Cyclists want more than bike lanes

If you build it, they will ride, or so the theory goes.

As San Diego begins on a major push to get nearly one in five commuters to ride a bike to work, government plans have called for significant spending on new bike lanes, safer infrastructure, and smooth roads absent of cracks and potholes to lure workers out of their cars and onto two wheels.

But these investments, totaling $312 million from San Diego’s Bicycle Master Plan, and approximately $500 million from a new proposal from the San Diego Association of Governments, are only a part of what it will take to get more people to ride their bike to work, say both seasoned and occasional riders.

Here's a story about a tiny minority of the US population, bicyclists, who are demanding extra privileges. Regressive leftists in California would like like to turn the area into the bicycle kingdom, like 1985 Beijing. They want to throw over 800 million dollars of taxpayer money to fix roads for bicyclists. When us drivers, the majority, would like them to fix the roads, they say there's no money, piss off.

Bikes are crucial for cities that are relying on alternative transportation to cut carbon emission levels. The City of San Diego’s climate action plan depends on six percent of commuters who live within a half-mile of a mass transit stop to take a bike to work by 2020, up from 1.3 percent today. By 2035, the number must grow to 18 percent of commuters. More than a few skeptics have questioned whether that goal can be reached.

In California, we have climate action plans because of a Global Warming law passed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. We have goals to reach regarding emissions cuts and they want people out of their cars. One in five must ride a bike to work by 2035 or the sky will fall according to them.

Now on to the treat. They interview some bicyclists, and these people sure do feel entitled. They interview this lady named Martyna Lapinskaite. She rides her bike 5 miles to work. Here's what she has to say.

“It’s not only about bikers, but also about people who drive cars. They should accept that bikes are not just about fun, like going to the beach with a beach cruiser, but a transportation option. People need to be aware of that,” she said.

“I’m the only one who bikes to work, and I’m encouraging people,” Lapinskaite said. If there were bike lockers or a place to shower after a long commute there might be more riders, she said.

Here's what some fellow, Andy Hanshaw, the executive director of the San Diego Bike Coalition, had to say.

“There should be incentives for people who ride. There are parking spaces for people who drive, there should be secure indoor accommodations for people who come by bike,”

“It’s going to take a commitment financially, politically to really commit to the infrastructure needs for a cyclist to feel safe enough to commute more,” he said.

They also speak to other people in the article like a dummy that rides her bicycle to work, taking 50 minutes, when the car is vastly superior and faster. Anyways, read the whole article if you think you can stomach it. And some whiner, talking about people in cars hate people on bicycles by default. We can't stand people on bicycles slowing use down on the roads built for cars.

These people on the left that want to stuff us in stack and packs and put us on bicycles drive me nuts. If you want to ride your bicycle to work, fine, wear a helmet and stay out of my way. Then we will have no issue.

Do not, force me out of my car, and turn my roads into bicycle lanes. That is not progress. That is absurdity. And why in the hell should employers have to pay to install showers because you stink after riding your bicycle to work? And indoor bicycle lockers too? I will tell you what, if I was an employer looking for a new hire, and 2 applicants had the same qualifications, but one had a bicycle and one had a car. I would be hiring they one with the car all day long.

San Diego Tribune

The minute they pay insurance like everyone else, the minute they buy license plates like everyone else, the minute they pay the same excise taxes on their bicycle tires and consumables like everyone else, the minute they are subject to the same rules and regulations, laws and enforcement (speed limits, rules of the road, etc), as everyone else...then I'm fine with having a discussion on this matter.

Until then...Get the F# off the road!!

a reply to: harvestdog

I had an idea the other day to create a city that used a combination of busses with subways to move people about the area. But the catch is that NO PERSONAL VEHICLES WHAT SO EVER ARE BANNED. The whole thing would run on the city transit system. And deliveries of huge items would be delivered, but every home would already have the biggest television you could buy with cable hook ups and satellites connections as well as internet service. Thus creating a better version of Korea. One where no one has to steal, but still has to use money to purchase goods and services.

