Sunday Morning Rides are Over - Cyclists win.

[Mad Mike]

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The way was “paved” by bicycles, or truthfully pedestrians, but the paved road was not created for either (in North America).

We need to share. A peloton on a busy route in busy times is not sharing.

I’m not against cyclists, I’m against a**holes on foot or any number of wheels.


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By that argument you might say it all started when Darwin made land creatures. They cut the wildlife paths that evolved into modern roads.

Virtually every one of those cyclists you see out on the roads in Halton have a car (or two or three) in the driveway with taxed gas in the tank(s), license plates with current stickers on them, and a driver's license in their wallet, so they DO have skin in the game. If you want to argue that the road racers out training + the wannabes act like pompous nozzles that's fine. They are pompous nozzles (and that's coming from someone that use to road race - I'm more than familiar with what they're like). Using tax arguments to marginalize them is just dumb.

Nobody is trying to marginalize anyone. Facts are that using the road is free for cyclists, I’m ok with that. It’s not free for motorists, moped riders or motorcyclists - most of which also have cars yet pay for every inch they travel on both.

Demanding more rights than motorists, disregarding rules of the road, and crying about lack of special entitlements - not so ok with that.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Facts are that using the road is free for cyclists

Where do you come up with this drivel? What's your next plan of attack? Pedestrians using the road who are even less likely to have paid road related taxes (which are in reality a 24-7-365 fee, not just when you happen to drive your car on them, otherwise they'd be prorated based on time/mileage)?

 

[LePhillou]

Because adding oil to the fire is always a good idea:

The Ottawa police just endorsed cyclists riding two abreast - Canadian Cycling Magazine

An officer explained why cycling two up can be safer in a tweet

cyclingmagazine.ca

 

[Evoex]

Sure I'll agree it's safer.

 

[GreyGhost]

Sure I'll agree it's safer.

Really? Not in my experience.

The flexible flag sticking one meter out to the left is safer. Vehicle drivers dont want to get scratched so they move over. I find the vast majority do not give a meter.

 

[Mad Mike]

M

Where do you come up with this drivel? What's your next plan of attack? Pedestrians using the road who are even less likely to have paid road related taxes (which are in reality a 24-7-365 fee, not just when you happen to drive your car on them, otherwise they'd be prorated based on time/mileage)?

Maybe. If pedestrians routinely danced thru congested traffic, blasted stops and reds, took walks down country roads 5 abreast holding hands or demanded every road in the land have 2m annexed for their personal pleasure.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

M

Maybe. If pedestrians routinely danced thru congested traffic, blasted stops and reds, took walks down country roads 5 abreast holding hands or demanded every road in the land have 2m annexed for their personal pleasure.

Show me on the doll where the cyclist touched you.

 

[backmarkerducati]

Show me on the doll where the cyclist touched you.

I think someone is confusing the generally "well enough off" TdF wannabe weekend, week night pleasure riding peloton crowd that is the topic of this thread with people that either chose to not have one or cannot afford a car and only have a bicycle and use it for day to day commuting and transportation.

When I say "well enough off", well they have enough disposable income (well off) that they are riding multi thousand dollar road bikes--maybe own a few different bikes (so they are doing a little better than OK...). As you noted they also have cars,SUVs,trucks, etc, and even use them to drive to the meeting place before the group country ride. So they are paying all the expected infrastructure taxes that we all pay (exept for EV only guys ), likely more. They are just using it in more different ways....

The other group above you see riding bikes to and from work in the city because that is all they can afford or as green lifestyle choice, no cars. BTW people also complain about some of them breaking road rules but they are not riding in large packs. They tend to use the city cycling infrastructure daily. I question the logic, even the ethics of wanting to tax people that cannot afford a car out of transportation existence? Then expect complaints once taxed out of transportation that these people now sit at home collecting welfare.....?

Of course there are other groups like couriers using it to make a living (may or may not have a car). Small group or single pleasure riders that also own cars. Hipsters. etc....

As a cyclist, some of the first group will also ride to work when it is nice out, but very (extremely) rarely do any of the second group that does not pay these taxes join the weekend "pelotons" in question.

****
The real take-away, when large groups of people get together to enjoy a "hobby" on public infrastructure they can become complete self entitled **********, the larger the group the dumber everyone can get. We see this for the cyclists in question, running groups, groups of motorcyclists blocking highways to stunt, "Harley trains" that ride slow and won't let people pass, custom car crowds........ It does not always happen but it does too often.

