Have Kelowna Bikers Become Suicidal?

[metallica]

This morning I was on Bottom Woods Lake in Winfield. Had to go over to the other lane because a lone biker did not like the bike lane. Turned left onto Beaver Lake and al least 8 bikers had my whole lane as they rode. There is a bike lane but I would assume the arrogance of being a biker? doesn't include them. Wanted to hit the horn but what the hell is the point. *bleep*!!!!

[Ken7]

I'm not serious... loosen up!! Captain,,, :dyinglaughing:

[delSol97]

I was pulled over by a cop when I was 12 ...

Did a right-hand turn off of Richter on to Bernard without coming to a stop on a red light.



I thought it was pretty cool at the time. :)

[delSol97]

They are worse in packs. There's a group that likes to congregate at the top of Gordon drive. Like dozens and dozens of them. They will actually stop and block the entire road. I came around the corner one time on a motorbike and had to go in to the oncoming lanes on the corner blind going up the hill to get around them. They didn't seem to care ...

Literally stopped, half of them off their bikes chatting, sucking on water bottles etc.

I've seen the same group blow through the Dehart and Gordon light at "full race pace" on red lights before. I refer to them affectionately as the Tour de Farce.

... and yes I am a cyclist.

[TopHatTapes]

Bottom line is, you have to share the road. Bicycles and vehicles are both under the same rules generally speaking. If a cyclist needs to ride on the line because the streets haven't been swept, deal with it. If you cut off a cyclist, expect a flip of the bird and maybe even a call/visit from the police regarding safe driving. There are dumb cyclists out there but there are plenty of dumb drivers, talking on cellphones, texting or simply not paying attention.

I've been hit twice on a bicycle in Kelowna and neither time was it my fault. A family member was struck by an SUV on their bike last year and the driver sped off while they layed in the middle of an intersection, requiring medical attention. Kelowna is by far one of the least bicycle friendly cities, but poor driving doesn't help. Maybe all the money that was put into the overpass by Parkinson that everyone jay walks under should have been put to proper bike lanes, especially on the highway. :spinball:

[Nom_de_Plume]

Heck drivers in kelowna aren't courteous to other drivers why would we expect them to be courteous to cyclists.

I was driving up in SE Kelowna the other day (sat or sun don't remember)
There was a group of spandexed riders in a clump taking up the whole lane in front of me, there were other cars coming in the opposite lane so I slowed down and followed them, some other driver was riding my butt and swerving in and out between the gravel shoulder and the opposing lane , the second it looked like there was nothing coming in the other lane and I start to go around the cycle puddle, buddy behind me pedals to the medal spinning tires around us all.
What a fun day! I love spring

[LoneWolf_53]

Stupid cyclists. I detest them on the roads. They NEED to build separate bike paths in this town.

To heck with that concept. I managed to grow up knowing how to share the road, not to mention knowing who had the right of way in various scenarios.

I think the solution is for the RCMP to run a campaign ticketing them, with the same enthusiasm as they do their endless seatbelt checks.

That way only the spandex clowns have to dip into their wallets, and if it happens enough times, just maybe they'll get the message.

All they are doing now is banking on the fact, that the odds of them not getting a citation for infractions, are hugely in their favor, as their arrogance aptly demonstrates.

[Popeye69]

This morning I was on Bottom Woods Lake in Winfield. Had to go over to the other lane because a lone biker did not like the bike lane. Turned left onto Beaver Lake and al least 8 bikers had my whole lane as they rode. There is a bike lane but I would assume the arrogance of being a biker? doesn't include them. Wanted to hit the horn but what the hell is the point. *bleep*!!!!

