Comments on: Toronto Downtown Cycling FAQ http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355 Mike Hoye's weblog Wed, 16 May 2012 00:44:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: B http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355&cpage=1#comment-7052 B Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:55:10 +0000 http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355#comment-7052 Regarding laws: since they do nothing to keep us safe on the road and waste energy, why obey them? They’re for cars. Regarding laws: since they do nothing to keep us safe on the road and waste energy, why obey them? They’re for cars.

]]> By: Darcy http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355&cpage=1#comment-7042 Darcy Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:24:27 +0000 http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355#comment-7042 What you are describing is the application of rules of the sea on land. The most manoeuverable yields to the least maneouverable - so, motor boats to sail boats, but sail boats to paddle boats. And this goes if it is an ocean liner and a dinghy. Everybody should have lights so they can be seen and a noisemaker so they can be heard (whistle or horn for boats). Then, you're on your own to work out what make sense and will keep you alive. Personally, I like my bike path. I prefer not to have life or death struggles until after I get to work. What you are describing is the application of rules of the sea on land. The most manoeuverable yields to the least maneouverable – so, motor boats to sail boats, but sail boats to paddle boats. And this goes if it is an ocean liner and a dinghy. Everybody should have lights so they can be seen and a noisemaker so they can be heard (whistle or horn for boats). Then, you’re on your own to work out what make sense and will keep you alive.

Personally, I like my bike path. I prefer not to have life or death struggles until after I get to work.

]]> By: Mark http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355&cpage=1#comment-6998 Mark Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:06:26 +0000 http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355#comment-6998 You just described biking conditions in DC. I assume full responsibility for running red lights and stop signs, though. You just described biking conditions in DC. I assume full responsibility for running red lights and stop signs, though.

]]> By: Mike Beltzner http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355&cpage=1#comment-6976 Mike Beltzner Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:48:49 +0000 http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355#comment-6976 @mhoye - amen; you can also get way better visibility around corners on a bicycle, making rolling stops much much safer. I obey the laws of traffic when there is other traffic around. And of course I yield to pedestrians because they are an order less mobile than I am. But if a car's coming up to a stop sign that I'm coming up to, I make some pretty clear eye contact that says "I'm not gonna full out stop here, you understand?" @mhoye – amen; you can also get way better visibility around corners on a bicycle, making rolling stops much much safer. I obey the laws of traffic when there is other traffic around. And of course I yield to pedestrians because they are an order less mobile than I am.

But if a car’s coming up to a stop sign that I’m coming up to, I make some pretty clear eye contact that says “I’m not gonna full out stop here, you understand?”

]]> By: Mike Beltzner http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355&cpage=1#comment-6975 Mike Beltzner Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:45:41 +0000 http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355#comment-6975 Another thing that I think needs to go into this guide: // Can I bike anywhere? Yes, of course. But that doesn't mean that you should bike anywhere. Be strategic. Avenue Road? That's not for bicycles, really. There are perfectly fine roads without cars to either side of it, punctuated by parks and one-way stretches that are fantastic for ensuring that cars are dissuaded from being in your way. Another thing that I think needs to go into this guide:

// Can I bike anywhere?

Yes, of course. But that doesn’t mean that you should bike anywhere. Be strategic. Avenue Road? That’s not for bicycles, really. There are perfectly fine roads without cars to either side of it, punctuated by parks and one-way stretches that are fantastic for ensuring that cars are dissuaded from being in your way.

]]> By: mhoye http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355&cpage=1#comment-6974 mhoye Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:15:11 +0000 http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355#comment-6974 That's too bad, because I am 100% that guy. I am in-and-out-of-traffic guy, rolling stop guy, that's me, and it's entirely because I'm driving around fifteen pounds of bike powered by myself, and not two or three thousand pounds of metal-plated vehicle powered by gasoline. Which is all to say, you should be the one being extra-careful around me, not the other way around. That’s too bad, because I am 100% that guy. I am in-and-out-of-traffic guy, rolling stop guy, that’s me, and it’s entirely because I’m driving around fifteen pounds of bike powered by myself, and not two or three thousand pounds of metal-plated vehicle powered by gasoline.

Which is all to say, you should be the one being extra-careful around me, not the other way around.

]]> By: Guillaume http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355&cpage=1#comment-6973 Guillaume Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:10:40 +0000 http://exple.tive.org/blarg/?p=2355#comment-6973 As long as you don't run red lights and stop signs, and generally ignore the rules of the road, I have no problem with a cyclist. It's those that act like idiots that I can't stand. As long as you don’t run red lights and stop signs, and generally ignore the rules of the road, I have no problem with a cyclist. It’s those that act like idiots that I can’t stand.

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