# (Some) Cyclists, I am really getting sick of your shit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 6, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050 "2007-12-06T17:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![aliquot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@aliquot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aliquot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/281 "2007-12-12T06:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] I’m sorry, but if you cannot stop a car at stop signs in the snow that’s just poor driving skills or driving too fast for conditions. [/quote] And if a cyclist cannot ride without freezing to death, that’s just poor judgment. > [@](#): > > In my case I might have to deal with a sudden drop in temperature where my clothes are suddenly insufficient, or it may be a case where I was happily pacing out lights (ie. riding at a speed to hit the green) and a long cycle light is out of sync. Well, rather than the “jump red lights” law to solve this problem – which doesn’t solve any problems if there’s cross traffic at a red light intersection – let’s pass a “bring a sweatshirt” law. You’re not legally obliged to wear it, but you are legally obliged to carry it in case there is a hazardous, sudden drop in temperature. > [@](#): > > Again with the magical ‘alternate route’. Where are these alternate routes? Restrictions on what bridge I can use to cross the river have pretty much left me with this road or the other one. neither of which avoid the bad neighborhood, the other one is slower, longer and more dangerous. Thanks for the advice aliquot! Look, asshole, I’m not Mapquest, and I’m not a fucking mindreader. YOU said “Bad Neighborhoods. Do I need to elaborate?” Not “Bad neighborhoods that cannot be avoided due to bridge constraints.” I don’t see how a law that allows jumping red lights anywhere, regardless of whether you’re in the city’s equivalent of Baghdad or the city’s equivalent of Beverly Hills, is necessary for your very, very specific situation. It seems like a great deal of overkill to me. If you can’t take an alternate route, or drive, or take a bus or metro or subway, then jump the red light if you feel threatened. On the off, off, off chance that a cop decides to flag you down and ticket you, isn’t that still better than getting jumped? Regarding the “bus duel” stuff, two thoughts – one, how about waiting, you know, 15 feet behind the bus instead of 3 inches? Sort of avoids that diesel smell. Second, I don’t see how jumping a red light is really going to help, except in the rare cases where the bus is first in line at the light, since you said it’s fairly easy for a bus to gain enough speed to pass a cyclist. But the easy answer is just wait behind the bus. Cars have to do it all the time on one lane roads. C’est la vie. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/282 "2007-12-12T12:57:17Z")
[QUOTE=aliquot] Regarding the “bus duel” stuff, two thoughts – one, how about waiting, you know, 15 feet behind the bus instead of 3 inches? Sort of avoids that diesel smell. [/QUOTE] Gee. Thanks. Want to put that in a file marked ‘shit I already know’? Maybe next your could tell me that should turn the pedals to make the bike go. :rolleyes: Between that and your ‘find another route’ suggestions you’re a real prize. > [@](#): > > Second, I don’t see how jumping a red light is really going to help, except in the rare cases where the bus is first in line at the light, since you said it’s fairly easy for a bus to gain enough speed to pass a cyclist. The bus is first at the light, or only one or two cars back at most. All I will say is that when I see rogue cyclists going through the light I usually don’t see them stuck behind the bus again. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/283 "2007-12-12T16:51:56Z")
When I jump reds it’s to help out the cars behind me, so they don’t have to pass on the right. The first 10 feet from a full stop are when the bike is most unoredictable to a casual observer. Once I get up to speed, and am gyroscopically stabilized, passing is easy. It is illegal, but I’ve never seen it enforced on a bicycle. Much like CWI, one would have to cause some sort of problem (besides making **aliquot** insane with rage over the injustice of it all) in order to get cited. ---
**Author:** ![aliquot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@aliquot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aliquot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/284 "2007-12-12T18:48:54Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] Gee. Thanks. Want to put that in a file marked ‘shit I already know’? Maybe next your could tell me that should turn the pedals to make the bike go. :rolleyes: Between that and your ‘find another route’ suggestions you’re a real prize. [/QUOTE] If it’s shit you already know, then tell me again why you think it’s justification to be able to jump a red light? There’s no danger here, boss, just an inconvenience. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/285 "2007-12-12T19:10:16Z")
[QUOTE=aliquot] If it’s shit you already know, then tell me again why you think it’s justification to be able to jump a red light? There’s no danger here, boss, just an inconvenience. [/QUOTE] Hey, I’m just saying the world wouldn’t end if crossing a red light when there is zero cross traffic, is all. You insist in getting your panties in a twist over it. ---
