Simple. In our area (D.C suburbs), some jurisdictions have special bike-lane markings painted and marked on the streets, that cyclists are supposed to stay IN, and motorists are supposed to stay OUT of, except, of course, for right or left turns.

 

We have bike lanes. They are everywhere in the GTA. Our bike lanes even have stop lights built into like traffic lights. The issue with bikes is that they are unlicensed and are using the roads and operating at four way stops and they do not follow the laws of the road.

 

A lot of places don't have bike lanes.... some have shoulder lanes and some don't even have shoulder lanes... I take shoulder lane whenever I can. Sometimes I have no choice but to take the road. Like Och said bicyclists have the right to ride on public road just like cars. It's not right for drivers to think bikers have no right to be on the road.. it is also not right for bikers to ignore the traffic law. I follow traffic law but apparently these drivers don't care....they just be rude at me. I get really infuriatedwhen they yell at me and even cursing at me. That's completely out of the line.. The problem I see with the drivers is that they are holding anger against the bikers because they had bad experience with them in the past. Same is true for the bikers who got attacked by the drivers that's why the bikers act mean toward them and deliberately not follow traffic law. Both sides have issues. It all comes from anger and unforgiveness and the lack of respect.

 

People in life are rude, there isn't anything you can do about that.

 

My perception is that bike riders do not follow the rules of the road very well. Moreso in situations of 4 way stops without traffic lights etc. Not my issue that there is no shoulder, the rider should maybe take an alternate route. The fact that riding a bike requires no license would indicate that there is no training. How do I know a rider knows the rules of the road? I don't

 

Check your local laws before spewing nonsense, whenever a bicycle lane is not provided or is blocked, a bicycle has the right to use the full lane. In many municipalities cyclists are given priority overs cars, much like pedestrians, but drivers often ignore the law.

 

That’s not exactly true. Vehicles that are traveling at slow speeds have to yield to the right for vehicles traveling at higher speeds. This includes bicycles, horse drawn buggies, etc. You are allowed to pass a bicycle even on a double yellow lined road, which is why they need to stay to the right.

And cyclists also often ignore the law. They are by law required to yield right of way, and treat all signs and traffic lights the same as a car, signal their intentions with arm signals same as a car. I see that very rarely happening.

Your frustration about this is purely your handlebar perspective. Whatever role you’re in, THAT role in the victim, pedestrians are never at fault, cyclists are never at fault. You’re anti car and anti driver, and that bias is on full display whenever this topic is discussed. You can’t even admit shared responsibility, it’s always all on the driver.

 

Bicyclists don't have to yield if they deem it unsafe - such as lane being too narrow to allow passing, potholes, debris, or other obstructions along the path. Also, vehicles turning right must yield the right of way to bicyclist going straight.

I drive, walk, ride bicycle and motorcycle, and take public transit in NYC so my perspective isn't purely a handlebar perspective. On the other hand, many drivers have a very one dimensional windshield perspective, and thus many of them have an attitude "this isn't some small village in Europe, bicycles don't belong on the road" to cite some of the commentators on here. In hindsight they view cyclists and mass transit infrastructure as the enemy. Driving can be a very frustrating experience, and when drivers have to deal with all the traffic and frustrations that are caused solely by others drivers, they often take out their rage on the most vulnerable road users - pedestrians and cyclists.

I am not anti car or anti driving - am pro responsible driving. USA has the highest rate of traffic deaths of any developed country because our irresponsible car culture and terrible driver behavior. We need to follow the rest of the civilized world and build infrastructure that discourages or bans private vehicles in city centers, and prioritizes mass transit, cyclists and pedestrians. We also need driver re-education, harsher fines, and automated enforcement.

 

Thats not at all how it comes across lol

 

Like all of us I rode a bike as a youth, both for fun and also for my paper route. I still have a bike but ride only occasionally now as a near-senior citizen.

As a 20-ish adult I exclusively used a motorcycle for transportation all around Los Angeles for about six years and 72,000 miles. I rode on both freeways (splitting lanes if traffic was at a standstill(!)) and surface roads, never had a confrontation with an angry driver and never had an accident.

In my current life I live in a Portland Oregon upscale suburb and there are lots of adult cyclists around here. I find it mildly amusing that many of them dress like they are in one of the Tour de France heats, but, hey, to each his own. What I find irritating is that many of them ride like they are in that competition. Bike lanes? That's for wimps! Move over for auto traffic? Hey, we have a right to be in the lane three abreast! Stop at stop signs? Hey, the Tour de France doesn't worry about stop signs!

Okay, I'm glad they are keeping physically fit. But they seem to ignore that while roads are for everyone, roads correctly focus on the segment that represents 99.99% of usage, and that's autos, like it or not. Suggest they lose the "We're Holier than Thou, we're saving the planet" attitude.

 

In my experience motorcyclists are saints on the road compared to bicyclists which is saying something lol. Give me a group of harleys over the crazy suicide messenger riders any day.
I think a lot of it has to do with biased feelings they have against “car people” and that cars have no place in city centers etc.

Again i think insurance, proper license and registration are a MUST for them to get an attitude adjustment.

 

I agree completely

 

A license at minimum would be ideal.

 

I'm totally fine with licensing as long as cyclists get laws designed for cyclists and cycling infrastructure. Taking away one car lane one every road that doesn't already have a bicycle lane and turning it into a protected bicycle lane is a good start.

 

Why? Cyclists and cars are supposed to share the road. If cyclists actually followed the law and rules of the road better, everything works.