Comments on: Colorado Town Bans Bikes

By: Justin F.

Justin F. — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:25:14 +0000

I would first like to say that this comes from the perspective of a Chicago resident. My wife and I own 1x Car, 1x Motorcycle, and 1x Bicycle.
I think the D. Palmer has a valid point. Motorist pay a crap load more in taxes that go towards repairing roads, among other things. Taxes are added per gallon at the pump, I pay each year to renew my license plate, city/parking sticker, inspections, the list goes on. Bicyclist simply do not. But, semi-trucks pay higher surcharges due to the damage they do to the roads and highways. Bicyclist simply do not do the damage to roads that a car will. But, the point can also be made that they contribute nothing, and want full use of the road. The something for nothing case can also be made.
Now, I will say that in the loop, I am weary of bicyclist. I have witnessed a bicyclist going the wrong way down a one way street, blow through the light @Adams & Wabash and clip a pedestrian. The cyclist didn’t even bother with a sorry or anything. If the pedestrian was female/elderly the cyclist would have wore his bike home. He was not, so I let him speak on his own behalf.
I think that if bicyclist wants full use of the road, they should be subject to the same penalties and fines as a motorist would if blowing a light, going the wrong way on a one way street etc.The point is made that cyclist don’t harm cars, but they can still harm pedestrians.

Some valid points can be mode on both sides. But to simply say one side is right and the other is wrong, well, that’s bigotry.

I will be the first to admit: When I’m on the bicycle, I hate cars. When I’m in the car, I hate bicycles. When walking, well, I hate everyone. lol
Happy road-sharing folks.

By: wheeler

wheeler — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:46:41 +0000

dumbass, i also buy gas.

and look, even if everything you said in your initial comment is true – which is isn’t – your anger is still irrational. bikes just do not cause car drivers any kind of real problem. at worst, once in a blue moon, you might have to wait maybe thirty seconds to pass a bike. nothing else we do effects you.

By: D. Palmer

D. Palmer — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:20:23 +0000

Road taxes are paid at the pump when you buy fuel and I am not fat, but you are simple. I am not against bicycles, just arrogant riders and the streets are just as full of them as they are incompetent drivers

By: wheeler

wheeler — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:01:28 +0000

false equivalence. inattentive drivers kill other people. bikes don’t.

By: Hot Momma

Hot Momma — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:07:36 +0000

What in the world are “road use taxes”? As a car driver, I don’t believe I’ve ever paid such a thing. And drivers also sometimes speed, drive carelessly, cause accidents, talk or text on cell phones while driving and otherwise make themselves a menace. Not all drivers, but some. Using that same logic, some cyclists are pains on the road, but not all of them.

By: Wheeler

Wheeler — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:34:56 +0000

i bet you’re fat.

and thanks for nicely illustrating exactly what i posted.

By: D. Palmer

D. Palmer — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:50:59 +0000

Cycles do not have license plates, they do not have liability insurance, they do not pay road use taxes.
Cyclists do abuse the priviledge of shared road use. They rarely stop at lights or stop signs. They bunch up and block lanes rather than riding single file impeding the flow of traffic.
So take your complaints somewhere else. Use common sense or get off the road.