Footpaths for me

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rod said:

Ray, you made a lot more sense than the first stupid reply.. Yes I agree
with what you say, but I've given the roads too many chances.. I want to
live. And live I will.

Until that LandCruiser backs over you..

Or the Commodore racing into the side street doesn't notice you crossing
the road because you're exiting from the footpath.

etc..

hippy
"Troll on!"

Obviously I am watching out for them. I often come to a complete stop if I
can't see into a drive way. It might not be efficient riding, but it's safe
and fun.

"Mark Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:MPG.1cb1bdb7b0a219119896e5@news-server...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Anyone ever kicked a car that's moving through a roundabout after failing
to
give way to you?

No.. I've seen it happening and let the car go. My feet are locked in so
I wouldn't be able to kick ANY car - let alone one that was somehow
threatening me. I would be avoiding it.

Quoted message said:

It hurts more than I thought it would (although I only had
half a second to consider whether it was wise or not..) I think I might
revert back to my teenage riding habits, and use whatever surface is
safest
for me. I know it's not the right thing to do, and you'll probably give
me
[censored] for giving riders a bad name or whatever, but I'm sick of having
close
calls with cars.

No.. nothing to do with me. You've joined the alcos who've lost their
licences and "wrongways" riding in their black jeans and jackets with no
lights at night.

Quoted message said:

Many time I've avoided what would otherwise have resulted
in a collision. Today was just another example. I'd prefer to risk a
fine
and trust myself with my pedestrian-avoiding skills than ride legally and
trust drivers with their bike-avoiding skills (that which there appears
to
be little of..) My car-avoiding skills have kept be alive so far, but
I'm
not sure how many more chances I want to give them. Until I consider the
roads safe for riding, I'll use them as little as possible.

Pedestrians are much more unpredictable and harder-to-avoid than cars
and you are the same for drivers when you ride footpaths. You'll never
find the roads suitable. My only hope is that this is your last troll as
this group is for those with a love of cycling wishing to improve their
skills.
U R A G U M B Y
--
Mark Lee

What makes you think I don't have a love of cycling? And what makes you
think I don't want to improve my skills? And other than the fact that I
don't post here all that often, what makes you think I'm a troll? I
wouldn't be surprised if I ride more than half the regular posters..

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Rod said:

Obviously I am watching out for them. I often come to a complete stop if I
can't see into a drive way. It might not be efficient riding, but it's safe
and fun.

Stopping every 20ft is fun?

hippy

It shows his real love of cycling... and his commitment to improving his
skills. I'm sure it must FEEL like he's riding more than all the other
posters on this group.
--
Mark Lee

Rod said:

Anyone ever kicked a car that's moving through a roundabout after
failing to
give way to you? It hurts more than I thought it would (although I only
had
half a second to consider whether it was wise or not..) I think I might
revert back to my teenage riding habits, and use whatever surface is
safest
for me. I know it's not the right thing to do, and you'll probably give
me
[censored] for giving riders a bad name or whatever, but I'm sick of having
close
calls with cars. Many time I've avoided what would otherwise have
resulted
in a collision. Today was just another example. I'd prefer to risk a
fine
and trust myself with my pedestrian-avoiding skills than ride legally and
trust drivers with their bike-avoiding skills (that which there appears
to
be little of..) My car-avoiding skills have kept be alive so far, but
I'm
not sure how many more chances I want to give them. Until I consider the
roads safe for riding, I'll use them as little as possible.

I am a new rider.
I do not ride on busy streets, and will always take the back streets.
I will also ride on the footpath for short distances ie. 50 meters, at
almost walking speed, if the only other option is a busy street, in order
to get to a back street.
I will never ever ride my bike into the city.
I only use my bike to get to the nearby shops, and for riding in the park,
or where there is a bike path.
I always get off the bike when crossing a street, or walk my bike across
the pedestrian crossing at traffic lights.
Due to the above points, I've only ever had to cross a traffic light on
the bike once, and will never do so again.
Safety first for me, but then again, I am a recreational cyclist, and do
not rely on the bike as a primary means of transport.
I admire all the cyclists who brave it on the road, but in no way look
down upon other cyclists who fear for their lives and resort to the
footpath
when they think it is safe to do so.

Just as a matter of interest, has anyone ever gotten a fine for riding on
the
footpath? If you said you did it because you feared for your life, or that
you
were only doing it for a short distance to get to a back street, would the
police
still give you a fine? Or is it if you are caught on the footpath for
WHATEVER
reason, you instantly get fined?

Cheers!

Buck Rogers said:

I am a new rider.

Howdy 🙂

Quoted message said:

I will never ever ride my bike into the city.

