Town in CO bans cycling
 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...-bans-cyclists

:facepalm:

Nice! Excessive, intrusive, and paternalistic legislation designed to solve a nonexistent problem.

Imo its not that much of an intrusion from how it is worded people having jobs>than cyclists. cylists can still step off and walk past or through the town anyway.

There's all kinds of individual liberties that have potentially negative effects on local economies, but that doesn't make it acceptable to ban them.

How would you feel if the same reasoning were used to ban convertibles or aftermarket turbos?

Freedom is something you can't have unless you are willing to give it to others.

Freedom got pwnt yet again.

Its a town of 100 people.... not sure it really counts for anything.

Genius on the towns part.

By creating this shitstorm the publicity they are receiving is HUGE. Who knows if they actually intended to keep this law or not, now everyone knows that this quaint little historic town now has a $100 max, and is catering to gambling.

Cha-ching!

Living in bike freak Portland OR I'm happy as hell to see a town go the opposite direction. They didn't ban bike riding in the entire town, it's a certain section with narrow streets. We have the opposite problem. The city's been taking away traffic lanes to accomodate the cyclists.

I'll be happy about sharing the roads with bicycles as soon as they pay the same licensing fees and road taxes I do with my car. Too many riders ignore traffic laws and exhibit the same "we have the right of way and will take all the time we want" attitude as pedestrians. Too many cyclists ride like they are daring you to hit them.

+1000000

Fucking seriously. Seattle has the exact same problem. Cyclists are given the rights of both a motor vehicle (when the ride on the street) and pedestrians (when they ride on the sidewalk). The problem is, they can change where they are riding at will and ignore the laws/rules of both roles. I probably see 10-15 red lights blown by bicycles every day on my way to work, and I have never once heard of a cop stopping and ticketing them. You also see them hop off of sidewalks onto busy streets, and then cut out into crosswalks to avoid stoplights.

I once had a cyclist yell at me to be more careful, that I could kill him with my car (he darted out and I almost hit him). I told him that was precisely why he should watch the fuck out.

The pro cyclists and the anti cyclists in CO are both BUSYBODIES. They want to pass laws that protect/favor one side or the other. Lost in this debate is the concept of freedom and personal responsibility, which are 2 sides of the same coinl.

http://www.laissez-fairerepublic.com/busybody.htm

........This

+1

When I lived closer to work, I rode my SS road bike for a while. But I planned out a route that avoided major intersections and fast streets with no sidewalks. I appreciated drivers that would give me an extra foot or two as they passed, but my assumption was always that I was responsible for my own safety.

America! Fuck Yeah!

Eh, I'm with stupid. While I hate laws getting passed that restrict our God given freedoms, at least it's one against stupid hippies on bikes. Unlike most of you, I live in the middle of nowhere(literally the sign says unincorporated and the next town over is called Rural) and I have to deal with these morons every day in the summer. All the dumb fucks from Chicago come up to vacation here in the summer and bring their faggy love of biking with them. They ride down the middle of the highway and never move. I got yelled at by some douche last week who was standing in the middle of the road by my house. If I had my way, Newton's law and Darwin's theory would come together real quick.

Just to specify one thing, I have nothing against Chicagoans or those that bike and have fucking manners. I have a bike but can only think of two reasons I would ever ride it.

1. I am out of beer and it's almost closing time at the liquor store AND no one's coming by with more. I own no cars. This would also make me a bum.

2. During the zombie apocalypse, thousands of zombies have blocked access to any means of motorized transportation and the bicycle is my only way of escape.

Vancouver has removed lanes in major viaducts and bridges to accommodate cyclists. It's retarded. 90% of them are all no tax paying hippies.... why my tax dollars are going towards 50mil in bike lanes is beyond me.

moot point technically my whole car is illegal.

Man I don't know where you live in WI, but that is very true where I grew up outside of Appleton. I don't know how many times I'd see a group of 5-10 riders up ahead that would not move over until I had come right up on them and dropped from the 55mph limit down to 20. I used to bike ~15 miles a day out there and I sure as hell got way over or stopped and moved into the ditch if something big was coming.

I love the people who bike down back ass country roads, clearly this is where i like to have my fun in the Miata, slamming through some S-curves at 65-70MPH and turnign a corner to see two people on bikes going 3 MPH in the middle of the road is not a fun experience, been there a few times back home.

I wish they would day that here. Nothing pisses me off more than getting stuck behind Mr. Wannabelancearmstrong riding his bike in the middle of the fucking lane on a very heavy traffic 2 lane road with no good passing zones. I swear to god I used to get behind one every day. There are plenty of side roads to ride on your fucktards.

