# Attention dipsticks: Bicycles can go damn fast. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002 "2012-10-07T17:27:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/21 "2012-10-07T23:04:08Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > \ > > Suck it up and don’t think the world owes you the right of way just because you aren’t driving a car. This, and the OP sounds like a typical cyclist, like the ones who are all riding on the sidewalks in my neighbourhood, picking and choosing which laws they will obey, and getting all self-righteous about it. So, OP, do you dismount and walk your bicycle across crosswalks when you’re riding on the sidewalk? No one in my neighbourhood does, and yes, bicycles do go damned fast - far too fast for a driver to even have a chance at stopping for an unexpected bike in a crosswalk. I suppose that would be the car driver’s fault too, though. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/22 "2012-10-08T01:09:28Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > The day I get a speeding ticket on my bike I will immediately pay the fine and put the ticket in a frame. > [@Rick](#): > > Same here. [Ahem](http://eugenebicyclist.com/2012/03/11/the-cyclist-speeding-ticket-the-new-cell-phone-law-and-other-matters-of-law-enforcement/): > [@](#): > > **The cyclist speeding ticket, the new cell phone law, and other matters of law enforcement** > > A while ago, we showed you a chart of traffic citations issued to cyclists in Eugene. Mixed in with the rolled stop signs and unlighted ninja cyclists, there was a speeding ticket. A couple of you wanted to know more about that one. > > {Snip} > > “Yes, a bicyclist was cited for speeding,” McCulley tells us. “The officer was conducting traffic patrols and clocked the bicyclist going 38 in a 25 mph zone.” > > {Snip} > > And we might say this cyclist earned a badge of honor. We might. But if we did, we would open ourselves up to accusations of hypocrisy — what with the way we bitch and moan about unsafe motorists. The entire article is kind of interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/23 "2012-10-08T01:17:45Z")
What, they couldn’t hear the baseball card clicking in your spokes? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/24 "2012-10-08T01:21:46Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > This, and the OP sounds like a typical cyclist, like the ones who are all riding on the sidewalks in my neighbourhood, picking and choosing which laws they will obey, and getting all self-righteous about it. > > So, OP, do you dismount and walk your bicycle across crosswalks when you’re riding on the sidewalk? No one in my neighbourhood does, and yes, bicycles do go damned fast - far too fast for a driver to even have a chance at stopping for an unexpected bike in a crosswalk. I suppose that would be the car driver’s fault too, though. 😕 Sorry to deflate your mad-on, but why are you ranting about cyclists on the sidewalk when the OP was quite clear that it was a road being ridden on? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/25 "2012-10-08T02:14:16Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > [Ahem](http://eugenebicyclist.com/2012/03/11/the-cyclist-speeding-ticket-the-new-cell-phone-law-and-other-matters-of-law-enforcement/): > The entire article is kind of interesting. Good article and as a lawful rider I support the PD citing cyclists that break the law. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/26 "2012-10-08T03:38:35Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > I am going down a single lane, one way street that has the right of way. My Sigma BC906 says I am going at 35km/h. This is 5km/h over the posted speed limit and what most cars usually do on that particular road. > > There are two women on the sidewalk ready to cross the road. They see me coming and yet they start crossing the road while I’m just 20 meters away. > > …snip..? So you had the light? Because in Seattle, (where I work) we get a ton of idiot bikers who do that Kitty Corner thing across the middle of the intersection regardless of whether the pedestrians have the walk light or not. And if there’s a cross walk, whether there’s a light or not, ALL _ **vehicles** _ (that includes you bikers), have to yield to peds. Now, as to where I live? I walk about a mile to the light rail, and you bikers can just stay the hell off the sidewalks. Sorry, not much sympathy here either, I see too many bikers who are vehicles when it suits them, and then peds (while still on their bikes) when it suits them better. ---
**Author:** ![TurboNuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@TurboNuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TurboNuke)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/27 "2012-10-08T03:51:28Z")
Im surprised you can get your huge vagina on a bike. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/28 "2012-10-08T04:04:01Z")
