Comments about ‘Cyclist is urging traffic vigilance’

I am a recreational bike rider that rides on the road and trails for exercise. I also drive 15K or more miles a year and pay plenty of taxes to help pay for the roads. I'm in Ukraine visiting and in some of the small towns, the roads are filled with bike riders and it's amazing how drivers don't get upset at them when they have to slow down. It's how people commute and everybody accepts that. As riders, we need to obey the rules of driving and as drivers, we need to watch for all pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. Nobody "owns" the road and it's arrogant to think you do. I appreciate the many drivers who are courteous to me when I'm on my bike and I try to do the same when I'm driving a car. This was an accident and as bicycling increases, we need to be more observant.

When it comes to riding a bike, I am astonished how cavalier many riders are. Yes, you're allowed to be in the road. Yes, you have every right to ride a bike to work, play, etc. NO, you will never come out best in an auto-pedestrian accident!

Even when you are dealing small cars that only weigh ~3180 lbs. -- you have BIG disadvantage in the mass category. Simply put, you're going to get creamed when that car transfers a mountain of kinetic energy to your ~120-250 lbs.

Drivers need to be more careful, and so do cyclists. If you're on a bike travelling 10-15 mph in a 45 mph zone during rush hour, you can guarantee that someone will try to pass you! You have a right to be there, but don't be an idiot and ride so close to the cars that someone hits you while trying to pass! You may be in the right -- but you may be dead.

We live across the street from Adrienne Burke. She is an awesome neighbor. I can completely see her taking immediate action, forget herself, and do whatever needs to be done. She and her family are some of the greatest people. Good Job Adrienne!

I get the last laugh when folks complain about the price of gasoline. The gas guzzlers don't like it when we are on the road due to the fact that we don't pay gasoline taxes to pay for roads. If you think that the cars pay for the roads, you need to wake up. If you are paying for the road, please buy more gas so the roads get better. You aren't doing very well.

how fast was the biker going? what did he have on his bike for visibility?

fyi - a bike helmet is meant "shatter" upon impact--if your helmet doesn't break upon impact, you've got the wrong helmet.

Cars and Bicycles don't belong on the road together.

Tax Bicyclists; use the money to build a bike lane. Keep vehicles and Bicycles separate. The laws need to be changed so that bicycles are not allowed on highways and busy thoroughfares. It's the only reasonable option I can think of to keep everyone happy and safe. I do admire those of you trying to save gas and keep in shape...but highways and busy streets are NOT the place to do it.

Motorists don't like sharing the road with cyclists because (a) we don't want to hit them, and it's hard to see them, and sometimes because of the difference in speed it is impossible to stop in time once a bicycle is spotted, and (b) they impede traffic and slow down motorists (aka they are ALWAYS in the way).

I know that many rude cyclists out there are going to lambaste this posting, and tell me that I'm a horrible person...all I can say is...you show your true colors by the rudeness you show. I'm sure you will, becasue LAST time I said the above you tried to make me look like an evil nasty person.

I am an avid cyclist and have had many close calls with cars. I can understand why many drivers who don't ride bikes feel cyclists do not belong on the road. Many times cyclists prevent drivers from getting to their destination as quickly as they would like.

I ask that drivers just slow down and be patient with cyclists on the road. Everyone is always in such a rush nowadays that they cannot take the extra 20 seconds to wait a few blocks for the chance to pass a cyclist safely.

To 'Change' and others:

I understand your concerns, but I'm not sure what the best solution really is. I, too, am recently recovering from injuries resulting from a bike accident. Unlike the case here, though, I was riding on the sidewalk at the time.

What is a biker to do? Residential streets are just as dangerous as busy roads. Bike lanes themselves are frighteningly narrow.

My previous solution was to ride on the sidewalk. While doing so, I've had near misses several times from people backing out from driveways, not paying attention while mowing their lawns, or simply leaving assorted obstacles in the path.

I've looked at the alternatives many times. Right now, I'm still thinking hard about whether to return to the road when I'm done recovering, or take my chances on the sidewalk once more.

Personally, I think the only real solution is for bikers to have the same kind of protection that drivers have: hard outer shells (search for 'go-one' or 'velomobile'). Too bad they're so incredibly expensive.

They need to get some of these bicyclist off the road. They have almost caused me to have a head on collision with a few cars several times. If the bicyclists cause an accident for someone they can simply peddle off and leave the scene of the crime. They also need to have these bikers license their bikes so that we motorist can identify them when cause an accident. Some of these guys are very taunting and rude to drives and drive down the middle of the road backing up traffic. It's like some of them really get some kind of thrill out of agitating motorists, and then to top it all off have the nerve to flip a finger our way.

That's quite the foolish attack on cyclists you wrote their. You basically tell them to go away and that they're inferior, yet don't want them to defend themselves.

I hope that when I am in car I can safely avoid the cyclist. And, when I am the cyclist (which is admittedly almost never)that other drivers will do the same. Why is there so much hate in Utah? Why is there so much angst over a bike on a road? I choose to not ride a bike often because of the admitted safety concerns. But, I have never felt a cyclist should not be on a road.... but I have unfortunately been bothered when the cyclist chooses to NOT follow the laws. It happens often. They should be EXTRA careful to follow all the laws because their body is entirely more fragile than a car.

