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DeezSaggyNuts t1_j9ca1o1 wrote

I always make sure to grab some popcorn before hopping into a cars and cyclist post. Always a cordial understanding conversation to read through.

101

pocketdare t1_j9d3p0k wrote

Sure enough ... based on the flame wars below, it appears that the vision of a world in which drivers and bikers cheerfully co-exist will need to wait for another day.

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RulerOfTheRest t1_j9c0wxm wrote

If you don't have one already, get a dash cam. They're very useful in the event you do hit someone that fails to yield the right of way, or hits you due to their own neglect, especially the way folks love to ignore the traffic laws in this city...

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Nothing2SeeHere4U t1_j9canuo wrote

yeah, I have one, too many friends got screwed by not having evidence. Still, I'd rather not have to use it, especially in a case like this

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RulerOfTheRest t1_j9fdvsv wrote

For things like this, I like to go with the old saying "It's best to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it". While I have caught some folks doing stupid things like running red lights on the front cam, thankfully I have not needed it for evidence in an accident from those idiots running red lights, and hope I never do...

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HedleyLamaar t1_j9d7ka7 wrote

Can you recommend one?

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RulerOfTheRest t1_j9fdfh0 wrote

I have the Rexing V1P, and have been very happy with it. I specifically sought one out that had a front and rear camera so I could at least catch anyone who might rearend me, but so far only catch people "digging for gold" while at stop lights. I also got the power supply that plugs into the fuse box and hid the wires, but that was a pita, and if you're not good with that kind of stuff, you may want to have one installed at Best Buy or some other local car audio shop. What led me to finally get one was when someone decided to make a U turn from the side of an exit ramp into the car I only had for a month, you're not allowed to do that and at least they made it easy for the cop when they admitted that they did that...

2

dalhectar t1_j9byfz6 wrote

THis post def needs a shaking fist at sky tag.

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rvapedant t1_j9cpab1 wrote

> 2000 pounds of metal is going to obliterate you and your bike, and ruin or end your life.

Many recent cars or pickup trucks are like 4000-6000 pounds. Even an early Miata was more than 2000 pounds!

Actually not posting to be pedantic for once, only clarifying to help people realize how bad that impact could be :-(

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Charlesinrichmond t1_j9czaez wrote

it really doesn't matter if it's 2k, 4k, or 6k. All are more than enough to squish.

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chihuahua001 t1_j9d7l73 wrote

F=ma

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Charlesinrichmond t1_j9fq76m wrote

so if there is no acceleration, at steady speed, then a car exerts no force (true) and no damage (False) on what it hits?

I think F=mv^2/2 is rather more relevant here, with the exponent being exponentially more important.

And it still doesn't matter. 2k squishes just fine. You can't get more dead than dead

1

TheLombardyKroger t1_j9th5qk wrote

An object travelling at a constant speed and direction may have no acceleration in its own reference frame, true. But it can absolutely accelerate another object in another reference frame.

I don’t know what “F=mv2/2” is but maybe you mean the equation for kinetic energy? KE = 1/2 mv^2

At any rate (ba-dum-tss), getting hit by cars sucks no matter how accurate the mass measurement is. The slower the better.

1

Charlesinrichmond t1_j9ugl9k wrote

yes. Kinetic energy. And the speed matters is what I was saying. I know of people killed by bicycles

1

autotelica t1_j9cjffs wrote

I admit to riding through some intersections. But never Belvidere and Franklin. Not only is there a lot of traffic there, but it is a super complicated traffic pattern.

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Captain_Tiberius t1_j9d1wkm wrote

Going westbound on Franklin in the bike lane is a nightmare. Car drivers going eastbound and turning left onto Belvidere rarely look for on-coming cyclists, especially when they are trying to beat the light.

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coldblackmaple t1_j9dl60b wrote

It’s horrible. I often cut across Franklin to get on the sidewalk on the south side of the street and cross Belvidere on that side. I know that’s not ideal for several reasons but the alternative sucks too.

