http://www.idkfa.com/v3 idkfa: syndicated http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3045 Thanks for not running me down despite me crossing the street into oncoming traffic and crossing the T-intersection in the wrong direction. I was young and stupid. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:57:31 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3045 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3043 Josh knows I am usually pretty good at paying attention to bicyclists/pedestrians. Like that one time a year or two ago when you biked past my neighborhood. kitacek@idkfa.com (kitacek) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:54:33 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3043 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3041 Agreed, pretty much anything sketchy just wait for the safest crossing you can get. Not that people are always aware of the crosswalk even with pedestrians, but at least you look more legit. MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:03:48 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3041 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3040 My favorite encounter recently was a van that was turning right into the crosswalk just as I was trying to get across it. The driver was a lady, with what I assumed to be her boyfriend in the passenger seat. She was completely oblivious, but the guy saw me, and tried yelling something like "Look-look-look-wait-stop..." and then eventually just gave up and waved in apology. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:41:39 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3040 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3039 Consistency is key. For that intersection, it's dealing with crazy Fred Meyers shoppers and the poor traffic patterns both and east and west of there. Better to cross with some legal grounding than find somebody who ignores / disagrees with the roles pedestrians and bikers play. I like to think the pedestrian walk signal is my trump card. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:35:36 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3039 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3038 Pedestrians have the right of way if the are walking in the direction of traffic even when the red hand is up and they are in a crosswalk. This would also be true for bikers. The hands are a general indicator of safety, not at all similar to a stoplight to cars. Is it smarter and usually safer to abide by the walk signs... yes. There are a lot of sections of my ride where its simply unsafe to ride on the road, its too narrow for me and cars. So I have two choices, be a dick and stay in a lane and act like a vehicle forcing everyone into another lane to pass me, or ride the sidewalk. I take the sidewalk most of the time but if the lights green as I come up to a crossing I'm not going to fucking stop, press the button, then wait for a whole cycle to go though just so the little white man can say I can go now. Fuck that, I ride like that crosswalk is mine, while still being mindful to see if any cars on the road are expecting to turn, actually using their turn signal which they are supposed to do by law. MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:32:26 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3038 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3037 The indignation towards bikers is pretty crazy around here, as there are a ton of people on bikes and a ton of people who hate all the assholes on bikes. There are just enough cyclists who are total dicks to make a fair few drivers feel justified in their hatred. I talked to a guy at a stop light who yelled at me for riding on the road instead of a sidewalk. I actually had a good reply to this one. I said that I ride really really far every single day, the time it takes for him to move over slightly to go past me... about 5 seconds total... does not compare to how much longer it would take me if I stuck to the sidewalk for all of my commute where there is even one available. Plus my balls are already sore from riding 40 miles a day and all the ups and downs from the sidewalk would be like pounding my nuts with a rag over the head of a rubber mallet for 2 hours a day.... My last argument, after all this failed to sway the guys opinion, was to go fuck himself. MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:23:18 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3037 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3036 One thing I appreciated about Josh's biking last week after we were leaving Erik's, he waited at the crosswalk for the "walk" signal despite no cross traffic on the two sides of the intersection he crossed. I always get frustrated when bicyclists can't decide if they'll act like a pedestrian or act like a vehicle. kitacek@idkfa.com (kitacek) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:23:15 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3036 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3035 In general, there is always the possibility of being injured, but my arguments for it anyway are. If I plan on rolling through with another car I always try to either lead them... stay well withing their view from the front, or tail them so I can easily stop if they don't happen to use a turn signal or if they do I can see it just fine. This particular road, which is pretty much the only place in seattle I do this regularly, is an official cycling route meaning I technically have a narrow bikers lane on the right side of the road giving me some theoretical protection in that I have a legal right to ride next to a car if I choose to and if the fucker can't use his turn signal and hits me the fucker gets slapped with a couple of tickets and I have other recourse for damages as well. If I'm just being dumb, which I try not to as I don't really like being hit by a car. It