Remember that you too must obey the signs.

I biked commuted for years and I always looked into the eyes of car driving folks before I entered an intersection. If they hit me I figured they should be haunted by my dying expression.

Be careful out there.

Jeff- I obey traffic laws and only take the lane when it is otherwise unsafe for me to do so (I can take up the whole lane if I want legally).

I've had several people look right at me, and pull out.

I've had college and highschool kids try to run me off the road and yell/scream/throw things at me.

I've had people pass on the left only to make a right turn before they have finished passing me. (AKA the right hook). One time I hit/was hit by the vehicle and the owner got out and yelled at me because he had the right of way since his blinker was on, even though he had not passed me.

I get yelled at on almost a daily basis and am getting fed up with the attitude towards cyclists in the city.

p.s. Anyone have a bar or helmet mount video camera. I will pay to rent it for a week.

Hear Hear!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE - like the diet pepsi max commercial.
I've been thinking of buying a helmet cam, write me of you'd care to donate 20$ (or more)

BTW- Me Jeff (C) not the same Jeff as first jeff, but is same as last jeff. Got it? This is me , I ride on London road- please be nice to me :)

unfortunately cyclists get no love in MN...I wonder why that is?

I've never gotten the type of treatment in San Diego Seattle, Hong Kong Singapore, or any of the other places where I've lived and/or ridden that I have received here.

After being hit, clipped, assaulted (both verbally and physically) cut off, run off and generally treated like a criminal by people in cars all while riding my bike in a legal fashion, I have learned one thing: bike defensively.

Don't assume for one minute that people in autos see you. Don't assume for one minute that they know the laws regarding bikes in the street. Don't assume for one minute that they give a shit.

I would like it noted that I am staying out of this.

The defensive tip is a good one. I've alwys figure that no matter what laws I may have in my favor as a pedestrian or bike rider, the laws of physics in a pedestrian/auto collision tends to trump them all and lean in favor of the guy in the car.

Classic law of least tonnage. He who weighs more, wins.

I started biking to work again last summer. Within a month, I had suffered more verbal lashings for being on the road than I had in the collective 15 prior years of biking. One douche pulled up next to me and started yelling at me at 6:30 in the morning goin down Woodland... as we where both going down the road at 20+ mph.

Ian - that sounds horrible

I'll keep my eye out fer ya .. sher doncha know.. I'll be minnesota nice to ya

Least tonnage FTW.

Here's the pro-tip:

Bikers + Runners: do not ride/run on Woodland Avenue. Especially at rush hours. You are a danger to yourself and others, and you are not getting anywhere fast enough to make the risk worth it. Take one of the MANY much more scenic roads going in the same direction.

Also, get out of the damned road when the conditions are poor for driving. If I slide into you, it's your fault for being on the wrong side of the snowbank. Take the bus — I don't want to kill anyone.

WHICH IS NOT TO SAY that I don't agree with the original message of this post. People need to give bikes their proper space. But I also think that there is a certain group of rabid cyclists who think, since they're saving the world, that they own the road and don't have to pay attention to others or the laws. I can't count how many times I've seen cyclists sail, without looking, through the intersection at Woodland and St. Marie — one of the car-crashiest intersections in the city.

Ian,

I am a careful driver and do watch for bicyclers. However I see them run stop signs all the time. Please read MN Statute 169.222. It's an easy google.

Subdivision 1. "Traffic laws appply"

Subdivision 4 "shall ride as close as practicable to right-hand curb."

You do not own a lane, nor can you impede traffic flow, please read the law.

Perhaps you should take the same advice, Kitsune and not drive on Woodland Avenue during rush hour. Please don't take this as prod at you directly, but rather a prod at all the drivers on Woodland Avenue at rush hour.

"Also, get out of the damned road when the conditions are poor for driving. If I slide into you, it's your fault for being on the wrong side of the snowbank. Take the bus — I don't want to kill anyone."

Ah, no. You would be 100% at fault in that one. If you are worried about killing someone, take the bus, you shouldn't be driving if you cannot control your car.

As for taking the lane, you can when:

"(3) when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including fixed or moving objects,
vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or narrow width lanes, that make it unsafe to
continue along the right-hand curb or edge."

I love how drivers go on the attack as soon as someone asks for a little heads up for cyclists...

I am not trying to preach the benefits of cycling or anything to that matter. I am just trying to remind people that some of us bike in the winter and as drivers, you are still responsible to keep your eyes open while driving.

