cRPG

Off Topic => General Off Topic => Topic started by: Angantyr on December 03, 2014, 06:30:37 pm

Title: Bike culture?
Post by: Angantyr on December 03, 2014, 06:30:37 pm
I come from a country where cycling is an integral part of our lives from childhood and through adulthood. Only 12% of our population drive a car to work in the capital, despite Denmark being one of the world's richest countries. Bicycles are to Danes what skis are to our Norwegian and Swedish brothers and sisters, they are healthy, non-polluting, cheap and practical. I know the Dutch love their bikes, too, but apparently we North Europeans are somewhat an anomaly among Western nations. I'm curious as to the role of bikes in other nations represented on this forum?

Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Teeth on December 03, 2014, 06:43:54 pm
Being Dutch I couldn't imagine what my life or our cities would look like without bicycles. It's like 4 times faster than walking and in cities they are usually faster than buses too, not to mention way more flexible. All the way from being like 4 years old until when I will have an income high enough to sustain a car, it is an integral part of how I get around and probably after that for short distances or city life.

What do people do without a bycicle when they want to visit a friend who lives 3 km away in a city, walk?
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Daunt_Flockula on December 03, 2014, 06:44:20 pm
Reporting from Turkey: Every little piece of shit and their mother drives a fucking car here.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Swaggart on December 03, 2014, 06:44:49 pm
I'm curious as to the role of bikes in other nations represented on this forum?

Speed bumps.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Moncho on December 03, 2014, 06:47:30 pm
It may be alright in Northern countries, but in Southern ones like Spain there is just no point, since in the summer it's hot so you start sweating too soon, so it is not practical. Plus, drivers and road planners seem to go out of their way to make cyclists life a misery (while cyclists themselves often behave irresponsibly and cycle around like retards)...
As an example in a village near where I used to live (La Nucia) a brand new cycle path was made just a few years ago, but it was so horrendously done that there are traffic signs, bus stops, parked cars and bunches of other obstacles in the way, so if someone dares take the bike they prefer to go on the road with the cars rather than having to stop every few meters and dodge an obstacle: eg the green thing is a bike path, and please tell me where on earth you can fit a bike through there...

(click to show/hide)

What do people do without a bycicle when they want to visit a friend who lives 3 km away in a city, walk?
Car, public transport, maybe walk.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Gravoth_iii on December 03, 2014, 06:53:23 pm
People on bikes are pretty nuts though, going past you at 50km/h where a slight step to the side woulde made them run into you. Bicycles are nice sure, but the ones riding them can be fucking crazy. Fuck bikes.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Angantyr on December 03, 2014, 07:00:09 pm
I've heard other Swedes among my friends say exactly the same, interestingly enough. Perhaps it is due to your hilly and mountainous terrain.

Denmark and the Netherlands are near completely flat   :wink:
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Teeth on December 03, 2014, 07:10:59 pm
People on bikes are pretty nuts though, going past you at 50km/h where a slight step to the side woulde made them run into you. Bicycles are nice sure, but the ones riding them can be fucking crazy. Fuck bikes.
Well, in Dutchland and I presume Daneland too, many roads have a bike path seperated from the main road with lines at least. These are considered roads as much as real roads and pedestrians know not to walk on them without looking both ways. 50 km/h is pretty fast though, even for a racing bike. I presume we are mostly discussing basic utility bikes, which average like 20 km/h. Or 30 km/h if you are always in a rush like me.

Moncho, that bike path does look absolutely retarded. Bicycles get much more useful and safe if they are considered in the road design.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Angantyr on December 03, 2014, 07:31:43 pm
Don't you have seperated lanes for bikes in Sweden, Gravoth? I've actually never thought to look when visiting.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: ThePoopy on December 03, 2014, 08:26:02 pm
most swedish cyclist are 40year guys in full gay suit on 3000€ speed bikes
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Wiltzu on December 03, 2014, 08:54:01 pm
http://vimeo.com/109273337

I fucking hate cyclists...
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: lombardsoup on December 03, 2014, 09:32:40 pm
http://vimeo.com/109273337

I fucking hate cyclists...

This, they need to stay in the fucking bike lane and get out of my (and everyone elses) way
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Vibe on December 03, 2014, 09:44:18 pm
http://vimeo.com/109273337

I fucking hate cyclists...

Yes, because it was the cyclists fault here right and not the car that almost ran him over AT A CROSSING?
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: lombardsoup on December 03, 2014, 09:48:36 pm
Yes, because it was the cyclists fault here right and not the car that almost ran him over AT A CROSSING?

Poor judgement on the part of the cyclist (and the gigglin + finger would have earned him vehicular manslaughter from me)
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Gravoth_iii on December 03, 2014, 09:49:12 pm
Don't you have seperated lanes for bikes in Sweden, Gravoth? I've actually never thought to look when visiting.

I'm pretty sure we dont, atleast not in my small city and i doubt the bigger has it either. Sidewalks are for both cyclists and walking my old friendets.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Moncho on December 03, 2014, 10:09:52 pm
Poor judgement on the part of the cyclist (and the gigglin + finger would have earned him vehicular manslaughter from me)
The cyclist was indicating that he was going to turn left, which is the same as a left indicator and it is the driver's fault not realising and giving him way, since he was in a crossing. The cyclist should have noticed and been more careful though too. The stopping and being an ass afterwards because of the horn was retarded though, I agree.
Just a bunch of bad manners and practices put together...

