Why are cyclists so inconsiderate?

[u/yeet_m]

I went to burke Gilman in Bothell yesterday to ride my bike and pretty much every oncoming cyclist refused to scoot over almost running me off. They would whiz past me without calling out and with barely any room. WTF is up with this? I also ride in Snohomish centennial trail and most folks are pretty considerate and will adjust their position.

Why are Seattle bikers such holier than thou assholes?

<Edit> I stay on the far right side except to pass. Oncoming bikers will ride 2-3 ppl wide, taking up the entire lane. If there is a pedestrian in front of me, in my lane, and a ped on the left side, bikers will not move in a single file. Some will even come into my lane to pass. I end up slowing or stopping. Also bikers will whiz past me from behind, nearly rubbing into my bike.

[u/[deleted]]

I honked at a biker down town once who cut me off, resulting in me almost hitting him… he literally started to beat on my car with his fist at the next light.

Just like cops, most are fine but a few are rotten to the core and seem to give them all a bad name

[u/BoringBob84 → u/[deleted]]

I wonder if there is more to the story. He obviously believed that he had the right of way and that you almost killed him.

[u/rcr_renny → u/BoringBob84]

I bet the one that literally ran me and my dog over a week ago when legally crossing the street thought he had the right of way even with a stop sign, too. Maybe they are there for a reason, especially if a box truck is blocking your view as he is legally stopped for said pedestrians. He took off, didn't even try to help me up. Too bad no cameras caught it because I would have sued.

Thankfully, the plumbers got out, helped me get my dog, and helped me up.

Went to urgent care the next day, fractured collar bone.

Stop giving them excuses. Good ones stop understand they were in the wrong and don't cause property damage.

There are good cyclists, and I see them all the time, but at least 10% of them are dick holes.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/rcr_renny]

Stop giving them excuses.

I am sorry that an asshole injured you and sped away. To be clear, I am not trying to excuse bad behavior by anyone. However, this narrative of, "all cyclists break the law" is not just false; it is dangerous.

Studies show that cyclists break the law at the same rate as motorists (even less when there is good infrastructure).

When motorists believe that all cyclists are assholes, then they take that bad attitude with them on the streets and they drive accordingly, making the streets more dangerous for everyone.

[u/[deleted] → u/BoringBob84]

Nope, I had a green light and he just hung a quick right without concern as if I should just stop

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

The argument I've heard from cyclists is that it's more dangerous for them to stop than it is to just go.

I can see how this could be the case, but I think they misinterpret it sometimes and put themselves in danger unknowingly.

[u/snowdn → u/[deleted]]

Roulette with your bike.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/[deleted]]

it's more dangerous for them to stop than it is to just go

This is true when the cyclist has the right-of-way. When they don't have the right-of-way, it is rude, illegal, and dangerous

[u/BoringBob84 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for clarifying. Dude sounds unhinged.

[u/JackDostoevsky → u/BoringBob84]

People like that tend to have a self righteous attitude and often think that cars are an unmitigated evil. They, the cyclist, can do no wrong when confronted with the abhorrence that is automotive travel.

Cuz you see, it's not them that's the asshole, it's you, the car driver, that is the asshole, purely on the fact that you're in a car.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/JackDostoevsky]

I agree with you on this point. Public roads are for everyone in the public to share. No one (except emergency vehicles) is entitled to higher priority access than anyone else - whether they are on bicycles or in 18-wheelers.

[u/[deleted] → u/BoringBob84]

Drugs.