Exactly where do think you're going?Follow

This happened to me today, and I found that my knee-jerk reaction includes gving the standard italian gathered "WTF" hand, and calling them whores.

They do not disregard traffic in most cases JD. There is a reason why it appears they are:

Safety for the bikers in pack riding works like this:

Say there is a green light ahead at an intersection. If it is a busy intersection 2 bikers (usually the tail gunners) will fly up and block the intersection on the right and left sides with their bikes. Then, the pack will proceed as a unit through the intersection regardless of the colour of the light until the whole pack is through, then the blockers will pickup the tail end, and usually wave thanks to the waiting traffic.

If the light is red, then the pack will stop completely, wait for the light to turn and for the blockers to be in place. They will then procee

d. If the pack is smaller and they are at an intersection that is not so busy, the same process as above is followed, less the blockers. If the pack comes to a stop sign, then the whole pack will stop, wave any cars through (on a 4 way stop), then when the decision is made to continue, blockers are in place and the pack proceeds.

All of this holds true with huge organized rides as well, with the exception that the blockers are police bikes instead of regular bikers. If you followed a pack, you would also notice that there are hand signals that travel through the whole pack as well, such as in the case of if a person is walking down the side of the road, or there is a cyclist, the pack will change from the staggared formation to a single line to pass this person safely.

People get pissed off that they have to wait for bike packs, but they usually have no concept of why certian things are done. The next time you are stopped by a pack of bikes, look at it as a no-charge bike parade.

Here is a link describing the rules of pack riding and all the hand signals pack riders use, to give you a better idea.

The police and traffic departments beg to differ. Motorist safety is more important than your's or anyone's schedule. The people in the back of the pack do not have the training to know how to lead the group behind them safely, and pulling over 50 bikes to wait for the other half of the pack would cause a bigger traffic jam than simply stopping traffic for an extra light.

Motorcyclists know that riding in a group is safer than riding alone since there is less chance to get squashed from not being seen by those idiots who drive their cars while making coffee, playing PSP, reading a map and chatting on the phone.

If it really bothers you, try talking to your local or state PD and see what they have to say. Even better, try cutting in while honking, etc. If there happens to be a cop around, YOU will be charged with dangerous driving. If there isn't a cop around, you best be driving a car you don't care much about.

Nope, they would beat your car or you for putting their lives in danger. Nothing to do with "wanting to ride with a pack".

Aside from that, do you get angry at police who escort groups or oversized vehicles through town and either hold up or redirect traffic for that purpose? Do you get angry at the guy who holds the sign at a construction site making you slow down or stop? This is no different.

Jophiel, I hope you are trying to play devil's advocate because otherwise I'll be very disappointed with your ignorance and arrogance. People's lives are more important than anything you have cited.



Edited, Jun 15th 2006 at 2:02pm EDT by Elderon

I'll also mention that I'm speaking in the hypothetical (so I assume I am playing DA in a sense) given that I've never actually been held up by a mob of cycles.

A couple of days ago, two teens girls died on a street here in Chicago. One of the interpreters is dating a CPD officer, and he told her that 4 kids had been speeding around in a new black Lexus, and stopped at an intersection revving the engine and calling out, showing off. When a car pulled up next to them, they were "checked" by a local gang, the Latin Kings. When they failed to throw up the appropriate gang sign, the Kings chased their car to shoot them (apparently standard on the South Side), and they swerved into a light pole while trying to get away. The two boys were wearing their seat belts, and the two girls were not. Both were flung through the air into the street, and died on impact upon hitting the pavement. Their bodies were left on the road until later that night, almost three hours after the accident because they couldn't localize the parents for proper ID.

People that drive aggressively are di[/Bisque]cks who don't know what they're getting themselves into. You can't think that all you'll get is the finger. There are some crazy fu[Bisque]cks out there.

Deport all of the hispanics imo.

Good, at least you are not a prejudiced biggot!

This actually happens quite often in areas heavy in cyclist enthusiasts. In my area, those cyclists are blocking off streets every weekend, and also occasionally employ motorcyclists to block roads so that they can keep their momentum.

Groups of 2 bikes and singles heed those rules just like any motor vehicle, at least they should be. As the group gets larger, it's now classified as a recreational activity that requires special saftey measures not covered by regular traffic signalling. If you want to get super technical and **** about it, this requires a police escort of 1 police motorcycle. Since this is not economical in most cases, the power is deligated to the organization's Officers (of which my chapter has 4 whom are always present on group rides).


In summary, I'm glad that you hate everyone equally and I've clearly explained the difference between the safety of recreational road use vs. regular traffic road use and the biggotry faced by bikers who like to partake in the sport. I've decided that you do not have a clear argumentative platform other than the "I don't like my roads being used by anything but regular road traffic!", to which I say, ha ha, too fuc[Aquamarine][/Aquamarine]king bad, chin up, best foot forward an all that.

I resemble that remark!

You can always stay hopeful that they won't be wearing helmets.

The irony.

I just wear the shirt.


Edit: Time for a new tard me thinks.



Edited, Jun 15th 2006 at 3:30pm EDT by Elderon