WTF is a Sigma BC906? If you mean a speedometer, just say so, you don’t need to specify what brand. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/29 "2012-10-08T04:21:20Z")
Chicago pedestrians are _always_ stepping right out in front of me when I have the green light. And I’m an old guy who seldom breaks 15 mph. (For those who’ve come loaded for cyclist: Yes, I’m riding in the proper lane, in the proper direction, observing all traffic regulations and traffic signals. I do sometimes roll through neighborhood stop signs that I’ve slowed and checked for cross traffic.). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/30 "2012-10-08T04:29:23Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > And if there’s a cross walk, whether there’s a light or not, ALL _ **vehicles** _ (that includes you bikers), have to yield to peds. So, what’s the point of the light? I’m sorry, but I can’t wrap my head around the idea that a pedestrian has the right of way when the pedestrian is crossing against a red light and crossing traffic has a green light. > [@](#): > > Sorry, not much sympathy here either, I see too many bikers who are vehicles when it suits them, and then peds (while still on their bikes) when it suits them better. Agreed. The thing is, I accept that the posters here generally do obey traffic regulations when they (the posters, not the regulations) are on their bicycles. Heck, I follow them scrupulously here in Maoming; otherwise, I’d be just another statistic. The problem is that far too many cyclists in far too many cities simply do not give a hoot about traffic regulations when applied to the cyclists. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/31 "2012-10-08T04:35:21Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > WTF is a Sigma BC906? If you mean a speedometer, just say so, you don’t need to specify what brand. I’ll bet it’s an odometer, cadence calculator, heart monitor, blood pressure monitor, range finder, radar detector and lie detector too! ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/32 "2012-10-08T04:57:53Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’ll bet it’s an odometer, cadence calculator, heart monitor, blood pressure monitor, range finder, radar detector and lie detector too! And it cost me more than the bike itself! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/33 "2012-10-08T05:10:33Z")
Just for shits and giggles, I took a quick look for a bike speedometer with the most functions, and found the Polar [CS500+cad](http://www.trinowfitness.com/en/Polar-CS500-Plus-Cad.html/?src=apa), for about $250. I don’t know if has the most functions of all, but Jeebus, it has lots! Ok, it doesn’t have the blood pressure monitor, range finder, radar detector and lie detector I listed. But it DOES have: Speed – current, average and maximum Distance – training, lap, and total Cadence – current, average and maximum Altimeter/Barometer – totals ascents and descents, graphs of altitude change Air Temperature Average, min and max heart rate by lap or training session Target heart rate zone to assist keeping within your zone Calorie speedometer – calibrated by altitude! – the rate at which you’re burning calories Data transmission – send your info to a command post, possibly so they can send a hearse when you drop dead from exhaustion Day/Date/Time several stopwaatches Also 14 different training reports, downloadable to computer Autostart/stop - you can set this so it doesn’t add time or distance when you’re stopped _or coasting_. Power output – current, average and maximum (I dunno, maybe in watts?) AND MORE! This will allow our athletes to bike to nearby stars. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/34 "2012-10-08T05:22:24Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > So, what’s the point of the light? I’m sorry, but I can’t wrap my head around the idea that a pedestrian has the right of way when the pedestrian is crossing against a red light and crossing traffic has a green light. Huh? If there’s a light, everyone obeys the light according to standard green=go red=stop another color=parallel dimension. If there is no light, cars and bikes can’t blaze through the crosswalk but must stop for pedestrians. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/35 "2012-10-08T05:38:53Z")
In practice, around here, if a car or a bike, or someone on horseback for that matter, hits a pedestrian under almost any circumstances, the driver is in pretty deep shit. Madison started a thing a few years back which I absolutely hate. On streets with any significant vehicle traffic, they put bins on all four corners of intersections with red flags on sticks. The idea is that pedestrians will wave them while crossing the street to make themselves more visible to drivers. In practice, a lot of pedestrians seem to use them as licenses to cross the street at any time in any traffic conditions, and they will just start marching out into steady streams of cars on main streets who otherwise have right of way. And the city probably uses them as cheap substitutes for stop signs or stop lights. It kind of makes sense in the abstract as it keeps up the traffic flow by not forcing arbitrary vehicle stops due to lights or signs along main streets. But when someone ten feet ahead of you just grabs a flag with breaking stride and walking out in the street in front of you… I’ll just be charitable and say the system needs work. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/36 "2012-10-08T05:50:44Z")
