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Daily news for Seattle's Ballard neighborhood |
idbill
offlineMember
What's up with the bicyclists on Leary?
I've been stuck behind them. The bus gets stuck behind them.
It's not safe. It impedes traffic flow. There is a TRAIL 1 block over!
Or is this a POWER play to prove that bicyclists can be just as stupid as drivers?
FYI, in the summer I commute by bike, and you will never find me riding on Leary.
BuffaloHawk
offlineMember
MidWest
offlineMember
Yep, suicidal.
great idea
offlineMember
seems less like a POWER play, and more like a short-handed maneuver.
they're just trying to run the clock out.
marigold
offlineMember
Yes, it seems a bit crazy and short sighted.
I must admit though, cars go way to fast on that road. I mostly don't mind them cuz they slow things down. What's the rush?
boatgeek
offlineMember
Which piece of Leary? If it's down past the Fred Meyer/8th, then they should be on the Burke-Gilman. If it's up between 8th and Market, there's no clear better option. The railroad track crossing under the Ballard Bridge on Shilshole is awful, and crossing Leary may not be terribly safe either if they aren't crossing at lights. Looking it over, they really should be on the Burke-Gilman, if only the B-G had been extended to Market by now.
Pokerguy
offlineMember
We all know 90% of people who rides bikes in Seattle are dickheads with a sense of entitlement. Do we really need another thread about it?
MidWest
offlineMember
boatgeek:
Past Fred Meyer/8th.
Totally suicidal.
dizzy
offlineMember
Oh boy name calling! Pokerguy's a dick!
boatgeek
offlineMember
In that case, they are suicidal jerks. The only loophole is if they were turning up the hill in some reasonable period of time.
So do you bitch about all the drivers who slow you down all over the place all the time? You got a biker, who has the right to be on the city streets every bit as much as you (probably paying just as much in actual road tax as you do if you want to go there) slowing you down by what 10 seconds max maybe? You in that big of a rush that you can't wait just a few seconds????
Maybe you got a valid complaint if the rider is taking the whole lane for no reason but I have to tell you I bike all year round and rarely see that happen and I'm looking for it. I can't remember that last time I felt that I held up a car unnecessarily either. We don't have any bike paths in Seattle anyway, they are called MUPs for "multi-use paths", suitable for about 12 mph max. That's a little slow for me and also lots of people walking three abreast and dogs on leashes. Most of the time I feel safer on city streets (not on Halloween or New Years eve for obvious reasons) Drunks and guess what they are doing.....driving)
Mondoman
offlineMember
Actually, bbb, cyclists have to obey the "pull over to let traffic backed up behind you pass" rule, just like cars. I've never seen that happen, so clearly some (re)education is in order.
And I've never seen "that" (bicyclists holding up traffic as described) happen either. I'm riding my bike on city streets here approximately 3000 per year virtually all on city streets and I repeat, I have never seen that happen yet. Of course there are the occasional idiot bicyclist just like there is the occasional idiot car driver. I'm not talking about exceptions to the rule here.
If I'm in a situation yes, I admit, I may slow down a driver for again, at the most 10 seconds. This rarely happens, and I'm talking rarely like maybe once a month or less.
You know, if you drive aggressively, all you will get is aggressive responses to your driving.
Pokerguy
offlineMember
I see idiots on bicycles holding up traffic everyday. Not sure what planet you exist on.
Ernie
offlineMember
Actually, bbb, cyclists have to obey the "pull over to let traffic backed up behind you pass" rule, just like cars. I've never seen that happen, so clearly some (re)education is in order.
You might have a point except that Leary has 2 lanes in each direction so it is pretty easy to move over a lane and pass a vehicle moving slower than you, bicycle or otherwise.
RCW 46.61.427
Slow-moving vehicle to pull off roadway.On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow moving vehicle, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in a line, shall turn off the roadway wherever sufficient area for a safe turn-out exists, in order to permit the vehicles following to proceed. As used in this section a slow moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place.
Ernie
offlineMember
And there is this. It's pretty clear that the overtaking vehicle has the obligation to wait until it is safe to pass...
RCW 46.61.110
Overtaking on the left.The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions and special rules hereinafter stated:
(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking other traffic proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken traffic.
(2) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian or bicycle that is on the roadway or on the right-hand shoulder or bicycle lane of the roadway shall pass to the left at a safe distance to clearly avoid coming into contact with the pedestrian or bicyclist, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken pedestrian or bicyclist.
racerX
offlineMember
Be careful out there.
Mondoman
offlineMember
bbb, I've been in the group of cars stuck behind a bicyclist on the street. You're right that it doesn't happen too often, but it certainly is annoying when it happens. I think much of the ill will toward bicyclists comes from infrequent but frustrating actions like that (and from blowing through red lights/stop signs).
great idea
offlineMember
the place where I routinely see bikers holding up cars is in on Shilshole Ave, pretty much the whole length of the road from 24th to Freddy's.
ironically, this is the 'missing link' of trail which continues to be delayed by such businesses as Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel. they are unknowingly slowing their concrete trucks down through their own greed.
Mondoman
offlineMember
or not... :)
anotherballardite
offlineMember
I was just delayed today by a CAR who had the audacity to STOP and.........OMG.........turn left off of Shilshole. Where do they get off??? It forced me to tilt my foot an entire quarter of an inch to apply the brake and THIS made me 15 seconds late for work.
jj
offlineMember
Most people are courteous, but a small percentage are either generally oblivious to their surroundings or make a one time mistake that make you think they are.
