# Sick and tired of bicyclists ignoring traffic law **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413 "2013-07-13T18:14:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/81 "2013-07-15T16:37:11Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Probably not, though, because [in NYC from 2007 to 2010, 500 pedestrians were seen in hospitals for bicycle accident injuries](http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/communications/repository/files/Pedestrian%20Cyclist%20Accidents_3.pdf) and I doubt it’s decreased very much since then. > > Now, how wary should a New York City pedestrian be of any given bicycle rider? Should they be more frightened of a motorist? Let’s do some math. > > So there are ~500 pedestrian hospital visits for bike crashes and about [12,000 pedestrian ER visits for motor vehicle crashes in New York City annually.](http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/prevention/injury_prevention/traffic/county_of_residence.htm#pedestrian) So let’s say pedestrians go to the hospital for **24 car crash related injuries** for every hospital visit caused by a bike crash related injury. This is not the proper comparison. Different kinds of vehicles are going to cause a different distribution of problems, so the proper thing to do is total up **all** accidents of a given severity caused by a given class of vehicle when comparing it with other classes. So: you’d want to compare ALL hospital visits (or morgue visits, for that matter) resulting from cars running into someone, with ALL hospital visits or morgue visits resulting from bicycles running into someone. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/82 "2013-07-15T16:40:41Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > I’m with the OP. Every single day i see cyclists blow through stop signs or red lights. I routinely see bicyclists ride the wrong way down one way streets, ride on the sidewalk, and worst of all, ride the wrong way on the sidewalk on a one way street. Imagine waiting to turn left on a one way street and then have someone scoot across the cross walk at 15 MPH on a bicycle just as you start to turn. > > As a driver I have called 911 when I see drivers blow through red lights. Do cyclists ever do that to fellow cyclists? I’m not even sure how you could since there are no license plate. > > The other day I saw two cars going the wrong way on a one-way street. There was much honking, flashing of lights, and hand waving, but they eventually stopped and turned around when they saw their mistake. But bicyclists do it on purpose and I see it _every single day_. > > I know drivers can be assholes, I’ve had a bottle thrown at me while I was riding in the street, but what you don’t see is a message board full of people trying to defend them or complaining about a broad brush. > > The solution is pretty easy: require a license plate on bikes and cyclists to complete a short test showing they understand the traffic laws. Then some police on the street on bicycles to issue tickets to the scofflaws. After writing a couple hundred tickets in one day (easy to do in Portland), the nonsense would stop. > > I have every reason to support additional bike lanes, but my good will is being rapidly eroded by the small (but significant) percentage of cyclists who deliberately ignore the rules of the road. I disagree. More regulation like this goes nowhere. It is purely punitive, is a gross overreaction to the issue, and will mostly just make a bunch of normal cyclists complete outlaws. Yes, cyclists ride the wrong way. I get pissed at that since many of them do it in the marked bike lane. But beyond getting annoyed I do not call 911, because frankly I am going to save such efforts for the car that passed with 6 inches of me, and other more deadly concerns. Cyclists barely rate, even at high speed. Crackdowns on cyclist traffic violations sound like a good idea, and I would support them if history had not shown that such crackdowns become police vengeance-fests bent on punishing cyclists for being cyclist rather than cyclists violating rules: I have been yelled by a cop at for leaving the bike lane (not illegal, BTW) when it was blocked - the cop didn’t even understand my hand signal. There was a famous viral video of a guy in NYC who got a ticket for not riding in the bike lane - something that happened during one of NYC’s ‘crack down on rogue riders’-fests. Other cops have demonstrated that they don’t even understand simple ideas that cyclists can be in the roads. Even more frequently, the [cops just set up in areas where fines and violations don’t help](http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/06/18/nypd-shoot-fish-in-a-barrel/) Historically, I’ve only known of one such crack down that wasn’t massively unfair and vindictive and that was spread out to target aggressive city driving as pedestrian antics - the cyclists targeted were ones riding on sidewalks or plowing through pedestrians who had the right of way on high-volume intersections. Forcing licensing isn’t going to do shit. its is just going to actively discourage riding. Outlaw cyclists will simply have one more law they ignore, and those of us who ride legally will be punished because some non-riders blew things out of proportion. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/83 "2013-07-15T16:51:37Z")
> [@jaymac1](#): > > I cannot cycle anymore due to my health but when I did I always followed the rules of the road, even as a 15 year old. When I’m driving my car I’m always watching for bad cyclists. Cyclists are especially poor in Glasgow, where I live. One came out of a side road on a red light right in front of my brothers bus! (He was ok fortunately, but my brother was a wee shaken up). So you’re name’s Jaymie, you say. And you’re a wee teen girl from Glasgow who’s had an accident and you’re concerned about devotees. Jaymie, what caused your accident, how do you get around, do you have help, have you had any boyfriends, and who or what inspired your username? Details, details! ---