Is that like Little Johnny's "never ever" with the GST? 🙂

Quoted message said:

Just as a matter of interest, has anyone ever gotten a fine for riding
on the footpath? If you said you did it because you feared for your life, or
that you were only doing it for a short distance to get to a back street, would
the police still give you a fine? Or is it if you are caught on the footpath for
WHATEVER reason, you instantly get fined?

Ha! You think cops give a rats [censored] about cyclists? The only time I've
seen bike busts is in the city with the cycle cops nabbing helmetless
riders, etc.

Someone I know was told to "get some lights" by a cop in a car and that
was it. People out in the 'burbs here ride around with no shoes, no
helmet, slab under one arm, half cut and the cops don't seem to care -
but then - I can still ride pretty straight when drunk.. 😉

hippy

btw I am the person who posted as Rod

Buck Rogers said:

I am a new rider.
I do not ride on busy streets, and will always take the back streets.
I will also ride on the footpath for short distances ie. 50 meters, at
almost walking speed, if the only other option is a busy street, in
order to get to a back street.
I will never ever ride my bike into the city.

Quoted message said:

Just as a matter of interest, has anyone ever gotten a fine for
riding on the
footpath? If you said you did it because you feared for your life, or
that you
were only doing it for a short distance to get to a back street,
would the police
still give you a fine? Or is it if you are caught on the footpath for
WHATEVER
reason, you instantly get fined?

Take the bus!

Theo

hippy said:

Someone I know was told to "get some lights" by a cop in a car and that
was it. People out in the 'burbs here ride around with no shoes, no
helmet, slab under one arm, half cut and the cops don't seem to care -
but then - I can still ride pretty straight when drunk.. 😉

hippy

yeah? probably your wonky path intersectin with your wonky perception 😄

PS do trackies carry a slab on their left shoulder for acclimatisatin for all that leanin over?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "John" == John <[email hidden]> writes:

John> Well I guess I should clarify things.. When I'm riding the
John> combination of road/footpath/bikepath etc it is usually to get
John> me to an off road area (Unless I am going to a friends etc..
John> and I catch transport to work). Rought trails are where I
John> have my fun, that is where I spend 90% of my riding time.
John> That is where my skills improve. Besides, even without this
John> off road riding I'm guessing that the quick stops, jumps over
John> obstacles, bunny hops off curbs, endos for fun etc are
John> improving my skills far more than if I had a road bike (I'm
John> guessing that's what you ride..)

Off road skills do not automatically translate to on road skills. In
fact they are totally different skill sets.

If I need to engage a ``quick stop'', a jump or a bunny hop in the
course of riding on the road then that is a failure on my part to
adequately assess the conditions of the road. I can't for the life of
me conceive of a road situation that would require an ``endo''.

Riding on the road is all about making rapid, predictable and smooth
progress. It's about making your intentions known to fellow road users
and according them the respect they deserve.

I've no doubt that your physical control of your bicycle exceeds mine,
just as I've no doubt that until your attitude to road riding changes
you will have problems.

Bluntly, you are the cycling equivalent of a hoon. Until you lose that
hoon mentality you will find the road an unforgiving place.

Just my opinion of course, the opinion of a 300km / week road commuter
who's had zero incidents in the last 15 months or so.
--
Cheers
Euan

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 05:40:16 -0800, "Rod" <[email hidden]> wrote:

I use a mixture of cyclepaths, backstreets, taking up road lanes, dual
use pedestrian and cycle paths and a bits of riding on footpaths.

Things are a lot better than they used to be : there are more cycle
and dual use paths; the speed limits on suburban streets are down to
50km; and roundabouts are usually better than cross intersections with
giveway signs (where cars hardly ever used to give way).

I don't ride on major roads though, figure they are best left for
cars, buses and trucks and that alternative cyclepaths should be built
alone those routes.

dewatf.

Rod said:

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rod said:

Ray, you made a lot more sense than the first stupid reply.. Yes I agree
with what you say, but I've given the roads too many chances.. I want to
live. And live I will.

Until that LandCruiser backs over you..

Or the Commodore racing into the side street doesn't notice you crossing
the road because you're exiting from the footpath.

etc..

hippy
"Troll on!"

Obviously I am watching out for them. I often come to a complete stop if I
can't see into a drive way. It might not be efficient riding, but it's safe
and fun.

You might think that riding at a walking/jogging pace on the footpath is safe and fun, and you may be right - if you're not travelling far. Try riding 30-40km/h for a 20km commute on footpaths and you'll soon decide the road is a _much_ safer and more enjoyable option. You mightn't have to ride far, so you make your choice.

At any rate, you seem to be having bad experiences with motorists at a much greater rate than other posters in this group. Perhaps the footpath _is_ better for you.

Ritch.