What a coincidence! I opened PDD and saw the link to this thread. I was hit by a car on my commute to work THIS MORNING. it was on Superior St. by 19th Ave. East about 7:15. A car crossed the street diagonally (from the old gas station lot on the other side?) and pulled in front of me heading up 19th. I hit her front R fender, landed on the hood, she braked (probably horrified), I slid off and landed on my back on the pavement. It knocked the wind out of me and scraped up my back a bit but my bike was fine -- I'm still amazed by all this. I got up, reassured the lady (who was in tears), stiffly mounted my bike and rode to work. FYI, yes, my bike has a headlight.

I've been bike commuting more or less regularly for 30 years, I've had doors opened in front of me and I've experienced all the other stuff listed in these posts, and I don't get the rage. I have three thoughts: first, gas guzzlers should be damn happy that we're leaving more petrol for them. Second, they'd better get used to it because it isn't getting cheaper and there's going to be more and more of us sharing the roads. And third, when somebody honks at you for no good reason, try waving at them.

By the way gal, who lived on the East Coast for a while, tells me the attitude toward cyclists is a LOT worse there. Go figure.

When I was in college in 1991, I commuted about 6 miles on a bicycle from my apartment in Chicago. I never had anyone yell at me. There were a lot of other bikes on the road, so drivers were used to it, I guess.
A few years ago in Duluth, my husband and I had only one car, so he rode his bike to work. He got a lot of the same attitude that ian describes. The final act to the whole experiment was when he fell and broke his collarbone -- and his bike.
Another thought: Bicycle riders don't ACT as if they own the road; they DO own the road, just as any car driver does.

Perhaps it is time for some Critical Mass action. Anyone?

Rick - Glad to hear you are ok.

Make sure to go over your bike carefully, especially around the welds/lugs!

I'm all in for a critical mass. I got honked at twice this morning on london road, first was a guy in a big 4x4 coming at me, the person behind me was being nice and giving me room but the jerk in the other lane couldn't take 2 seconds for us to get by. Second, a lady was behind me for quite some time, I was wondering when she was going to pass me, when she finally did, she honked at me- uh...
I get very mad at people to think bikes don't have a right, even in bad weather we have every right a car has unless stated (i.e. not on the freeway).
Rick, you were about an hour ahead of me, I seen your tracks- was wondering who else was out today. Sorry to hear of your accident.

Here's food for thought people...
Wilhelm died of injuries suffered when the bicycle he was riding on the shoulder of IL Route 130 south-east of Urbana was struck from behind by an automobile on September 2. The driver allegedly was distracted by downloading ring-tones to her cell phone. She drove so far off the highway that she hit Wilhelm, who was riding on the shoulder of the road, with the driver's side of her vehicle.
More info here...

Ed Weiss, 50
Ed Weiss was struck head on by a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction while cycling on Skyling Blvd in Oakland, Calif. on July 29, 2006. He died the next day. His family said Weiss was an avid cyclist who owned a large collection of bikes
he enjoyed both maintaining and riding. Police are investigating the accident and no charges have been filed against the motorcyclist, whose name was not released. The man was driving a Kawasaki racing bike and might have been speeding.

Sarah Howard
Oncology nurse Sarah Howard was hit on her bicycle and killed on Oct. 19, 2007 while waiting in a bike lane at a red light in Boise, Idaho. Nancy Mann, a fellow oncology nurse and friend of the Howard family, was one of them. "(Oncology nurses like Ms. Howard) take care of people in the process of dying. We lose people every week," Mann said. "But to lose one of your own, it hits you hard."

Russell "Pete" Bennett, Jr., 64
Pete Bennett was killed in a bicycle accident on July 19, 2007, near his home in Arizona. Born July 1, 1943 to Russell and Louise Bennett in Memphis, TN, Russell "Pete" Bennett, Jr. moved to Arizona with his wife and children in 1972. He worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst for American Express in the Phoenix area before retiring and moving to Northern Arizona in 2000. There he lived life to the fullest and died near Sedona while riding his road bicycle, one of the many outdoor passions of this vibrant and physically fit man. Click here to read his obituary.