2

Captain_Tiberius t1_j9dm7e3 wrote

That’s the safest maneuver when Belvidere has greens in both directions. When Franklin has a green and the crosswalk is counting down, the logical and legal westbound bike move is to go straight through the intersection. But you 100% have to bike defensively and assume the cars don’t see you because turning cars rarely yield there.

1

PayneTrainSG t1_j9d329w wrote

If this city had a high supply of cash and didn't know what to do with it, one thing I would spend it on would be a bike lane tunnel under Belivdere for the Franklin lanes east of Franklin that pops the lanes out on the Monroe Park side of the street until Monument. I can't imagine riding a bike through that with any considerable speed even on a green light.

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JosefDerArbeiter t1_j9dcdye wrote

Hell yeah. Like the tunnel under Overbrook at Battery Park.

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PayneTrainSG t1_j9dhgf3 wrote

My dream would essentially turn Franklin/Monument into an East-West bike highway that runs from Willow Lawn to Main Street Station. Mixture of tunnels under bigger roads, and 2/3 of secondary streets that intersect it with modal filters and the remainder with bike-priority signal and intersection design.

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JosefDerArbeiter t1_j9djmr5 wrote

Nice. My dream is for some of the region's rail lines to get consolidated into multi use asphalt paths. Imagine the railroad bridge next to the Powhite Parkway bridge having an asphalt path with guard rails giving dedicated trail access from Southside to Scott's Addition/Northside.

1

surpriseskin t1_j9c74qm wrote

I don't love that cyclists in Richmond routinely break traffic laws.

However I also fucking hate that it's nearly impossible to safely bike around Richmond, law abiding or not. We are not a bike or walking friendly city and it shows. For god sake, Virginia specifies that bike lanes first and foremost are a motor vehicle disaster recovery zone. I know that I would never feel safe biking down Government Road or Williamsburg Avenue in the bike lanes because people drive like maniacs.

With the amount of traffic, pedestrian, and biker deaths Richmond sees year after year you'd think leadership would consider the system at fault.

> I get that cities are built for cars

This mentality sucks. Lots of cities aren't built for cars -- Paris, Amsterdam, Venice are all examples of this. America needs to catch up. Cars ruin cities.

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9cb9jc wrote

The broad street bullies blocking entire intersections don't help the perception of bikers. Get rid of them and I'll stand behind law abiding bikers all day

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zazzersmel t1_j9cn8gd wrote

yes sir! getting rid of them now. i eagerly await your approval!

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fluufhead t1_j9crc5j wrote

This person's argument is the exact same type of concern trolling that Mitch McConnell uses. They are extremely close to demanding that all cyclists denounce antifa and the communist destruction they have wrought on America's cities.

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JVorhees t1_j9cnib2 wrote

You get rid of the DUI people and I'll support car drivers. That sounded stupid as fuck.

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9cnyw0 wrote

The point is that you don't move people to support your side by being jerks and blocking roads and having no actual legislative action to change things. A bunch of people riding bikes to AI, oh cars are bad, does less than nothing

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JVorhees t1_j9cod87 wrote

The point is they represent me as much as drunk drivers represent you.

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9cots9 wrote

Lol. I would never support a DD. How does your training even work. Because I think the BSB are jackasses I automatically support the worst of the drivers. You're so dumb

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JVorhees t1_j9cpf89 wrote

Why should I be responsible for getting rid of the broad street bullies before you get rid of drunk drivers?

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9cpmy2 wrote

Who said you need to get rid of the BSB? But they are the only ones that make themselves a menace in support of bikers

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JVorhees t1_j9cprmf wrote

You did.

>Get rid of them and I'll stand behind law abiding bikers all day

Definitely don't drive right now.