I love to see this. People dont understand how dangerous riding a bike in the wrong areas can be. I drive a vehicle for a company where I travel the same streets all day. Bicyclists hog up the road on a daily basis and other cars pass these bicyclists dangerously every day. These bikers are putting themselves in danger as well as other motorists as a result.

I have no pity for someone if they were to be hit. They know the risk. They are especially dangerous when they are in a pack, and they bob and weave all over the lane and when you try to pass one darts out close to you an nearly makes you hit someone else head on. I pass these dicks with the top down, my middle finger in the air and a big "Get out of the road you fucking dumbass!" If they did this on less busy side roads, fine by me. Don't do it on a main artery between cities that sees heavy traffic 24/7.

A little *fuck yeah* moment for us who hate asshole cyclists-

While out in L.A., my gf and I wanted to go over to this crepe cafe in Santa Monica. So we are driving arouns SM looking for parking when I come up to a red light. I am in the left turn lane. Given that I am from Atlanta, I ALWAYS watch the cross traffic's light so I know to look for anyone trying to beat the yellow or run the red. So I'm watching the traffic light cycle from green to yellow and right about then I see this cycleass comeing upon the intersection from my left. He *was* in the left turn lane and I saw him start cutting into the oncoming lane to force himself to make a left at a higher rate of speed (we all see these assholes who dive out of the left turn lane into oncoming lanes early like it's some kind of way to claim being in the intersection first). Right as this moron cuts onto the oncoming lane, I see him wobble as if he is trying to cut back to the right to go straight. Also at that exact same moment, I see a Astro van taxi enter the intersection from the right and I can hear ABS kicking in......and then it happened...BLAM! taxi vs cycle head on. Collision speed was probably about 40-50mph between the two. Bike pretty much stuck to the front of the van and it's rider ended up rolling up the windshield and got thrown back off when the van stopped.

I pulled over as a witness and somehow or another was the only witness who saw everything as it happened. The taxi driver came over to me and in broken English was trying to ensure I told the cops it wasn't his fault, I said "Man, I'll tell the cops what I saw when they get here". So cops show up, talk to me, have me stand in middle of the intersection and point out everything that happened and then he asked me "So who do you think was at fault?" to which I replied "Clearly it was the cyclist, because he was attempting to make a left and didn't have the right of way". Cyclown3d.

I'm a cyclist, and I'm all for anything that gives people on bikes a safer place to ride (bike lanes) and holding motorists (of which I'm also one, obviously) accountable for doing dangerous shit. This doesn't just apply to cyclists though, people can't fucking drive and it's too easy to get a license in this country.

Anyhow, I totally agree with the above regardless. In Ohio, cyclists are supposed to have the same rights as motor vehicles and are supposed to stay off the sidewalks. I used to try to adhere to this but I decided it wasn't worth risking my life when there was an uncrowded sidewalk I can ride on. I've had heated debates with other cyclist about exactly what you're saying though. My take on it is that if you want motorists to "share the road" then you need to act like you belong there. Cyclists should stop at lights and stop signs, signal, and be courteous to motorists just as they expect motorists to be courteous to them. I have an acquaintance that thinks he should be able to blow through intersections just because it's "more difficult to stop and go on a bicycle". Bullshit. If you want equal treatment, act like an equal and not like you're superior.

If you're going to be on the road you need to be responsible, alert, and courteous, no matter your mode of transportation. I'm a motorcyclist too and I'm sick of tards in SUVs on the phone that can't be bothered to make the effort to actually do what they're supposed to be doing, and fucking drive! </rant>

As for the "no tax-paying hippies" nonsense, I call shenanigans. That's just blatant bigotry. The aforementioned cyclist is an attorney that makes and pays plenty. I have a pretty good gig as well and pay license and registration fees on 3 motorcycles, 3 cars, and a truck. I earn my keep and should be able to ride my bicycle on the street. I should also be held to the rules of the road, however; and so should everyone else that uses it.

And this, IMHO, is the best reason for licensing of bikes... Cyclist is doing stupid shit they get LEO called on them same as a drunk driver. I'd bet we'd see a large drop in cyclists like your pal who thinks the traffic laws don't apply to him. The way it is now there's no way to positively identify a particular cyclist.

This

And This... Our whole country needs more of that one in a bad way

As for the cyclists, I know the laws here are that cyclists are supposed to be on roadways and are supposed to be within 18 inches of the side of the road. I know people who have gotten tickets for both too.

You, Sir, are the exception, not the rule. I can smell the patchouli from a mile away on these fuckers.

BTW, there is something called the "Subaru Cup" near my house this weekend. I went to the coffee shop(first mistake) and was surrounded by all these Lance Armstrong wanna-be bitches. I had to listen to these dumb asses talk the whole time I waited for my macchiato. They came from all over the US to basically ride a bike down a dirt hill. CONGRATS RETARDS! I had to deal with bikes going by my house for the second day now. I'm actually leaving to go visit my parents for the rest of the weekend so I no longer have to deal with these people.