J. Cecil Jarvis, 58
On May 22, 2007, Cecil Jarvis was killed in a bicycle crash on the Skin Creek area bridge near Stonewall Jackson Lake in Lewis County, WV. Mr. Jarvis suffered a high cervical spine injury. The circumstances of the crash are still under police
investigation; however, it appears that the actions of at least one 17-year-old juvenile who was ambulatory on the bridge, along with others, caused the crash. Cecil was an extraordinary man who touched the lives of many people in northcentral West Virginia. He had an innate sence of goodness. He possessed unique qualities that allowed him to achieve a noble balance of faith, family, friendship, and fitness in his life. Cecil's attributes included respect, humility, integrity, and humor. He was a man of action with an "anything is possible" mentality. Cecil was an attorney, civic leader, and an accomplished athlete. He had completed four full Ironman triathlons since 2002, and Cecil had run in approximately 30 marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2007. To see his obituary, click here.

Doug Huber, 53
On Earth Day, April 22, 2006, Doug Huber was enjoying a "guys weekend" with his son, Nick. They headed out for their first bike ride of the year together, on a beautiful, sunny spring day. Doug had just celebrated his 53rd birthday three weeks earlier. Along the path they came upon a wooden bridge, probably made by a biker. They stopped, and Nick jumped up and down on the bridge to make sure that it was safe. Doug started across it, but something went wrong and he went over the handlebars, landing on his head/neck in the creekbed a few yards below. He knew immediately that he was paralyzed. Nick helped Doug into a position so he could breathe, and ran to the nearby freeway. He ran out into traffic waving his helmet, fearing that nobody would help him. A car pulled over, and the driver was a doctor. He helped Doug, and within an hour he was at the nearest hospital. Surgery never was possible, and after two days he developed respiratory failure, and was intubated and ventilated. He was restrained and sedated. Doug Huber developed heart, kidney and liver failure, and died on May 10, surrounded by his family and friends.

Matthew C. Wilhelm, 25
Matthew C. Wilhelm, 25, died on September 8, 2006, at Carle foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL. Wilhelm died of injuries suffered when the bicycle he was riding on the shoulder of IL Route 130 south-east of Urbana was struck from behind by an automobile on September 2. The driver allegedly was distracted by downloading ring-tones to her cell phone. She drove so far off the highway that she hit Wilhelm, who was riding on the shoulder of the road, with the driver's side of her vehicle. Wilhelm was a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois and had recently begun a job with Caterpillar, Inc. in Peoria, IL. The Champaign County State's Attorney declined to prosecute the driver for anything more than illegal lane usage. His parents, Charles and Gloria Wilhelm have started an organization to lobby the Illinois State Legislature and other governmental bodies to stiffen the laws and penalties for "driving distracted."

Jonathan Dechau, 33
Rochester, N.Y.
On September 13, Dechau was killed after being struck from behind by a motorist. The accident occurred in Lima, New York, about 20 miles south of Rochester. The Livingston County sheriff's office said that Dechau was riding westbound on the shoulder of route 20 approximately two feet to the right of the white line. Dechau was a champion cyclist who began racing with the Genesee Valley Cycling Club in 1989. His cycling accomplishments included winning numerous medals at the Empire State Games and State Championships, competing in the 1996 Olympic trials, and two top-20 finishes in the US National Time Trial Championships. A man of deep Christian faith, he leaves a wife, toddler-age son, and newborn baby.

Dave Marsden, 1968-2005
Vienna, VA
The family and friends of David Marsden lost him in a tragic bike accident on August 17, 2005. An avid cyclist, father, husband and neighbor, Dave's life was tragically cut short when he was hit by a truck while in a crosswalk. (more)

Bohdan Kulakowski, 63
Oak Hall, Pa.
On March 22, 2006, Kulakowski was riding his regular commute home from the Pennsylvania State University campus when he was struck from behind by a van. His injuries were fatal. Preliminary reports indicated that the van drifted to the shoulder of the road before striking Kulakowski. A professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Penn State, Kulakowski commuted by bicycle every day. He was a gentle and kind individual who loved the outdoors and whose activities included many sports in addition to bicycling. Local cycling organizations have honored him for his commitment to bicycle transportation and to creating a healthy community.

Paula Lee Higgins, 46
Albuquerque, N.M.
Higgins died tragically on July 17, 2006, while doing what she loved most -- bicycling. She was involved in a crash with a motorist at an intersection in Albuquerque during a daytime ride. Paula was an experienced cyclist who had been racing for more than 20 years.

Barbara Lee Hilley, 70
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Hilley rode frequently with the New Mexico Touring Society. On July 11, 2006, while riding in a designated bicycle lane on one of Albuquerque's main east-west thoroughfares, she hit a piece of metal in the roadway that jammed in her front-wheel spokes. She was thrown over the handlebars and landed on her head and neck, injuring her spinal cord. She died two days later.

