Council Looks to Lower Speed Limit (Boston, Arlington: neighborhoods, live in, safety)

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by GeePee

yeah the car people are just fine.
It's the "bike" people.

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

I find this sentiment hilarious...given the sheer momentum (mass * velocity) advantage that motor vehicles have over bikes and pedestrians.

A moving bike can still do serious damage to a pedestrian. The carelessness of both car drivers and bicyclists are serious issues.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

A moving bike can still do serious damage to a pedestrian. The carelessness of both car drivers and bicyclists are serious issues.

Yep. Neither should be tolerated.

[msRB311]

I was once hit by a bike. I was ok luckily...it was in the longwood area in like 2002. I was crossing the st looking for cars (not bikes I guess) and once i thought I could cross I did and bam got hit by a woman on a bike. It was pretty shocking...she didn't seem very apologetic either. She didn't fall or anything and just kept going. Cars have more an ability to slam on brakes than someone on a bike does. Bikers need to be on the lookout for pedestrians and be cautious in populated areas.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

A moving bike can still do serious damage to a pedestrian. The carelessness of both car drivers and bicyclists are serious issues.

You're right. But in Boston I think a bigger problem are the motorized bikes. They just blow through traffic signals like they don't exist. And the ride in the bike lanes where they do not belong.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Cars have more an ability to slam on brakes than someone on a bike does.

I hope you don't have to use your brain for work.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by GeePee

I hope you don't have to use your brain for work.

Lol. As someone who has done a ton of both bike riding and car driving in this town I can say hands down I've experienced more road rage from car drivers while riding a bike when I was doing absolutely nothing wrong. I've been hit by cars at least 5 times while riding a bike, but have never been hit by a bike. I rarely have issues with bikes while driving my car through Boston. The people that have the most issues with bikes are also the people who falsely believe their right to the streets trumps the bike riders rights to be in the road. They're wrong and entitled, and their road rage is far more dangerous than any threat posed by bicycles. They are people who think they own the roads and that bike riders are second class on the roadways. Read the laws people and get over yourselves.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by GeePee

I hope you don't have to use your brain for work.

You're disgusting. Keep on thinking everything you say is the right thing in your stupid world.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

A moving bike can still do serious damage to a pedestrian. The carelessness of both car drivers and bicyclists are serious issues.

Yes bikers can be complete a holes. They think they're doing a favor by biking in the first place so they're often on some ego mania power trip where everyone should get out of their way. Not all but they're out there. They want special treatment because they chose to ride a bike. Or maybe they have OUIs and that's their only choice.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Yes bikers can be complete a holes. They think they're doing a favor by biking in the first place so they're often on some ego mania power trip where everyone should get out of their way. Not all but they're out there. They want special treatment because they chose to ride a bike. Or maybe they have OUIs and that's their only choice.

No, they are people who commute to work so they don't have to pay for parking and people who simply want to stay fit and get the benefits of both, and they are the numerous people living in the city who don't own cars and use bikes to get around. They are students. They are also visitors who tour the city on bikes. People behind the wheels of cars with your generally resentful attitude toward bicyclists are the bigger problem than the occasional arrogant bike rider. This isn't the "bike messenger" days of the 90's. People do sometimes get hit by bikes but it doesn't happen very often and it often happens when the pedestrian steps into the street without looking or without being in crosswalk. I don't think you have much recent experience traversing the city. All that said, I'm not opposed to enforcing m/v laws as they apply to bikes in the city but don't expect BPD to be spending a significant chunk of time on it unless it's egregious.

[msRB311]

There are many different types of folks who drive cars just as there are many different folks who ride bikes. Lots of different personalities.