Do that long enough and cars and people alike look like the enemy, objects to be avoided that can not be trusted to act consistently.  It's a lot easier to treat an object like poo than a person.

Lisa Curcio said:

I am VERY new to daily bicycling having only started commuting in May.  I was really worried about cars when I first started.  Now I am equally worried about other bicyclists and pedestrians!  I have yet to understand the aversion of many cyclists to slowing down to avoid (a) scaring the heck out of someone and (b) colliding with a person, bicycle, or car.  

Do I stop at every stop sign--no, I do not.  I do slow at every stop sign, however to look for cars, bikes and people.  I do stop at every red light and wait for it to change.  I also hang back to pass if necessary.  Where is everyone in such a hurry to get to?  Are those extra two seconds going to make a difference in the day?  If they are, then why not leave earlier?

This seems to be a really varied community, and I have learned a great deal from many of the posters here in the short time I have been reading.  I still have not, however, heard any explanation for the "bad cyclist behavior"!

kiltedcelt said:

Interesting point at the end of the article. Someone is quoted as saying that cyclists, "should be taming their own". As in, we should all be speaking out against other cyclists we see doing reckless things - eg. riding too fast around pedestrians, flouting traffic laws, etc. I've been tempted to call out other cyclists for bad behavior but feel like I'm in the vast minority here in the Chicago cycling scene. I sometimes think I'm the only guy who stops for red lights and comes to a stop at stop signs. Also, on the LFP, if I'm passing a slower cyclist or pedestrian and I have the space, I move over into the opposite lane. If I'm going to be coming too close (2' or less), to the other people in my lane, I hang back and wait until the oncoming traffic is past before I make my own pass. Too many times I'm confronted by oncoming riders coming all the way over into my lane and forcing me practically onto the shoulder of the path so that they can pass slower people in their own lane. So many times I've been tempted to scream at them to wait their own damn turn versus forcing me over to make room for them. I've ridden a lot of places and frankly, Chicago has some of the dumbest, most rude, and potentially dangerous bike riders I've ever seen.

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Permalink Reply by bjg on July 11, 2012 at 8:56am

This is my first post on Chainlink--happy I found it. Been commuting to work for more than ten years now, and find my interest in cycling ever increasing. 

Anyway, I agree with much of what's been said here. Yesterday, I had an encounter with a TT guy on the LFP. There was a little girl learning to ride her bike on the path, with her father's help. Is this a great place to teach a kid to ride? Obviously not, but still I slowed, waited for them to move over. But the TT guy behind me did not, and gave them a dismissive wave as he passed angrily. This made me angry, so I told him to chill out, but it seemed to have little to no effect on him as he hurried off, into ever busier sections of the LFP. 

The point is, I think we cyclists have to police ourselves, unless we want others policing us. I have no problem telling other riders what I think of their riding. Is it always comfortable? No, but I think it's worth it. I've certainly had other riders critique my riding and those critiques have stuck with me, and made me, I think, a better, more conscientious rider.  

All of which is to say that I can get as angry as anyone out on the streets. Derek is right--too often bicycling in the city feels like a life and death struggle and naturally this will put one on anger's edge. Which is even more of an argument for slowing down a little bit i.e. slowing at stop signs, stopping at red lights, in general being better aware of our surroundings. Nothing beats anger and frustration better than forcing oneself back into the moment. 

In any case, that's my two cents on this/these topic(s). Good stuff.  

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Permalink Reply by Jason W on July 12, 2012 at 11:51am

That article was a bunch of crap. As is typical of these articles, it claims to not be biased and show both sides, then just slams cyclists. What about the motorists that break just as many laws. What about the pedestrians that do the same, often causing accidents (with bikes and cars alike). What we need to do is stop letting these fools demonize cyclists with this crap, not "police ourselves". I will police other cyclists when motorists and pedestrians start doing it!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 12, 2012 at 12:14pm

Yep, the more cyclists we get, the broader the cross section of experience levels, styles and attitudes.  

Is it our responsibility to say something to someone who's a hazard?  Not necessarily.  Can it help raise awareness among those who are hazards?  Sometimes.  

In situations where someone is creating a hazard for me or others nearby, I will often speak up if there's a reasonable chance that the guilty party will hear the message, whether that person is a driver, cyclist or pedestrian.  

In your own conflict situation, whether or not to call someone out for bad traffic behavior is your choice.

David Barish said:

The LFP is not a good place to evaluate the local cycling community. More often than not it is the refuge of the dilettantes.  They ride in their own world, head down, with headphones on a bike suited for  a time trial, in an effort to win the Walter Mitty Criterium.  On the streets you will find a better sample.  Even the cyclist you find cutting across an intersection will notice you and is likely to respond to you. Yes, you will find the bro with a phone, a Corona and a backwards Cubs hat.  He is more a part of the urban landscape than a part of the cycling community.  The renewed popularity of cycling brings more riders (yeah) and many of them inexperienced or worse (boo).

• ▶ Reply