I think some start out normal and then get sucked in to the abyss of crazy. You can just be a bike rider here. Everything you do is some sort of grand statement. I didn’t grow up here, and have only lived here a short time, so I’m still getting used to it. But co-workers chastised me for suggesting that bikes should have to stop at lights/signs.
He is exaggerating a bit, but only a bit. In the Bay area, many don’t stop, unless traffic forces them to. They also often ride in the right lane, blocking cars. Many also don’t have brakes or reflectors.
Last year, as a pedestrian, I waited to cross a street until I got the “walk” signal. Just as I stepped off the curb, a bicyclist nearly plowed into me as he blew the light to make a right turn. I still have fantasies of pushing him over as he flew by inches in front of my face.
