>

It would be much easier to sympathize with cars drivers if they did not need like 60% of the entire transit space leaving cyclists and pedestrians very little.

even though the intersection is already super busy with lots of cars

Ofc, because cars are so large and need so much space.
I’ve nothing against cyclists as a group. I prefer to hate all people who do stupid things whether they’re in cars, on bikes or walking. Went to pick my daughter up tonight and counted six cyclists in the dark wearing all black with no lights at all plus one with a light so weak I didn’t see it until I was nearly past him. Tonight it was dumb cyclists, but tomorrow it might be idiots in cars. Hate the idiots not the method of transportation. >

True ! >

As a cyclist in one of the most bike-dense cities in the world, I hate cyclists too. If I could avoid getting myself hurt, I’d be ramming at least ten of them a day just to teach a lesson about ignoring rules and common sense. >

Amsterdam? Copenhagen? >

Copenhagen. It’s a wonderful bike city but the people are incredibly self-centered. >

I had high expectations from cyclists when I first visited the city, after all it is heralded as a cycling paradise and, well, let’s say it looked a lot more like the rest of the world and mainly because of the personal behavior of cyclists.
My local friend justified it, stating that it’s because danish are more temperamental than all other Scandinavians: an explanation that I really didn’t know what to do with… >

If “temperamental” means “a bunch of egotistical [insert unflattering body part]”, he’s right. >

You make it sound like a war zone. I live in Copenhagen and most of the time biking around the city is very pleasant. Except for the food delivery scooters, they can 🤬 off. >

I guess it depends on how often and where you’re going. If you have places to be each and every day and want to get there effectively, people ignoring general rules and courtesies of the road are a pain. If you’re one of the types listening to podcasts with a latte in one hand and a phone in the other just trudging along, it’s probably fine. >

I road cycled for years, I always followed the street rules.  Always.  Red light means red light. 
I have so many cycling friends who get into accidents and other conflicts with drivers, and yet they think it’s stupid to stop at a red light.  They just don’t connect these two things >

Most bikers I encounter are complete idiots. Like I'd be driving normally and out of nowhere comes a biker on a crosswalk in full speed. Now, I appreciate bikers who actually stop and make eye contact with me as I'm driving towards the crosswalk but man, it's either that or the biker almost dies because I have no time to brake.
And what's up with all the bikers going like 5 kmh IN THE MIDDLE of a road when there's a dedicated sidewalk for bikers right next to them? Drives me insane. >

It seems like most bikers because of observation bias.
If you follow the rules as you should, you’re unmemorable.
As for the sidewalks - its actually less safe on the sidewalk. >

The reason it's not safer is because cars aren't looking for bikes there, so a bike moving any faster than a person walks, isn't in going to be seen, nor expected. >

I know. But I'm not riding together in the same lane with traffic where the speed limit is 40 MPH. >

The idea is that cars give bikers space so they can ride on the side of the road, but when that doesn't happen, it becomes safer to just take the lane.
It's a shit situation, because it causes drivers to dislike cyclists, and then more cyclists feel unsafe. >

Same! I love walking. Where I live on popular trails, there are bike lanes, but the cyclists will just ride wherever they. They don’t care and won’t let you know they’re coming. They’ll get pissy if you don’t just automatically know they’re coming up from behind you. If you do much as step foot in the bike lane, they get mad, but have no problems riding side by side outside the bike lane. >

Same here! So much for my pleasant walk on the beautiful Trail. They sneak up and when they're almost on top of me, a loud voice yells "On your left!"  They startle the shit out of me and cause me to jump sky high!  😡 >

It’s literally the law to say that. This thread is all about hating them no matter if they follow the law or not. >

But the problem is half the time they don’t follow the laws.  In my city they want to be both cars and pedestrians but they don’t follow the laws governing either and expect to be catered to.  Cyclists are some of the worst possible people for following the laws and are a major cause of accidents, especially in intersections, because so many of them just decide the rules/laws aren’t for them. >

The rules and laws literally weren't designed to protect cyclists, though. The laws take no consideration of how bicycles operate. >

As a mostly former cyclist, I often hated cyclists too. Mostly, because so many cyclist are just competitive asshats that suck the pleasure out of their own bike ride by making everything about speed. Like, heaven forbid they have to slow and yield to anyone.
Once, I was riding my bicycle with my young daughter on a bike path in the city. A couple cyclist came up and got all pissy at us, saying we need to be out of the cycle lane because we were going too slow and my 8 year old kid wasn't keeping to a narrow lane. It was so hostile - my kid started crying.
But that is just so typical, all the time. I've gotten yelled out a few times when I made a full, foot down stop at a redlight because the cyclist behind me was expecting me to either run the redlight  or at least go into the crosswalk and dance around (like they do) until it went green. I remember nearly getting run over by cyclists all the time, and yelled at if I was going too slow.
That being said, we need to do 100,000 x more in the US towards making bike paths, protected bike lanes, etc., because cyling is a truly great way to get around and I miss it. I just don't miss the self-centered asshats that dominate the cycling community. >

