“What’s the other?”

“The Dutch.”

I’d be really surprised if the people on the Hate Cyclists website limited their hatred to cyclists. From some of the comments I’ve read there, the only thing worse in their mind than a cyclist is a Jewish cyclist…

Car drivers will creep over a speed bump at two-miles an hour without complaint… they will give a well-marked pothole or other obstruction a wide berth without a uttering a curse.

Is it really too much to ask that car drivers should give cyclists the same respect and consideration they routinely give to a pothole or speed bump?

Think about it…

People use sites such as this to service their perverse desires to breed hate. They will do this regardless of whether it is in the name of “anti-terror” (look up some of the nut cases on youtube who are starting their own little anti-terrorist camps) or “anti-immigration” or “anti-cyclist” or whatever.

I would like to clear one thing up for those of you blaming San Francisco for this hubbub: Streetsblog S.F. did NOT originate the opposition to the hate group, it is simply reporting on it.

Besides the fact that your comment #99 really does not address the issue at hand, there is something wrong with almost every sentence in your three paragraph comment. Let me explain:

“I fail to understand…” — Yes, I agree.

“I fail to understand why cyclists don’t see the danger they pose to themselves and to others on the road.” — In the case of motorized vehicles vs. bicycle vs. pedestrian vs. inanimate objects, the ultimate goal is to strike a harmonic balance between all players. To imply it’s all the cyclists’ fault is a very ignorant statement.

“Bike riders cannot do the speed limit…” — Depending on the street, bicycle and rider, actually they can. For example, on Valencia street, with a middle- to high-end road bike, an average commuting rider in good physical shape can hit 25-28mph with moderate effort. Of course, many riders cannot hit the speed limit, but I still do not see your point with this one.

“[Bike riders] are often hard to see…” — Yes, I agree.

“[Bike riders] many times do not follow traffic signs and signals” – Yes, I agree. Neither do motorists or pedestrians or sometimes inanimate objects. And your point is?

“[Bike riders] are a hazard.” — As are motorists on cell phones, motorists who do not check their blind spots before turning or changing lanes, pedestrians who do not look both ways before jaywalking, the F-line tracks on Market St, blind corners, etc. I still do not see your point.

“Across the U.S. there are hundreds of breathtaking parks, nature trails and out of the way places to ride.” — Yes, I agree. But *your* comment is not about riding nature trails, its about sharing the road. Please stay on topic.

“So why do you insist upon riding down the middle of a busy street, forcing people to swerve around you or down some widing road where drivers cannot see you?” — Insist? It’s the law. Here, this video from the SFBC and San Francisco Police Dept. will help explain: http://www.sfbike.org/?bikelaw_sfpd_video

“If a motorsist drove their cars on the sidewalk, they would be arrested.” — Yes, I agree

“Why is this not the other way around?” — Are you asking that if sidewalks drove on cars, would they be arrested? Well, I suppose so. There aren’t exactly laws against it though.

“People on rollerblades aren’t allowed to skate down the middle of a busy street.” — Actually they are, provided they are following the guidelines/rules in Section 7.2.13 of the Municiple Code regarding Non-Motorized User Propelled Vehicles (NUV).

“Why do you feel that cyclists deserve some sort of special exception?” — Exception to what exactly? Do you even know what you are talking about?

I feel like I’m either talking to Derek Zoolander or I’m on crazy pills.

My first point in short, and this applies to many comments on this article, stick to the issue at hand please. (Yes, I know I’m being hypocritical on this point since my comment is not on issue, but I felt someone had to respond to comment #99).

My second point in short, if you are not a cyclist and/or at least somewhat familiar with the rules of the road as they pertain to bicycles on the streets, then don’t comment at all until you do.

Across the U.S. there are hundreds of breathtaking parks, nature trails and out of the way places to ride. So why do you insist upon riding down the middle of a busy street, forcing people to swerve around you or down some widing road where drivers cannot see you?

If a motorsist drove their cars on the sidewalk, they would be arrested. Why is this not the other way around? People on rollerblades aren’t allowed to skate down the middle of a busy street. Why do you feel that cyclists deserve some sort of special exception?

Sad.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-prefer-to-ride-my-bike-in-the-street-so-deal-with-it-you-stupid-motorist/242980189798

Thank you…someone who bikes 200km to and from work every week during the summer months in montreal, and HATES cyclists weaving in and out of traffic, and riding on the road when half of it has already been changed into a DEDICATED BIKE PATH!

You know, if I didn’t work an hour away from my home, I might agree. Actually, if I didn’t live within say a ten mile radius of my home, I might agree. Anything more and it’s just not feasible to justify the added time it takes to commute.

As for the hostility toward cyclists, if anything, cyclists have MORE of a right to the road than cars. It is rare to find a choice that is objectively better, but clearly, cycling is better in almost every way than driving.

/unfortunately, cyclists are douchy about this fact: http://www.urinalgum.com/?p=226