To the D-Bag cyclist on the path this morning

You were wearing a blue jersey and a most unpleasant expression. First you tailgated me for a long time and then, when I had to slow down for a cyclist in front of me whom I couldn’t pass immediately because there was
another bike coming from the other direction, you passed me, almost hitting the
oncoming cyclist, and yelled something at me. A verbal expression of your annoyance
at me for being in your way, I assume. I called you a word that is also
commonly used to describe the outermost component of the human excretory system,
and yelled at you not to tailgate. You shot me the finger so I decided to tailgate
you, which wasn’t difficult at all since you’re not nearly as fast as apparently
you think you are. I hope you appreciated how I very carefully stayed no more
than a few inches to your left, with my front wheel almost in line with your
rear wheel. A childish and potentially dangerous thing to do, I grant you, but
in the heat of the moment I acted like a child or, well, like you. I continued
this tailgating until you conveniently exited at Ohio Street. Oh, by the way, I
really liked how you also yelled at some joggers to get out of your way.


In closing, I just want say thanks for giving all cyclists a bad name and to express my wish that when you have the big crash you’re inevitably going to have, the only person you seriously injure is yourself.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael A on May 19, 2010 at 7:43am
Don't forget those 4 wheeled rented pedicars

Dr. Doom said:
My favorites are roadies who pass within inches without calling "on your left." I know it's annoying and I know it gets old, but I can't hear you behind me and if I swerve left to avoid a pothole/unleashed dog/small child and hit you because you couldn't be bothered to let me know you're there, your carbon frame is going to get it a lot worse than my steel one. None of which gets into why these people are effortlessly blowing by me during crowded commute hours when I'm going a perfectly reasonable 17, but whatever.

Moms with unleashed dogs, wobbly rollerbladers, people barbecuing on the path just south of 35th and what not are just clueless, these dudes are being dicks.
Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on May 19, 2010 at 7:54am
They can't hear you because of their headphones, why should they presume that you can hear them?

Dr. Doom said:
My favorites are roadies who pass within inches without calling "on your left."
Permalink Reply by J on May 19, 2010 at 8:14am
This thread rehashes the annual lakefront class warfare.

It's best to, as always, ride defensively. Doom's comment highlights the need to communicate clearly (with your voice, bell, hands, etc.), when passing, but also when you change your line. Cyclists get riled up when runners change their line at the last second without looking back but it's important that we do the same.

The issue isn't whether you're going 17 or 7 or 27 -- there will always be someone slower or faster than you and therefore a need to pass.
Permalink Reply by Craig S. on May 19, 2010 at 8:28am
All this being said, the LFP is still one of my favorite places to ride my bike as long as I put all of this in perspective. We have a gorgeous setting in which to pedal.

However, I don't like wheelsuckers at all. The LFP is not a place to form up in a line, to do so is incredibly weak and Dr. Doom, I'll admit I'm one of those roadies that passes within inches and doesn't announce what I'm doing as I've been watching what's in front of you and judging how well you hold your line (using the general "you").

It's a fine day outside, wish I would have ridden to work today.

Yeah, all the rental bikes and riders need to ride somewhere else.....
Permalink Reply by mike w. on May 19, 2010 at 8:40am
Where would you have them ride? i for one don't want them out in the streets where i'm riding if they cannot manage the path.

It is a multi-use path after all, and considered "recreational." i for one avoid the M/U paths like the Plague, for all the reasons stated elsewhere.

Basically, the LFP is not a place to be speed training, EVER, nor is it an ideal route for a speedy commute. It is basically for lolligagging and lolligaggers. One should know that and ride accordingly at one's own risk.



Craig S. said:
.

Yeah, all the rental bikes and riders need to ride somewhere else.....
Permalink Reply by Duppie on May 19, 2010 at 9:19am
ERCHLVRSN said:
Sadly most people who now live in the city are from the suburbs or a smaller city and have little if any experience biking in the city or any urban environment. The lake front path (LFP) is the worst on so many levels mostly because many of the people who ride the path can’t ride well in traffic and use the LFP to commute.

