Joined: 22 Jun 2007Posts: 1050Location: wherever the dance party is
Stuck at a red light last week and I checked out those waiting for Metro. Made eye contact with an elderly gentleman (it just happened, nothing special you weirdos) at a bus stop. He smiled. I smiled. Then sighed loudly, irritated that the stupid light hadn't changed.
"I envy your freedom" he said as the light changed and I headed off.
Hell yeah, thanks man!
eternalignorance
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:42 pm
Joined: 08 Jan 2006Posts: 359Location: Imaginary Places
That is great.
I have been exhausted some nights, not wanting to ride all the way home until I have sat at a bus stop and waited.
I consistently decide that it's not worth the wait, and just ride home.
Joined: 07 Mar 2007Posts: 1691Location: the dirty south
seth_seth wrote:
what's a red light?
That thing that tells you you have to look extra hard for cross traffic.
Last edited by Eric_s on Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
the dreaded ben
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:08 pm
Grumpy GreebJoined: 20 Aug 2005Posts: 5329Location: flavor country
seth_seth wrote:
what's a red light?
why, on average, does the general public hate us again?
Eric_s
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:09 pm
Joined: 07 Mar 2007Posts: 1691Location: the dirty south
the dreaded ben wrote:
seth_seth wrote:
what's a red light?
why, on average, does the general public hate us again?
Because they are stupid cagers who think that everyone needs to follow the rules, even though the rules don't really work for us enlightened bicycle souls. Those fucking douchebags.
the dreaded ben
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:16 pm
Grumpy GreebJoined: 20 Aug 2005Posts: 5329Location: flavor country
oh.
my bad.
lantius
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:18 pm
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
the dreaded ben wrote:
seth_seth wrote:
what's a red light?
why, on average, does the general public hate us again?
because they got to the "red light" portion of traffic school but never to the "speed limit" section?
TrikerTrev
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:42 pm
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
you have to ask, Ben?
theyre; fat, lazy, and winded; lacking motivation to reduce their massive, lumbering bulks. They spend countless hours stuck in traffic, sucking fumes and stewing in their own juices. They also spend thousands upon thousands of dollars yearly to pay for this ability to sit on their ass and be miserable, and are bitter about it. They have no community. They hate each other, but they hate us more cause they cant legally run us down when we get in their way.
we are; not fat (well...SOME of us are), motivated, energetic, and have fun. We band together and help each other out (like a school of fish). we can race around legally, don't pay extra for our freedom. Eat what ever we want, go where ever we want, wear what ever we want and dont care if we reek! We admire each other for doing the same thing, and enjoy each others rides.
but the single biggest reason: we can be drunk and ride, they cant!
_________________ Insufferable ass, est. 1969
ksep
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:46 pm
Joined: 27 Jan 2007Posts: 1879Location: Westlake
Amen. Cyclists run lights for the same 3 reasons drivers speed.
#1 they don't perceive it to be unsafe
#2 the chances of getting caught are extremely low
#3 it saves time (and in the case of the cyclist, energy as well)
I still try to be a role model so they'll STFU and stop unless no cars are around.
_________________ -Kevin
FieryIrie
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:06 pm
Joined: 25 Jun 2007Posts: 554Location: Wallingford
TrikerTrev wrote:
you have to ask, Ben?
theyre; fat, lazy, and winded; lacking motivation to reduce their massive, lumbering bulks. They spend countless hours stuck in traffic, sucking fumes and stewing in their own juices. They also spend thousands upon thousands of dollars yearly to pay for this ability to sit on their ass and be miserable, and are bitter about it. They have no community. They hate each other, but they hate us more cause they cant legally run us down when we get in their way.
we are; not fat (well...SOME of us are), motivated, energetic, and have fun. We band together and help each other out (like a school of fish). we can race around legally, don't pay extra for our freedom. Eat what ever we want, go where ever we want, wear what ever we want and dont care if we reek! We admire each other for doing the same thing, and enjoy each others rides.
but the single biggest reason: we can be drunk and ride, they cant!
Fuck yeah!
And ditto on the tired nights where I spend... oh... three minutes at the bus stop before I say "fuck no!" and ride off. I'd rather be dead tired when I get home then spend a half hour at the bus stop!
john
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:25 pm
AAAARRRRRGGGGbllll pppphtt!Joined: 26 Aug 2006Posts: 725Location: In the lab.
abamfici wrote:
Amen. Cyclists run lights for the same 3 reasons drivers speed.
#1 they don't perceive it to be unsafe
#2 the chances of getting caught are extremely low
#3 it saves time (and in the case of the cyclist, energy as well)
I still try to be a role model so they'll STFU and stop unless no cars are around.
I run red lights because I prefer to be ahead of the asshat fucktard in the car that is trying to blow by me through the intersection.
