Ok Guys heres my beef I was out on the beast today riding around town, I came to a set of pedestrian lights which turned red so we all stopped. It was lunch timeso there was alot of people about. So theyre all crossing the road when this cyclist courier came speeding up the inside/kerbside of the cars narrowly missing the mirrors and went speeding into the people crossing the road. He caught this little old lady with her shopping and spun her almost 360 degrees, he stumbled and almost dropped how on earth he didnt fall was beyond me. The guy didnt even stop to see if the lady was ok and just carried on. I was fuming, what arrogance and it got mer thinking about all the other near misses ive seen with cyclists and I started to get angry coz we HAVE to have insurance where as cyclists dont and what the situation worse is there is a cyclist route. I think all cyclists should be shot on sight!!!!

In general, cyclists are OK.  There are quite a few on the back roads around here, and most are well behaved.  They typically stay to the right and use rear view mirrors.  Normally in very small groups.
I call these recreational cyclists.  

What chaps my chaps is when there is a TON of those out there on some sort of contest or charity event.  If they have a number on their back, they feel they own the road.  Riding 4 abreast, taking up the entire lane (or road), not moving over, etc, etc.  And their rest areas are a disaster looking for a place to happen.
I call these Lance Wannabees.

Cyclists are riding a vehicle (granted human-powered) they are (or should be) subject to the same rules as other vehicles. This would include yielding to pedestrians. However with that said, this comes with the requirement that they be given the same right of way as other vehicles which means they are entitled to an entire lane.

Youzguyz - do you move over and get out of the way when a car passes you? Do you share lanes when you are passing? Why do you think that bikers should do this - because they are going slower than the person passing them? By definition this is happening anytime one vehicle passes another. Do you expect slower cars to move over? At least in Illinois, when you pass a vehicle, you are required to miss everything else (Basically, you are leaving your lane which is all you are entitled to. So, yield to oncoming traffic and the vehicle you are passing when you come back into the same lane). Also, we do not have lane sharing, so you can't use the same lane (legally) to pass a MC or a bicycle or a car, etc.

ArGaT wrote on 07/13/10 at 11:08:44:

cyclist aren't pedestrians, he was in violation of the law entering a crosswalk on wheels.  Since he was working, insurance should be carried.

Cycles *are* vehicles and thus cyclists should be allowed on the streets.  BUT....

Bicyclists shall comply the laws.  And...
*ANY* driver who does not comply the laws should be shot on sight.

Phelonius wrote on 07/13/10 at 12:10:48:

As long as their paying road tax its alright to ride the roads.

The last several months I have turned into an avid cyclist. Most of you know I have Lupus. When Mick found out I had Lupus he sent me a video about an American roadracer who has Lupus. His dream was to race the Isle of Man. He sold his house and car and moved to the Isle of Man. He trained for the race on a bicycle. I have tried every kind of exercise and my hands and feet would always swell. I cant swim because I have tubes in my ears. Back in April I was thinking about Mick's video so I bought a nice Trek Mountain Bike. I knew I couldnt last much longer just laying around the house, already had one heart attack. Last week I tripped 500 miles on the bicycle. No swelling of the hands or feet! Today I rode over 16 miles. I rode it one time on city streets and I was terrified. You'll never have to worry about me blocking traffic. The city built a 7 mi bike trail about a 1/2 mi from my home. Thats where I do the majority of my riding. Had a physical last week. My doctor was so excited about my bloodwork she called me at home. She said my bloodwork looked the best it had looked in 10 years. She asked me what I was doing different, wanted to know if I had changed my diet. I told her no change in diet. Then I told her about the bicycle. She said whatever you do, dont stop pedaling.

Way to go Midnightrider. Is always nice to hear how one can improve their health and stump the Dr's.

Here the cyclist's are supposed to obey the same rules as a car when on the roads. Like every thing else. Some do and some don't.

Last summer we were with another couple all on our mc's. We were on back roads and came upon a large group cycling from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Wa. It got very hectic as these also rode 4 abreast and on curves as well.  It made it very difficult as one never knew if they were going to pass the cyclists in front and some would pull out into the lane with little or no warning.  

It taught me to check and make sure their not doing their annual run when I may be wanting to travel the same route. I will take the freeway vs going thru that again.

Also here in Wa. It is against the law to pedal your ass....