Carl Henry Nacht, 57
New York City, New York
Nacht trained hundreds of doctors at St. Luke's Hospital while running his own internal medicine practice. The son of a truck driver from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Nacht was an avid athlete and outdoorsman. Along with his wife and best friend of 33 years, Mary Beth Kelly, he had bicycled throughout the world. On June 22, around 11:30 p.m., Nacht and his wife were heading north near 38th St. on the bicycle path that skirts the West Side Highway. A police tow truck heading south turned into the city car pound, crossed the bike path and struck Nacht. He was fatally injured.

Terry Walker, 53 & Amy Gehring, 51
Cincinnati, Ohio
Terry Walker and Amy Gehring were killed on July 16, 2006 by a motorist who crossed the double yellow line and plowed into a group of cyclists. Amy was training to ride across Tuscany with her husband to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary and Terry was planning on being married. The driver had a suspended license.
Club members remember lost cyclists (The Enquirer)

Alexander Capelluto, 20
New Haven, Conn.
Alexander Capelluto, 20, a Yale University sophomore from New York City, was killed May 18, 2006. He was training for Habitat for Humanity’s annual 4,000-mile cross-country cycling trek, and died when his bike collided with a 10-wheel truck. He was the second Yale member of the Habitat Bike Challenge to die while riding in less than a year.

Tony Estrin, 58
Santa Clarita, Calif.
Tony Estrin was killed on April 8, 2006 by a truck while riding his bicycle in Canyon Country, Calif. He was an active member of his local bike club, Santa Clarita Velo.

Margaret Moran, 62
Baton Rouge, La.
On January 8, 2006, Margaret Moran drove her bike from the shoulder of the road into the lane for northbound traffic, and was struck by a 2005 H2 Hummer. She died on a ride with other members of the Baton Rouge Bicycle Club.

Jeanne Menard, 55
Greenville, S.C.
Jeanne Menard, a passionate cyclist, was fatally struck by an SUV in Greenville on October 24, 2005 as she was pedaling to her home from work as a therapist. She was an active rider in Greenville, and Congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC) spoke about her on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Todd Weaver, 36
Charlotte, N.C.
On Friday, October 14, 2005 Todd Weaver was riding north when a southbound bus turned left into a parking lot and was killed almost instantly. The bus driver has had six accidents in the past five years. Learn more at www.toddweaver.org.

James McKinnie, 51
Byrum, Miss.
James Steven McKinnie was killed in a hit and run bicycle accident on June 30, 2005 near his home in Byrum, Miss. A truck heading the same direction hit him from behind. The driver left the scene of the accident.

Bill Bliss, 69
San Jose, Calif.
Doug Havens, 34, was driving a pickup northbound on June 24 when he collided from behind with a bicycle ridden by Bill Bliss. Bliss died at the scene. A long-time Almaden Cycle Touring Club member, Bliss was doing a cross-country bicycle tour.
Update: Officer avoids jail in bicyclist's death.

Paul David Clark, 49
San Francisco, Calif.
Paul David Clark of San Francisco was killed on April 26, 2005, while riding his bike near Livermore, Calif. He was struck head-on by a pickup truck that crossed the centerline.

I know biking is dangerous... but holy cow!

You're not doing a very good job if you're trying to be a cheerleader for bike commuting, Jeff.

Thanks for the advice, Ian, I'll look it over carefully. And sorry to hear about your husband's accident and broken collarbone, Beverly. It's too bad he's not still commuting (strength in numbers, etc.) but it's understandable.

• Lacking common sense is a fault.

• Oh, right: I really think it's a great idea for cars to abandon the main thoroughfares, to instead pack the neighborhood streets where people, children and pets are much more likely to roam. samh: please give us your street address so that we make take up your suggestion promptly.

I'm feeling like a lot of people are not able to own up to their own responsibilities. Car drivers who are at fault with bicyclists, but also bicyclists who are not looking out for their own safety. (eg. why are you so close to parked cars that you can run into an opening door? would you drive that close? what if someone's cat ran out? would you run it over and say it's the cat's fault?)

I love the idea of the bike web cam. How much do they go for? The footage could be cornerstone of a grassroots awareness campaign. Given our energy crisis, biking is patriotic and citizens need to support its patriots by not running them over.