**Author:** ![aliquot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@aliquot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aliquot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/286 "2007-12-12T19:13:54Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] You insist in getting your panties in a twist over it. [/QUOTE] Right, I’m so insistent about the issue. I just won’t let these dumb reasons drop without comment! How dare I?? What’s more, I’m just talking to myself here. Post after post of just me. That’s why I have 62 posts in this thread, and you only have 14. Er. Hmm. I might have those numbers backwards. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/287 "2007-12-12T19:24:24Z")
[QUOTE=aliquot] Right, I’m so insistent about the issue. I just won’t let these dumb reasons drop without comment! How dare I?? What’s more, I’m just talking to myself here. Post after post of just me. That’s why I have 62 posts in this thread, and you only have 14. Er. Hmm. I might have those numbers backwards. [/QUOTE] Pot, Kettle. Black. You’ve been dragging this thing out far after its expiration date. This whole stops/lights was one minor consideration over several other important bike improvement points I was making, points that you otherwise managed to ignore in order to harp hysterical about how the lazy cyclists were gonna slam into everyone. Give it a rest. ---
**Author:** ![aliquot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@aliquot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aliquot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/288 "2007-12-12T22:36:33Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] You’ve been dragging this thing out far after its expiration date. [/quote] As I said above, I’m not the only one posting here. It takes two to tango, pal. > [@](#): > > This whole stops/lights was one minor consideration Dumb is dumb, no matter how minor it is. If _A Brief History of Time_ had a paragraph about how the brightest star in the sky is Polaris, that’d be wrong and dumb, no matter how great the rest of the book is. > [@](#): > > over several other important bike improvement points I was making, points that you otherwise managed to ignore Or, perhaps, points I didn’t have a problem with, because they were less dumb. Are you so fragile that you need every comment you post approved? > [@](#): > > in order to harp hysterical about how the lazy cyclists were gonna slam into everyone. Well, that’s one read. Another is that I called bullshit when you said you have evidence the law isn’t unsafe. Evidence being said law itself, somehow. Whether that makes me hysterical or not… again, I can only note that you have 4x the amount of posts in this thread than I do. Seems like if anyone’s gonna win the crown for “Guy who should let this drop,” it’d be you, bud. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/289 "2007-12-13T16:38:02Z")
[QUOTE=aliquot] If it’s shit you already know, then tell me again why you think it’s justification to be able to jump a red light? There’s no danger here, boss, just an inconvenience. [/QUOTE] When you roll a stop sign and cross a street that obviously has no traffic either way, you are figuring on two things: First, that it’s not hurting anyone, and second, that it is barely enforced by the police. You don’t jump a red light in a car because that rule is strictly enforced by the police, even though it’s no more dangerous if the street is clear. For a cyclist, that particular law is only enforced when it creates a safety issue, much like going five miles an hour over the speed limit for cars. If you never roll stop signs or exceed the speed limit by a small amount, then I salute you, and have nothing else to say. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/290 "2007-12-13T17:06:50Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] As for license plates on bikes, could you please answer one question for me: Where is it going to go? [/QUOTE] Where I live bike couriers have plates. They are placed on the seat post facing backwards and are quite visible. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/291 "2007-12-13T21:43:03Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] Where I live bike couriers have plates. They are placed on the seat post facing backwards and are quite visible. [/QUOTE] That’s nice. Now where is my detachable fender and rear light going to go? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/292 "2007-12-13T22:25:08Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] Now where is my detachable fender and rear light going to go? [/QUOTE] Now ya see, when you lob a big ol’ softball like that up in the air, you really can’t get too steamed when somebody smacks it over the fence… _…somebody…anybody???_ ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/293 "2007-12-14T06:57:05Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] That’s nice. Now where is my detachable fender and rear light going to go? [/QUOTE] Aaah well, as usual you are right. Your detachable fender and rear light are the insurmountable obstacles to licensing bikes. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [December 14, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/294 "2007-12-14T17:33:10Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] Aaah well, as usual you are right. Your detachable fender and rear light are the insurmountable obstacles to licensing bikes. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] I’m not hearing any solutions. I’m also not hearing any real benefits. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/295 "2007-12-14T23:46:57Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] By comparison, I have been knocked over at intersections (years ago) for the giggle. [/QUOTE] Maybe they recognised you. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050/296 "2007-12-15T04:30:20Z")
Perhaps to make this thread even more combative, we should discuss the merits of declawing cyclists. And the racial sensitivity of their foreskins. Or lack thereof. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-cyclists-i-am-really-getting-sick-of-your-shit/429050.md?page=14)