Texas George Loc: Stamford, Texas

Many many years ago the bicyclists in Lubbock Texas would remove all the reflectors from their bikes in an effort to reduce weight. They also ignored stop signs. I vividly remember three instances where I almost hit one at night.

JBuckley

I hear your pleas to "unsafe bike riders"!
Living in a rural part of San Diego County, gives way, to wonderful morning or evening driving to see the sights and visit parts of the county that one never sees, unless you take the back roads, once in a while.

There are usually bike lanes, to help control the bicyclists to (stay out of traffic), but often there are bikers that are traveling in small groups and tend to ride "side by side" and do not keep to the right side of the traffic.

It's the driver that has to drive into oncoming traffic, to keep from bumping a rider, that usually has his back to you, and doesn't have a "clue" as to how dangerously, he has positioned himself or herself.

I have given up riding a bicycle these days. It's a dangerous sport, even though it's gratifying to get the exercise and fresh air in the countryside.

I respect the riders on their athletic achievements and their wanting to see the countryside, but they need to have a session where they can [view some of the videos] of "bikers that didn't make it home" after wandering too close to the vehicle lanes. The morgue might be the last ride they take, because they didn't understand that a 75 pound is no match for a 2,000 pound, mass of steel coming up behind them.

Bill_R Loc: Southeastern Wisconsin

I once had a VERY close call in my own neighborhood. It was pitch dark and I narrowly missed hitting a woman wearing all black. Scared the heck out of me! She was walking her dog and the only thing that saved her (and me) was a reflective strip on her dog's leash!

srg

Yeah, but then you never got all those nice exhaust fumes, and no one saw you running.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Bicycle riders are not pedestrians. In many states, they are supposed to follow the vehicle rules.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

He would write a normal traffic citation. My wife was in an accident caused by teen age children jumping in front of cars to make the drivers slam on the brakes. She stopped, but the driver behind her was too slow in her reaction. A cop observed the accident, chased the kids down, and cited each one for purposely causing the accident. It was a charge that required them to appear in court and, since they were minors, they each had to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

HamB

My favorite is the bike rider on the phone!

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

Here in Ohio, bike riders must follow the same rules of the road as other vehicles. Most of the bike riders here don't even slow down let alone stop for red lights or stop signs. They ride so fast they can appear out of nowhere. Very dangerous.

Frank Basile Loc: Hudson Valley NY

In NY the Uniform Traffic Ticket is issued to the bicyclist using the bicycle specific violation as long as the bicyclist is 16 years of age or older.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

I run all the way to my car!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Actually, that's a very popular spot for running and walking. It was seldom that I was alone there.

Ollieboy

But they don't. I've never seen anyone ticketed either. It's out of control. They are a protected class under the "Green" movement.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I rode bikes on many different roads for almost 30 years, averaging about 1,500 miles per year. I experienced both very careful, courteous drivers and a few that intentionally drove way too close to me as well. (Jacked up 4 x 4 pickups were often the worst offenders.)

I tried to be very aware and careful, but I would add that in a few really close calls, I was probably the one that would have been at fault. Overall, both drivers and riders need to be courteous and alert at all times.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I was driving on a twisty, two-lane road yesterday, and I came upon two middle-aged people riding slowly well into my lane. They seemed to be new to riding, so it took a while to get to a straight stretch of road to pass them. Honking the horn at bike riders is never a good idea.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Jerry, so glad you did't hit the guy. You never would have gotten it out of your mind. As a former cyclist (I wish I'd never given it up), I totally agree with you about the obnoxious few who think they should ride in the middle of a lane as though they were a car. I always stayed to the right to allow cars room to pass on the left, using the oncoming lane if necessary. I ran into this problem recently when a woman on a bike was headed into the lake area to ride the circuit path from my old neighborhood. There were two lanes. I wanted the left lane to turn left. She was plumb in the middle of the left lane, riding slowly, and was going to go straight. I honked at her. She looked over at me, I rolled my window down and she started giving me what for. Obnoxious. The best thing for a rider to do is to avoid cars as much as possible so they will avoid you (accidentally hitting you that is). Biking CAN be dangerous.