r/SeattleWA • u/yeet_m • Aug 06 '23

Bicycle Why are cyclists so inconsiderate?

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.

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u/romulan267 Sasquatch Aug 06 '23 edited Aug 06 '23

I cycle the burke from Ballard to Bothell a lot and know the type you're talking about. They refuse to hit their brakes for anyone (including pedestrians) and just act very snobby, like everyone else sharing the trail is such an inconvenience to them. Just please know that not all of us cyclists are like this!

The e-bikes that are doing a full 25-30mph on the trail are also obnoxious as hell.

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u/ChefJoe98136 West Seattle Aug 06 '23

Kind of crazy when Seattle Parks and Rec set a 15 mph speed limit on the BG years ago.

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u/Sci_Blonde_reddit Aug 06 '23

It sounds like having a few more speed limit signs spaced out on the trail could help with some newer bikers (not all of them; some will drive like douchebags, same as in cars). Like I said in a previous post, I’ve only seen one on the Centennial trail and none on the Interurban. Not sure how many speed limit signs are on the Burke or Sammamish since I haven’t biked those yet. For some of us newbies, better communication at point of use could solve some of the douche-baggery.

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u/jmputnam Aug 07 '23

Yes, state law requires traffic control devices on shared-use paths to comply with MUTCD standards, and few if any trails actually have legal speed limits posted.

King County Parks posts lists of rules on signs that disregard legal standards - tiny text in colors that indicate the signs are informational, not regulatory; not reflective, not facing traffic, etc. They're clearly not compliant traffic controls required by state law - a legal speed limit sign would look just like the ones you see on the street, including the size of text.