Well if it’s a steady stream of traffic how else are they supposed to cross? Or are they supposed to walk half a mile or so to where there’s a signal? I really wish there were places where bicycles could go at full speed without worrying about pedestrians/cars/horses. I say this as a cylist, as a motorist, and as a pedestrian-with-dog-attached (usually). The thing about bikes is they can go fast and they are quiet, so you can look, not see one, the path curves slightly and WHAM, there’s a bike. Well, hopefully not WHAM but it can be dicey. Bicycles basically have to yield to everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/37 "2012-10-08T06:22:47Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > This, and the OP sounds like a typical cyclist, like the ones who are all riding on the sidewalks in my neighbourhood, picking and choosing which laws they will obey, and getting all self-righteous about it. I’m reminded of that old saying about “an eye for an eye and we will all go blind”. Based on your theory nobody could complain about anything any other road user did since IME every single category of road user has substantial proportions of people who don’t obey traffic laws. In reality of course, you just don’t like cyclists so you tar them all with the same brush; a brush you would think waaaay too broad if ever applied to you. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/38 "2012-10-08T07:30:56Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Huh? If there’s a light, everyone obeys the light according to standard green=go red=stop another color=parallel dimension. If there is no light, cars and bikes can’t blaze through the crosswalk but must stop for pedestrians. Uh, **Inner Stickler**. You might want to check the post I was responding to. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/39 "2012-10-08T07:46:38Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I’m reminded of that old saying about “an eye for an eye and we will all go blind”. Based on your theory nobody could complain about anything any other road user did since IME every single category of road user has substantial proportions of people who don’t obey traffic laws. > > In reality of course, you just don’t like cyclists so you tar them all with the same brush; a brush you would think waaaay too broad if ever applied to you. I’m trying to think of the last time I saw a car driving down a one way street the wrong way on purpose, or driving at night without lights, or refusing to have brakes, or blowing through one stop sign after another. Daily occurrences here in Portland. As a driver, if I see a car doing something dangerous and illegal I’ll call the cops. Do bike riders so the same? The majority of bike riders are cautious, courteous, and drive legally, but the percentage of asshole bike riders is waay more than that of asshole drivers. It’s moved past “we have just as much right to the roads as cars”, which I agree with, to “I’m morally better than you people driving cars so I can do what ever the fuck I want”. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002/40 "2012-10-08T08:08:31Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > I’m trying to think of the last time I saw a car driving down a one way street the wrong way on purpose, or driving at night without lights, or refusing to have brakes, or blowing through one stop sign after another. Daily occurrences here in Portland. As a driver, if I see a car doing something dangerous and illegal I’ll call the cops. Do bike riders so the same? > > The majority of bike riders are cautious, courteous, and drive legally, but the percentage of asshole bike riders is waay more than that of asshole drivers. > > It’s moved past “we have just as much right to the roads as cars”, which I agree with, to “I’m morally better than you people driving cars so I can do what ever the fuck I want”. I routinely see all of the above, plus the “get the (bleep) out of my way, what are you doing WALKING on the sidewalk?” thing, in Sacramento, CA. In a lot of cases, yeah, it’s the “I’m being SO enviro-correct I’m just SO wonderful and special I shouldn’t have to even notice anyone not as elite as I” attitude, other times it’s just being dumb. Yeah, lots of stupid from drivers (borderline insanely aggressive is a biggie) and pedestrians (casually strolling out in front of cars like they’re trying to play the insurance settlement lotto) here too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dipsticks-bicycles-can-go-damn-fast/637002.md?page=3)