I have to make that point to the magistrate tomorrow, but I am going t use that logic.
Another reason is that we do not set the light sensors off. So they can not hold us responsible for waiting at a light when we can not activate it.
We need the RCW to change. This red light crap is crap.
_________________ In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen.
Joined: 07 Mar 2007Posts: 1691Location: the dirty south
john wrote:
Another reason is that we do not set the light sensors off. So they can not hold us responsible for waiting at a light when we can not activate it.
We need the RCW to change. This red light crap is crap.
RIDE THROUGH DOWNTOWN PROTESTING THE RED LIGHT HEGEMONY AND FREE MUMIA!
Seriously, many of the sensors in seattle do detect bicycles, especially if you place your metal wheel at the junction of the induction coils in the road. I believe many of the recent road upgrades have right lane sensors engineered with small loops so as to be able to detect bicycles.
Alex
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:12 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
john wrote:
I run red lights because I prefer to be ahead of the asshat fucktard in the car that is trying to blow by me through the intersection.
So that they can just blow by you again a few hundred feet later? If traffic isn't backed up then why are you passing them anyway?
Quote:
Another reason is that we do not set the light sensors off. So they can not hold us responsible for waiting at a light when we can not activate it.
Bikes trigger then at most intersections and the city seems to respond when you find ones that don't trigger.
lantius
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:14 pm
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
Eric_s wrote:
RIDE THROUGH DOWNTOWN PROTESTING THE RED LIGHT HEGEMONY AND FREE MUMIA!.
drive through downtown protesting the speed limit hegemony (and free mumia)?
seriously, running a stop sign or red light on a bicycle is the same as going 5mph over the speed limit. the same people who rant and rave at cyclists who do that behavior and call for crackdowns are the same that bitch about the +4mph speeding tickets they hand out on uw campus.
it doesn't need a protest, it just needs to fade into reasonable accepted behavior.
TrikerTrev
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:17 pm
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
lantius wrote:
Eric_s wrote:
RIDE THROUGH DOWNTOWN PROTESTING THE RED LIGHT HEGEMONY AND FREE MUMIA!.
drive through downtown protesting the speed limit hegemony (and free mumia)?
seriously, running a stop sign or red light on a bicycle is the same as going 5mph over the speed limit. the same people who rant and rave at cyclists who do that behavior and call for crackdowns are the same that bitch about the +4mph speeding tickets they hand out on uw campus.
it doesn't need a protest, it just needs to fade into reasonable accepted behavior.
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 942Location: Little Addis Ababa
^^^^^^^^^^
Edit: Damn it Dave!
TrikerTrev wrote:
lantius wrote:
Eric_s wrote:
RIDE THROUGH DOWNTOWN PROTESTING THE RED LIGHT HEGEMONY AND FREE MUMIA!.
drive through downtown protesting the speed limit hegemony (and free mumia)?
seriously, running a stop sign or red light on a bicycle is the same as going 5mph over the speed limit. the same people who rant and rave at cyclists who do that behavior and call for crackdowns are the same that bitch about the +4mph speeding tickets they hand out on uw campus.
it doesn't need a protest, it just needs to fade into reasonable accepted behavior.
Mumia Abu-Jamal (born Wesley Cook April 24, 1954) is an African-American journalist, political activist, and former militant leader from Philadelphia best known for his controversial conviction for murdering a police officer in 1981.
Currently serving life in a Waynesburg PA prison.
It's a controversial case with a long standing widely publicized group of people protesting his sentence.
Coincidentally, I'm leaving for a trip to the city of Brotherly Gunfire in about 36 hours.
_________________ When the revolution comes, we're going to need a longer wall
chunts
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:01 pm
Joined: 18 May 2007Posts: 85Location: Cappy
the dreaded ben wrote:
seth_seth wrote:
what's a red light?
why, on average, does the general public hate us again?
because nothing is more ire-inducing to a car than being passed by a cyclist.
Happy Stick Person
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:02 pm
Joined: 20 Sep 2006Posts: 1168Location: Leschi
my kung fu is better then yours...
piratemolly
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:16 pm
Joined: 25 Aug 2006Posts: 533Location: here, there, everywhere
Trev was totally right.
Except I like Red Lights. They give me lots of chances to:
- tap on driver's windows to get them to roll them down followed by:
- cursing and communicating to car drivers what jerks they are by cutting me off all the time, speeding past me, almost hitting me, ignoring the bike lanes, etc
- work on balancing
- get water or refuel
- pull up my garters & stockings
- write down license plate #s or use my camera to photograph cars that try to motor-down cyclists
- stick my chewing gum on the window's of cars whose drivers are assholes (also, sticking it on the doorlock can be quite effective)
DJStroky
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:17 pm
Joined: 25 May 2007Posts: 356Location: Downtown Tacoma
Alex wrote:
Bikes trigger then at most intersections and the city seems to respond when you find ones that don't trigger.
