Comments on: Bikeboy’s Gentle Communication To ACHD

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 31 May 2014 20:02:01 +0000

“people like you, Mike and Rick who generalize are the ones that scare me.”

Ya ever stop to think I may be a bicyclist too? You don’t scare me foothill; I – and others – just think your a bit of a jerk.

I have a hard time expending any effort to correct other peoples bad behavior. Reporting the federal way nit-wits to the police is much easier then reporting them to “Tour de fart” central!

EDITOR NOTE–Your name calling slipped through. We play nice here, so you ruined it for everyone else. COMMENTS CLOSED!

By: Zippo

Zippo — Sat, 31 May 2014 19:48:08 +0000

Bikes and autos don’t mix… they never will. Anything that causes as much problem and injury as this issue has been made illegal… two wheeled traffic on four wheel roads needs to be ended. The same argument used for public smoking can be used. BTW: it has been determined those silly little over-priced foam helmets are useless. And the seats are crushing your manhood too.

By: Foothills Rider

Foothills Rider — Fri, 30 May 2014 23:29:20 +0000

…that is “North on Ballantyne” not “Park.”

By: Foothills Rider

Foothills Rider — Fri, 30 May 2014 23:27:46 +0000

Eric,
A large “group ride” as you describe is likely a recreational club. They are generally registered with SWICA…go here:
http://www.idahobikeracing.org/ and find the clubs….do what I have done – certainly you have a camera that takes pics, right? Take a pic, find the club name or send/post to SWICA and be an advocate for teaching some newbies. I did this when a club took up a full lane (about 3 to 4 wide), and the lead cyclist did a u-turn into oncoming traffic to “check” on the slower members of the group. Cars in BOTH directions were impacted. I contacted the club. The club president made it a training opportunity at a meeting. Club contacts can be found at USACycling.org.

Find “Clubs” and click on “Idaho” for listing. That said, people like you, Mike and Rick who generalize are the ones that scare me. Your frustraion over one instance can lead you to bad future behaviors. TODAY: Riding on Floating Feather east. Coming to stop at Ballantyne. Truck next to me (eastbound) slows down too, puts on LEFT hand turn indicator (to go North on Park). I slow to wait for southbound car to cross. BUT, the truck roams purposefully over to the right side in front of me at the stop sign. Makes me swerve into the gravel, blocks any access for me, and then, instead of turning left, stays straight crossing Ballantyne and stays in the right side/gravel (no bike lane) purposely to block any progress by me….and speeds up after I give him the “what the hay?” look. Really? Necessary? Dangerous! So, yes, cyclists need to start wearing their go-cams for these instances, and drivers should take photos of scafflaws too. But everyone needs to stop generalizing either way. Maybe we can start a “shame page” for photo sharing by both sides….

By: Eric T.

Eric T. — Thu, 29 May 2014 22:17:05 +0000

Last year as my family was making our way to the Stanley Basin for some camping we came on a large group ride that was “resting” at the Floating Feather\Highway 55 intersection, NE side. Some were lounging in the grass, others were straddling their bikes in the westbound lane. I pulled in behind them to make a right hand turn. A green light cycle went by, not a one of them budged. I had to back up, camp trailer and all, after I got out and motioned the people behind me to go around. Still no movement from those in the lane and another light cycle passes. I backed up and made my right turn from the left turn lane. Bikers just yucking it up, not even trying to clear the westbound lane during their rest break. They were all in kits sponsored by some orthopedic group. It took every ounce of my being to not honk, say something because my kids were in the car and didn’t want to set a bad example.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Wed, 28 May 2014 13:51:56 +0000

Foothills Rider made a good point, and I could’ve clarified better. When I referred to the Hill Road “scofflaw elites,” I was obviously referring to those who ride several-abreast, who ride in the “car lane” when the bike lane is unobstructed, etc. The practice of riding a sweet road bike on Hill Road, wearing a spandex “kit” is certainly not in itself a problem. (I see many law-abiding “elite” cyclists on Hill Road… usually as they reel me in and ride on by going 5mph faster.)

Any time you see a story about bicycling on the streets of Boise, the “feedback” ALWAYS contains numerous complaints about the spandex yahoos who seemingly interfere with motor traffic deliberately. THEY are obviously high-profile, and are obviously fostering considerable ill will.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 27 May 2014 19:57:50 +0000

Just love the Tour de Fart Bicyclists who ride on Federal Way next to the Bike Path. Seen several club ride packs doing this every year. They take up an entire lane. There are regulars too. Why don’t the Jerks ride on the bike path?

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 26 May 2014 18:35:24 +0000

Foothills, I think the biggest problem is the attitudes that permeate both sides. Bikers feel that they have just as much right to the road as drivers, I will not argue that point. I will say that my biggest frustration when getting behind a group of spandex wearing billboards is their inability to keep up with the flow of traffic. Not to mention spandex only looks good on certain body types. This is the same frustration, the speed… not spandex…I feel when driving behind an individual on highway 55 who is traveling 40mph in a 55mph zone. Both should do their best not to hold up traffic flow, unfortunately neither see it as their responsibility. There are a good deal of you elite racers who think that your vulnerability in the face of the hated automobile somehow gives you the right to demand extra protection. I am not sure why this is, but form where I sit it seems to be fact. I would think if you all feel so threatened you would refrain from tempting the scourge auto.

By: Foothills Rider

Foothills Rider — Sun, 25 May 2014 18:38:27 +0000

Always been a supporter of BB, but one point with which to disagree: we can “hate” or be irritated by bad practice and unsafe habits….BB is generally pretty good about distinguishing a bad practice from artificially labeling a “bad group.” I ride Hill Street. I wear the ‘spandex’ kit of my cycling club. I race in races. As an Elite, per BB, I am now a scafflow…he uses one word to define the other. PLEASE be cognizant of defining good/bad based only on looks or types of cyclists. There are homeless poorer folks who ride safely on hand-me-down equipment, and yes, there are elite racers with skills and fancy equipment that don’t ride safely.

I consider myself safe and respectful, I ride in the bike lane single file (as is “practicable” by code….meaning, I will avoid debris for safety sake, even if it means moving into traffic – looking first). In fact, I will call out a fellow cyclists (of ANY group) when they do stupid things, as it reflects poorly on all cyclists. I am certainly defensive when riding on the road. But I have been side-swiped, yelled at, and passed by a car that immediately turns into the bike lane in front of me to “teach” me some unknown lesson – likely due to that person’s frustration at some incident with some other cyclist.

Instead of labeling a group as either all good or all bad, focus instead on the bad or good cycling (and driving) behaviors and direct your frustrations or support to the behaviors.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Sat, 24 May 2014 06:31:07 +0000

Stupid solutions to the stupid problems caused by this stupid idea: End parking well prior to the intersection. Perhaps change the law to cause the bikes to yield to turning cars.

BB, Thank you for calling out the a-holes in spandex… They are found well beyond Hill Rd. The cops do nothing. The cops even impersonate them while undercover in hopes of inciting drivers.

Term limits!