This! >

As a pedestrian, I hate everyone who's not a pedestrian... And some pedestrians too. >

My biggest gripe about cyclists is that there is always some danger when you encounter them on the road, either as a pedestrian or motorist. Now, part of it isn’t their fault. At least here in the US, not much of the infrastructure is made for bicycles. But cyclists are constantly breaking the rules of the road (or sidewalk) to get where they’re going faster. Blowing red lights, leaving the bike lane to use the sidewalk, splitting lanes. I always clench a little when I approach one, wondering if this is the day I can’t get out of the way. >

We have that same problem, but then a million times worse, because I live in The Netherlands. You probably know about our proud cycling culture (the Amsterdam stereotype). And yes, cyclists here are just as bad as the ones you describe, but there’s a lot more of them here. And oh yeah, traffic laws are almost always in their favor. >

The laws are in their favor, even if they're not following them or ignoring even basic traffic laws (haaientanden).
I mean, come on, if one would have a dash cam with video proof, how worse it would be, it should be able to help the motorist. >

Yes, but unfortunately not everyone has a dashcam, which should actually be mandatory to be honest. But then again, if us motorists have to buy a dashcam with our own money just to prove that a cyclist was in the wrong (as they are a bit more privileged according to the law), they still indirectly cost motorists money (dashcam’s aren’t free, sadly). >

No there not free, but just get one. It could save you a whole lot of headaches. >

Agree, thanks for the tip vriendelijke vriend! >

Hello. 
My useless comment to this post is here :D
So, i work in the accidents department of a big insurance company. My country is very strickt about the road rules, meaning:
Our company estimates (is this the right word?) that around 82% of accidents involving cyclists, are to blame on the cyclist. Since there are expecific places on the road for you to ride your bike, even if it's not a bike lane.
I remember a case where 3 dudes were just cycling, outside of town and they were literally on the middle of the road. the place where they were is full of curves and has very little visibility, so they were riding side by side, middle of the road, comes a car, hits not one, but the 3 of them because they scared the person and she just swerved the car.
They sued her and us (insurance) 2 times. Lost both and had to pay for all damage done on the car by their own bodys >


hits not one, but the 3 of them because they scared the person and she just swerved the car.

I'm trying to picture this, they were in the oncoming lane, around a corner, seeing people on a bicycle actually scared her somehow, and she drove into the oncoming lane of traffic? Isn't the usually tendency to break when scared, not to drive towards and into the thing that has scared you? >

Well... yes and no. When something comes suddenly in your field of view, your eyes are attracted to that thing and you focus on it. And the thing with driving is we tend to reflexively aim where our eyes are looking. So basically, if you look to your left, you'll unconsciously steer in that direction a little. It's possible in the panic, she swerved where her eyes found the clyclists by reflex >

While there's some truth to what you're saying, I still don't find it real plausible to  have hit all three bicyclists as a result of a fright reaction. >

Yeah I'm skeptical myself. I'm just saying it could be a possibility. Maybe she was just not very bright or a great driver. But it's hard to judge. we don't know how we'd react in the panic of the moment if we lived this situation. I doubt it was intentional tho. >

i know it kinda sounds like bs, but you would't imagine the things that actually happen on accidents (and the pictures i have colleted of funny stuff) . 
This was indeed the discription (?) of the accident made by the three dudes, the lady did not say they were liying.
in this case the violations were that they were cycling outside the designated area, without the proper equipment (reflective vests) in a place with low visibility, two of them were occupiying (?) her side of the road. >

Idk maybe my town is weird like everwhere on the internet and even in statistics you hear stuff like that but then I haven't really seen any cyclists run red lights ever and as someone who maybe not often but sometimes cycles, the last thing I'd do as a cyclist is run a red light like I don't wanna die? >

This bicyclist used to harass people walking on the sidewalk by my job a few years back. He'd ride up on them really fast and yell loudly for them to get out of his way.  He'd then almost run them over while flipping them off laughing all the way about it. One day an irate customer was outside waiting for him.  He tossed a good sized tree limb into his spokes as he rushed by. Lol....he went flying and fractured his shoulder.  I hear he missed 9 months of work >

JerrySeinfeldThatsAShame.gif >

I’d have no problem if cyclist had respect for other road users. where I live there are cycle lanes, but most cyclists are on the road or pavements, they ignore red lights etc. 
If you want to cycle please make it’s safe for yourself and others around you. >