Ha :) Shoot rick... yea... Pretend you didn't read that- biking is totally safe, rick, that car was just a figment of your imagination.
Actually biking is quite safe from http://www.raisethehammer.org/index.asp?issue=2007/09/09
“The fatality rate for every million hours spent cycling is 0.26, compared to 0.47 per million driving hours (on-road motorcycling comes in at a whopping 8.80 deaths per million motorcycling hours).
That is, riding a motor vehicle has nearly twice the risk of fatality as riding a bike for a given duration.”
“The odds of dying from a bicycle crash are one in 71. This compares to one in 75 for a light truck (pickup truck, SUV, van), one in 108 for a car, one in 43 for a truck, one in 26 for a motorcycle, and one in 15 for a pedestrian.”
“According to a study by the British Medical Association, the average gain in "life years" through improved fitness from cycling exceeds the average loss in "life years" through cycling fatalities by a factor of 20 to 1.”

Enough from me now- I think I've said enough for one topic :o)

Kitsune - If you ride beyond a car door length in the street you better believe you will be hollered at by drivers and more than likely hit by a vehicle.

Have you biked in an urban environment? It's truly a challenge.

I didn't follow the cat logic. Are bikers the cats?

I think I may have a (nice) helmet cam that I can use. Would anyone be interested in wearing it for a day's commute?

I would. Shoot me an email. bikingduluth at gmail dot com

Shouldn't I be working? Right.

Hey, Kitsune:

Re my "incident" this morning, the driver crossed two lanes to take me out. I SO had the right of way!

I hardly think bike commuting equals a lack of common sense. I don't think bike commuters expect to have the roads to themselves; I think we have a right to use the roads and expecting us to stay home in crappy weather isn't any more reasonable than expecting drivers to stay home in crappy weather (see Ian's eloquent reply above -- nice job, Ian)

Re riding close to parked cars, we have to. By the reactions we get from some drivers, we're never close enough (i.e., out of the drivers' way).

Re "would you drive that close?" No, because the traffic never forces me to when I'm behind the wheel.

Re running over a cat: Huh?

Finally,

Kitsune...it's easy to blame the victim to justify your not wanting to pay attention to the road, isn't it?

I've had this convo time and time again with people in your exact mindset and it most always works out that people you with your "what ifs" and "what you should dos" are only trying to justify the fact that you shouldn't be compelled to pay attention to anything outside a six foot radius of your vehicle...

Ironically, the majority of people with your mindset who I have had this convo with in the past could benefit physically from a few weeks in the saddle.

The last physical altercation that I had occurred at ten o'clock at night on a deserted East River Road heading out of downtown Mpls with a motard a foot shorter and three feet wider than me first ordering me to get up on the sidewalk, then blocking the entire street with his car so as to block my passage in order for him to exit his vehicle and make a halfassed run at me, fists doubled and ready to strike. He thought better of it after I flew off my bike as i ditched it on the boulevard and charged him with my Mag Lite in hand. He waddled back to his car and squealed away still yelling and ranting as he disappeared down the road.

I bike commute all year ‘round not because I have a death wish, not because I am stupid, and not because I want to inconvenience hurried motorists on their way to important engagements.

I bike commute because it’s good for the environment, good for my body (except when hitting cars and/or pavement) and because it’s FUN.

I am not angry at the man whose car door I hit. I’m not angry at the guy who made me swerve when he almost hit me. I know I’m hard to see (even with bright yellow jacket, bright yellow pannier and flashing lights) and we’ve all been guilty of not paying enough attention when driving our fun little cars.

I AM angered when people honk/yell/swerve aggressively etc. Do bikers really make the lives of motorists THAT much more difficult? Maybe they are just jealous of all the fun we’re having…

Weird, but I have been riding for 41 years on the road and have never had a proble or run-in w/ a car (knock on wood)! A dear, skunk, and plenty of dogs, but no cars.

two things.

first, non-bike friendly people tend to marginalize bikers for various reasons, none of which would apply when their loved one gets taken out. last summer, near me, there were two law enforcement officers on a charity bike ride (to raise money for families of fallen officers) that were killed by an out of control frieght truck.

http://tinyurl.com/3y5j3o

secondly, this might be worth checking out. there is a ghost bike outside a restaurant that i go to regularly that helps remind me to drive a little more carefully, as i have a lead foot.

http://www.ghostbikes.org

Thanks Kyanize- Remember to ride the Ride of Silence May 21, 2008
I'm going to make an "I pledge to not drive distracted" something or other and see how that does. (No text messaging while driving- drive now, talk later)

Thanks ian for this thread.