I'm not sure where you bike, but I'd say bikes don't trigger the signals at ALMOST ALL traffic lights in the Seattle area. These traffic walking signals are one of my biggest pet peeves. Especially walking signals that don't give you a walking signal when they give traffic a green light. I want to scold each and every dipshit transportation engineer that programmed intersections that don't let people walk on default.
Pedestrians have just as much if not more rights to walk than cars do at an intersection. Isn't there something in our law saying the pedestrian always has the right of way?
Also, on a side topic, I've found a really cool website that calculates how walkable a neighborhood is based on the nearness of amenities. Check it out: www.walkscore.com
_________________ Tacoma isn't that bad... well maybe it is
surlykat
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:28 pm
Joined: 05 Jul 2007Posts: 658Location: in the CD
DJStroky wrote:
Also, on a side topic, I've found a really cool website that calculates how walkable a neighborhood is based on the nearness of amenities. Check it out: www.walkscore.com
yeah i saw that, i got a 92! beat that.
DJStroky
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:30 pm
Joined: 25 May 2007Posts: 356Location: Downtown Tacoma
surlykat wrote:
yeah i saw that, i got a 92! beat that.
Lucky! I was riding down Broadway today wishing I didn't have to bike another 5 miles. *sigh* My house earned a 55. *groan*
_________________ Tacoma isn't that bad... well maybe it is
SeditiousCanary
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:33 pm
sorry, can't make it!Joined: 26 Jan 2006Posts: 2315Location: Fremont Troll
surlykat wrote:
yeah i saw that, i got a 92! beat that.
I got a 89, but I'm sure it's because I'm not a girl. It's weighted like that.
Eric_s
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:15 pm
Joined: 07 Mar 2007Posts: 1691Location: the dirty south
lantius wrote:
Eric_s wrote:
RIDE THROUGH DOWNTOWN PROTESTING THE RED LIGHT HEGEMONY AND FREE MUMIA!.
it doesn't need a protest, it just needs to fade into reasonable accepted behavior.
Exactly. It needs to be accepted behavior for a cyclist to take the right lane on 4th avenue. It needs to be accepted behavior that I will stop, and then go if it's safe at an intersection. It needs to be accepted behavior that cyclists will lane split, and not just next to parked cars. It needs to be accepted behavior that cyclists will not be self-righteous douchebags and they will pay attention to the traffic around them and react accordingly. It needs to be accepted behavior that cars won't try to "punish" cyclists for flouting "laws" which typically are made up imaginary ones in their heads.
The Mumia thing was just a troll. Lots of people get locked up for lots of shit, sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong.
surlykat
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:06 am
Joined: 05 Jul 2007Posts: 658Location: in the CD
SeditiousCanary wrote:
surlykat wrote:
yeah i saw that, i got a 92! beat that.
I got a 89, but I'm sure it's because I'm not a girl. It's weighted like that.
Yeah, because the test completely asked for your sex. Not just your address.
Someone should figure out how to calculate a rideability score. Like the walkability score, but with a wider range but a greater (up)hill penalty.
dennyt
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:11 am
rocket mechanicJoined: 02 Aug 2005Posts: 2708
surlykat wrote:
SeditiousCanary wrote:
surlykat wrote:
yeah i saw that, i got a 92! beat that.
I got a 89, but I'm sure it's because I'm not a girl. It's weighted like that.
Yeah, because the test completely asked for your sex. Not just your address.
Someone should figure out how to calculate a rideability score. Like the walkability score, but with a wider range but a greater (up)hill penalty.
Brandon!
Also - proximity to bread dumpsters and bike co-ops.
n_claw
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:11 am
Joined: 02 Jul 2007Posts: 517Location: the only hill: Beacon
I'm a lil late to this thread, but did you know that Portland has BIKE SIGNALS? oh yes. my secret (ok, perhaps less-than-secret) plot is that we will someday bring Seattle on par. they're cycles painted on the pavement. you put your bike over it, light turns green. dreamy
laura
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:14 am
Joined: 22 Jun 2007Posts: 1050Location: wherever the dance party is
n_claw wrote:
I'm a lil late to this thread, but did you know that Portland has BIKE SIGNALS? oh yes. my secret (ok, perhaps less-than-secret) plot is that we will someday bring Seattle on par. they're cycles painted on the pavement. you put your bike over it, light turns green. dreamy
omg, omg, omg - i WANT those ...
surlykat
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:22 am
Joined: 05 Jul 2007Posts: 658Location: in the CD
n_claw wrote:
I'm a lil late to this thread, but did you know that Portland has BIKE SIGNALS? oh yes. my secret (ok, perhaps less-than-secret) plot is that we will someday bring Seattle on par. they're cycles painted on the pavement. you put your bike over it, light turns green. dreamy
...
