Does a trike put me on a collision course with traffic?

ComandanteBanana

Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
vehicle.

What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?

WHY THE BANANA REVOLUTION?
http://webspawner.com/users/bananarevolution

Papa Tom

Where I live, Long Island, New York, you'd barely get out of your garage on
the trike without someone trying to run you off the road. When I ran my
bike recycling program a few years ago, I had the opportunities to test ride
a few trikes AND a quad. I thought riding the quad on the main street
running through my town might raise some awareness of alternate
transportation options, so off I went...only to return ten minutes later
having been honked off the road and forced onto the sidewalk more than a
dozen times.

I guess the answer to your question is largely dependent on where you live
and what the attitude toward cyclists is in that area.

ComandanteBanana

On Mar 31, 1:41*pm, "Papa Tom" <TomMontalb...@optonline.net> wrote:
> Where I live, Long Island, New York, you'd barely get out of your garage on
> the trike without someone trying to run you off the road. *When I ran my
> bike recycling program a few years ago, I had the opportunities to test ride
> a few trikes AND a quad. *I thought riding the quad on the main street
> running through my town might raise some awareness of alternate
> transportation options, so off I went...only to return ten minutes later
> having been honked off the road and forced onto the sidewalk more than a
> dozen times.
>
> I guess the answer to your question is largely dependent on where you live
> and what the attitude toward cyclists is in that area.

It sounds like where I live...

But what would happen if I step off my door and into the three lane
road, where the marked speed is 30MPH, but the real speeds are closer
to 50MPH? Would I be able to stand my ground or just give in to the
law of the jungle?

Roger Zoul

"ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f0a6b16e-d90e-410d-84c0-8e28a6986c81@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
> beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
> TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
> put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
> can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
> the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
> sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
> vehicle.
>
> What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?

I've ridden my recumbent trike in real live traffic on many occasions I
always live to tell about it. I take the lane when needed, too.

It's about attitude and if you ain't got none, ride something else.

Papa Tom

>>>>Would I be able to stand my ground or just give in to the law of the
>>>>jungle?<<<<

The speed limit on the road I described is 30mph. It has two schools and a
20mph speed limit in front of each. It also has a huge curve and a
grade-level railroad crossing at the end of a mile-long straightaway.
Still, the average speed driven on that road is 45, regardless of who is
walking or biking along the shoulder. If your town is like mine, my guess
is that you'd have to move AT LEAST 30mph on your trike (yeah, RIGHT!) or be
physically driven off the road.

ComandanteBanana

On Mar 31, 2:26*pm, "Roger Zoul" <rogerzo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:f0a6b16e-d90e-410d-84c0-8e28a6986c81@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
> > beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
> > TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
> > put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
> > can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
> > the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
> > sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
> > vehicle.
>
> > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?
>
> I've ridden my recumbent trike in real live traffic on many occasions I
> always live to tell about it. *I take the lane when needed, too.
>
> It's about attitude and if you ain't got none, ride something else.

Yeah, but if I'm riding a bike in traffic, I'm giving my back to the
enemy...

Whether I survive or not has little to with attitude, and a lot to
with their clemency.

ComandanteBanana

On Mar 31, 2:51*pm, "Papa Tom" <TomMontalb...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >>>>Would I be able to stand my ground or just give in to the law of the
> >>>>jungle?<<<<
>
> The speed limit on the road I described is 30mph. *It has two schools and a
> 20mph speed limit in front of each. *It also has a huge curve and a
> grade-level railroad crossing at the end of a mile-long straightaway.
> Still, the average speed driven on that road is 45, regardless of who is
> walking or biking along the shoulder. *If your town is like mine, my guess
> is that you'd have to move AT LEAST 30mph on your trike (yeah, RIGHT!) or be
> physically driven off the road.

It sounds like a good reason for NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE. They push me
and I won't budge.

Papa Tom

I'm not one who believes "resistance" will ever work.

There's something about bicyclists that people just don't like. Perhaps
it's just jealousy. When the road was ruled by horse-drawn wagons, they
cursed at us and threw sticks at our spokes because we were moving too fast.
Now they do the same thing because we move too slowly.

Perhaps when gas is $10 a gallon, drivers will start to see us in a
different light. Right now, keep your trike off the road - or face having
to pry it out of the grill of some jerk's Hummer.

"ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8b69a125-eccb-499d-a722-8d4625e81fc8@a23g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
On Mar 31, 2:26 pm, "Roger Zoul" <rogerzo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:f0a6b16e-d90e-410d-84c0-8e28a6986c81@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
> > beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
> > TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
> > put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
> > can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
> > the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
> > sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
> > vehicle.
>
> > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?
>
> I've ridden my recumbent trike in real live traffic on many occasions I
> always live to tell about it. I take the lane when needed, too.
>
> It's about attitude and if you ain't got none, ride something else.

Yeah, but if I'm riding a bike in traffic, I'm giving my back to the
enemy...

Whether I survive or not has little to with attitude, and a lot to
with their clemency.

ComandanteBanana

On Mar 31, 4:03*pm, "Papa Tom" <TomMontalb...@optonline.net> wrote:
> I'm not one who believes "resistance" will ever work.
>
> There's something about bicyclists that people just don't like. *Perhaps
> it's just jealousy. *When the road was ruled by horse-drawn wagons, they
> cursed at us and threw sticks at our spokes because we were moving too fast.
> Now they do the same thing because we move too slowly.
>
> Perhaps when gas is $10 a gallon, drivers will start to see us in a
> different light. *Right now, keep your trike off the road - or face having
> to pry it out of the grill of some jerk's Hummer.