Why is this a problem in Utah. I have lived in Colorado, which have a far more prominent population of bicyclist, yet they do not have the same problems as we do here?

If you see a bicyclist on the road and you get angry, you're the problem.
If you're a bicyclist on the road and there is a line of cars behind you, you're also the problem.

I ride close to the white line, and had never had cars complain, still plenty of room to get by without changing lanes. I come to intersections to make left hand turns, I make the turn with the group of cars also turning left staying to the right of the cars, normally the first car. Its really not that hard to figure out. If your worried about not being seen, stay close to a car that is going the same direction as you are.
But I must say, I only ride in areas where there are frequent bicyclists, thus those drivers are more acutely aware of me.

Bicycles don't beling on the road, and no matter how many times you tell people to pay attention cyclists are still going to be hit. Cyclists are still rare enough that drivers aren't accustomed to them flying by on the right when making a right turn. I strongly object to the notion that this driver almost killed the cyclist. The cyclist almost killed himself by riding in a very dangerous situation on a vehicle that is difficult to see because of its small profile. Anybody could have hit him. Get the bikes off the road and everyone will be safer.

That being said, I would enjoy riding my bike (mountain style) and would happily pay for bonds or a small tax increase to build trails just for cyclists. Maybe even a tax break could be extended to cyclists. Americans definitely need the exercise and it would be better on the pocketbook and the environment. Let's give people a safe place to ride, because bikes and cars will never mix well.

I'm an occasional cyclist. Though I don't have much time for it these days. I really dislike the casual cyclists who run red lights ALL THE TIME. Just make things more dangerous for everyone.

I ride a mountain bike, a road bike, and a motorcycle (note for the slow: not all three at once). I have also worked emergency services for nearly 20 years. The thing that makes auto/bike accidents seem like a major problem is not the frequency, but the severity of the consequences. I love riding and I accept the risks. I have had a few serious crashes and not all of them involved an auto.

Motorists that are courteous enough to give cyclists room are great. They realize a cyclist may only take 5 to 10 seconds off their total travel time. The motorists that are impatient are only that way because they don't give themselves enough time to safely get where they're going. Motorists will wait longer for off-loading school buses and have to drive just as slow through school zones for the amount of time it takes to safely pass a cyclist.

I like the idea of bike lanes for safety. I also like riding in communities that actually keep the shoulders of the road clean and clear of gravel and glass. As a cyclist, I am as watchful as possible. But I make mistakes sometimes. Please excuse me.

I often wonder why cyclists think they have the right to run stop signs? I have seen quite a few cyclists barely miss getting hit by a car by running stop signs. And then these guys yell and scream at the motorist who did everything they could to miss hitting them, because the cyclists do not want to obey traffic laws. In these cases these guys barely escape death. I think it is time to license cyclists.

I ride alone most of the time and stay on or just right of the white line if there is room. I obey the traffic rules almost always, use a rear view mirror on my helmet and I apply the "defensive driving" technique. I have been pedaling now for 7 years, approx 1500 miles/year. Although I've had 2 close calls w/ a car, I am still able to say I've not had any accidents. I know there is a risk here -- HOWEVER, we cyclers can do more to reduce the risks. I am absolutely astonished at those cyclers I see riding after the sun has gone down(at dusk) with mostly with no headlights, fewer with no tail lights. I don't understand their thought process. I ride with 5 tail lights & 4 headlights. It's all about visibility.

i was driving the other day and a biker ran a red light and i almost hit him... and this is not the first time i have seen something like this... bikers need to obey the rules of the road too

I commuted regularly, in the summer, by bicycle, about 10 years, my ride was 9 miles one way. Motorists who complain about bicyclists need an attitude adjustment, they can so easily slow down and avoid a cyclist, and so easily speed up and catch up to their "hectic schedule" or whatever it is the makes them so anxious and mad at cyclists. Cyclists must be extremely defensive riders just to exist, motorists just have to move their big toe off the gas pedal, and move their little finger on the steering wheel. What's the fuss motorists?

I too have seen many cyclists run red lights, swerve through traffic, stay in the lanes, etc. I ride with a couple of men who in daily situations are very courteous and aware of people around them. On a bike, they insist in riding in the car lane. I don't understand them. As clearly pointed out, riders who ignore common sense and insist on others respecting them on a bike are going to get hurt. They're just stupid because regardless of who's "right", when you hit a car, you're going to lose.

Still, the comments that cyclists don't belong on the road is ignorant. Keeping bicyclists off of the road isn't going to happen. Just like there are a lot of stupid car drivers (we've all seen them) there will always be stupid bike riders. We have to accept that fact. Also, there are times while riding when inexplicably I'll swerve a foot or two. It happens - so as drivers, we need to give cyclists some room. That's why there's a 3 foot minimum law. Let's all focus on something more important like education and the economy rather than bicyclists.