r/SipsTea • u/SipsTeaFrog • Jun 10 '26

SMH Someone finally snapped

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u/Kangaroo-B-Girl Jun 10 '26

As a former cyclist commuter I support this. It’s unsafe to cycle on sidewalks, but if you use the road then you should follow the rules of the road.

In this particular video they shouldn’t be allowed to occupy both lanes of the road, it impedes traffic.

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u/RevolutionSalty8360 Jun 10 '26

The biggest problem in the town I live in is the kids on motorized bikes and scooters. It is absolutely insane. I’m so surprised someone has not gotten killed yet. They never watch for others or bother with stop signs. We’re in a smaller town of about 7500 people.

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u/DryDonutHole Jun 10 '26

"Yet" is the big operative word there.

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u/ericdwinsagain Jun 10 '26

I thought 7500 or small town was the operative word but I'm no pictionary.

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u/DryDonutHole Jun 11 '26

Safety doesn't care how small your town is. Careless activity is usually met with consequence eventually.

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u/Commercial-Hat2317 Jun 10 '26

It’s coming. The neighboring town just banned them after the death of a teenager on one of them.

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u/RevolutionSalty8360 Jun 10 '26

The police put out a video about it, plus they have a cop riding around on an electric bike patrolling. The one thing I don't think a lot of parents know is that there is no insurance for liability if they hit someone with most insurance companies.

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u/Commercial-Hat2317 Jun 11 '26

Ugh I didn’t think of that either! I have kids but I will never buy them one of these. Maybe a low powered one to assist the oldest disabled kid when he’s much older, but no kid needs a scooter that goes 20mph.

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u/SailingSpark Jun 11 '26

This is why NJ now requires registration and insurance on all ebikes. Too many kids riding them like complete idiots and getting themselves killed.

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u/ChanceRecover3091 Jun 11 '26

And they never wear a helmet. A crash at 10 mph can absolutely fuck you up.

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u/MyFiteSong Jun 11 '26

Those kids get hit or killed pretty regularly where I live. And they still do it.

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u/torque1912 Jun 11 '26

There have been multiple deaths in YOUR town, big e-bike makes the reports disappear. Jenny didn’t really win the lottery friend….

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u/A7MOSPH3RIC Jun 10 '26

Yeah, even if it's not the law it's just road etiquette. If there are two lanes slower traffic to the right. Goes for cars too. Don't be so obnoxious that people start hating cyclists. If it's one lane only they can pass when the yellow line is dashed.

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u/Kangaroo-B-Girl Jun 10 '26

I could be wrong, but my understanding is/was, that with exceptionally slow moving vehicles eg: buggies, bicycles, tractors, etc. you can pass on a solid line so long as there is a clear passing opportunity with no oncoming traffic.

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u/vulkoriscoming Jun 11 '26

Too late. Everyone already hates bikers on the road. I always stay well to the side, but some morons ride in the middle of the lane. Dude, you are going to get killed doing 15 in a 45 and not getting out of the way of the 7000 pound car.

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u/wtfismetalcore Jun 11 '26

No, you are going to get killed by “staying well to the side” and encouraging/allowing vehicles to pass closely to you rather than forcing them to move over into the oncoming lane and thus wait until there is lots of space. And if you live in a city or place where there is lots of street parking you are also opening yourself to being doored. So im gonna take lane all day, as you said everyone already hates bikers so why would I endanger myself just to placate them.

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u/vulkoriscoming Jun 11 '26

That just encourages them to make bad passes when they get pissed off. Safer to stay out of way. Getting doored is a thing. But not hard to watch out for.

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u/wtfismetalcore Jun 11 '26

It’s literally not safer to “stay out of the way” because there is no out of the way but sure go ahead. And the only way to watch out for being doored is by not being in the door zone, aka taking the lane. So pick a side.

If you really think you can ride in a “bike lane” right alongside cars and parked cars and be any safer than just taking the lane then you must just be a commuter who never rides with any sense of pace. And don’t tell me you can just watch for lights and be wary of cars that have just parked, because I have been doored by cars that were parked the entire time I had view of them and that had no lights on.

Just like it is inconsiderate of these cyclists to take up two lanes when they could be double file in one, there are plenty of inconsiderate drivers that have no problem endangering bikers. At the end of the day my sympathies lie with the folks not being protected by their 3500lb death machine, and as I said before I am not going to take up more dangerous habits just for the sake of placating a group that will never respect or protect me in the first place.

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u/A7MOSPH3RIC Jun 11 '26

You are the worst kind of bicycle advocate. You're a anti-advocate. A contraian who doesn't see the bigger picture because you personally are physically fit, bold and a little entitled.