I've come to the conclusion that Seattle will never be as awesome as Portland, transportation-wise, but we've got them beat by almost every other metric.
n_claw
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:22 am
Joined: 02 Jul 2007Posts: 517Location: the only hill: Beacon
laura wrote:
n_claw wrote:
I'm a lil late to this thread, but did you know that Portland has BIKE SIGNALS? oh yes. my secret (ok, perhaps less-than-secret) plot is that we will someday bring Seattle on par. they're cycles painted on the pavement. you put your bike over it, light turns green. dreamy
omg, omg, omg - i WANT those ...
tell me about it. Portland has a STAGGERING number of bikers, and it is an extremely bike-friendly city. when i was in town last month i stumbled upon the Mulnomah County Bike Fair. these were our kind of folk! beer, bikes, trailers and purdy girls with tattoos everywhere. tall-bikes and freak-bikes and all sorts. Brandon and I just sort of clung to one another for a few minutes while watching the crowd with our eyes the size of delighted saucers, then scurried off to meet a friend.
someday...someday.
Eric_s
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:23 am
Joined: 07 Mar 2007Posts: 1691Location: the dirty south
n_claw wrote:
I'm a lil late to this thread, but did you know that Portland has BIKE SIGNALS? oh yes. my secret (ok, perhaps less-than-secret) plot is that we will someday bring Seattle on par. they're cycles painted on the pavement. you put your bike over it, light turns green. dreamy
Those are similar to the little "T" SDOT has painted at some intersections, and are simply located over the usual induction coil...
Stanglor
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:49 am
Joined: 28 Jan 2006Posts: 555Location: Wallingford
TrikerTrev wrote:
you have to ask, Ben?
theyre; fat, lazy, and winded; lacking motivation to reduce their massive, lumbering bulks. They spend countless hours stuck in traffic, sucking fumes and stewing in their own juices. They also spend thousands upon thousands of dollars yearly to pay for this ability to sit on their ass and be miserable, and are bitter about it. They have no community. They hate each other, but they hate us more cause they cant legally run us down when we get in their way.
Take out the part about no community and I think it's a pretty good description of .83 actually. If you leave the part about no community in, it's at least a good description of Derrick
_________________ Confidential to everybody: "Pearl necklace" is out. "Cheney" is in. Pass it on.
langston
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:02 am
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
Stanglor wrote:
TrikerTrev wrote:
you have to ask, Ben?
Take out the part about no community and I think it's a pretty good description of .83 actually. If you leave the part about no community in, it's at least a good description of Derrick
hey I get out of the saddle to climb...
gsbarnes
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:44 am
Joined: 15 Aug 2006Posts: 2666Location: No Fun Town, USA
DJStroky wrote:
Alex wrote:
Bikes trigger then at most intersections and the city seems to respond when you find ones that don't trigger.
I'm not sure where you bike, but I'd say bikes don't trigger the signals at ALMOST ALL traffic lights in the Seattle area.
If you're talking about the city of Seattle, jot down one or two of these lights, including direction of travel and lane, and e-mail the bicycle spot improvement program. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikespot.htm.
Make sure you're not overlooking a white 'T' at the intersection, or you'll look stupid. That's where you're supposed to stop to trigger the signal. If there is no appropriate 'T', go ahead and complain. Or if the 'T' doesn't work, definitely complain.
Anyway, they used to come out with a bicycle wheel and adjust the signal (I saw 'em, it's pretty cool, and that tells you how little metal you need to trigger it). But since Pauh Wang got moved to Siberia, I don't know if they're as responsive. Send them e-mail, and if you don't get a response in a week, send it to the City Council Transportation Committee: Drago, Steinbrueck, Rasmussen, Godden. Trust me, that'll get someone's attention.
_________________ I have always thought in the back of my mind: Cheese and Onions
DJStroky
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:07 am
Joined: 25 May 2007Posts: 356Location: Downtown Tacoma
I'm going to Portland this Sunday! :D
_________________ Tacoma isn't that bad... well maybe it is
SeditiousCanary
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:50 am
sorry, can't make it!Joined: 26 Jan 2006Posts: 2315Location: Fremont Troll
laura wrote:
n_claw wrote:
you put your bike over it, light turns green. dreamy
omg, omg, omg - i WANT those ...
You all know the magnet trick which does this on regular stop light loops, right?
henry
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:55 am
somewhat piggishJoined: 05 Aug 2005Posts: 5415Location: on porch with shotgun
DJStroky wrote:
I'm going to Portland this Sunday! :D
Make sure you wash the black hair dye out before you come back.
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