**Author:** ![jaymac1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaymac1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaymac1)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/84 "2013-07-15T17:03:35Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > So you’re name’s Jaymie, you say. And you’re a wee teen girl from Glasgow who’s had an accident and you’re concerned about devotees. Jaymie, what caused your accident, how do you get around, do you have help, have you had any boyfriends, and who or what inspired your username? Details, details! This isn’t the correct thread! Anyway I’m not answering these, although jaymac1 is because my name is Jaymie MacInnerie and I’m No.1 ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/85 "2013-07-15T17:06:53Z")
> [@colander](#): > > If the only roads you can think of where cyclists don’t misbehave are roads on which cyclists don’t _appear_, that doesn’t exactly make cyclists seem well-behaved, does it? You are obviously reading what you want to read. I pointed out an interesection where cars frequently set off the cameras, you came back with ‘how many cyclists run that intersection’. My answer was none since it was large and not easily accessible. Then somehow you extrapolate this into some kind of hate-on. Fuck it. I am tired of apologizing for all misbehaving cyclists. I got buzzed this morning by a driver trying to pass me dangerously - something that happens all too often. By extension should I call all drivers shitty drivers because it seems that on this stretch of road about 75% of the cars try some dangerous passing maneuver so they can break the speed limit to get to the red light at the top of the hill. I don’t consider them to represent all drivers, but somehow its OK to be a bigot against cyclists. Of course, cyclists are not unique in this kind of ire. I bet if you told someone you were a truck driver they’d regale with horror stories of some truck that cut them off, etc. > [@](#): > > [Here it is again.](http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/communications/repository/files/Pedestrian%20Cyclist%20Accidents_3.pdf) Bottom of page 3: 1,000 hospital visits in New York per year. Top of page 8: 55% of them in New York City. Learn to read. > > If you have any information that you _didn’t_ yank straight out of your asshole, feel free to share it with the rest of us. The police reports, which you suddenly decided were invalid. > [@](#): > > Yeah, since there are more bicyclists now than there were in 2010, I’m sure bike accidents are much less common now! Except for the fact that that’s _completely retarded._ Uh, yeah. Did you notice where even your source notes that the rates are going down? Hint: it ain’t because people are not cycling. Oh wait, I guess you decided it was ‘retarded’ so that means it must be. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > That’s compiled from _police reports_, dumbass. The numbers that I am using were compiled from hospital records. What that tells me is that most people who visit the hospital after bike collisions don’t go to the police. So much for enforcement. BTW way, since your such a stickler, your own figures are for the entire state of NY. The report does not seem to break out the stats just for NYC and even then just for various zip codes, the worst of which seem to have about 200 total incidents over a period of 4 years. Meahwhile, cars in [NYC kill about 12 pedestrians and cyclists per month](http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/04/25/nypd-1182-pedestrians-and-cyclists-injured-12-killed-in-traffic-in-march/). Yay! Apples & Oranges comparisons! ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/86 "2013-07-15T17:16:48Z")
We just don’t have a problem with bicyclists where I live, but I’m sure there is no comparison to my city of 100,000 population to the much bigger cities of millions. Wichita Falls, TX, is a very bike friendly town if you can take the heat. Our city also built this wide sidewalk (yes, of course it’s for cyclists too, roller-bladers, pedestrians, joggers) that will soon circle the entire city and make it even easier for bicyclists to navigate through most of town without spending as much time on roads. It also passed a law where motorists need to pass bicyclists by a certain number of feet. We have over 12,000 bicyclists ride in our Hotter than Hell Hundred (HHH) once a year, many are training throughout the year for that and riding in packs on many major roads for the ride and race. They are no problem at all. I can’t think of a single incident I’ve ever had with a bicyclist in my town, and I’ve lived here all of my life. