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



On Mar 31, 7:33 pm, Tim McNamara <[email protected]> wrote:
> In article
> <f0a6b16e-d90e-410d-84c0-8e28a6986...@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>,
>
>  ComandanteBanana <[email protected]> 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? ;)
>
> I see you've changed your screen name but not your behavior.

I still remain Quixotic even though I changed my name.

>
> A trike is no more of a vehicle than a bicycle.  The trike riders I have
> met report that drivers give them more room on the road because they are
> an unusual veicle.  Drivers may assume that the rider is infirm in some
> way, too.

That makes sense. Sort of what I expected. Still the vehicle code
calls all bicycles "vehicles," so we all are a family --though not
necessarily happy.
 
ComandanteBanana 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? ;)

Did I miss something? You seem to be comparing a vehicle made for two people
(tandem) with a vehicle made or one person (trike).

If you have a road bike among the bikes in your collection, you won't find
the road tandem different in terms of riding in traffic.

In neither case is any funeral planning needed.
 

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

The whole problem here is that a trike takes up much more road space
and it makes it more difficult for another wide vehicle (an
automobile) to pass, basically requiring the cars to slow down from
what you said is 45 mph to probably less than 18 mph until there is no
one in the opposing lane so they may pass safely. If the road is as
busy as you say it will be very inconvenient for the faster traffic
and they will get mad at you. I doubt they will try to kill you.
However, on a tandem you are very narrow and no one has to change
lanes to pass, and you could potentially travel much faster being
lighter with twice the power of the tricycle.

I would go with the tandem and travel that road with reckless abandon.

Ted
 
On Mar 31, 8:10 pm, "ZBicyclist" <[email protected]> wrote:
> ComandanteBanana 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? ;)
>
> Did I miss something? You seem to be comparing a vehicle made for two people
> (tandem) with a vehicle made or one person (trike).
>
> If you have a road bike among the bikes in your collection, you won't find
> the road tandem different in terms of riding in traffic.
>
> In neither case is any funeral planning needed.

No, I don't have a road, but I have a racy folding bike. The tandem
would have been nice though so my girlfriend is not left behind. She's
intimidated easily into the sidewalk too, but I hope my bravery would
inspire her.... ;)
 
On Apr 1, 12:11 am, Ted <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals? ;)
>
> The whole problem here is that a trike takes up much more road space
> and it makes it more difficult for another wide vehicle (an
> automobile) to pass, basically requiring the cars to slow down from
> what you said is 45 mph to probably less than 18 mph until there is no
> one in the opposing lane so they may pass safely.  If the road is as
> busy as you say it will be very inconvenient for the faster traffic
> and they will get mad at you.  I doubt they will try to kill you.
> However, on a tandem you are very narrow and no one has to change
> lanes to pass, and you could potentially travel much faster being
> lighter with twice the power of the tricycle.
>
> I would go with the tandem and travel that road with reckless abandon.
>
> Ted

"Reckless abandon"... it sounds to me like, "Caesar, those who are
going to die you". They really were tough back then.

Anyway, the speed differential in itself is not the problem. It's the
lack of LANE DISCIPLINE. You find people racing on the right lane,
where the speed should not be any higher than 20MPH --if we are to
have bikes present. Ah, it's also the cell phone and oversized SUVs.

You must be a tough gladiator to handle all of the above.
 
On Apr 1, 8:31 am, ComandanteBanana <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Apr 1, 12:11 am, Ted <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > > > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > > > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals? ;)
>
> > The whole problem here is that a trike takes up much more road space
> > and it makes it more difficult for another wide vehicle (an
> > automobile) to pass, basically requiring the cars to slow down from
> > what you said is 45 mph to probably less than 18 mph until there is no
> > one in the opposing lane so they may pass safely.  If the road is as
> > busy as you say it will be very inconvenient for the faster traffic
> > and they will get mad at you.  I doubt they will try to kill you.
> > However, on a tandem you are very narrow and no one has to change
> > lanes to pass, and you could potentially travel much faster being
> > lighter with twice the power of the tricycle.
>
> > I would go with the tandem and travel that road with reckless abandon.
>
> > Ted
>
> "Reckless abandon"... it sounds to me like, "Caesar, those who are
> going to die you". They really were tough back then.
>
> Anyway, the speed differential in itself is not the problem. It's the
> lack of LANE DISCIPLINE. You find people racing on the right lane,
> where the speed should not be any higher than 20MPH --if we are to
> have bikes present. Ah, it's also the cell phone and oversized SUVs.
>
> You must be a tough gladiator to handle all of the above.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

CORRECTION:
"Caesar, those who are going to die, SALUTE you"
 
On Mar 31, 9:52 pm, "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> > WHY THE BANANA REVOLUTION?http://webspawner.com/users/bananarevolution
>
> Drivers don't hate cyclists. But Americans are all cowardly bullies
> who love to pick on those weaker and when they're in a car they are
> bigger and stronger than any cyclist.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

That has an element of truth, but I think the bullies only make up a
minority among the cowards.
 
On Apr 1, 1:11 pm, Ted <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals? ;)
>
> The whole problem here is that a trike takes up much more road space
> and it makes it more difficult for another wide vehicle (an
> automobile) to pass, basically requiring the cars to slow down from
> what you said is 45 mph to probably less than 18 mph until there is no
> one in the opposing lane so they may pass safely.