Exactly my thoughts >

Honestly, selfish assholes exist everywhere but a selfish asshole on a bicycle does a lot less damage than a selfish asshole in a car.  
EDIT: OP's also downvoting everyone who disagrees with him, just fyi. >

Cyclists treat red lights like stop signs and stop signs like yield signs (at best). They’re not allowed on sidewalks but do it anyway. Fuckin hate cyclists. >

Everything you said is completely legal in Denver and sidewalks are illegal , but drivers constantly scream at cyclists to ride there >

Cyclist can roll stop signs and run red lights in Denver? What the fuck? >

It's frustrating how often cyclists get yelled at for doing stuff that's completely legal and actually makes traffic smoother for everyone. >

I skateboard so I guess I'm good >

Just don't be doing tricks on a stairway leading to the road and you're good! >

I think everyone hates cyclists. Cyclists included. >

There's a reason so many cyclists die each year, they all seem to pick and choose which laws they want to follow. Its always safer to assume they'll do whatever they want and everyone else needs to adapt to them. >

As a driver downtown, I don't worry at all about pedestrians at intersections, I can turn my head and assume they will be maybe five feet closer to my car when I look back, (and I trust they won't sprint towards me when I look away, at their own peril), but bikes, they ride so fast, that in the short time I turn my head to check for oncoming traffic, a bike could materialize right beside / infront me, and I risk hitting them or them hitting the side of my car. And that's even in their designated bike lane, that I have to pass through to clear the intersection. And if I drive into a ped at three miles per hour, they will just hit my hood with their fist and call me a stupid motherfucker, or whatever makes them feel justice was served, but if I bump the bike, it will be a big crash, the bicyclist will be all curled up in a ball on the ground, I'll be the bad guy in the eyes of the law and anyone nearby, and I'll probably be late as fuck to wherever it is I'm trying to go to. >

Not unpopular.
 Everyone hates cyclists. >

False >

as a cyclist I hate everyone >

Same, I see posts like this where people tell us to ride on the sidewalk when it’s illegal. 
They assume we don’t walk anywhere, drive, etc like we are essentially subhuman for doing exercise.
They tell us to ride closer to the right side of the road so we get hit by a car door. 
They’re mad that we give a verbal signal that we’re coming up on the left even though that’s the law. 
now that I’m in Colorado I’m getting yelled at for the Idaho stop, which is completely legal. We yield to stop signs and temporarily stop at red light only till it’s clear.  It’s all to REDUCE CAR TRAFFIC.
So far I’ve had family members die from hit and runs and drunk drivers, but somehow cyclists are the most dangerous thing on the road today.
What is this really about? >

It's probably posted by a car driver who only walks recreationally. >

It is regrettable that a handful of asshole cyclists ruins everyone’s opinion of us. It really undermines the support needed to improve infrastructure for cycling. 
If it is any help, when i ring my bell, I am doing so to avoid the alternatives of either yelling a warning or startling  people.  I normally exit the path and pass on the grass. I would say that most cyclist are the same.  I don’t want you to get out of the way, I want you to know I am there.  
But it only takes a couple assholes that think they own the path or the street.  I have a cousin like this and it is difficult to convince him his is wrong and is putting himself and others in danger. >

I think the a-holes are people that are only on a bike because it's the easiest thing for them, living where they do. You and those like you are on the bike because you love cycling. >

Man, y'all are sad people. 
"Get off the road!" Okay, now we are on the sidewalk.  
"Get off the sidewalk!" Back in the road again.  
"They need to ring their bells so we know they're coming! Btw I hate it when they ring their bells so I know they're coming." >

THANK YOU
Nobody is ever happy. >

I live in Portland, OR, and the cyclists here are so fucking rude and entitled. >

I live in not-Portland OR and visited once. I biked down the road. Could not believe how nice everyone was to me. Probably because they could tell I’m an outsider. >

I meant how they treat everyone else who isn't on a bike, tbh. >

Cyclists shouldn’t be on sidewalks >

I casually cycle in the summer. If I'm on a trail, I'll slow down and ring my bell if I see pedestrians, or stop and dismount if there's a lot of people or they don't notice me. Especially on the narrow trails in this woodlot I sometimes go to. 
The problem is a lot of cyclists, especially in North America, but perhaps other places, just aren't respectful of others. They demand car drivers "share the road", but then ride in huge packs, lane split, don't signal turns, run stop signs and red lights, weave in and out of traffic, boot up busy sidewalks at 15-20mph, refuse to use provided bike lanes, etc. There's like a gross sense of entitlement in the cycling community. Dude, you're still a vehicle. There's rules that apply to you, just like there are for cars and motorcycles. Big problem is difficulty/lack of enforcement. Cops have to catch them in the act. Even then they're slippery devils since they're usually more mobile than a cruiser or beat cop on foot. This is why I support plating bikes to make them easily identifiable. >


There's like a gross sense of entitlement in the cycling community. Dude, you're still a vehicle. There's rules that apply to you, just like there are for cars and motorcycles.