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/87 "2013-07-15T17:45:19Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > So: you’d want to compare ALL hospital visits (or morgue visits, for that matter) resulting from cars running into someone, with ALL hospital visits or morgue visits resulting from bicycles running into someone. Nope. This thread is about whether or not cyclists are _more reckless_ in driving their conveyances than motorists are, not what kind of vehicle causes the most severe injuries during a collision. We all know that cars are heavier and can go faster than bikes, but that has no bearing at all on what percentage of bicyclists operate their vehicles in a manner that threatens _me_, a sidewalk-traversing, crosswalk-rule obeying pedestrian. My numbers are intended to give readers a sense of how much more likely a bicyclist is to collide with a pedestrian than a motorist is. To this end, I use ER visits as a proxy for total number of pedestrian/vehicle collisions, under the rather reasonable assumption that nearly all of such incidents conclude with the pedestrian visiting the ER regardless of the apparent severity of the injuries they sustained. Similarly, my data for the incidence of bike/pedestrian collisions is drawn from records that include all hospital visits following such incidents. Note that this last number likely significantly _underestimates_ the true incidence of pedestrian/bike collisions, since most people who get winged by bikes don’t seek medical attention afterwards. The bottom line is that despite all their distractions, it appears that the average New York City motorist is significantly less likely to hit a pedestrian than the average bicyclist is. You will find very few urban pedestrians who are surprised by this fact. In conclusion, **adults who bicycle illegally on sidewalks should all be put into internment camps.** ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/88 "2013-07-15T18:15:21Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > You are obviously reading what you want to read. I pointed out an interesection where cars frequently set off the cameras, you came back with ‘how many cyclists run that intersection’. My answer was none since it was large and not easily accessible. Then somehow you extrapolate this into some kind of hate-on. > > Fuck it. I am tired of apologizing for all misbehaving cyclists. I got buzzed this morning by a driver trying to pass me dangerously - something that happens all too often. By extension should I call all drivers shitty drivers because it seems that on this stretch of road about 75% of the cars try some dangerous passing maneuver so they can break the speed limit to get to the red light at the top of the hill. I don’t consider them to represent all drivers, but somehow its OK to be a bigot against cyclists. _I couldn’t possibly give less of a shit what you think or say about drivers._ And if showing that bicyclists are more likely to run into pedestrians than motorists are is bigotry, then I guess you can call me the Grand fucking Dragon. > [@](#): > > The police reports, which you suddenly decided were invalid. For the purposes of comparing total hospital visits, yes, they are _completely invalid_. > [@](#): > > Uh, yeah. Did you notice where even your source notes that the rates are going down? Hint: it ain’t because people are not cycling. Oh wait, I guess you decided it was ‘retarded’ so that means it must be. :rolleyes: Have you perhaps been riding less often this year? Because that might explain it. > [@](#): > > BTW way, since your such a stickler, your own figures are for the entire state of NY. No they’re not, you horrible pile. 1,000 incidents is the state annual figure. The figure I used is 500 annual incidents, which is the percentage of those incidents that took place in New York City. I’ve linked to the damn paper twice and given you the exact page numbers where you can find this information. Do I have to go over to your home and fucking whisper it into your ear? _ **What does it take to make you learn.** _ ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/89 "2013-07-15T19:13:31Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Have you perhaps been riding less often this year? Because that might explain it. Or maybe as ridership increases and riders feel a little less marginalized they start to behave better. Oh look! Using the data you’ve been harping on we see ridership from 2007-2010 skyrocketing while actual ped/bike crashes drop > **[Homepage - Streetsblog New York City](https://nyc.streetsblog.org/)** > > Covering the fight for livable streets and the battle against car dependency. I believe you called that idea ‘retarded’. Let’s make certain. > [@](#): > > Yeah, since there are more bicyclists now than there were in 2010, I’m sure bike accidents are much less common now! Except for the fact that that’s completely retarded. Yup, you kinda did. > [@](#): > > No they’re not, you horrible pile. 1,000 incidents is the state annual figure. The figure I used is 500 annual incidents, which is the percentage of those incidents that took place in New York City. I’ve linked to the damn paper twice and given you the exact page numbers where you can find this information. Do I have to go over to your home and fucking whisper it into your ear? > > _ **What does it take to make you learn.** _ [/QUOTE] Well see I tend to not have a shitfit about a transportation category that almost doubles in size over a period and yet drops its accident rate by 10%. One thing you have consistently glossed over is the number of pedestrians that cars in NYC outright KILL. Furthermore, you’ve acted as if this report is sacred. It is not. One of the reasons I have been having issues is that it is very skimpy with the data. For a report that tries to center around NYC they never actually present data properly. I did a count of all the ‘worst zip code’ and came up with a figure of 700+ incidents over 4 years. Even doubling that figure to cover all the other zip codes (which is generous) comes up with a figure of 350 ped./bike incidents per year. This does not gibe with your extrapolations, but why should either of us have to figure this stuff out? Why do they not present the data properly? I am not alone in this criticism, apparently: [A Noncollegial Debate About Bicycles - The New York Times](http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/a-noncollegial-debate-about-bicycles/) This study was also initiated by one Nancy Gruskin, who I do not really consider unbiased on the matter of bicycles. She in turn used it to bash a then upcoming bike share program. Which has not by any means been problematic like folks claimed. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/90 "2013-07-15T19:39:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Well see I tend to not have a shitfit about a transportation category that almost doubles in size over a period and yet drops its accident rate by 10%. One thing you have consistently glossed over is the number of pedestrians that cars in NYC outright KILL. I can’t imagine that will change the incidence numbers much, since it’s a small number compared to total ER admissions. > [@](#): > > Furthermore, you’ve acted as if this report is sacred. It is not. One of the reasons I have been having issues is that it is very skimpy with the data. For a report that tries to center around NYC they never actually present data properly. I did a count of all the ‘worst zip code’ and came up with a figure of 700+ incidents over 4 years. Even doubling that figure to cover all the other zip codes (which is generous) comes up with a figure of 350 ped./bike incidents per year. This does not gibe with your extrapolations, but why should either of us have to figure this stuff out? Why do they not present the data properly? No matter how they present the data, I don’t imagine you’ll have the capability to understand it. That is because you are very, very stupid. > [@](#): > > I am not alone in this criticism, apparently: [A Noncollegial Debate About Bicycles - The New York Times](http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/a-noncollegial-debate-about-bicycles/) The professor in that article said he doesn’t like this study because how many of the accidents were the pedestrians’ fault? Then he said he doesn’t like the author of the study because the author hasn’t published before. Then he admitted in the comments section that actually that isn’t a valid criticism of the study at all and that he is sorry for saying that, but that he still doesn’t like the study because… well, he doesn’t say. He reminds me of you! > [@](#): > > This study was also initiated by one Nancy Gruskin, who I do not really consider unbiased on the matter of bicycles. She in turn used it to bash a then upcoming bike share program. Which has not by any means been problematic like folks claimed. OH noes it is teh anti-bikkings conspirasseee! tihs “Nasny Gringus” is for take away are bikked and maked them into cars? Shus! it is a secrit. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/91 "2013-07-15T20:17:53Z")
Shame this got off-track so much. I hope some people who ride bikes read this. In our city, it is legal to ride on the sidewalk. Most cyclists who do are conscientious towards walkers. However, while you may ride on the sidewalk, you may NOT ride in crosswalks. Drivers do not have time to see you zipping through the intersection and you will likely get hit. If you do not want to dismount when crossing the street, please use the bike lane or the road itself. Thanks! ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/92 "2013-07-15T20:35:47Z")
> [@colander](#): > > I can’t imagine that will change the incidence numbers much, since it’s a small number compared to total ER admissions. > > No matter how they present the data, I don’t imagine you’ll have the capability to understand it. That is because you are very, very stupid. > > The professor in that article said he doesn’t like this study because how many of the accidents were the pedestrians’ fault? Then he said he doesn’t like the author of the study because the author hasn’t published before. Then he admitted in the comments section that actually that isn’t a valid criticism of the study at all and that he is sorry for saying that, but that he still doesn’t like the study because… well, he doesn’t say. He reminds me of you! > > OH noes it is teh anti-bikkings conspirasseee! tihs “Nasny Gringus” is for take away are bikked and maked them into cars? Shus! it is a secrit. I see you are avoiding the issue I brought up that the massive increase in cycling coming with a decrease in ped/bike incidents. Kinda interferes with your mad-on, doesn’t it? I like how you call me stupid when you are the one suggesting that such a thing was ‘retarded’, yet there was the data: > **[Homepage - Streetsblog New York City](https://nyc.streetsblog.org/)** > > Covering the fight for livable streets and the battle against car dependency. And the data itself is a bit suspect, from its origins to it presentation. You skimped over this, for example: > [@](#): > > “I see this almost as an unfinished document,” she said about their study. “There are a lot of questions about how reliable are the measurements.” Does not inspire confidence. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/93 "2013-07-15T21:00:30Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Since everyone on a bicycle is driving with fewer distractions, contributing less pollution and the use of fossil fuels as well as getting a fair amount of exercise that probably offsets exorbitant insurance costs of obesity related illnesses, they kinda have the right to be a little sanctimonious. So many admirable qualities. If only humility were one of them! ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/94 "2013-07-15T21:11:51Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Since everyone on a bicycle is driving with fewer distractions, contributing less pollution and the use of fossil fuels as well as getting a fair amount of exercise that probably offsets exorbitant insurance costs of obesity related illnesses, they kinda have the right to be a little sanctimonious. Sure, feel all smug. Buy yourself something cute in Spandex, like a cute little company sponsor racing [onesie.](http://domz60.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/bike-attire-alien2.jpg) Maybe a fancy new farlke for your bike. Whatever. But all of your doing-good smug sense of superiority does not entitle you to ignore one single traffic law. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/95 "2013-07-15T21:27:32Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > I see you are avoiding the issue I brought up that the massive increase in cycling coming with a decrease in ped/bike incidents. Kinda interferes with your mad-on, doesn’t it? Uh, not really, no. > [@](#): > > I like how you call me stupid when you are the one suggesting that such a thing was ‘retarded’, yet there was the data: That data is from the same researchers who did the study you think is suspect, so why are you suddenly so credulous? My theory: in addition to being an extremely dumb person, you are also a person who is _sexually attracted to bicycles_. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/96 "2013-07-15T22:52:31Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Uh, not really, no. > > That data is from the same researchers who did the study you think is suspect, so why are you suddenly so credulous? You are missing the point. I am noting flaws with your ‘analysis’ wherin you declare cyclists to be such a horrific danger to pedestrians. Those flaws are at least twofold: 1. The data you use shows that incidents are dropping despite a massive increase in ridership 2. The data, or at least the presentation is suspect. You cannot have it both ways. Either the data shows something you do not want to acknowledge or it is faulty. I am simply pointing out these faults. You are the one making some very dubious and tenuous claims so it is up to you to prove otherwise. > [@](#): > > My theory: in addition to being an extremely dumb person, you are also a person who is _sexually attracted to bicycles_. [/QUOTE] And your insults are as effective as your data analysis it seems. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/97 "2013-07-15T23:28:03Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Sure, feel all smug. Buy yourself something cute in Spandex, like a cute little company sponsor racing [onesie.](http://domz60.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/bike-attire-alien2.jpg) Maybe a fancy new farlke for your bike. Whatever. > > But all of your doing-good smug sense of superiority does not entitle you to ignore one single traffic law. Entitle me? No. But I’ll confidently rank my road behavior well above that of the average texting and FB status checking, smoking, Big Mac eating, Big Gulp drinking, baby and dog wrangling, radio and climate control fiddling automobile driving numbnutz who is so distracted and resentful of cyclists that he takes note of every single bike infraction at the expense of their own attentiveness to the road. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/98 "2013-07-15T23:40:46Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Entitle me? No. But I’ll confidently rank my road behavior well above that of the average texting and FB status checking, smoking, Big Mac eating, Big Gulp drinking, baby and dog wrangling, radio and climate control fiddling automobile driving numbnutz who is so distracted and resentful of cyclists that he takes note of every single bike infraction at the expense of their own attentiveness to the road. Wow, I’m none of those. And your every post in this thread exudes the entitled, smug, general dickish attitude that is most likely the root of the behavior that the OP and others are commenting on. Look, I’m irritated when I see drivers do the things you list. Just as you are. Start a thread about those drivers. Go for it. This is not that thread. And, in closing, IT IS MY ATTENTIVENESS TO THE ROAD that enables me to see all the dickish behavior by cyclists. If I were the facebook updating, texting inattentive driver you describe above, I would not even see the spandex jackass who just blew through the light. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/99 "2013-07-16T00:01:18Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Either the data shows something you do not want to acknowledge or it is faulty. Well, I didn’t want to say it, but according to the data in this thread, you are not only a seat-sniffing mental invalid, you also are a seasoned child molester. How could you do it to all those poor kids, **Mr. Miskatonic**? When they started crying, why didn’t you stop? ---
**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:** [July 16, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413/100 "2013-07-16T00:18:21Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Well, I didn’t want to say it, but according to the data in this thread, you are not only a seat-sniffing mental invalid, you also are a seasoned child molester. > > How could you do it to all those poor kids, **Mr. Miskatonic**? When they started crying, why didn’t you stop? So I take you are admitting defeat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-and-tired-of-bicyclists-ignoring-traffic-law/663413.md?page=6)