Are you afraid?

[The Hitch]

I cycle every day.and i dont want to die. But in this country the number of cyclists killed is high. I always cycle with a helmet, lights etc, and on pavement when i can and rarely on busy roads and i cross busy roundabouts as a pedestrian rather than tackling them on my bike etc etc. But its not really about me. There are bad drivers out there, and lots of people who drive drunk or high etc.

Ive had several instances where motherless ****s have endangered my life because they see getting where they want to be 10 seconds earlier as more important then my life. A lot of the cycling deaths in the news here are caused by drunk drivers.

Sometimes i feel it would be wisest to buy a gun and shoot at the tires of anyone who behaves like this. Once stories hit the news, some of these ****s might think twice about driving into a cyclist.

Anyway the point is, i feel that the chances of having a crash with a car are high, maybe even a fatal one, especially for someone like myself who cycles every day.

Im scared. A lot of the dead are students like myself. One moment there is a future ahead of you, the next moment there is nothing.

Is anyone else scared like this?

 

[Barrus]

To be quite honest I have never felt this way, nor know of anyone who has. But I think it's also best to just put thoughts like that out of your mind, in reality if you worry a lot about something, it won't prevent you from getting an accident

 

[The Hitch]

To be quite honest I have never felt this way, nor know of anyone who has. But I think it's also best to just put thoughts like that out of your mind, in reality if you worry a lot about something, it won't prevent you from getting an accident

Might be the cycling culture in the Netherlands. Here i know a few people who quit cycling because its too dangerous.

 

[dolophonic]

Riding in London is pretty rough. I have seen a few too many bad accidents there myself. The Bus drivers and the Cabbies are scary.
Southern California is different. More space but the drivers are terrible and there are so few cyclists hat no one is even thinking we may be there.
Hang in there, the days will get longer, more light is always a help.

 

[Monte Zoncolon]

Sometimes i feel it would be wisest to buy a gun and shoot at the tires of anyone who behaves like this. Once stories hit the news, some of these ****s might think twice about driving into a cyclist.

Are You proposing one of these signs on every street corner!!

DRIVERS BEWARE OF THE ARMED CYCLIST

The Police are on the Look out for this Guy.

The Hitch

 

[Michielveedeebee]

well yeah I am, that someday I'm hit and it's all over. but the adrenalinerush after almost being hit by a stupid piece of sh-t is quite awesome actually

 

[For The World]

As it happens, I was thinking about this very thing this morning. I got up at 5:45am to get ready to go for my ride, yet I just sat down on the couch and decided not to ride. I just said to myself "I don't want to get hit by a car and die".

I've been riding on the road since I was 12 years old (I'm now 30) and I've never really considered getting hit because where I used to ride was safe enough for cyclists, and there used to be a lot of racing in the area, so drivers were aware. These days, I live in Sydney and people just don't want you on the road.

I had a teenager drive much too close to me the other day while out training (he gave me about 30cm of room, and I only had about 35cm between me and a fence to my left, so I would have been squashed quite well), and when he stopped at the lights, I asked him if he could just give me a metre of room next time. Sure enough, he starts swearing and telling me to get off the road. Generally not lost for words, I had trouble understanding that people can think that the only thing that is allowed to be on a road is a car. I just said "I'm allowed to be here too! Just like you!", but he just kept telling me to get off the road and drove off. As he drove off, I could see him lower his passenger side window a little, but I was already turning down another street.

It's events like this, and the lack of care that many other drivers have for anyone else on the road (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) that causes my disillusionment with cycling at times.

When and why did riding a bike become a target of hatred?

 

[euanli]

When and why did riding a bike become a target of hatred?

When the car become a commodity that everyone could own. Now there is the sense that only cars should be on the roads.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Even when I ride my mountain bike along trails you get morons of which you ring the bell at and they actually walk in front of you because they are clueless of the rule which is to keep to the left & move to the left side when a cyclist is passing.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

As it happens, I was thinking about this very thing this morning. I got up at 5:45am to get ready to go for my ride, yet I just sat down on the couch and decided not to ride. I just said to myself "I don't want to get hit by a car and die".