What an elitist nonsense... I'd rather see them ride slow and insecure on the LFP than drive down Lakeshore Drive. Remember, no matter how fast or 'experienced' you are, there will always be someone who thinks that you are slow and 'have little if any experience biking in the city or any urban envrionment'
Permalink Reply by Jack on May 19, 2010 at 9:38am
Well, its not the Lake front bicycle path with access only to cyclists so I think the stroller toting moms with the 5' leashed trophy dog is allowed on the path as well.

I understand its frustrating and unsafe with the way others act on the path. What I don't like reading is cyclists verbally unloading on lollygaggers or slow pokes on the path. On any street even the slowest P.O.S. car can crush the speed put out by two pedals. We as cyclists want to be respected and safe on the roads. I think walkers, joggers, other bikers, etc deserve the same on the path.

It IS annoying with the lack of "manners" people on the path show, but if everyone acted the way they should (respectful of others), there wouldn't be car accidents and road rage either. EVERY public place has at least a handful of bad apples.

Travel LFP for what it is: a path open to all non-motorized modes of movement. If you are in a hurry, leave earlier. If it frustrates you too much to be held up by the slower people, jump on the street and travel regular roads and race the Audi or SUV to the next light.

FWIW - I travel the LFP in the nice weather for exercise to and from work. I am a "fair weather" cyclist in that regards. Its not as direct as other routes, but safer and I have yet to see a minimum speed limit sign on the path.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on May 19, 2010 at 1:47pm
WTF?

Dr. Doom said:
people barbecuing on the path just south of 35th
Permalink Reply by Craig S. on May 19, 2010 at 2:04pm
Yep, I've witnessed a lot of this too. It's quite stunning.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
WTF?

Dr. Doom said:
people barbecuing on the path just south of 35th
Permalink Reply by Vondo on May 19, 2010 at 3:28pm
Very well said. Some people here are showing the same attitude towards walkers, bladers etc. on the LPF that jerk-wad drivers show us on the road. I always hear the complaint about slow cyclists, pedicars and what not on the LPF, but mysteriously those who complain still insist on taking the path even though they have nothing but bad things to say about it. LPF is for leisurely use at best. TT practice, fast commutes and intervals, not so much. We will all save a lot of stress if we accept that.

Jack said:
Well, its not the Lake front bicycle path with access only to cyclists so I think the stroller toting moms with the 5' leashed trophy dog is allowed on the path as well.

I understand its frustrating and unsafe with the way others act on the path. What I don't like reading is cyclists verbally unloading on lollygaggers or slow pokes on the path. On any street even the slowest P.O.S. car can crush the speed put out by two pedals. We as cyclists want to be respected and safe on the roads. I think walkers, joggers, other bikers, etc deserve the same on the path.

It IS annoying with the lack of "manners" people on the path show, but if everyone acted the way they should (respectful of others), there wouldn't be car accidents and road rage either. EVERY public place has at least a handful of bad apples.

Travel LFP for what it is: a path open to all non-motorized modes of movement. If you are in a hurry, leave earlier. If it frustrates you too much to be held up by the slower people, jump on the street and travel regular roads and race the Audi or SUV to the next light.

FWIW - I travel the LFP in the nice weather for exercise to and from work. I am a "fair weather" cyclist in that regards. Its not as direct as other routes, but safer and I have yet to see a minimum speed limit sign on the path.
Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on May 19, 2010 at 5:16pm
Since there's no point in clogging this forum with yet another thread about pitiful commuter behavior I'd like to vent my frustrations here if y'alls wouldn't mind.

Pedestrians often drive me to absolute brink of physical violence, particularly during the evening commute near Union and Oglivie. I lost count of the number that walked right into my path this evening over the course of merely two or three blocks. It isn't just the impatient ones that enter crosswalks before the signal changes, but the completely oblivious schlubs that cross in the middle of a block with nary a glance to check for traffic. It kind of amazes me that there aren't reports of fatalities on a regular basis in this corridor. I constantly tell myself to avoid this area and take a different route, but unfortunately for me it's the shortest distance. If I rode the way many of these people walk I'd barely make it one block. I won't even get started on the cabbies that let their fares disembark from the passenger side in the middle of bridges...
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on May 19, 2010 at 5:21pm
WTF? yet again. But of course, because it's easier to step over a guardrail or climb through some ironwork.

Michael Perz said:
I won't even get started on the cabbies that let their fares disembark from the passenger side in the middle of bridges...

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