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9cq7x0 wrote

Will do. Continue to drive that is. Assmunch

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JVorhees t1_j9cqea1 wrote

Lol. Don't worry, wasn't thinking you were going to exercise

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9crfcw wrote

Because cycling is the only way to exercise safely? 😂

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JVorhees t1_j9crkw9 wrote

No, it not safe because of angry couch potatoes

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ZephyrInfernum t1_j9cqg97 wrote

It wasn't me who said that, but it's pretty clear it wasn't direct at you, specifically but to the powers that be in RVA.

Wow.

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JVorhees t1_j9cqnlg wrote

Was it the person I was responding to that said that?

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ZephyrInfernum t1_j9cqhh6 wrote

Don't worry, they're dense.

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JVorhees t1_j9cs2th wrote

Dense how? You had to chime in and tell me you weren't the person that said it! No shit genius! It's this person that said it. Wtf are you talking about and why?

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ZephyrInfernum t1_j9ct8iz wrote

You're proving how dense you are.

I chimed in to point out that you misunderstood their original statement to me directed at you specifically, when it clearly wasn't.

No one expects YOU to fix the issue with broad St bullies. Sheesh.

0

JVorhees t1_j9ctpia wrote

He wasn't naming me specifically? What?

No shit, genius. He made a dumbass comment suggesting all cyclists were responsible for a fringe group. I was clowning him for making a moronic statement. Then you came along dragging your shoes in doodoo attempting to "clarify". Stfu and get lost.

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ZephyrInfernum t1_j9cvqq5 wrote

That's not what they said... Or what they implied.

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JVorhees t1_j9cvya6 wrote

>The broad street bullies blocking entire intersections don't help the perception of bikers. Get rid of them and I'll stand behind law abiding bikers all day

What was it they said instead of this?

And also, did you really think I expect this douchebag to end DUIs?

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ZephyrInfernum t1_j9cxm6u wrote

Nice name-calling. Reported.

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JVorhees t1_j9cxwgj wrote

The person that started the name-calling by calling me dense reported me! Oh no. What a fucking nerd.

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CLBr t1_j9dcfvz wrote

Actual legislative action? Like this year’s SB1293 or any of the previous iterations that have died in the past? The legislative action is there, but people like you bitching and moaning about it make sure that politicians are voting against those measures. Maybe put your money where your mouth is and learn about (or even support) the legislation you claim we need.

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chihuahua001 t1_j9d7xdx wrote

Cars are what make people get this mad at people having fun

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9d8wqi wrote

It's not me against people having fun. It's more about people obeying the current laws and not using this as a guise that it's somehow going to change drivers actions or laws for pedestrian and bicyclists protections.

There are legitimate ways to get things changed if that's really what the point is

1

chihuahua001 t1_j9d9d1q wrote

Fuck the current laws. Traffic laws exist to keep morons in cars from killing each other. In the absence of cars, cyclists can intermingle without substantial traffic control.

Whens the last time you exceeded the speed limit or rolled through a stop sign or light?

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9d9pqv wrote

I don't actually. As someone who doesn't own a vehicle and only drives a monitored company vehicle, homey don't play that. Care to try again

0

foureyeswithbeard t1_j9ce5pd wrote

Yeah those car drivers sure never block intersections! Or bike lanes... Or bus stops... Or driveways... Or alleys....

Pot meet kettle. Move along.

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9celt2 wrote

There's no aggregate organized group of vehicle drivers set to intentionally break laws like the bullies that I'm aware of.

I personally always give way to pedestrians and cyclists in the right of way and crosswalks when the lights are in their favor and don't park in bike lanes.

Point deducted

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foureyeswithbeard t1_j9cflp4 wrote

There are lots of groups like that. Some drive through Richmond occasionally doing doughnuts in intersections (here's a fun one from last year: https://www.carscoops.com/2022/02/police-stop-car-club-plan-to-takeover-richmond-virginia-for-donuts-and-drifts/). There are drag racing groups, there's the old cannonball run across the country - tons of car groups that love to skirt the law.