I've been riding on the road since I was 12 years old (I'm now 30) and I've never really considered getting hit because where I used to ride was safe enough for cyclists, and there used to be a lot of racing in the area, so drivers were aware. These days, I live in Sydney and people just don't want you on the road.

I had a teenager drive much too close to me the other day while out training (he gave me about 30cm of room, and I only had about 35cm between me and a fence to my left, so I would have been squashed quite well), and when he stopped at the lights, I asked him if he could just give me a metre of room next time. Sure enough, he starts swearing and telling me to get off the road. Generally not lost for words, I had trouble understanding that people can think that the only thing that is allowed to be on a road is a car. I just said "I'm allowed to be here too! Just like you!", but he just kept telling me to get off the road and drove off. As he drove off, I could see him lower his passenger side window a little, but I was already turning down another street.

It's events like this, and the lack of care that many other drivers have for anyone else on the road (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) that causes my disillusionment with cycling at times.

When and why did riding a bike become a target of hatred?

yep me too, a couple of times actually, I said to some teens- like myself mind you - that they're dangerously close to me, and they threaten to beat me up and stuff.

 

[The Hitch]

We have some patient people here. Me if someone endangered my life and were stupid enough to stop next to me, id position myself for a run (cyclistss can use pavements, cars cant) and cause some damage to the car.

If its difficult ill just smash the side mirror or something. If i have the chance though, this would be preferable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yMh0goQ0Z8

Oh and Michael, i thought you were young but didnt know you were that young. Youve said you compete. Are you trying to be a pro or something or just a leasure rider?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I kicked a guys car (& damaged it) before because the driver forced me into a road sign and cut my hands up

 

[The Hitch]

I kicked a guys car (& damaged it) before because the driver forced me into a road sign and cut my hands up

Do tell matey

 

[For The World]

We have some patient people here. Me if someone endangered my life and were stupid enough to stop next to me, id position myself for a run (cyclistss can use pavements, cars cant) and cause some damage to the car.

If its difficult ill just smash the side mirror or something. If i have the chance though, this would be preferable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yMh0goQ0Z8

Oh and Michael, i thought you were young but didnt know you were that young. Youve said you compete. Are you trying to be a pro or something or just a leasure rider?

I'm always worried about the repercussions. Due to time constraints and quiet (as they can be in Sydney) roads, I take the same route every day. If I were to do anything to someones car, I envisage that they'd take the first opportunity they have to knock me off my bike, or just straight out flatten me when they see me on my next ride.

In addition to that, I don't really want to mess anyones car up because when I had a car, I was always annoyed to find that someone had done something to it (not that it happened often, but bored people lived in the area liked to key cars and kick in panels). I'd prefer to just deal with the people directly and at least try and plant an idea in their head that endangering someones life isn't really a good idea.

I can completely understand however the need for people to provide an equal and opposite reaction. Sometimes people just need a little fear instilled in them.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

We have some patient people here. Me if someone endangered my life and were stupid enough to stop next to me, id position myself for a run (cyclistss can use pavements, cars cant) and cause some damage to the car.

If its difficult ill just smash the side mirror or something. If i have the chance though, this would be preferable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yMh0goQ0Z8

Oh and Michael, i thought you were young but didnt know you were that young. Youve said you compete. Are you trying to be a pro or something or just a leasure rider?

well I'll turn 19 in february
I just started racing last year, and goddamn because I screwed up first year at college my dad forced me to quit
I was looking to be a pro though and I'm pretty sure I would've managed it too...
*how very arrogant of me *

 

[The Hitch]

well I'll turn 19 in february
I just started racing last year, and goddamn because I screwed up first year at college my dad forced me to quit
I was looking to be a pro though and I'm pretty sure I would've managed it too...
*how very arrogant of me *

