Never get between a man and his donuts

[ithinksobrain]

I biked into school this morning, and a guy almost hit me trying to make a left turn into Dunkin' Donuts. I clearly had the right-of-way, and it really pissed me off. I don't enjoy the threat of death or dismemberment.

Comments

[knile]

What bugs me is there's no way to report this. Even if you did have his license plate, would the cops listen? I doubt it:( Possibly contributing to the problem of drivers here not respecting bikers is that too many people on bikes ride like IDIOTS. A few weeks back, I was driving up Mt Hope and a kid swerved in front of me to cross the street, without even looking back, let alone signalling.

ANGRY DRIVER/BIKERRRRRRR

[ithinksobrain]

Yes. About a week or two ago, I was driving up Alexander St. after dark when an idiot on a bike was riding towards me in my lane with no lights. Fortunately, I saw him in time.

[quantumelf]

As a former Rochester bike rider (which I gave up after my second year here, due to the overwhelming potential for death) I suggest that contributing to the problem are:

1. narrow streets
2. too many cars parked on narrow streets
3. cars parked in lanes apparently painted for driving, but never used as such
4. cars going 50mph on streets marked 30mph
5. too many teenagers in cars throwing bottles at the heads of bikers and screaming as they drive by
6. no bike lanes on the shoulders
7. no shoulders
8. drivers (and bikers) who don't know any of the actual laws, let alone obey them...

/angry rant

[ithinksobrain]

Fortunately, I haven't had too many problems. Other drivers have been mostly respectful (especially in the suburbs). Fortunately, no one has thrown bottles at my head, and I'm really hoping I don't encounter that.

It's faster to ride my bike to school than to drive there and walk from my car.

[quantumelf]

Ah, the suburbs. I never tried riding there. Maybe I shouldn't have abandoned my bike in the basement of my old south wedge apartment after all. I bet it is still there. I think I locked it to a pipe, all covered in spider webs. And spiders.

I had all kinds of things thrown at my head... bottles, bottle caps, eggs, empty cigarette packages crumpled into balls... mostly on or in the vicinity of Mt Hope Ave while struggling to ride uphill.