Then there are just the tons of unaffiliated drivers who speed, drive while texting, DWI (it was JUST a few beers!), hop into the shoulder if there is traffic, etc. Ignoring the law and other people's well-being doesn't require a group affiliation! The potential for damage is significantly higher from a single driver on a highway texting than nearly anything a cyclist is capable of.

I am all down for you wanting to advocate for better adherence to infrastructure and legislature, but trying to call out the bullies as some kind of cyclist-only anomaly is weak.

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foureyeswithbeard t1_j9ch4wc wrote

In case you are open to learning more, here are some stories from the last year - two of VA cyclists getting killed while seemingly adhering to the law and one of a seeming group of organized drivers out to maim/kill cyclists by dooring them.

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/02/14/vehicle-attacks-against-cyclists-on-east-bay-streets-draw-scrutiny/

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/norfolk/beloved-norfolk-bike-store-owner-killed-in-south-carolina-crash-michael-shipp/291-5b43e21a-22a7-4a99-9450-b430e0ae6cd7

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/henrico-county/police-drunk-driver-kills-richmond-bicyclist-critically-injures-another/

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9ci0m2 wrote

Thank you. It's not that I disagree there's a problem with drivers. It's more than the BSB are not seen as a solution or even contributing to it but rather a ragtag group that is out it just have fun running lights and blocking streets

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JVorhees t1_j9cnh9q wrote

Tell me about your street racing skills.

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Diet_Coke t1_j9d232p wrote

The point of the Broad St Bullies and Critical Mass taking over the street is that it's an inconvenience to drivers for like 10 minutes once per week, but that's how the roads feel for cyclists every other minute of the week.

1

iwearlederhosen t1_j9d7tor wrote

They do nothing for reform while they "bully" everyone including pedestrians trying to cross the street with the laws. I've been stuck trying to walk across with the signal with these d bags while they play 'activist".

0

Diet_Coke t1_j9d8dp0 wrote

Oh man, that must have been so terrible having to stand in one spot for five or so minutes, I'm glad you made it through that atrocious behavior

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9d9b4f wrote

Yes it was an inconvenience, especially considering if it was supposedly for my, as a pedestrian, benefit. I previously watched someone walk with the crosswalk thru the dicks running the light and thankfully they were unharmed but one of the cyclists tripped themselves up and crashed avoiding them. It does neither any benefit to do lawless things like this

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pumicepickle t1_j9dk9g3 wrote

I've had to wait as a pedestrian (with a bike, I was new in town and didn't understand why 200 cyclists were all biking together) and several people shouted out to me to join them. Kids, families, teens, grandparents, college peeps, all having fun and cycling.

I wasn't stupid enough to cut through them and thought it looked like good community fun. I literally can't imagine being bitter and angry about waiting like five minutes.

Jesus Christ you people need to live a little. Angry over waiting and people having safe but inconvenient fun. Truly ridiculous.

0

pocketdare t1_j9d2m4r wrote

I like the fact that Mr Vorhees took this very very personally and decided to get into a flame war with not just you, but another innocent bystander who chimed in to try to explain that it was a general comment about a group that gives bikers a bad name and not a comment about all bikers on earth.

1

fluufhead t1_j9ceabl wrote

Drivers causing deadly collisions with cyclists don't help the perception of motorists. Get rid of them and BSB won't block roads anymore

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iwearlederhosen t1_j9cfcce wrote

So intentionally look like morons blocking streets to draw attention to drivers hitting others with no real other presence to advertise that fact? No. They are just out to be assholes because of the issue. Nothing they are doing otherwise is helping the issue.

No one calls their organization a bully with the actual intent of resolving something?

1

fluufhead t1_j9cjowc wrote

A protest you can easily ignore is a shitty protest sorry

1

ddm2k t1_j9cfcgw wrote

Bullshit yes they will. “And BSB won’t block roads anymore” so you’re admitting they’re a terrorist organization?