I am a year-round bike commuter, but I also own a car (I live in Superior but work in Duluth and it's kinda hard to get over the Bong bridge on a bike when there's 2-3 feet of snow piled up on the walkway; they don't plow it for us bikers). I have faced many similar incidents as have already been described while riding on the roads. Still, I ride the roads because they are public right-of-ways, faster, easier and in many cases safer than sidewalks (I'd rather not run down any pedestrians).

What's needed is some good old fashioned awareness on the part of both drivers and bikers about the traffic laws stated in the above comments. There are many courteous drivers out there and many aware bikers, but there are also those who don't know or choose to ignore the law.

Bottom line: bikes are a part of traffic and should be treated as such, given every due courtesy by drivers and expected to follow the law. This means that nobody should be riding against traffic - if I see someone riding on the left side of a street while I'm riding, I will shout at them to get to the other side of the road, because what they are doing puts themselves and others in danger. Where drivers are concerned, shouting at me or otherwise rude or unsafe gestures are highly unappreciated if not downright illegal. But I also have a problem with some drivers being over-courteous. For instance, when I stop at a stop sign, if there is a car there before me, they should take their rightful turn so that I can go with the traffic flow when it's my turn - I don't need drivers to sit and wait at an intersection until all traffic has stopped dead and then wave at me like I'm not paying attention.

Respect means treating me on my bike like you would treat another vehicle on the road, because I am one.

I'm not a biker or a driver, just a walker who's seen all the bad behavior by both groups and by the pedestrians who walk into the street without even looking. I've been yelled at by passing drivers while I was walking on the sidewalk, so I think there are some people who need no excuse to be hostile.

I hate bikes on the sidewalk; though I can understand why they'd rather be there, they seem like people who want to pass their own risks onto someone else. On the other hand, I absolutely walk in the streets all winter long rather than take the risk and extra time of trying to walk on ice covered sidewalks.

Also have had the overly courteous driver problem, especially when I start slowing walking into a street intending to cross after the one car approaching passes, only to have that car stop which often leads to me not being able to get across the street because in the time they've taken slowing down new cars have arrived as part of the situation. Walking, I think I tend to be much more aware of the big picture and the flow of things than someone closed in a vehicle.

My favorite idiot driver of recent months...I was starting to cross Lake at Superior heading west as a monstrous SUV came down Lake, looked left, saw no traffic, and headed straight at me. I wound up standing on her bumper, hanging on to her hood ornament.

since the early '90s i've biked year-round in duluth and i've never been mistreated by motorists. not once.

the only confrontation i've been part of is because a self-righteous riding partner of mine was being an asshole to a driver.

the only driver who ever honked at me did so to let me know he was coming by--he smiled and waved as he passed in his chevy pickup.

i bike to st. scholastica via 19th ave e and college--both busy streets--every day.

during fall semester, i rode to uws, from my house in chester park, three days a week, often in the dark, occasionally in rotten weather.

i frequently ride on superior street, london road, in canal park, and a lot of other busy places.

sometimes i obey traffic laws. sometimes i don't.

what the hell am i doing wrong? why can't i get someone to hit me, yell at me, throw an object or two my way, or otherwise give me a reason to post angry, judgmental comments.

Maybe it's your lack of capitalization that causes no one to notice you. Although, by my interpretation, you're doing ok at posting judgmental comments.

eco eco said, "by my interpretation, you're doing ok at posting judgmental comments."

he or she is correct--i'm only doing ok.

i have yet to make fun of fat people, to stereotype SUV drivers, or to rail against some citywide anti-cyclist agenda.

eco eco, I sort of see where you're coming from on the "overly courteous" driver issue--however, if you're crossing at a crosswalk, legally they're supposed to give pedestrians the right-of-way. So I guess I can't really fault people for doing the right thing, although again, I can see how things might get all out-of-synch if other cars aren't following the rule.

Somehow you've been slipping through the cracks, Godsey. The next time I see you, I'll run your ass over.

eco, it's actually illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. what with all the pedestrial obstacles, i'd prefer to ride alongside cars in the street.

http://bikingduluth.blogspot.com/2007/12/are-we-safe-please-read-and-pass-along.html

Cop veers into oncoming lane, kills two cyclists, third in critical condition.

:(