That is the problem right there. They want to be treated equal to car owners, yet they do not abide by traffic rules, hence all the accidents. >

I loathe cyclists. Selfish, entitled lycra lunatics. >

Be honest, do you realize that it's possible to ride a bicycle and not be selfish, or entitled, or a lunatic, or not wear lycra? >

This thread is such a circlejerk, it's ridiculous. >

That's what I'm here for >

Everyone hates cyclists, as it should be. >

False >

I get the sentiment.   My feeling is the root cause is they don’t have their own infrastructure.   Cars and peds do.   So cyclists are always forced into a non ideal path.  
I’m aware they have rights to the road but cars and bikes really struggle to share an infrastructure clearly made for cars.   
So if we invest in cycling infrastructure everyone would probably be happier. >

doubt it. In my city there is an asphalt bike path for miles that is like 8 feet wide. Smooth. No stop signs. Do they use it? nope they get their collective ass out on the street and I honestly don't have a clue why.
It defies logic. Safter, smooth, not cars/trunks, etc. Here they are out on the street just fiddle farting down a 45 mph road like they own it with a bike path 15 feet away with no one on it. The last guy I asked said "It is my road as well you know" that I ran up on while I was at a crossing while riding on the path myself.  I just gave up trying to understand. Someone dies on that road every couple of months from bike or pedestrian strike with a vehicle. It was the whole reason they built the path.... >

My experience si that, if the path is safe and contiguous, then bicyclists will flock to it. No bicyclist wants to ride in car traffic. Something else is going on there. >

Back in the US, we had bike paths that were essentially just for exercise, not actually for getting around places, and the one in particular I'm thinking of included a bridge over fairly busy road that was a pain in the ass to walk across let alone bike across because it was such a tall bridge. I'd rather bike along the road than follow the path because it was so much more difficult to navigate.
Here in Japan, there's not so much a bike path as there is a small section of road marked for bikes. The larger, busy roads have incredibly wide sidewalks that have room for both bikes and pedestrians (though the fucking pedestrians still walk in the bike section so I gotta look like the asshole for biking through the pedestrian path). But because everyone is used to cyclists and working around them, I generally can navigate through the small streets without ever worrying about cars hitting me, though lord knows I've annoyed more than one driver since the road to my apartment is rather busy on the way to and from work, and it isn't wide enough to allow them to go around if the other side is full of backed up traffic. Unfortunately, the sidewalk is usually full of high schoolers walking home on one side and full of utility poles on the other, so I can't use them. They just gotta suffer for the 30 seconds it takes me to get down the road. >


bike paths that were essentially just for exercise

Someone else here expressed their belief that bicycling was just for recreation. It seems strange to me that there are people who are unaware of people who use bicycles for basic transportation to school, work, shopping, errands, etc. If we drive everywhere, then it can seem like the only option. >

As a cyclist, i hate pedestrians. Here in Germany, there is bike lanes, one part for bikes and one for pedestrians on traffic lights... etc. But the pedestrians just ignore them, form "walls" of people blocking the bike lane, dont look while crossing the bike lane. Even cars repect us more than you. >

This I understand. Experienced the same in Denmark >

I also cringe a lot when I see the international Reddit community constantly praise us Dutch people for our biking culture. People have no idea how many traffic accidents we get that could have been avoided if we didn’t have cyclists EVERYWHERE who are barely aware of the traffic rules that also apply to them.
People have no idea about how cyclists are almost always right according to our traffic laws, which makes them much more reckless. They cause millions of dollars of damage to cars (and pedestrians) each year, and barely ever face consequences for their irresponsible and reckless behavior in traffic.
People don’t see how cyclists often block traffic because they like to cycle next to each other in pairs, and if you honk they get angry and sometimes even aggressive and try to break your side mirror if they feel like it.
Many intersections have bicycle lanes that you need to check when making a turn when driving, even though the intersection is already super busy with lots of cars. And guess what, cyclists still ride around fast and recklessly and making sure you don’t hit another car, cyclist AND pedestrian is all the job of one single driver.
So all in all, people from countries where driving is a relatively easy and chill thing to do, praise cycling culture in other countries. Try to drive here in busy traffic with thousands of cars AND (RECKLESS) CYCLISTS on the road and then tell me what it’s like.