I come from a bike city, Copenhagen, and i see nothing that is to demanding at all.

Almost half the commuters in Copenhagen are bicyclist, there are bicycle lanes everywhere here, we are talking hundred of thousands of cyclist.

It is very typical of people in cars to hate on bicyclist for various reason, but the traffic works perfectly and smooth as butter.

There are work places with own indoor parking spots for bicycles and shower for the sweaty ones.

I have to admit. Bikes annoy me when they're riding in the road, slowing traffic and causing backups. It's dangerous, as several cars behind me can't see why I've had to slow to a crawl because a bike is riding in the middle of the road and won't move over.

Eventually someone gets really pissed and tries to zoom up and around me, and potentially hit the person on the bike.

Bikes apparently have the right-of-way and are allowed on the streets/roads -- which is stupid since they can't go 35 MPH as the posted speed limit sign (and traffic) flows.

I like the idea of bike lanes to keep bikes out of the streets and to keep them from obstructing vehicle traffic.

a reply to: harvestdog


The simple fact of the matter is, as a country, we drive entirely too much.

I'm not certain that we can necessarily become independent of vehicles, as most typically live too far from work to ride in. I myself live about 25 miles from my office.

I agree with Flyingclaydisk. I feel that everyone should have insurance for such a thing.


But, for the sake of reducing pollution, and the overall health of the populace, I do believe this is a good thing.

And then there's the smug superiority that some bike riders have. They look down their noses at people in cars, get ultra defensive and militant when you point out how much of a hazard they are being.

Look, I'm all for exercise and a green Earth -- really! I am!

But don't be a jerk. Is it hard to not be a jerk?

Look, I get that you think you're super awesome and special because you have the same racing jersey as Lance Armstrong or whatever -- but don't talk down to me or get in my face because I don't share your love for spokes and funny bike helmets.

" If I was an employer looking for a new hire, and 2 applicants had the same qualifications, but one had a bicycle and one had a car. I would be hiring they one with the car all day long.


My work mates drive in their cars to work, some literally 15 minutes walk from their homes to the place off work.

I cycle from my home it takes 30/40 minutes its return trip off about 10 Miles, Diabetes free and normal BP for a man off my age.

The Car drivers have a range off medical problems from Diabetes through to high blood pressure and are very unproductive due to poor fitness levels Imo,



Fit heathy people make more productive employees

And I'm 52 years off age

And still going strong

Fox.

I am an avid bicyclist, a wee bit (way) outta shape at the moment because of being laid up with an illness over this last fall and winter.

I had a job in Florida that was 33 miles one way from my home and lost my drivers license and was forced to ride my bicycle to work or lose my job.

I rode that bike to and from work for 5 years until I got laid off in 2008.

I look at people who drive so much as they do with almost "pity", and have many relatives who are almost dead or dead and gone because of their habit of sitting and doing absolutely nothing for hours on end, driving here and there for no good reason.

Driving makes you weak and controllable and dependent on others to get anywhere.

Doing things yourself by your own sweat and effort sets you free and makes you stronger.

Cycling is an inherently dangerous activity only because of all of those retards driving their cars, who would not be able to procure a license to walk if they were required to pass a test to get one.

Go ahead and get pissed, Cage Monkeys seem to be really good at being pissed, must be the something to do with doing nothing while trying to get somewhere to do something, the "hurry dance".

I work in a small Midwestern city and just watched them spend $3.2 million adding a bike lane spanning 17 blocks downtown. They took out one driving lane and built a six foot median between the car lanes and the bike lanes. They put in special stop lights for bikers, etc. After all of this, I have seen 3 bikers on the road since it opened. The city in all of its wisdom now thinks the city needs to do more of this.

