Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on March 2, 2011 at 2:00pm

Yup, I would. Chicago's largely a "no harm-no foul" city. My job is to miss cars and pedestrians. Their job is to miss me and to make my job easier. Traffic laws are overrated for accomplishing these goals. Everyone has to be aware of their surroundings and be courteous.

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Permalink Reply by Davo on March 3, 2011 at 4:58am

It would be cool if there were patches for cyclists and stickers for cars that pledge actions like this. I think that I have seen bumper stickers saying that they "yield for bicyclists". It would be nice to have a way to clearly mark ourselves to motorists that we are responcible cyclists.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on March 3, 2011 at 5:40am

I do notice some cyclists tend not to respct anyone regardless of transportation mode. Lately me biggest focus on improving road sharing is to pay more attention to pedestrians and yeild to those crossing in crosswalks.  The short delay rarely is a factor in my overall commute and it helps make someone else's day better. I usually find this gets "paid forward" to me by drivers who stop to let me turn left onto side streets. 

 

There are some peopel who just can't be reasoned with regardless of transportation mode. 

This morning I approached a 4 way stop and notice an oncoming cyclists who was not slowing down.  I decided just to wait for them to pass rather than force a potential conflict.  The cyclists than said "fucking asshole" as he passed me. 

 

Jerks will be jerks, but that doesn't mean the rest of us should give in to negative behaviors.

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Permalink Reply by igz on March 3, 2011 at 5:44am

im pro 'ride of responsibility'

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Permalink Reply by Davo on March 3, 2011 at 5:51am

I have found that when I ride respectfully, motorists tend to be more respectfull towards me.

Maybe its just my attitude (if im rushing, I tend to get a little road ragey; if Im taking my time, im more chill) but I enjoy being a part of traffic rather than being apart from traffic.

That being said, I do go through stop signs and traffic lights only after I have seen if it is clear.  

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Permalink Reply by Melanie K on March 3, 2011 at 6:35am

I would sign it. Of course, signing a resolution doesn't make a person actually do the things he/she said they would do, but it might make motorists aware that not everyone is a jerk on a bicycle.  I do believe a lot of cyclists get a bad reputation from a few people that flagrantly disregard traffic laws- for example, there is a cyclist out there (probably more than one) that will go with the flow of traffic next to him, then when traffic slows down ever so slightly, cut front of the moving cars in some sort of daredevil way to cross the street- I cringe ever time I see him, waiting for him to get flattened by one of the cars he jumps in front of and cuts off.  The funny thing is, as I am waiting impatiently for my light, I usually catch up to the guy that is taking such risks. 

 

I admit, I do not always completely stop at the stop signs, but I always slow down for them, checking to make sure it is clear to go, and a majority of the cars sharing the lane next to me do the same. I rarely see cars on some of the streets I ride on come to complete stops at stop signs, so I feel that it is normal to do a "rolling stop" no matter the vehicle.  Lately, I have been trying to stop for pedestrians if I see them (again, people running out from between parked cars is a pet peeve of mine) but if they are in the cross walk, I at least slow up or stop to let them pass.

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 3, 2011 at 7:21am

Follow all the rules?  Nope. 

Ride courteously?  Always.

 

But follow the letter of the law?  Last time I checked it was illegal for a vehicle to overtake another vehicle on the right.  

 

We are different and I don't personally believe all the rules apply to me that apply to the cars just as there are "rules" that apply to us that don't apply to them (like the rules of physics since they are bigger and a crash isn't likely to injure them nearly as much.)

 

I ride using the "Idaho Stop" principle and am not ashamed to admit it.  I proceed when it is safe but never violate the rights of way of other vehicles or cause them to brake or swerve for me unless they are overtaking me in a shared lane or other circumstance where it is I that have the right of way.  

 

I know a lot of people disagree with this and believe in the "same road same rules" but if you believe that then you should never overtake a slower car on the right as that is also illegal.   When it comes to the "same road same rules" it is all or nothing.  Once you make one exception you might as well admit that it's just a load of BS. 

 

And one more thing, when do you ever see cars actually coming to a complete stop anyhow even though they can effortlessly get back up to speed in just a moment with 1lb of pressure on a pedal?  Almost never...

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Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on March 3, 2011 at 8:11am

I would not sign it as it makes the assumption that I don't already do those things. I can reword it as such.

 

In 2010 I was:

> An irresponsible bicyclist.
> Disrespectful of the rights of other road users.
> A lawbreaker.
> Unyielding to pedestrians.
> Making bicycling less safe for all of us.

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 3, 2011 at 8:20am

Kohlberg stage one social development.

 

"When I teach bike safety to kids in local schools, we talk about rules. Even the kindergartners understand
the concept of rules of the road and agree it would be tough to have a football game where one team is
required to follow the rules and the other is allowed to make up their own. They agree this game wouldn't be fair (or fun) for anyone."

 

• Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment
  The earliest stage of moral development is especially common in young children, but adults are also capable of expressing this type of reasoning. At this stage, children see rules as fixed and absolute. Obeying the rules is important because it is a means to avoid punishment.

Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:

I would not sign it as it makes the assumption that I don't already do those things. I can reword it as such.

 

In 2010 I was:

> An irresponsible bicyclist.
> Disrespectful of the rights of other road users.
> A lawbreaker.
> Unyielding to pedestrians.
> Making bicycling less safe for all of us.

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Permalink Reply by jlj on March 8, 2011 at 5:45am

I would sign.  I've been actively trying to be a better example for drivers and other bicyclists lately.  I've been approached by pedestrians and been given pleasant "shout-outs" by driver's for following good bike etiquette.  It really doesn't hurt to try to be more considerate of others.

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