Sounds like dejavu to me. I screwed up some years in college to. And while not cycling, I know for a fact that if Barcelona scouts had picked me up when i was 3 and placed me in a training camp from then on, i would be making my way into the first team right about now

I reason that the peds wouldnt have been worth it, and according to the butterfly effect i might be dead already or somehting, since it would be a whole different life and all.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Sounds like dejavu to me. I screwed up some years in college to. And while not cycling, I know for a fact that if Barcelona scouts had picked me up when i was 3 and placed me in a training camp from then on, i would be making my way into the first team right about now
I reason that the peds wouldnt have been worth it, and according to the butterfly effect i might be dead already or somehting, since it would be a whole different life and all.

do I see a burn towards lionel messi ?

 

[forty four]

I cycle every day.and i dont want to die. But in this country the number of cyclists killed is high. I always cycle with a helmet, lights etc, and on pavement when i can and rarely on busy roads and i cross busy roundabouts as a pedestrian rather than tackling them on my bike etc etc. But its not really about me. There are bad drivers out there, and lots of people who drive drunk or high etc.

Ive had several instances where motherless ****s have endangered my life because they see getting where they want to be 10 seconds earlier as more important then my life. A lot of the cycling deaths in the news here are caused by drunk drivers.

Sometimes i feel it would be wisest to buy a gun and shoot at the tires of anyone who behaves like this. Once stories hit the news, some of these ****s might think twice about driving into a cyclist.

Anyway the point is, i feel that the chances of having a crash with a car are high, maybe even a fatal one, especially for someone like myself who cycles every day.

Im scared. A lot of the dead are students like myself. One moment there is a future ahead of you, the next moment there is nothing.



Is anyone else scared like this?

yeah every day. i was struck by a hit and run driver two years ago i was hit with a 4 bolt on non flexible rear view mirror on a bronco or something at 35 or 40 mph right in my kidneys and lower back flipped me up in the air tore my cleat screws right out of my sidi shoes and the rear view was left with me on the street in fragments. some people stopped and offered ambulance call but i was fortunate and did not **** blood or have internal issues though i feel i had mild fractures as my back has never been the same since period. if i had had my 45.auto springfield operator model on me and could have fired shots i would have. wanna play with my life i play with yours ****ing sociopaths here enjoy some 850fps 230g golden sabers hp's. i care about other humans there are some who do not period we all need to know this as cyclists.

 

[shawnrohrbach]

When I turn 75, I want to be riding on my favorite road between Fall City Washington and Redmond Washington (home of Microsoft) and I will stop to view a June sunset like I have seen so many times and a truck will come up from behind me and that will be the silent, painless end to this great life.

 

[Eric8-A]

Yes. I've gotten hit by a car twice. It wasn't bad. It's at the exit of a parking lot, the dirver gets too distracted and fails to notice me.

The scariest one happened I belieb a year and a half ago. When I ride in the streets, I try to ride at the edge, near the sidewalk. I was riding down the street and a motorcycle swoop by me at an incredibly high speed. It got me scared because I was thinking of moving to the left a bit. Had I done that, the outcome wouldn't be so pretty.

 

[Izzy eviel]

See avatar. BMW driver didn't want to wait the 5 seconds for me to pass and instead tried to overtake me and just drove straight into me. Broken shoulder & broken wrist was the result. Very lucky we weren't going fast or it would've been a lot worse. I hit the drivers side window so thankfully I didn't go through the windscreen or flying over the back of the car.

At first I couldn't wait to get back on my bike, but as the day got closer to me being able to ride again I found myself ****ting myself more. I've just started riding again and boy am I scared. It'll be a while before I feel confident to cycle to work.

Still the thing to remember is cycling is cycling. It's a lot of fun but crashes & accidents do happen. Just gotta make yourself visible and assert yourself on the road. Easier said then done though.