 

[Norcorider]

OP - cagers think the same about motorcyclists, you know that right? There will always be bad cyclists , bad drivers and bad riders. How can we generalize and stereotype? You know how many people hate loud exhausts , lane splitters? A bucket load.

 

[Mad Mike]

The real take-away, when large groups of people get together to enjoy a "hobby" on public infrastructure they can become complete self entitled **********, the larger the group the dumber everyone can get. We see this for the cyclists in question, running groups, groups of motorcyclists blocking highways to stunt, "Harley trains" that ride slow and won't let people pass, custom car crowds........ It does not always happen but it does too often.

I think you hit the nail on the head. It's not just cyclists, there are group motorcyclists, group car tourers, and RV flotillas that will 'own' rather than share the road while enjoying their pursuits. This discussion has so far centered on cyclists, but there are the same idiots in lots of groups.

Last summer while travelling Deep Bay Road ran into cruiser train of about 60 bikes doing 60KMH. They were running single file formation, but all over both lanes of the road. The next weekend I ran into 20 or so little convertible sports cars (Miatas, MGs, Triumphs) doing the same. I could have overtaken them safely, but the novice riders with me could not (I didn't pass because I didn't want the other riders to try).

I've been on a few of group rides with TTSR & Let's Just Ride where the ride captains blocked intersections like a police bike marshalling a funeral. That behavior makes me cut out and go solo.

 

[Dirty Frank]

There's no need to unclip at lights. Might want to practice a bit with flats first till you figure it out.

Fast twitch muscles and there's no need to downshift, either.

Be looking all pro then along comes a good gust of wind....

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Be looking all pro then along comes a good gust of wind....

Do you fall off your motorcycle in crosswinds?

 

[Mad Mike]

Do you fall off your motorcycle in crosswinds?

Only when practicing my trackstands.

 

[shanekingsley]

I've been on a few of group rides with TTSR & Let's Just Ride where the ride captains blocked intersections like a police bike marshalling a funeral. That behavior makes me cut out and go solo.

I had no idea people do that on pleasure rides. I get it for larger events, but a regular group ride?

 

[backmarkerducati]

I had no idea people do that on pleasure rides. I get it for larger events, but a regular group ride?

I have seen it a lot. Not normally for a handful of motorcycles in a group (see below) but say over 20, maybe even 10. I guess their logic is the group gets broken up with cars in the middle if they follow the rules of the road at a four way stop or even a light sometimes. Say a four way stop, two or three motorcycles are at the actual stop (front row), others lined up in rows behind them, follow the rules the first row goes, cars go next as the next row pulls up and stops, then they go.... smaller handful of riders groups say two or three rows go as a group (still breaking the law of course as the second plus rows are running the stop but less annoying to the other road users), larger groups they feel they have the privilege to block all the cars until the crowd clears the intersection. Less common at lights but it still happens with larger groups that cannot clear before the red.

My guess with the more people = more stupid rule they don't feel they are doing anything wrong. Ain't nobody got time for that.

 

[Dirty Frank]

Do you fall off your motorcycle in crosswinds?

Almost did a few times but I have been blown over most of a lane more often while riding a bicycle near tall buildings.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Only when practicing my trackstands.

PM Trials. He'll show you how to ride properly.

 

[justride]

 

[danp]

THis thread reminds me of this video

 

[Mad Mike]

I had no idea people do that on pleasure rides. I get it for larger events, but a regular group ride?

Yes they do. Big groups, wide range of skills, inexperienced ride captains. I stopped riding with both those groups a while back, largely based on etiquette, or lack thereof. The final straw was in Bobcageon - one of the sweepers parade blocked the 4 corners in front of an OPP cruiser. He ran, turned out he was rolling dirty.

I don't mind riding in groups, large or small. Best is groups of 8 if they can ride in tight formation, 6 for loose and 4 for single filers. If you have more than a group (way 30 riders) I like 500m between groups makes -- opens some road for others, it's also easier to keep small groups together through intersections and challenging sections of road. Rides are also easier to manage when you group riders by proficiency - masters at the front, proficient in the middle, novices at the back.

I never feel a need to irritate anyone when I'm riding.

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