Have you BEEN to Vancouver? ;)

I don't have a problem with bikes. I have a problem when the city thinks that a group of a few thousand deserve millions spent on bike lanes and removing car lanes that make regular people's commute worse. Not everyone lives biking distance to work... I can't take my bike and transit here is one of the worst in NA.

I'm with soloracer. It's a great low impact way for me to get exercise, especially since I have flat feet and poor joints. Aka, running sucks. Although when I'm in a car I hate cyclists. I also hate motorists when I'm on my bike. There are idiots on/in both. I do attempt to avoid traffic at all costs, and give plenty of room for them to pass. There's some idiots who get mad despite having room to pass. It's called a gas pedal moron, use it.

Viva le cyclist! I <3 PDX. Keep it weird and shit.

We didn't have this problem 30 years ago. I just rode my bike. On the sidewalk, streets, parking lots...wherever. Of course I was also aware of the fact that a 4000 lb. hunk of iron moving at 30-40 MPH would probably kill me so I never tempted fate.

A little common sense and personal responsibility would go a long way for bikes and cars alike.

I'm sure everyone has heard about the ex Canadian Attorney General and his "incident". with a cyclist. Drunk bike courier gets into it with him on the road. Hang onto his saab convertible and the ex AG swerves around trying to shake him loose. Finally runs him into a fire hydrant which kills the guy.

Not sure who to root for in that situation.

I dislike bicyclists. They probably dont like me much either when I pass them on my motorcycle...

Oh, so you're one of the toughguys who buzzes cyclists? Congratulations, you're a dick.

I'll be happy about paying the same licensing fees and road taxes as you do with your car just as soon as I get a refund on my property taxes for the portion that goes towards the public school system as I have no crotchspawn.

As a long-time resident of CO and also a cyclist and someone who does a ton of driving -

1st off the level of intellegnce in my state has fucking plumeted in the last 10 years. People here cant drive for shit, our officials are a joke, and if it were not for some truly enterprising enthusiasts who put the cash together, we would not have a real road crouse. I love this place, but it makes me sad how stupid people are now. Driving in Denver now and PHX 2 years ago, I can honestly say that PHX drivers are on the whole better. Not kidding. At least the PHX drivers will drive fast and floor it when the cut you off rather than cutting you off and then slamming the brakes for no reason..

2nd, most cyclists are total retards. I HATE discourteous cyclists, because then dumbfucks in cars/trucks convince themselfs they are justified as they intentionally blast by me with a foot of seperation when I am 2-3 feet to the right of the white line riding in the occasional gravcel on my 1/2" wide tire road bike.

3rd, most motorists are frucking idiots and get mad at cyclists because they have so little skill that they get nervous if they have any reason to trry and simply place their vehicle accurately. These are the same people who clip road cones in construction zones.

When I did Ride the Rockies about 15 years ago, we had to go through Ward on our way to Boulder to finish the tour. The local cops threatened to be out there with radar guns and ticket people. They actually did post a cop who tried (I have no idea how successful it was) to get speed reads on people.

Bottom line, this is the kind of crap you get when self-righteous assholes on both sides come into contact with each other.

Reagrding taxes. How much damage do I do to the road when I go over it at under 200LBs total? Compared to say a 3500Lb car? M'kay then, fuck taxes on bikes. We are not socialist yet and I would personally like to keep it that way. Thanks.

This.

Regarding taxes... How much of Social Security will I ever see? How much of my State's resources am I using while stationed in Germany? Medicare doing anything for me? Why should I pay the Federal Government taxes on money they give me? Fuck taxes on me and everyone else in the military period.

Your argument has no weight with me.

I would think your examples would explain why you would agree with it. Thats some of the stuff in my head when I posted it.

Taxing/licensing bikes would be lame on an amazing level.

And I never did really understand taxes on the military. Its sort of like the gov is paying, then taking back some. Why not stop paying a few thousand people to facilitate the paperwork and just pay people what you pay people?

No, I'm more or less saying suck it up and deal with it if it happens. :giggle: I hate dealing with people riding their bikes on the back ass country roads back home, almost as much as I hate dealing with the idiots when they want to switch between being a pedestrian and a vehicle depending on which is more convenient for them at the time.

Not that I cycle but here in houston we have the opposite problem where bike riders do not take the streets because people honk at them and yell at them because they are not aware that legally a bike is a vehicle that is supposed to be on the road and follow those rules rather than be on the side walk.


Side note "I fing hate most cyclist" because they fing know no courtesy especially on running paths where they fly right past me with no warning of their passing.