Man, this is eerie. That's exactly what I thought.

But I think it also has to do with HATE. Yeah, they hate that other
people remain free and healthy while they remain enslaved to their
thirsty vehicles. They think, "Hey, if I paid 50 grands for my Hummer,
no one on a bike will slow me down." And they just try to squeeze that
oversized vehicle and a bike on the same lane...

One day, though, the stupid dinosaurs will become extinct, and the
small furry animals will reclaim the earth. Brain is better than size,
right?

Roger Zoul

"ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoproblem@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8b69a125-eccb-499d-a722-8d4625e81fc8@a23g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
On Mar 31, 2:26 pm, "Roger Zoul" <rogerzo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:f0a6b16e-d90e-410d-84c0-8e28a6986c81@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
> > beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
> > TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
> > put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
> > can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
> > the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
> > sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
> > vehicle.
>
> > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?
>
> I've ridden my recumbent trike in real live traffic on many occasions I
> always live to tell about it. I take the lane when needed, too.
>
> It's about attitude and if you ain't got none, ride something else.

:>Yeah, but if I'm riding a bike in traffic, I'm giving my back to the
:>enemy...

:>Whether I survive or not has little to with attitude, and a lot to
:>with their clemency.

I think it's clearly about your attitude toward what you think may happen
vs. what will happen. You're assuming drivers will run you down. Perhaps
you live some place where cyclists get run down as a matter of sport, on a
daily basis, anytime they share the road with traffic. Why don't you tell
us about where you live and how many cyclists are killed there per year?

Nigel Randell

>
> Perhaps when gas is $10 a gallon, drivers will start to see us in a
> different light.

Don't hold your breath on that. It's up to $8.50/gallon equivalent here
(UK) and it hasn't made any real difference to attitudes. The vast majority
of drivers are as careful as they ever were and there's a very small, but
persistent, number of complete idiots.

--

Nigel

ccarter@new.rr.com

On Mar 31, 12:00*pm, ComandanteBanana <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
> beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
> TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
> put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
> can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
> the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
> sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
> vehicle.
>
> What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?
>
> WHY THE BANANA REVOLUTION?http://webspawner.com/users/bananarevolution



I've never had this happen when I rode a bicycle. It seems as though
riding a trike is such a dangerous thing. I wonder why this is?

Are people easily distracted by it?

Cullen

ComandanteBanana

On Mar 31, 5:18*pm, "Roger Zoul" <rogerzo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:8b69a125-eccb-499d-a722-8d4625e81fc8@a23g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> On Mar 31, 2:26 pm, "Roger Zoul" <rogerzo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "ComandanteBanana" <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> >news:f0a6b16e-d90e-410d-84c0-8e28a6986c81@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > > Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
> > > beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
> > > TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
> > > put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
> > > can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
> > > the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
> > > sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
> > > vehicle.
>
> > > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?
>
> > I've ridden my recumbent trike in real live traffic on many occasions I
> > always live to tell about it. I take the lane when needed, too.
>
> > It's about attitude and if you ain't got none, ride something else.
>
> :>Yeah, but if I'm riding a bike in traffic, I'm giving my back to the
> :>enemy...
>
> :>Whether I survive or not has little to with attitude, and a lot to
> :>with their clemency.
>
> I think it's clearly about your attitude toward what you think may happen
> vs. what will happen. *You're assuming drivers will run you down. *Perhaps
> you live some place where cyclists get run down as a matter of sport, on a
> daily basis, anytime they share the road with traffic. *Why don't you tell
> us about where you live and how many cyclists are killed there per year?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I don't know how many are killed a year, but I've seen a beautiful
lady on a scooter get crushed by a car running a red light right
before my eyes. And out of the few cyclists who dare ride this road,
never ever seen a trike. All you see is a few hardcore riders ride it
early on weekends.

By the way I do live in Miami Beach, USA.

ComandanteBanana

On Mar 31, 5:43*pm, "ccar...@new.rr.com" <ccar...@new.rr.com> wrote:
> On Mar 31, 12:00*pm, ComandanteBanana <nolionnoprob...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Having other types of bikes in my collection, I'm about to get off the
> > beaten path and get either a ROAD TANDEM BIKE or a FANCY UPRIGHT
> > TRIKE. Well, I like them both but the road tandem would necessarily
> > put me on the road AMONG THE BEASTS all the time, while the trike I
> > can use on the back streets and on a new path being built overlooking
> > the ocean (cool). But I'd be tempted to ride it on the streets
> > sometimes, squarely TAKING THE LANE because then I'd be more of a
> > vehicle.
>
> > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals?
>
> > WHY THE BANANA REVOLUTION?http://webspawner.com/users/bananarevolution
>
> I've never had this happen when I rode a bicycle. It seems as though
> riding a trike is such a dangerous thing. I wonder why this is?
>
> Are people easily distracted by it?
>
> Cullen

I think the cute factor may actually deter people from aggressive
behavior, but I'd be worried about the SPEED DIFFERENTIAL being too
great, particularly when they are on the phone.