would be tough for a car to accelerate enough going around a corner from a stop to hit me hard enough to injure me badly. There are a lot of what ifs when doing pretty much anything, so I generally hate what if questions. Seriously, if riding through looks sketchy I won't do it but instead wait for my turn... MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:16:27 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3035 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3034 (nods) Like the guy's never done a California roll through a stop sign himself. I don't understand people's righteous indignation towards bikers. From Craigslist: "Well you want us to feel sorry when someone at the street light gets run over and dies,I have to say if the last guy who was run over in town on his bike and died had the same attitide as the faggots who ride the coastal trail and think its a fucking triathalon,did he ride around like hey watch out here I come with an attitude,if so he desevered to get smashed like a banana,and was an idiot,when I do ride my bike and I see a person walking I slow down with respect,9 out of 10 times they have a child or small dog, have some respect for the familys who enjoy walking the trail and slow the fuck down,if one of you hits my kid well you can understand why I enjoy seeing bicyclist crunched under vehicles : ) " Or this guy: "Hey i AGREE with your example so when im DRIVING my big ass truck stay off the fucking road and ride your shitty ass bike on the sidewalk eh hoser?? Like you say, how hard is that right?? Im tired of idiots like you that feel compelled to take up the whole fucking road when you can't even peddle your faggy ass down the road @ 45mph. If you stayed off the road there would be less "collision" but on the other hand for most of you LOSERS the reason why your riding your faggy ass bikes is because of your stupid DWI offences.. hahaha" Both posts could well be trolling, but seems to be the general attitude. Then again, Craigslist is a cesspool. People in cars don't want us in the road, or even in the bike line. Pedestrians don't want us on the sidewalk, for fear of getting hit. I prefer to be on the sidewalk, as far away from the cars I can't see behind me as possible, but it's not always safe given pedestrians' propensity to take up the entire path, or be listening to headphones. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:37:45 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3034 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3033 What if he turns right? Green Man@idkfa.com (Green Man) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:31:52 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3033 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3032 Had a different experience the other day. I was riding though a part of town that has a set of three stop signs, typically there is no cross traffic and I either roll up and ride through or go with another car driving though using it as a screen of sorts. Guy: Your a Dumb Asshole! Me: What? Guy: Did you see that stop sign? You're a dumb Asshole" Me: Somewhat startled by the whole experience all I could manage was "Yes, I can read Sir" Guy: again "You're a dumb Asshole" At this point we were to another stop sign, I rode through again seeing no cross traffic probably leaving that guy fuming. I wish I had a witty reply, or really anything. But in the end I don't care too much, I'm going to keep riding through since I really see no safety reasons not to. MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:11:27 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3032 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3029 SPDCA: (waiting briefly at an intersection this morning) Drunk Man: (stumbles out of bushes) "Goddamnit!" Josh: (looks at man) Drunk Man: "Damn blisters... Don't go to prison without shoes! You'll get Staph infection!" Josh: "I'll take note. Have a good day." (speeds off) Drunk Man: "Yes, sir." kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) The Sporting Life Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:49:03 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3029 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3022 next he'll tell you to dance for him. Governator@idkfa.com (Governator) The Sporting Life Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:38:59 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3022 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3019 (creepier version of the same guy) Every day he'd tell me "Smile for me! You need to smile for me!" in a gruff, commanding voice. But he wasn't smiling... kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) The Sporting Life Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:06:56 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3019 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3017 There was an old guy at one of the camps on the Slope who was always sitting in the lounge when I walked to my room at the end of the work day. Every day he'd tell me "Smile! You need to smile!" in a gruff, commanding voice. But he wasn't smiling... I started to catch on and when I remembered he'd be there I either smiled pre-emtively or totally avoided the area. norwaygirl@idkfa.com (norwaygirl) The Sporting Life Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:36:43 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3017 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3014 SPDCA: Riding my bike up Government Hill's blind-corner sidewalk, came across one of the regular walkers, an Asian man with a red windbreaker and white gloves. "Morning smile!" he said as I rode past. I gave him a nod, a "Morning," and a smile, and kept up the hill. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) The Sporting Life Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:24:13 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=3014&msg_id=3014