Oh, and that insurance I referred to should be BOTH liability insurance as well as comprehensive collision. Bicycles shouldn't get a pass in an accident investigation either, they should be investigated in exactly the same manner as vehicle accidents. Cause a car accident, even if you're not involved, and you pay (or your insurance does).

Want everyone else to eat apples, well, you better hope you like apples too!!!!

This has gotten beyond STOOPID!

Note: a person can't even honk at these arrogant bastages hogging the road here without risking a serious citation! And now they all carry cameras just daring some motorist to do something while they ride 2-3 abreast down the middle of the roadway. It's like they think they're in a protected class...wait, they ARE in a protected class!!

a reply to: harvestdog
So nations like the netherlands, for example, and the health and wellness of their people, the cleaner air of their environments, even in the cities, must be completely wrong and leftists witches` brew then?

And nobody here in europe is forbidden to drive his car, ask us germans! Or are you allowed to drive as fast as us???
But nevertheless, all people are cyclists here from time to time, in their free time, on weekends, with their kids.

We do it not because we are all communists, but because we don´t want to become fat, unhealthy, unfit people, and it works. Along with other things, like not eating every garbage you didn´t cook for yourself, and not at least not to each much more than one needs, just because it´s there and cheap. We, sometimes, think first then act.

In an european city, i am three times faster with a bike than one with it´s car, i don´t have to fight and pay for parking lots, don´t have to pay for parking tickets, i am not that frustrated because i am standing for "hours" in my car, while cyclists overtake me the whole time and arrive at home before my car reaches the next red traffic light.

What´s freaking leftist with thinking first and acting then, whats wrong with being not the egoistic destroyer of anything, including the own and the kids health and future, because of just being lazy?
Heil oil companies, or what?

If all that makes people leftists, puuuh, then there are more leftists and communists outside of the US, all over the world, than you ever could defeat, assimilate...

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Not all of us are "posers", which is what it is when they spend hundreds of dollars on fancy riding costumes and bicycles that are way more bike than they will ever need to impress their riding buddies.

a reply to: warpig69

Thank you, this is exactly what I am trying to get at. I could really care less if someone wants to ride their bicycle. My problem is governments using tax money to try to create a cultural shift. Like it's their job or something.

Same problem around here with public transit. God only knows how much they spent on brand new CNG bues, and these things drive around all day empty. Most Americans would rather have a car than a bicycle, it make you independent. You can do dozens of errands a day, instead of a couple. That is not progress.

We have a place like that' in Michigan Called Mackinaw Island... Or Horse$hit island for the initiated..

a reply to: GiulXainx

I find it amazing, the excuses people make to remain lazy and sickly and fat, and to even complain about having to pay for it by deflecting and spewing such horse# as they would take bikes seriously if they paid for all the crap we in our cars have to pay for....

Waaaaaaaaaaaa.

Same old crap I've always heard from cage monkeys, yet they kill each other more often than they kill cyclists.

Go ahead,use your cage to go run errands like we cyclists do when we have to.

Ride your bike more, feel better, whine less.

I ride a motorcycle.
I'm all for cyclists and support providing acceptable provisions.

That is...
As soon as the asshats in my area start following the same rules of the road
that apply to the rest of us.

My apologies to those out there whom DO abide by the laws dictated here in California.
In my neck of the woods, it seems only those on bikes costing under $1000 seem to show any
appreciation of said rules/laws.

Entitlement can suck it.

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
The minute they pay insurance like everyone else, the minute they buy license plates like everyone else, the minute they pay the same excise taxes on their bicycle tires and consumables like everyone else, the minute they are subject to the same rules and regulations, laws and enforcement (speed limits, rules of the road, etc), as everyone else...then I'm fine with having a discussion on this matter.

Until then...Get the F# off the road!!

I could not agree with this more. You are spot on. Bicyclists want equal treatment, pay to register your bike for road travel, pay some sort of tax like we do for every gallon of fuel, and lastly, obey the rules of the road. I can't tell you how many bicyclists I've seen that feel like things like stop signs and traffic signs do not apply to them.

