Letter to the Editor
Cyclists' bad reps
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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To the editor:
Sometimes I wonder why cyclists in Fairbanks seem to have a bad reputation among certain motorists in this community. Then I open up the Thursday paper to the Outdoors section and see a picture of a group of cyclists, three of whom are riding more or less inside the fog line on the shoulder of Sheep Creek.
I have encountered this group of people on this same stretch of road, riding more than two abreast and several feet inside the motor vehicles’ right-of-way.
I’m not going to ramble about the Alaska statutes, or write of safety concerns. I, too, am an avid cyclist, and am happy to see you enjoying the weather on your bikes. However, I would like to respectfully ask that if you are going to cycle on roadways busy with motor vehicle traffic, that you do it in such a way as to minimize the chance of giving a bad reputation to the rest of the Fairbanks cycling community.
Danny Dominick
Fairbanks
Community Discussion
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good feedback Danny. respect is the key and not causing isssues with each motorists when your riding. safety should be the number one thought. attitude will cause problems.
i love biking but i always have thought of the motorists first because they are limited to where they can drive as I have options when on a bike.
Its not just Fairbanks, its everywhere. My personal problem, not with all cyclists but a lot, is they want it both ways. They want to be treated as a pedestrian and a motor vehicle, at different and sometimes the same time. Many ride with the traffic, but then it stops and they just go around it and take the cross walk. I have had people on bikes, while I am stopped at a light, just ride between me and the car next to me. Ever been forced off a sidewalk by someone on a bike?
The infrastructure isnt designed for bikes.
"The infrastructure isnt designed for bikes."
Wow, that was a doozy...funny stuff! YouMustBConfused
Reader1, try riding to work or your nearest store on a bike. Now, it depends on where you live and your route, but I imagine you'll find that you'll have to ride on the road at some point. To put it simply, bikes have to have it both ways in order to function. I don't mean to excuse bikes that don't follow the rules, but the rules have to be designed for this issue.
I almost took out a Fairbanks cyclist yesterday when she blasted across Nobel against a red light. Middle of the road, never even looked left or right. Fortunately for that future Darwin Award winner, I was able to go from 25 to zero fast enough to not make her a hood ornament.
Bicycles, just like cars, need an operator with a functioning brain to control it. Some bicyclists may just be caught up in their carefreeness that they don't concentrate. Like drivers with cell phones.
Nice letter Danny,
pedal bikes need to ride single file.
It is suicidal the way some ride, bike riders need to be extra careful.
Live to bike another day,
and stay the heck out of my way.
Offended? call the whaaambulance.
PS, i just bought me a red schwinn, and I will avoid cars to the best of my ability.
"stay the heck out of my way"
2cold4me, I realize you are probably exaggerating for effect, but that is exactly the attitude that scares me about cars, whether I'm on foot, bike, or in a car myself.
Look, I have plenty of stories of my own as a walker and a biker about nearly getting hit or being completely ignored in a sidewalk. We all have 'stupid' stories about all the various ways people move around town and how they put their lives on the line by doing something idiotic. The most important aspect is that we deal with each other--regardless of whether or not the 'other' is doing something unsafe or illegal--in as safe a way as possible. Then we can all come together, guilt- and accident-free, to complain about each other online.
And I guess the general consensus is that all cyclist's are idiots and that everyone driving a car is doing so in a safe, responsible manner.....come on people wake up there are idiot cyclist's and idiot car drivers, the bottom line is to show respect for each other......
At least nobody on a bike ever stole a tank full of gas. Well, at least not for the bike I suppose.
It's clear to me that some contributors only read what they write, and not what others write, and continue to enjoy spouting vitriolic hate and ignorance.
On the road, there continues to be ignorance or flaunting of bicycle rights and responsibilities by a few individuals in cars and on bikes.
Just in case you want to inform yourself, follow these links:
http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/IGLOO.html
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/cgi-bin/fol...
In summary,
Yes, three bicyclists side by side is illegal on Sheep Creek Road.
No, bicyclists are not required to ride single file or required to stay outside the fog line, unless warranted by conditions and traffic.
Yes, bicyclists can follow either rules of pedestrians or vehicles depending on the situation.
Yes, Alaska's, and in particular Fairbanks' infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles sucks. So we all need to be extra careful and realize that bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers all have to look out for each other avoid accidents.
Good job, lfreeman! The fact is there are jerks who ride and jerks who drive but most folks are good people, riders and drivers. You shouldn't stereotype an entire user group based on the bad or stupid behavior of a few individuals. The Fairbanks infrastructure for bicyclists sucks and should be improved.
I can't believe people on this forum would ask me, as a contributor, to not only read other people's comments, but also refrain from stereotyping and spouting vitriolic hate and ignorance. Why, if I follow this advice what options am I left with? Writing something intelligent? What if I have nothing intelligent to contribute? Then what?
I think I'll just quit right now and go ride my bike.
"Infrastructure not designed for bikes"? That must be why they're repaving the steese/rich.....
Sorry,
PLEASE stay out of my way.
Sorry, 2cold4me, it doesn't work that way. You have to share the road, and it doesn't matter if you like it not.
Wow. Well its like this. Even if I am driving a mini-cooper, I will "win" if I hit someone on a bike. So, to all cyclists out there, watch your top knot.
I ride a motorcycle, similar issues. People just dont see you. So you have to be more observant and careful as a bike rider.