A tricycle is typically about 30 inches wide, which is almost exactly
the width of my elbows in a fairly normal riding posture (I just
measured roughly).

James
 
On Apr 1, 10:01 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> On Apr 1, 1:11 pm, Ted <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > > What's your thought, I'd be safer in the trike than on the road
> > > > tandem, or should I start planning my funerals? ;)
>
> > The whole problem here is that a trike takes up much more road space
> > and it makes it more difficult for another wide vehicle (an
> > automobile) to pass, basically requiring the cars to slow down from
> > what you said is 45 mph to probably less than 18 mph until there is no
> > one in the opposing lane so they may pass safely.
>
> A tricycle is typically about 30 inches wide, which is almost exactly
> the width of my elbows in a fairly normal riding posture (I just
> measured roughly).
>
> James

Perhaps this is better for a gladiator...

http://www.squidoo.com/triton

But sitting lower would be a greater problem for visibility.
 
ComandanteBanana schrieb:

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

If you are thinking about road traffic as war, you are definitely wrong
on public highways.
 
ComandanteBanana schrieb:

> 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.

You should definitely consider getting laws against phone usage while
driving over there.
 
Tim McNamara schrieb:
> A trike is no more of a vehicle than a bicycle.

ACK.

A trike is no less a vehicle than a bicycle.
 
On Apr 1, 11:19 am, Jens Müller <[email protected]> wrote:
> ComandanteBanana schrieb:
>
> > Yeah, but if I'm riding a bike in traffic, I'm giving my back to the
> > enemy...
>
> If you are thinking about road traffic as war, you are definitely wrong
> on public highways.

I see people getting either intimidated by it, or getting killed by
it.

A car is a weapon.
 
>>>You should definitely consider getting laws against phone usage while
>>>driving over there.<<<<

We've got them. They cost us millions of dollars and years of debate to
implement. Now the drivers ignore them and the police don't enforce them.
 
On Apr 1, 1:28 pm, "Papa Tom" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>You should definitely consider getting laws against phone usage while
> >>>driving over there.<<<<
>
> We've got them. They cost us millions of dollars and years of debate to
> implement. Now the drivers ignore them and the police don't enforce them.

I'm sorry to say, but everything is falling apart so much that I feel
I live in a Banana Republic!

Well, I've put together some signs of Banana Republic that seem
evident...

1- CORRUPT POLITICS (Do I need to elaborate?)

2- GATED COMMUNITIES (Crime outside forces those that can afford to
live behind gates and security guards)

3- CHAOTIC TRAFFIC (No, it's not like Germany; it's more like Mexico
City or Caracas)

4- LITTERING (Hey, who cares about littering anymore? Someone will
pick up after me...)

5- RELIANCE ON OLD PEOPLE (They are the ones who vote, usually about
issues that have more to do with quality of life)

6- SCAPEGOATING FOREIGN TYRANTS (You know who they are, right?)

7- DISFRANCHISEMENT OF THE POOR AND THE YOUNG (They feel ignored and
don't vote)

8- TOLERANCE OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR (Noisy parks, beaches, etc, with
the notorious absence of signs that call for proper behavior)

9- MINDING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES (Elections based on homosexuals or
abortion, not constructive issues)

10- BIG HOMELESS PROBLEM (They are everywhere, and sometimes they are
dirty and dangerous)

11- LACK OF BIKE FACILITIES (Yes, a city that is hostile toward those
who care for a better planet, qualifies for the Banana Republic
title)
 
>>>>I'm sorry to say, but everything is falling apart so much that I feel I
>>>>live in a Banana Republic!<<<

I thought Banana Republic was an overpriced clothing store that sells
garments made by slave labor in third world countries?
 
On Apr 1, 4:14 pm, "Papa Tom" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>>I'm sorry to say, but everything is falling apart so much that I feel I
> >>>>live in a Banana Republic!<<<
>
> I thought Banana Republic was an overpriced clothing store that sells
> garments made by slave labor in third world countries?

You are right about them about being overpriced. That's why I created
"Banana Revolution Gear" line of clothing. And they deliver a message
too...

http://webspawner.com/users/bananarevolution
 
ComandanteBanana schrieb:

> 4- LITTERING (Hey, who cares about littering anymore? Someone will
> pick up after me...)

Here, some Neoliberals say: Well, that's creating jobs for people to
pick up the stuff.

> 5- RELIANCE ON OLD PEOPLE (They are the ones who vote, usually about
> issues that have more to do with quality of life)

Here, much more than 50% of the voters are people who get money from the
state ... The welfare republic ...

>
> 8- TOLERANCE OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR (Noisy parks, beaches, etc, with
> the notorious absence of signs that call for proper behavior)

What exactly is "proper behavior"?


> 9- MINDING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES (Elections based on homosexuals or
> abortion, not constructive issues)

Well, one might consider that "disruptive behavior"? Where to start,
where to end?

> 11- LACK OF BIKE FACILITIES (Yes, a city that is hostile toward those
> who care for a better planet, qualifies for the Banana Republic
> title)

Bicycle parking facilities? Well, that might be the case. Facilities for
moving bicycle traffic? Here, there are much too many of them ...
 
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