Does a trike put me on a collision course with traffic?

Pat, an apparent non-cyclist, but possibly a biker, wrote:
On Apr 5, 5:22 pm, Tom Sherman
wrote:
Pat, an apparent non-cyclist, wrote: [...]

What's this "non-cyclist" stuff? I don't know if I am or not. Too
many semantics here for me. But the snow is off and the weather is
warming. The ski slope up the road even closes tomorrow. So I
started getting my bike out of winter storage. That was a nice
feeling.

I got the cob webs off of her and I just pushed the starter and she
jumped right to life. Maybe next weekend I'll change the oil and
install the new thermostat I just ordered.

If it has a motor, you are either a motorcyclist or biker, depending on
the type of machine and clothes you wear.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Scott M. Kozel wrote:
Tom Sherman wrote:
Scott M. Kozel wrote:
Tom Sherman wrote:
Scott M. Kozel wrote:
Tom Sherman wrote:
Scott M. Kozel wrote:
Tom Sherman wrote:
Pat, an apparent non-cyclist, wrote:

The bikers in the group say we need bike lanes and camera enforcement
and this and that. That's a HUGE investment for a relatively small
group of people. That public investment could probably go for better
uses.
A "biker" is someone that rides a large cruiser type motorcycle and
wears the associated clothing and accessories.
That is not correct according to standard major dictionary definitions.

The first definition of "biker" is "a person who rides a bicycle,
motorcycle, or motorbike" --

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/biker

A cyclist is someone who rides a bicycle.
"Cyclist" includes bicycle and motorcycle use as well --

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cyclist
The dictionary is wrong as concerns actual usage.

Proper cyclists DO NOT refer to themselves as "bikers".
The dictionaries represent the most commonly recognized societal usages
of particular words, and they trump your opinions.
How many dictionary writers are proper cyclists?

Real cyclists DO NOT refer to themselves as "bikers". Duh!
Who defines what is a "proper cyclist" or "real cyclist"?
If you have to ask, you are obviously not one. Here is a hint - their
single track vehicles are NOT powered by V-Twin engines.

The point is, that YOU don't get to define words for everybody.

I am reporting on what the actual usage is, not defining words for
everybody. DUH!

The dictionary definitions trump your static worldview.

I can recall several instances where clueless local newspaper reporters
referred to bicyclists as "bikers", which was worth a good laugh for the
bicyclists.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Jens Müller wrote:
Pat schrieb:
That's why bikes and horse and pedestrians are banned from highways.

a) What is your definition of "highway"? The meaning as in "National
Highway System" or as in "highway code", i.e. "public street"?

b) What country are you talking about?

Pat appears to be using "highway" as a synonym for "controlled access
road", which is NOT the common US usage. For example, the Federal
Highway Administration does NOT limit itself to controlled access roads.

Controlled access roads with minimum speeds in the US are referred to as
freeways (or tollways if there is a fee for use). Typically, bicycles
are prohibited from these roads, except in certain western states that
allow bicycles on freeways due to the lack of any reasonable alternative
route.

In most US states, there are county highways that are maintained by
local agencies. Some of these are two-lane roads perfectly suitable for
the bicyclist to ride on. There are state highways, which can vary from
two-lane roads with light traffic to freeways that prohibit slow moving
traffic.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Pat, with a non-standard use of "highway", wrote:
On Apr 5, 5:37 pm, Tom Sherman
wrote:
Pat, vehicular bully, wrote:
[...]
Meanwhile, if you feel unsafe, look within. Are you doing anything
that you shouldn't be or that's unpredictable? I see more of that
with people on bikes than with drivers. Drivers are a fairly
predictable group. You know about what speed they are going, how wide
the lane is and how wide the car is. If you are obstructing them,
then get out of the way. You need to be able to keep up with traffic
if you're going to be on the road.
So might makes right, eh?

Can I put a ram on the front of a dump-truck and go plowing through city
traffic that is going more slowly than I want to go?


You entirely missed the point. The point is, it appears that the
poster is scared and hesitant and therefore probably is unsafe in
traffic.

Or is an "Internet crusader".

If you do things that are unpredictable, you will have more
trouble. If you go slower or faster than traffic, it is dangerous.
That's why bikes and horse and pedestrians are banned from highways.

Really? In the state I live in, bicycles, horses and pedestrians are
allowed on every county highway (officially labeled as "County Trunk
Highways"), almost every state highway (the only exceptions being a few
controlled access routes) and most of the US Postal Highways (except for
the few controlled access sections). The same is true of most states.

Some western states even allow bicycles and other slow moving vehicles
to use the shoulder on rural sections of Interstate Highways.

And, if you go UNDER 45 on an expressway, you can be ticketed for
that, too, if everyone else is going at road speed. The gov't has
recognized that going too slow is dangerous. If you can't keep up
with traffic, get off the road. If you can, and you are still having
problems, then look within.

The original poster was not talking about controlled access roads. Sheesh!

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Bob Hunt wrote:
On Apr 5, 10:10 am, ComandanteBanana wrote:
[...]
You are advising me to buy the tandem road bike I like and ride it
everyday among the top predators?

If I could be sure it would end your one trick pony posts here, I'd
buy it for you myself.
[...]

LOL!

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

On Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:09:09 -0400, "Scott M. Kozel"
wrote:


Who defines what is a "proper cyclist" or "real cyclist"?


Manners, posture, and clothing!

When I'm riding properly, I say "pardon me" as I turn, signal with my
pinkie out, never slump in the saddle, and wear formal clothing. G

I really don't care if someone calls me a "biker", "cyclist", "guy on
a bicycle", as I'm enjoying myself.

Valued Corporate #120,345 Employee (B A R R Y) schrieb:
On Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:09:09 -0400, "Scott M. Kozel"
wrote:

Who defines what is a "proper cyclist" or "real cyclist"?


Manners, posture, and clothing!

When I'm riding properly, I say "pardon me" as I turn, signal with my
pinkie out, never slump in the saddle, and wear formal clothing. G

What is formal clothing? A suit, complete with a tie?

On Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:13:17 +0200, Jens Müller
wrote:

What is formal clothing? A suit, complete with a tie?

That's "semi-formal".

Formal means tuxedo & tails! G

Valued Corporate #120,345 Employee (B A R R Y) schrieb:
On Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:13:17 +0200, Jens Müller
wrote:

What is formal clothing? A suit, complete with a tie?

That's "semi-formal".

Formal means tuxedo & tails! G

Uh hu ...

I think there's probably no word than for the kind of clothing I'm
wearing at work ... Jeans and sweatshirt, or shorts and T-shirt in
summer ...

On Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:19:36 +0200, Jens Müller
wrote:



http://www.dateline.ucdavis.edu/photos_images/dateline_images/060603/johnmeyeronbike1.jpg