While I like bike lanes here in Northern VA we have a good number of bike lanes. Problem comes when the bikers don't use them. We still have a good number that ride on the road when there is a bike path that leads the same direction 15' away from them and I'm not like they're riding around in an 25 mph zone they're in a 45 or higher zone. Which I'll also point out around here almost always has a path next to it.

I myself used to ride my bike to work everyday for couple years while I saved up for a car. But I would use the pathways half the time this cut my ride time down since I could move around lesser know areas. If I did have to get on a road I followed the rules of the road.

originally posted by: harvestdog
Here's a story about a tiny minority of the US population, bicyclists, who are demanding extra privileges. Regressive leftists in California would like like to turn the area into the bicycle kingdom, like 1985 Beijing. They want to throw over 800 million dollars of taxpayer money to fix roads for bicyclists. When us drivers, the majority, would like them to fix the roads, they say there's no money, piss off.

Both are a means to the same end. If they fixed the potholes anyhow, there would still be a ton of money going into those fixes, so it's not like they're only going to fix potholes or repave the areas of the road where just the bike lanes will be (at least, I assume that to be so).

Now on to the treat. They interview some bicyclists, and these people sure do feel entitled. They interview this lady named Martyna Lapinskaite. She rides her bike 5 miles to work. Here's what she has to say.

“It’s not only about bikers, but also about people who drive cars. They should accept that bikes are not just about fun, like going to the beach with a beach cruiser, but a transportation option. People need to be aware of that,” she said.

“I’m the only one who bikes to work, and I’m encouraging people,” Lapinskaite said. If there were bike lockers or a place to shower after a long commute there might be more riders, she said.

Show me this sense of entitlement...oh, do you mean the fact that bicycles are legal traffic on roadways? Yes, they are, and they have just as much right to be on the road as you do, so I'm failing to see the sense of entitlement, unless your feelings about being able to drive your car are also to be considered a sense of entitlement.

Here's what some fellow, Andy Hanshaw, the executive director of the San Diego Bike Coalition, had to say.

“There should be incentives for people who ride. There are parking spaces for people who drive, there should be secure indoor accommodations for people who come by bike,”

“It’s going to take a commitment financially, politically to really commit to the infrastructure needs for a cyclist to feel safe enough to commute more,” he said.

No, there is no need for indoor parking for bikes.

Here's a thought...make California a "must-issue" CCDW permit state and then cyclists might feel much safer. When I ride my bike (which isn't too often) for commuting purposes, I have my light little .380 in a holster on my chest strap of my backpack. While that's really an open-carry scenario, my point still stands.

These people on the left that want to stuff us in stack and packs and put us on bicycles drive me nuts. If you want to ride your bicycle to work, fine, wear a helmet and stay out of my way. Then we will have no issue.

Do not, force me out of my car, and turn my roads into bicycle lanes. That is not progress. That is absurdity. And why in the hell should employers have to pay to install showers because you stink after riding your bicycle to work? And indoor bicycle lockers too? I will tell you what, if I was an employer looking for a new hire, and 2 applicants had the same qualifications, but one had a bicycle and one had a car. I would be hiring they one with the car all day long.

While I agree with some of the absurdities of the proposals, you sure seem like a complete jackass when it comes to the issue of sharing "your roads" (they're all taxpayers' roads, BTW) with other forms of legal traffic. Maybe you should realize that, while you're berating people who are doing nothing illegal, maybe you should leave a little earlier so that you don't have to piss and moan about bike riders slowing you down.

You whine about these cyclists thinking they're the center of the world and that they have a sense of entitlement, but did you even read your post before uploading it? You sound exactly like what you're accusing these people of being. You bitch about the "problem" (bikes being on "your" roads and in "your" way), then bitch about the solutions. Do you have anything constructive to say on the matter?