It's MY Road TOO

<rant>
To the two (2) different SUV loads of assholes who felt they had the right to tell me where I could ride my bike, I invite you to Fuck OFF. No seriously. So very sorry that both of you had to wait for 15 whole seconds behind me in MY lane while you waited for the NEXT LANE OVER to clear enough for you go freaking go around. Oh my GOD, you must have both been in such a terrible hurry.

Asshole Group 1: Do not ride up 3 or 4 feet from my back tire for two or three minutes in order to harass me because YOU think I should be riding on the sidewalk. Then when you are STUCK there because other cars have decided to go on past you, do not honk your horn at me as if you expect that I should just pull over and get off my bike for your pleasure. Btw, the Dominos Driver who came along behind you cheered me for flipping you off for your rude and ignorant behavior. Buddy let me tell you that I didn't spend half a grand on my bike to destroy it riding through tree branches and over cracked pavement and potholes on the sidewalk. You and your pal there need to read up on the traffic laws before you start honking at a cyclist. That is one of the questions on the driving test you probably barely passed. You're lucky you didn't get that question. I wasn't going fast enough for you? Sorry, my pistons are calves and thighs, and I challenge you to keep up with me for any length of time on your own bikes, (probably some of those little boys' bmx models that I see guys like you riding all the time. The ones with scratched up frames that are so small that you ride with your knees practically hitting your chins. You guys don't even know how much you look like circus clowns folded up on those things. You would not cruise along at 20 mph) Oh btw? The speed limit through there was 25. That's the maximum, not the minimum. I'm not required to go 25, but that doesn't mean I can't. Just keep that in mind. So terribly sorry I didn't get my foot clipped back to my pedal fast enough to do the jack rabbit start you expected of me at that light, though I challenge you to do any better.

Asshole Group 2: You DEMANDED LOUDLY and pointed violently at the bike path to my right as if you felt that its existence somehow REQUIRED me to use it even if it is not going where I am. So I guess you expected me to get off my bike when my road journey brought me within sight it, PICK IT UP AND CARRY IT over the curb for your pleasure, through the grass and trees, and then get back on and ride the 1500 or so feet until the place where I would be TURNING off the road and away from the bike path. Then dismount again, carry my bike back to the road, walk it across the street and then once I was in the parking lot, I could get back on if I wanted? Is that your plan? Lady, let me tell you something. When I am riding my bike, my feet are ATTACHED to my pedals with SPD Cleats. While you were flapping your underarm FLAB at me, I was working my way up a hill at 13 miles per hour. I challenge you to ride up that hill at all, or maintain 13 miles per hour at ANY time on ANY bike for ANY length of time. While you were so distracted by my horrible presence on the ROAD *gasp* and refusal to use the poorly repaired, insect ridden bike path (which was not going where I was) you nearly ran yourself off the road. I was on my bike running errands, and planning to stop at that BK half a block up for a Whopper Junior on my way home. Meanwhile your 400 plus pound self was in a large ill maintained SUV that probably gets 15 miles per gallon at best, (probably heading to McD's to supersize it) probably driving fewer miles than I have ridden on my bike today as I ran my errands. I was in this lane all the way from Main street. You can't tell me that you didn't see me here so you could change lanes and go around like all the other cars did until the last minute. Don't presume to demand I ride somewhere else.

You people ought to be used to seeing me on our roads. I only ride at least every other day and sometimes every day. Particularly I ride that strip of Kauffman, because it is the way from my house, to most of the places I go in the evening after work, (all destinations that the bike path will not get me close to btw before I would have to be on the road anyway.) Please educate yourselves. In most cities it is not only unsafe, but illegal for me to ride on the sidewalk. In our city, it would be impossible to dodge the trees, potholes and broken concrete along the strip where you demanded that I be relegated there. The road is bad enough through that stretch with the broken pavement at the edge. The center of the lane isn't that much better. However it is my road too, and I will ride on it.

Here's an excerpt from Digest of Ohio Bicycle Traffic Laws, By the Ohio Bicycle Federation:

"Riding on sidewalks or multi-use "bike paths" is moderately safe only if done at slow speeds and extremely carefully. Riding on paths is popular for recreation but provides only limited utility for transportation."

I'll note that some bike paths are better than others. Ours here in Fairborn is poorly maintained at best, has several places where the pavement is severely cracked and has lifted and shifted. Also in the evening the number of bugs I am required to eat on that path is off the scale. Not to mention that it only covers a few short miles along Kauffman, and peters out before it gets into town, and also fails to connect with any of the major pathways in Dayton proper. Hopefully it will eventually connect at least with the Ohio Bike Route 2 at Eastwood's Creekside Trail. I understand that's the plan, and the nice bridge and tunnel they built to take it across the rail and State Route 444 is a nice addition. Now if we could just get a run down along Springfield street to Eastwood we'd be connected.

also according to Ohio Revised code:

"§ 4511.55. Operating bicycles and motorcycles on roadway.
(A) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

(B) Persons riding bicycles or motorcycles upon a roadway shall ride not more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or motorcycles.

(C) This section does not require a person operating a bicycle to ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. Conditions that may require riding away from the edge of the roadway include when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it otherwise is unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

You'll notice that this entire section affords me the same rights to be on MY road as you and your SUV has. I am not required to ride on the sidewalk (in fact it is generally dangerous and often impossible.) Also, I am not required to ride in the gutter, which includes broken pavement and often rain sewers with grates that can capture and destroy my wheels, throw me off my vehicle and generally equates to bad news all around. I'm entitled to the entire lane if I need it, and you are required to pass me in the same manner you would any other vehicle: by changing lanes and going around politely with plenty of room to spare. Passing less than two feet from me is not acceptable. Your car should never be close enough that I could reach out and touch you.
</rant>

Now, for those of you who are not assholes, just be careful of cyclists. Don't get mad because you have to share the road. Just share it, make sure you are alert, and make sure you know the laws.

<rantlet>One last thing. Be aware that if a cycle is preparing to cross a rail that goes across the road at a diagonal, we will need to change direction slightly in order to cross those rails as close to perpendicular s possible. This avoids a cycle getting a tire wedged between the rail and the frog. Just be aware of that possibility if you are behind or near a bicycle and approaching a rail crossing. I get these guys all the time that when I swing to the right before the rail so I can cross it diagonally, by aiming towards the left of my lane, they seem to think that I'm just inviting them to zoom by me in my lane. NO I am not... They are going to kill someone one of these days.</rantlet>