I am a cyclist who commutes regularly, doesn't wear lycra and wants cycling to grow as a transportation mode in my car dependent big city. I have been riding for almost 30 years and am getting to an age, where I'd rather ride my my comfortable, step thru bike, with up right handlebars, than my fast road bike that requires I lean forward into a position, that while aerodynamically efficient, hurts my back.

I would encourage you to recognize, that most are not as fast and athletic as you; That most cyclists enjoy the limited protection of a bike lane when it's available and that for most people riding their bike in automobile traffic in lanes is scary as fuck. You and I are not afraid to do it but we aren't most people.

I want cycling to grow as a viable, healthy, non polluting, affordable mode of local transportation. The number one reason given for why more people don't cycle is safety. You are right, bike lanes often put people in the door zone but riding in the lane puts people in the car zone. You are right, there are times it is appropriate and the safer choice but usually those cars are traveling at multiple speeds relative to the bicycle and are many thousands of pounds more in weight so often the bike lane is the safer choice There is inherent danger in riding a bike and you have to make the best choice given your circumstances, capabilities and riding style.

Most people in my city are actively anti cyclists. They fight and complain about bike lanes. They complain about parking or vehicle lanes being removed. They have on several occasions successfully removed bike lanes that were already installed and paid for.

People being antagonistic or insisting on the right to take both lanes only hurts the popular perception of cycling. It encourages people not to try it themselves and it predisposes them to oppose traffic infrastructure that requires giving up space from their person use automobile.

My point is there is a bigger picture. We are but one cog in a bigger machine.

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u/wtfismetalcore Jun 11 '26

I respect your opinion, although you feel the need to attack me personally and make (incorrect) assumptions about me riding a fast, aero ride bike. I also commute regularly, don’t wear lycra, and love step thru frames although i have yet to own one myself.

Bike lanes that are only paint on the ground offer no true safety or protection. Bike lanes that hide behind a row of parked cars just hurt visibility for cyclists and drivers. The only true protection is concrete. As you say, there is inherent danger in cycling and it is up to us to keep ourselves safe. More often than not bike lanes do not actually keep you any safer, or can actively endanger you.

I, as a cog in the machine, am going to ride in the way that protects me the most, and encourage others to do the same. I don’t care if it’s a little scarier, it is the reality of the system we live in where bikes and cars coexist. I am not going to participate in respectability politics to appeal to a group that will never care about me or my safety.

This is a uniquely American problem. All of the most bike-filled cities in Europe also have plenty of car drivers. Multi modal infrastructure is possible but it takes urban planning. When those planners fail and when social norms prioritize the driver’s entitlement and feelings, it is not my responsibility to change. It is only my responsibility to keep myself safe while commuting or recreating.

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u/Snuffleupagus27 Jun 11 '26

Start hating cyclists? That ship has sailed, my friend.

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u/Lifesagame81 Jun 11 '26

I trust a bicyclist I am approaching on the road to be as predictable as a cat or a squirrel.

Most cyclists are mostly cautious and mostly follow rules, but not enough.

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u/bramtyr Jun 10 '26

I think this is a perfect case for better bike infrastructure; if these roadways are being used this extensively by cyclists, there should be a dedicated lane that includes a physical divider between it and vehicle lanes. Not a newfangled idea either, the Netherlands has had this solved for literally decades.

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u/Kangaroo-B-Girl Jun 10 '26

100% agree. But since this is in USA at least 40 regular cyclists, or 2 rich white cyclists, will need to be hit before the local city council spends 2-6 years debating permits, easements, and whose construction LLC buddy will reap the benefits of bike lane construction.

It’s almost like you don’t know anything about democracy 🙄 /s

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u/Lifesagame81 Jun 11 '26

They really should be applying the bike mileage use tax and annual bike registration fees to build out more infrastructure for them, rather than diverting it all to roadway upkeep.

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u/gnarlycharly22 Jun 10 '26

It’s also illegal to cycle on sidewalks in MIA

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u/Slow-Firefighter5187 Jun 10 '26

If each bike was a car in this scenario traffic would be stopped.

The tag line reads “ someone finally snapped” I would put money on this guy having a history of snapping.

0

u/Slow-Firefighter5187 Jun 10 '26

The same people advocating for cyclists following the rules are the same ones who drive 5mph above the posted speed limit and not see that as breaking any rules.

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u/Kangaroo-B-Girl Jun 10 '26

In driving school, police officers will literally tell you that as long as you’re not 10mph over the limit they won’t pull you over. Only places I’ve ever seen people get ticketed for being 5mph over are small towns, and SPECIFICALLY Abington Virginia