AnonymousUpdate by an edhat reader
By chance I recorded a brief moment of the 3-block long bike outing on Saturday along State Street.
It was all very peaceful & there were smiles all around.
;
By an edhat reader
Did anyone else see the extremely large bicycle group downtown on Saturday afternoon?
There were hundreds of bicycles riding down State Street. It was pretty crowded on State and this made it much worse. Does anyone know what group this is? I heard they do it pretty frequently.
They were all over town. Not just downtown. It was reported that this group only does it once a year. It’s fine to ride your bike but these maniacs weren’t obeying any laws and put people in danger. So better
Was it the Fiesta cruiser group? Cycling is fun, but blowing stop signs on busy streets is a quick way to ouchy times.
yeah Sac, Fiesta cruisers. We were in it. Funny how some in town think it’s the first time ever! This ride has been happening since the early 90s as far as I recall.
Just like anything, there are always @-holes that mess things up for some. “Maniacs” ok SBMH, you sound like my grandmother who is 93.
Let me as you this, so a few bike riders didn’t stop or whatever….would you care to get some numbers on how many automobile drivers are out there in our city that also don’t adhere to traffic laws? I cycle to work every day and ride across town. I can tell you for certain that the number of people in cars committing moving violations pales compared to cyclists.
Yeah, moving violations in general is one thing, but flat out driving through red lights and or stop signs? I just don’t see cars doing that as often as bikes. Out in Goleta, on Cathedral Oaks, it’s a RARE occasion when I see cyclists (usually the spandex guys/gals) stop or even slow down for the stop signs out here.
Not saying it doesn’t happen or that all cyclists are bad, but it’s really a rare thing to witness cars blowing full speed through stop signs and lights.
It’s a thing here to hate on cyclists, starting back with Peter Sklar, who wasn’t too keen on them himself. The usual massive levels of hyperbole and double standards are easy to apply. I’ve put in ~1600 miles this year (mostly in lycra) and never blew through a signal or stop sign … not to say that there aren’t cyclists (mostly juveniles) who do, but they are far less of a danger on the road than drivers.
https://www.calbike.org/governor-newsom-vetoes-bill-to-improve-bike-safety/
“. CalBike is disappointed that Governor Newsom vetoed a bill that would make it legal for people on bikes to treat stop signs as yields.
Similar laws are on the books in 10 other states and have been proven to reduce collisions and improve conditions for bike riders. CalBike created a video to explain how the bicycle safety stop works, and more than 75 organizations across the state signed a letter supporting the bill.”
““We know from the example of other states that when riders are allowed to yield at stop signs, they choose safer streets and will spend less time in dangerous intersections. It’s time for California to live up to its values and start encouraging — not penalizing — smart riding in our state.”
In Delaware, a recent study found that collisions involving bicycles at intersections decreased by 23% after the state made the safety stop legal. The governor’s veto prevents California from joining a long list of states that have implemented the safety stop: Idaho, Delaware, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arkansas, Utah, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. None of those states have reported any safety problems after implementing this rule.”
MARCEL – it is at the intersection near my home, which I was talking about. I see it with my eyes and therefore make the conclusion that, since the majority of cyclists at that intersection do not stop, therefore it is a “RARE occasion” that they do stop. Why do you insist on arguing about something so easily verifiable? You don’t even know where I’m talking about.
You’re really something else LOL! Do you argue with the wall in your bathroom? I kind think you would….
The reason they run stops and reds is bec ause they use clip in cleated pedals, they put their bikes at the optimum seat height for pedaling which is not the optimum height for putting feet down to stop themselves politely, and the metal cleats and stiffness of their special shoes makes them like ice skates.
The bikes, shoes and lycra are outrageously expensive and its is a recreational activity populated almost exclusively by entitled white people. Their recreational activity is much much more important than you getting kids to school or you getting to the doctor or you getting food for dinner tonight for your family,, so get the F out of the way. Peasants
WHO CARES!
Nothing against biking as a good source of exercise or transportation, but can’t help but think when I see these large groups, dominating our streets that they pay no tax or user fee to do so.
Yep, many of the high tech, drag efficient, carbon fiber bikes cost in excess of $5K yet other than sales tax they pay nothing for at times causing havoc on our streets and roads.
This, despite tens of millions spent on bike lanes and paths.
You could argue bikers are a special interest group, voting block and are usually upwardly mobile financially. Not that this is a bad thing, but shouldn’t they be required to buy a license if they use public roads?
SBTX – the ‘carbon fiber’ group may be financially fine – but the vast majority of bikers, especially the wheelie bikes, are just regular people. I can only wonder how many governments pensioned jobs it would take to implement a bicycle license program. I can only imagine how messed up a Department of Bikes would be in this state. Not all infrastructure needs to break even or generate revenue.
Congrats this is the worst take I have ever seen on this website
Did anyone else see the extremely large automobile group downtown on Saturday afternoon?
There were hundreds of cars driving downtown. It was pretty crowded on State and this made it much worse. Does anyone know what group this is? I heard they do it pretty frequently.
🙂
Why they think that they can just take over on coming traffic, stop cars, blow through red lights, ride and block in coming lanes is a real disappointment. La Cumbre overpass was literally over run by them. They stopped traffic and it was nothing short of a riot scene until they passed. Even more disappointing is the lack of law enforcement that seems to entitle it.
Lighten up! To my delight, they rode by my house. It looked like a lot of fun. Everyone who’s upset by this needs to re-examine their priorities.
The only thing that could make this debate worse, is if…one was using an E-BIKE!!! Heads would be exploding!
It was great to see the organized bike ride/cruise. I’m trying to get on their mailing list, so my daughters and I can join. So Fun! Great to see!
The same things happen at Christmas when the Trolley Tours come through the town and neighborhoods slowing traffic and not obeying traffic laws. Bah humbug!
How many car lanes have we given up for bikes in a town that traffic is becoming a problem. Making bike lanes is not going to make people ride bikes. And yet the still ride de la vina I live there I see them all day flying down the street. They have their own lanes on other streets .time to evaluate these lanes and the use. If 5hey are not being used enough give us our lanes back please.
“Did anyone else see the extremely large Trolley group downtown on every December evening?
There were hundreds of Trolleys riding down State Street. It was pretty crowded on State and this made it much worse. Does anyone know what group this is? I heard they do it pretty frequently in December.”
I agree this is the silliest post I’ve seen in awhile. Do better edhat. Get off your computers. Go outside. Take a bike ride. You might find joy.
Last week I got caught on de la Vina behind two women biking, side by side, one riding ON the bike lane line. On and on we went, 10 blocks down until finally at Carrillo I stopped next to them and nicely said “When you ride side by side in the bike lane I can’t pass you and give the requisite 3′ gap.” They stared at me and said “Thank you” and that was that. A LONG line of cars had slowly crept along behind them. I know most people would have just buzzed past but I have a friend who has been clipped numerous times by cars on his bicycle so I obey that 3′ distance law. Tedious.
Too bad you had no opportunity in 10 blocks to switch lanes, traffic must’ve been bad. I’m glad you spoke to the bike riders!
” indeed there were more bicyclists there but they were holding back quite a ways from the intersection, presumably to wait for the next green”
Yes, that’s what we do.
“These generally are NOT Santa Barbara riders.”
False.