Tip for everyone: Even if you are in accident and have no chance of finding the driver, still report the crime. You can then make a claim through one of those 'ever had an accident that wasn't your fault?' people and you can get a payout for your injuries/expenses etc.

 

[delbified]

i am a lot more selective about when and where i ride these days. sociologists talk about how the growing gap in wealth across societies has led to a breakdown in social fabric. i believe this is true - at least drivers certainly seem less caring - not necessarily more aggressive, although that's probably also true - than when i started riding on the road in the early 90s. i feel my life is not valued by drivers as much as it was back then.

 

[The Hitch]

See avatar. BMW driver didn't want to wait the 5 seconds for me to pass and instead tried to overtake me and just drove straight into me. Broken shoulder & broken wrist was the result. Very lucky we weren't going fast or it would've been a lot worse. I hit the drivers side window so thankfully I didn't go through the windscreen or flying over the back of the car.

At first I couldn't wait to get back on my bike, but as the day got closer to me being able to ride again I found myself ****ting myself more. I've just started riding again and boy am I scared. It'll be a while before I feel confident to cycle to work.

Still the thing to remember is cycling is cycling. It's a lot of fun but crashes & accidents do happen. Just gotta make yourself visible and assert yourself on the road. Easier said then done though.

Tip for everyone: Even if you are in accident and have no chance of finding the driver, still report the crime. You can then make a claim through one of those 'ever had an accident that wasn't your fault?' people and you can get a payout for your injuries/expenses etc.

Thats exactly the kind of thing im scared of. When its 100% the fault of the driver.
Was this in London btw?

Their doing some new cycle highways but from what ive heard its just paint on the road. In my spiritual home city - warsaw they have cycle paths on an elevated platform about 20m from the duel carriagway and it goes on for miles. And on other roads they let you ride on the pavement. That works a lot better imo.

 

[Izzy eviel]

Yes it was in London, I was coming out of Regents Park and about to head past Lords when wham!

The blue cycle paths are dangerous. Nice idea but lacking in execution. They're narrow, wobbly, you have pot holes, drains, debris, gutters in them, they start & end abruptly and they normally feed you out onto London's one way streets - meaning if you aren't familiar with the road ahead then you end up going down the Thames embankment tunnel where you get 30 ton lorries pass by just inches away from you at 40mph.

They also reinforce the idea that cyclist's shouldn't be on the road. TFL do a great job of telling cyclists don't pass down the inside of lorries, now they need to do an ad campaign telling everyone that cyclist's belong on the road as much as anyone.

I don't like the idea of people riding on pavements. Pedestrians are more stupid/deadly then motorists. They never look where they are going and will step out into the road for no reason.

There's something called Bikeability which teaches you how to be safe & confident on the roads of London, I intend to look into.

 

[Martin318is]

I notice the danger of city riding more now that I am in my late 30s and have 2 children. When I was in my early 20s I think I was a lot more unbreakable. It also helped that I was selfish and didnt care whether I would leave anyone behind. The same was true from my main hobby at the time which was rockclimbing. I used to split my time between climbing and crit/track racing.

I used to love the feeling cornering at extreme speed and of diving off a mountain peak on my bike and trying to stay above 90kph for as long as possible.

I have known 4 cycling victims in recent years. 3 are dead and the other in a wheelchair. However I have met thousands of cyclists...

My father died when I was nearly 3 years old and I grew up without him. These days, particularly on mountain descents, I have moments when I suddenly see the family coping without me. It is amazingly sobering and enough to make me reconsider what I am doing. I stopped climbing seriously about 5 years ago. These days I race the bike and thats my main focus.

The thing about ridiing the bike in the city etc is that its just another risk profile. There are more car deaths than cycling deaths in Austalia per year - should I not drive then? I get solace form that logic but I know it would be hollow if I were killed.

There are more heart attack deaths than cycling deaths each year - at least cycling will help me hopefully not be one of these (and please lets not have that discussion about ALL deaths ultimately being heart attacks....)