To anyone that cant see my point when I typed that the infrastructure wasnt designed to support bikes, I dont know what to tell you. Maybe a more accurate line would have been "the infrastructure isnt designed to support morons, whether they peddle, walk or drive"
Some of you should read state law, including the letter writer. Riding abreast illegal, yes. Bikes required to reasonably move over to the right when approached from behind, yes. Staying to the right of the fog line, NOT REQUIRED. Motor-vehicle right of way? NO SUCH THING.
bikes just need to stay out of my way, if you can't go 55mph then get off the highway.
Vitrox have another mcburger. The road is not just for you and your SUV. Bicycles belong. I see far more idiot types driving cars then riding bicycles. Yes there are bad apples in all groups but I seldom see a bicyclist on their cell phone while riding.
Vitrox: Bikes should stay out of your way, or what? You'll hit them? You'll kill somebody? I'm serious: Bikes need to stay out of your way, or what?
Reader1:
"Even if I am driving a mini-cooper, I will 'win' if I hit someone on a bike."
I wrecked the door on an SUV with my head once, and I rode away unharmed. Had to replace a $5 part on my bicycle, while the driver had to replace his whole door. The driver thought he had killed me, and you should have seen his face when I knocked on his window. He couldn't even get out of his car to look at the damage. The lesson is, hitting a cyclist sucks for the driver, too.
Your "people just don't see you" point is very important. A lot of drivers are so focused on looking for car traffic that they will look through anything that is not a car. This, often, is what's going on when a car pulls out in front of a bike that has the right of way. Sometimes the driver is really bad at judging bike speed, but sometimes the driver just didn't see the bike in the first place. Pedestrians will do the same thing. A pedestrian caused my only trip to the hospital when she looked right at me and then stepped into the road.
Oh--your original statement was right. The infrastructure wasn't designed to support bikes. It should have been, but it wasn't, and we have to live with it until it is improved. All the more reason to be courteous and attentive. Of course, even if the infrastructure were designed for bikes, there would still be people like Vitrox driving around on it.
Damn. I bought into the negativity again. I was going to try not to do that.
The truth is, I encounter much more ignorant, anti-bike sentiment on this website than I do out on the road. Fairbanks is really a pretty nice place to ride.
man its fun getting a reaction out of people.
i stand by my comment, stay off the roads and get on the sidewalks, thats what they're there for. If there is no sidewalk and you can't keep up with the flow of traffic, get on the shoulder.
Vitrox, standing by your comment won't make it any less dumb.
i can see bedasse is one of those bikers that thinks they own the road and ride right down the middle.
@vitrox:
So, let me get this straight. You're saying that you know the law, recognize the law, but choose to ignore it?
You've publicly spewed your opinion. That's awesome. Enjoy driving more carefully around cyclists (forever) now that you've opened yourself to criminal and civil liability!
My broken bones will heal.
You'll be homeless.
Works for me.
*sigh*
i'll quote a comment from a 2 pages up.
"No, bicyclists are not required to ride single file or required to stay outside the fog line, unless warranted by conditions and traffic.
Yes, bicyclists can follow either rules of pedestrians or vehicles depending on the situation."
i'll let you interpret it any way you'd like.
Haters!
we need a DOS for car drivers.
I have been with my car for years!
But pedalers think they are better and want to take over the road!
you are all AUTO PHOBES!
And the sidewalk, yeah right, that is for my snowmachine, so pedalers and walkers STAY OFF!
Now that is funny!
I am just kidding, I walk two miles on the road everyday and try to pedal my bike on the rode every evening with my entire family. We walk and ride abreast and take up the whole road. Like a gang.
If a car comes by we all pull over and give it plenty of room.
You know why?
It might be my Granpa with one eye, and it is possible he had a beer with his lunch!
He has never been in a wreck, but I know he would feel terrible if he ever hurt anyone.
As an avid Bicyclist here is my reasons for using the highway in my town.
1)I ride to get to work to help save fuel in my truck. I am low income and need to save where I can.
2)I bike to get my excersize to lose weight and be physically fit because I have foot problems associated with walking.
3)I cannot adequately workout on my bike doing the speed and distance I need on the bike path. Too many driveways to cross where I have almost been hit because I couldnt see the exiting vehicle due to the tree line bordering the bike path blocking my view into the driveways, which makes me have to slow down to almost a stop before moving on. This breaks the cadence i need to maintain the speed and power when working out. I do not have to worry about that on the highway
4)If I am obeying the law by staying as far to the right of the shoulder as I can without running off into the ditch.. and you are worried about hitting me.. YOU are the one we need to all worry about if you cannot stay in YOUR lane while driving. Other vehicle drivers other than biking people would need to keep an eye out for you as well.. you are a danger to the human race if you cannot stay on your lane as it is.
5) to Parents of children of any age on bikes. Are you aware of what your kids are doing while riding their bikes? I do.. I see them riding down the main lane where vehicles are suppose to be.. and then when they hear or see a car coming.. you know what they do? they switch over to the OTHER lane going the wrong direction and riding two abreast until the vehicle passes..its YOUR kids that are giving us law abiding bikers a bad name.
6)the bike path is a scary place to be at night and in the wee hours of the morning from dangers of man and animal alike. I prefer to be up on the highway where I can SEE a long ways what is around me and if need be turn around and go the other direction..I cannot do that on the bike path in time to save my life if I have to. The tree line is too close to the path for comfort. After a deranged man attempted to beat and rape a local young woman in broad daylight one year as she walked on the bike path, I have never felt safe on it since. Allow me to make my choice where to bike thankyou.
7) If you are one of the complainers.. please move back to the lower 48 where people have no freedom hardly anymore. I live in Alaska for the freedom to do what I like to do within the Laws.... don't bring it up here too!! Stay home if you want it that bad.
have a good summer folks!
Tom54 "Sorry, 2cold4me, it doesn't work that way. You have to share the road, and it doesn'