[perrjojo]

SHARE THE ROAD....it's the law!

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by JoeC1947

I think what ilovetv was objecting to was your use of the work "hatred" which you seem to have left out of your rebuttal. Hate is a very strong word and there is no room for that word in TV when referring to another person or a group.

Yeah, let's get caught up with word play instead of actual debate.

OK substitute ignorance instead of hatred.

BTW: On my ride just now everyone in cars or carts was very courteous. Which has been my experience most of the time.

[Arctic Fox]

If people were really just concerned with others' well-being, why are there not more posts lamenting the fact that few motorcyclists wear crash helmets?

Maybe because the motorbikes aren't slowing us down, whereas the pedal-bikes are?

I'm with you on this one, Russ.

[Russ_Boston]

BTW - hate is not really a bad word for me to use. I just looked it up and the second entry from Merriam Webster was this:

b : extreme dislike or antipathy : loathing <had a great hate of hard work>

Not really sure when 'hate' become one of the words you can't say. It's ok to hate something. I know I hate when i get the shanks playing golf.

[Chazz]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

I still cannot believe I really saw this, but I did ...........

I was driving on B.Vista at 10am this morning, towards 466, when the traffic slowed and moved out into the fast lane to overtake a woman using an elliptical exercise bike on the road, the one with the small wheels and very low to the ground. She was riding an exercise bike in the road right beside a multi model path in the vicinity of Palmer. There was a police car parked on the other side of the road on the grass ...............

It is completely beyond my comprehension that anyone would use an exercise bike on one of the main roads through TV. She must value being fit over being dead!

Exercise bikes are stationary, and can't move at all. I've seen elliptical bikes that a few people ride in the streets around here. In fact, my wife rented one for a day but didn't care for it. I presume that is the kind of bike you are referring to. However, you refer to them as being very low to the ground, which these bikes are definitely not. Perhaps you are referring to recumbent trikes, which generally ride much lower to the ground than uprights?

Regardless, they are permitted to ride on the road or the multi modal paths. However, all cyclists must ride in the designated bike lanes, where available (e.g. the northern part of Morse Blvd), except to pass or avoid road hazards. That is a recent change to Florida law.

[Gerald]

cyclists have the right to ride their bicycles where ever they want. The can chose to do it safely or die proving they had their rights against a two to three ton car.

[gomoho]

The other day we were crossing the Lake Sumter bridge in our golf cart and a husband and wife were pedalling there way across the bridge in the golf cart lane. You guessed it, carts backed way up 'cause you just can't pass in that area. Couldn't understand why they weren't on the sidewalk- I heard someone earlier say you could run into walkers, but there are very few walkers and lots of golff carts - my choice would be the occassional walker to not tie up the the golf carts.

[Chazz]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

If people were really just concerned with others' well-being, why are there not more posts lamenting the fact that few motorcyclists wear crash helmets?

Maybe because the motorbikes aren't slowing us down, whereas the pedal-bikes are?

I'm with you on this one, Russ.

You're right on the money, Arctic Fox!

It's all about bicyclists being in the way of impatient car drivers. I've noticed that there have been several message threads involving similar subjects, with writers expressing "concern" for the safety of cycists riding on the roads in TV. All this "concern" for the safety of cyclists, is thinly veiled expressions of frustration with slower vehicles (which bicycles are) being in their way. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as car drivers regarding their presence on Florida roads. Their choice to actually exercise those rights, does not require further explanation nor justification, despite how it may mystify others.

My wife and I ride recumbent trikes. We usually ride on roads and trails throughout central Florida. On those few occasions that we ride in TV, it is usually on the multi-modal paths, with minimal road riding. My observation, is that we have less issues with drivers outside TV, than we do within, and that includes impatient car drivers on the multi-modal paths. It seems the phrase "Florida's Friendliest Town" needs the addendum: "...except toward cyclists."

[Chazz]

Originally Posted by Gerald

cyclists have the right to ride their bicycles where ever they want. The can chose to do it safely or die proving they had their rights against a two to three ton car.

With that logic, maybe we should all be driving 18-wheelers, because your puny 2 or 3 ton car is no match for a 10+ ton behemoth. The key principle is that all vehicles should be operated safely. Knowing that such is not always the case, cyclists (being the most vulnerable of vehicles) have the greatest need to operate with heightened awareness for their own safety.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Please read the rules of the road. In every state I know of cyclists are allowed to use the vast majority of streets that their taxes pay for. .

I know that they are allowed to use the road, but what taxes did they pay for that right? They are not a license vehicle, have no license plate which is payment to use the road. I pay the same taxes as them and I can't use my golf cart on the road. I guess if I had a Segway I couldn't use the road either. What gives them special privileges ? They usually give me no problem except the belligerent ones that ride 2 abreast and threaten you if you come anywhere near them.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

I know that they are allowed to use the road, but what taxes did they pay for that right? They are not a license vehicle, have no license plate which is payment to use the road. I pay the same taxes as them and I can't use my golf cart on the road. I guess if I had a Segway I couldn't use the road either. What gives them special privileges ? They usually give me no problem except the belligerent ones that ride 2 abreast and threaten you if you come anywhere near them.

They don't have special privileges. They have the privilege to share the road as outlined by FL law (here is one link that may help you learn the law: Florida Bicycle Laws). You are correct that they are not licensed. I was referring to property taxes which, in some proportion, are used for road repair, enforcement etc. If I'm wrong about that then I stand corrected (I couldn't find a detail of Sumter County expenditures from property taxes). But, regardless, the FL bicycle laws and rights are very straight forward. Like it or not.

[Chazz]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

... They usually give me no problem except the belligerent ones that ride 2 abreast and threaten you if you come anywhere near them.

Under certain circumstances it is legal for bikes to ride 2 across. Specifically, when the lane is substandard, as defined by Florida law (less than 13 feet wide). That is because the lane is too narrow to share with an automobile and still comply with the required 3 feet of clearance that cars are required to safely afford cyclists. You are not permitted to pass a cyclist with less than 3 feet of clearance...could that have been why the cyclists you encountered were upset with you? Many drivers, and cyclists, are unaware of that legal requirement. Of course there are some drivers who don't care about it, and want to send a message to riders that they are unwelcome on the roads that the drivers believe they own.

[Grannynance]

Well here I go. About 11 am today I was on 44 eastbound in front of brown wood there were several
Bike riders (dressed in yellow) these people were all over the road, some were in the right lane some were on right side of the road stopped and others we in the left lane and yet some were at the light at bv turning in from of west bound traffic. What are you people thinking about? All this on a four lane highway. I would bet if any of you would of caught you children ridding like this the bike would of been parked. Don't give this about sharing the roadway I ride a motorcycle and a certainly know about sharing. One or more of you bikers are going to get hurt it is nice to ride in a pack with friends, but not on a four lane with the amount of traffic on 44 . Believe me when I see you I give to a lot of room because a see some of stunts you do. Are you out there to enjoy yourselves or to see what heck you can raise.

[Down Sized]

I rode my bicycle down to Brownwood today for the farmers' market. On the ride back coming up Buena Vista a bicycle club of 15 riders passed me. Having never written with a bicycle club I decided to stay on the tail end to see for my self how they acted on the street. I must say they rode single file and acted very professional. Even at the round-abouts. At one round-about some of us got caught with half the group not going to make it through. The car in the round-about stopped and waved us all through and we all waved back.
This was my first and only experience with a large group of riders.

[Grannynance]

well that certainly wasn't the gang I see on 44 there were more than 15.