−5

fluufhead t1_j9ckgta wrote

The false equivalency between hundreds of cyclists getting killed every year and the minor inconvenience caused by a group bike ride is morally bankrupt, hate to break it to you

3

ddm2k t1_j9coest wrote

Morals - the red herring of choice when cyclists break traffic laws.

−3

fluufhead t1_j9crlw6 wrote

Doubling down when challenged - the go-to response of people who need therapy but will never get it

3

surpriseskin t1_j9ccizm wrote

Agreed.

I have sympathy for them because I hate cars, but I also can't help but to say "what the fuck" when they're popping wheelies in the middle of lanes blocking traffic.

I stand by changing the infrastructure here to be more bike and pedestrian friendly. Fuck cars.

−6

defnotthepresident t1_j9cl1o8 wrote

Gotta work on your reading comprehension homie

> I get that cities are built for cars

was OP saying 'yeah it does suck that our city is designed for cars and i do not celebrate that' not saying it was good or right or even insurmountable

2

surpriseskin t1_j9cpf51 wrote

I understood the mentality. It was resignation.

−2

iWannaCupOfJoe t1_j9cbnri wrote

I know they had a proposed law to legalize stop as yield and red light as stop sign for bikers, but I don’t think that has passed. I wish they would pass the law, so automobile drives would stop bitching about me clearing an intersection.

1

RufusDelgado t1_j9chwe1 wrote

Get a dash cam and shame them post it on social media.

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chihuahua001 t1_j9d7icm wrote

How much over the speed limit were you doing?

1

P45t3LPUnK t1_j9d90wg wrote

If I can’t break laws riding a bike, what’s the point? I mine as well commit to driving a car and promote the slavery mining of lithium batteries

1

Radical-Normie t1_j9cvuij wrote

Sounds thoughtful until you realize speeding cars kill more people than bikes ever will… y’all keep hating bikes and taking up all the air while the speeding/distracted motorists rack up the kills in the tens of thousands.

−18

Nothing2SeeHere4U t1_j9cx9po wrote

I'm extremely pro bike, up until one runs out in front of me while I'm driving through an intersection which is signalled for my right of way.

This is not an anti bike post. This is a "I almost killed a biker today due to their own negligence please be more aware" post

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nite_rituals t1_j9cyl9k wrote

You may consider yourself to be “extremely pro bike” but your post is attracting the exact opposite. Posts like yours really brings out the people who love to see violence.

−14

Radical-Normie t1_j9cxcsl wrote

Cars do the same thing. Write a love letter to them.

−18

Nothing2SeeHere4U t1_j9cxjnp wrote

My guy, cars have safety features that make t boning less lethal. Bikes are just a frame and a helmet. I hate cars who run reds more than bikers who do because of the danger involved. You're being intentionally obtuse

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nite_rituals t1_j9c382i wrote

Second paragraph sounds like premeditated assult…but I’m no expert

−73

mmeat1148 t1_j9c3qct wrote

if someone throws themselves in front of a train would you consider a warning poster a threat of assault? same thing here. People in this city have a death wish, and most motorists are just trying to avoid them.

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Charles_Britt t1_j9cn0rd wrote

True! the motorists are never breaking laws or making mistakes and almost killing people because of it. Its those damn cyclists that are all trying to kill themselves by being in front of my giant metal box when its my turn to press the forward pedal!

−8

nite_rituals t1_j9ck1ke wrote

A train is on a track…but once again I am no expert

−9

WEINER_SCHLAP t1_j9cqf8v wrote

Would you consider yourself accountable for murder if someone jumped off a bridge and hit your car on the way down?

2

nite_rituals t1_j9cxvn3 wrote

Have you seen the movie The Good Son with Macaulay Culkin

0

Charles_Britt t1_j9cmtzn wrote

"One of these days I'm not going to be paying attention while I drive my tank around and Im going to actually kill you and wipe the concrete with your body."

−7