I feel your pain. Every summer I dread driving on Old Vernon road because some bike club decides to hold its events there. They ride 3 or 4 abreast hogging half of the travel lane for cars each way ignoring the bike lane which is up only one side of Old Vernon road mind you and they'll be like 10 groups like this (far as the eye can see up the road heading to Scotty creek) Old Vernon road is no longer the quiet country road it used to be... its pretty much a full out highway now with the amount of traffic on it and yet these bikers still think its a viable triathalon practice route or something. I yell at, at least 2 groups of these guys every summer to at least ride behind eachother instead of side by side or someone's gonna get into a head on collision trying to avoid their groups or run right over one of their pals instead of gettin into a head on. I'm all for people cycling hell its good fun and exercise... for any bikers listening dont hold the big events or practices on Old Vernon Rd anymore its not safe and it puts everyone at risk.

[grammafreddy]

It's not just the spandex crowd (and I DO mean crowd). It's anyone who rides a bike.

The concept of putting an unprotected cyclist immediately adjacent to a fast-moving metal-clad vehicle is just plain stupid. Fine for slow-moving residential streets where traffic is local and they know to watch for people (and kids) on bikes. But put them on the busy main commuter streets with only a white painted line to separate them, that's dumber than stupid.

So, what do some cyclists do to be safer? They ride on the sidewalk. They are not supposed to be there and motorists don't think they are going to encounter one there.

I hope the fellow who was knocked off his bike along Rutland Road about noon today is okay. Bet he was a big surprise for the lady driving the car coming down the alley in the block next to the cop shop/fire hall. If he'd had a safer place to ride, he wouldn't have been where he shouldn't be. If he'd been where he was supposed to be, the lady would not have nailed him.

[bikeguy25]

You will see a campaign for enforcement to cyclists tomorrow.....and for all those who say police dont write tickets is garbage. I wrote two today. And of course was told to catch "Real Criminals". There is no happy medium in this city....

[gordon_as]

Don't care if someone is on 2 wheels , 4 , or 18 , or a skateboard , or a scooter , or a horse , or just a pair of Nike's , if they are doing something that creates a hazard for them or others , give them a ticket.

[bikeguy25]

Don't care if someone is on 2 wheels , 4 , or 18 , or a skateboard , or a scooter , or a horse , or just a pair of Nike's , if they are doing something that creates a hazard for them or others , give them a ticket.

yup thats pretty much my view........whether i give tickets to cyclists, passengers, drivers, registered owners or pedestrians they are still going to want the police to look for "Real Criminals".

Everyone thinks tickets should be given out except to them......Perfect example.......we were requested to do speed enforcement in a specific neighborhood by people of that neighborhood. So we write bunch of tickets and no one is happy because its "Not them that are the problem"

If you want enforcement then prepare to either follow the rules of the road or expect to get a ticket and dont bitch if you get caught.

[TopHatTapes]

So we write bunch of tickets and no one is happy because its "Not them that are the problem"

If you want enforcement then prepare to either follow the rules of the road or expect to get a ticket and dont bitch if you get caught.

Well, personally I've got nothing to worry about, but there is a bit of an argument there as far as priorities and tax dollars goes...

...

[LoneWolf_53]

You will see a campaign for enforcement to cyclists tomorrow.....and for all those who say police dont write tickets is garbage. I wrote two today. And of course was told to catch "Real Criminals". There is no happy medium in this city....

I hear you, and agree. I've always been of the mind that if I'm caught doing something illegal, then I'm hardly in a position to be lippy with law enforcement, since that is their job.

Do the crime, then shut up when it's time to pay the fine. Don't like fines, obey the regulations, the choice is simple.

Glad to hear there's some emphasis being put on bikes, because the attitude of many of them is truly out of line and belligerence is rampant. I'm of the mind that it will take significant effort, in regularly issuing fines, so that word gets around, and we actually see some change in behavior.

[TopHatTapes]

It's anyone who rides a bike.

The concept of putting an unprotected cyclist immediately adjacent to a fast-moving metal-clad vehicle is just plain stupid. Fine for slow-moving residential streets where traffic is local and they know to watch for people (and kids) on bikes. But put them on the busy main commuter streets with only a white painted line to separate them, that's dumber than stupid.

You could say the same thing about highways with no barriers.

So how about some money gets put to separated bike lanes, like many cities now have.