The missing link portion is interesting. As a biker I don't really understand why bikers don't just go down Ballard ave, where you can ride down the middle of the street without much problem. Heading south the big issue to this is that where you go to cross the road to get under the bridge, it's at a blind corner. That's very unsafe to cross and I quit doing that there so the straight route is up and down Shilshole for most people. Heading north I just go up Ballard avenue then on to market. It's fine for me but I suppose if I was dragging a baby along on a bike behind me I wouldn't like that route.
But I still have to say I rarely see any biker holding up drivers for more than a few seconds. My complaint is if I'm gonna ride on Shilshole I will do it (south bound)as fast as I can. It grates even me when I see riders just poking along at a sedate 10 mph on that stretch but remember, that stretch of Shilshole isn't even close to a mile long. We are talking about 1/2 mile at most.
PaytonKemp-AlleyOop
offlineMember
I second that Ballard ave idea, been doing it for years. Unless its a weekend its usually pretty tame, although the popularity is obvious within the last decade. Most of the time I see cyclists holding up buses on 3rd ave when we are all trying to get home from work, get the hell out of the way.
You mean 3rd avenue north of the Holman QFC? or down between Fremont and Ballard??
PaytonKemp-AlleyOop
offlineMember
Oh, I should have stated not Ballard at all but 3rd avenue downtown.
racerX
offlineMember
We don't have any bike paths in Seattle anyway, they are called MUPs for "multi-use paths", suitable for about 12 mph max. That's a little slow for me...
Isn't it ironic...
Life's a compromise. This is one of them.
onederfullone
onlineMember
Stupidity maintains a seat at our table, but, it's a 'compromise'.
Congrat-u-facebookinglations.
I'd strongly suggest kicking Stupidity to the curb, but there's too many of you, and it would clog traffic.
I'm not sure what you are saying but I think the correct response is your're an idiot
Oneder...
I'm sorry for you calling you that name. It was wrong. I just lost my pet and I'm not thinking straight. We may not agree but I was out of line.
gracie
offlineMember
I totally agree bikers have as much right on the road as cars ---- but obey the same laws as cars. A woman was going down one way street in front of me - not in the designated bike lane on her left but in the car lane. I figured maybe trying to work her way over. Nope. So tired of backing traffic up I went by her with plenty of room. She proceeded to holler at me about how she can be on the road too (I hadn't said a word to her.) I just ignored. At stop light & the next few stop lights she went right through them. Then when stopped at red light I saw her go on sidewalk & approach a bike rack. Two guys were standing to the right of it & she carries on about letting her get her bike in. She had plenty of room. I think someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Bike road rage!!
BuffaloHawk
offlineMember
If they get "Almost Live" going again do you think they will have a bike skit ?
great idea
offlineMember
bambooboy,
why would you apologize?
oneder is an IDIOT, and an internet bully who's quick to call others much worse.
and as you said, his posts are for the most part indecipherable anyway.
sorry about your pet.
Ernie
offlineMember
Gracie, your story totally reminded me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3nMnr8ZirI
From Portlandia
gurple
offlineMember
There's no good reason for a cyclist to be on Leary near the Fred Meyer for more than a couple of blocks. It's dangerous, and it slows people down unnecessarily.
There's also no good reason for a car to drive the entire length of 22nd Street from Market to 65th (i.e., zipping around all the roundabouts and treating it like an arterial). It's dangerous, and it slows people down unnecessarily.
These are both unbelievably obnoxious things to do. Tell you what. I'll keep not biking on Leary, you don't drive the whole length of 22nd. Deal?
SeaSpider
offlineMember
@ Pokerguy: "We all know 90% of people who rides bikes in Seattle are dickheads with a sense of entitlement."
Yes they have a sense of entitlement. Know why? Because they pay just as much in taxes as you do so naturally they're entitled to use the road. What part of that do you not understand? Do you think roads are maintained and built exclusively with tax revenue derived only from car related expenses? If so, you're an idiot and need to so some research because that's not how it works.
Also don't get me started on all the times I've been slowed down by some addle brained motorist who doesn't understand how right of way works at 4 way intersections. Or how to parallel park without leaving 5 feet of space between cars. Or don't get the f*** out of the left lane when someone is trying to pass. Sorry Pokerguy but there are plenty of dickheads driving cars. Worse yet, the dickheads who drive cars also kill tens of thousands of people every year - can't say that about cyclists.
That said, riding down Leary is stupid. Just because you have a legal right to do something doesn't mean you should.
Great Idea,
I shouldn't call anybody an idiot unless it's to their face. I lashed out because I'm feeling hurt and I was sorry I did that. it took all the fun out of this forum. Half the time I'm an idiot too, I'm sure of it. t
Thank's about the pet. I had him (cat) 17 years and it was (is) tough to let go. That's longer than I have had most of my friends...
teigyr
offlineMember
bambooboy, am sorry for your loss :( We all lose it here sometimes unless you're DSomers or VB.
onederfullone
onlineMember
damn...
I missed your insult entirely, but mine stings more now.
Very sorry for your loss, cats are so priceless. imo.
Cate
offlineMember
bambooboy, I'm sitting here with my kitty in my lap remembering the ones I had for 17 and 18 years. I am so sorry you lost your precious companion.
Thank you all for your kind words. I know that (looking at all the cat avatars) this is a forum full of cat lovers and it's nice to feel the support. This is a pact we make with all our pets but knowing that doesn't make it any easier when it's time for them to go.
thanks again
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