And yeah Teeth, in Spain either there are either no bicycle  paths, or poorly designed ones. It is also a fairly mountainous country, which doesn't help either.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Vibe on December 03, 2014, 10:22:50 pm
Poor judgement on the part of the cyclist (and the gigglin + finger would have earned him vehicular manslaughter from me)

He gave a signal. It was entirely the car drivers fault. Poor judgement? No, just too much trust in retarded car drivers to stop when they should stop.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: SixThumbs on December 03, 2014, 11:01:31 pm
For me and the general culture of it in this town they're a nuisance. Here it's a hobby for the 30-65 year old business people where they buy those outfits and bikes that professional cyclists use and then roam in packs failing to ride single file on roads that have no sidewalk or bike-lane.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: ARN_ on December 03, 2014, 11:15:43 pm
The cyclist was indicating that he was going to turn left, which is the same as a left indicator and it is the driver's fault not realising and giving him way, since he was in a crossing. The cyclist should have noticed and been more careful though too. The stopping and being an ass afterwards because of the horn was retarded though, I agree.
Just a bunch of bad manners and practices put together...

And yeah Teeth, in Spain either there are either no bicycle  paths, or poorly designed ones. It is also a fairly mountainous country, which doesn't help either.
Thing is tho that here in Sweden and I guess it's the same in Finland as well is that you have to let the cars pass if you want to ride your bike over a crossing, if you on the other hand dismount the bike and walk over he has to stop.  So here it was the cyclist fault, assuming Finland have the same rules ofc
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Kalam on December 03, 2014, 11:47:43 pm
I bike home from work every day. It's so rare to see another cyclist that I know the faces of the few others in town. There are no bike lanes, but it's technically illegal to cycle on the sidewalks. The average speed of the cars on the road is 45mph. They never see me. Even my wife doesn't see me when she drives past me. Every other day someone almost hits me.

It's HORRIBLE. However, different cities and states in the United States are drastically different. I've been to smaller cities in cooler climates where most of the population or at least half seems to bike. I wish everyone rode bikes, but most people drive cars, and it's a harsh world for a cyclist. They operate on schedules that assume you can drive everywhere, to the point that my bosses are trying to pressure me into buying a second car.

tl;dr it sucks to be a cyclist where I live
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Moncho on December 03, 2014, 11:54:58 pm
Thing is tho that here in Sweden and I guess it's the same in Finland as well is that you have to let the cars pass if you want to ride your bike over a crossing, if you on the other hand dismount the bike and walk over he has to stop.  So here it was the cyclist fault, assuming Finland have the same rules ofc
huh the bit of the crossing without the lines painted (closer to the car in this case) is the signal for a crossing for cyclists, at least in Spain, whereas the one with the stripes is the pedestrian one (zebra crossing).
Notice how there isn't a curb in the middle as well, whereas the zebra crossing bit does have one.
In the UK there are also squares (smaller) without stripes in the middle that indicate that both pedestrians and cyclists can cross (toucan crossings).
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Gravoth_iii on December 04, 2014, 12:00:24 am
http://vimeo.com/109273337

I fucking hate cyclists...

Yeah thats definitely all on the car driver, the guy even clearly signals that he's about to turn. Flipping the driver off totally legit, he even honks as if it was the cyclists fault. It's like in crpg when you report someone and they get mad at you for reporting when they were the one that fucking teamhit you.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Teeth on December 04, 2014, 12:04:09 am
Not even in Dutchland do cars have to give way to cyclists at a bike crossing, unless specifically indicated.

I'm pretty sure we dont, atleast not in my small city and i doubt the bigger has it either. Sidewalks are for both cyclists and walking my old friendets.
Really, cyclists are supposed to use sidewalks in Sweden?
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Joseph Porta on December 04, 2014, 12:34:58 am
The best thing about bikes is that you can still drive them whilst being incredibly drunk

Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Gravoth_iii on December 04, 2014, 12:55:27 am
Not even in Dutchland do cars have to give way to cyclists at a bike crossing, unless specifically indicated.
Really, cyclists are supposed to use sidewalks in Sweden?

Thats what everyone does atleast.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: NejStark on December 04, 2014, 01:14:04 am
I wish my city was flat for cycling, but then skateboarding would be shit. I work by a river, and live on the top of the hill. Cycling to work is fun when I did it before but the way back is a nightmare. So.. I drive..
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Prpavi on December 04, 2014, 01:28:43 am
As a pasionate bike rider in my city that has little but increasing bike roads and a car owner also I can say car drivers are higly intolerant and uneducated (in trafic) and don't handle bike rider situations as they should, sort of a king of the road complex. My city is 3/4 flat and with the awfull traffic I get to the city and my work twice faster on my bike, I've always been riding bikes and in my neighborhood it's really common, we also have an nice lake nearby where everybody goes often especially over the weekends. One lap around the lake is 6km so even a couple of laps is a nice workout and stress relief.
(click to show/hide)

Basically couldn't imagine my life without a bike  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Spurdospera on December 04, 2014, 03:20:48 am
Yes, because it was the cyclists fault here right and not the car that almost ran him over AT A CROSSING?
Actually it´s a bit more complicated than that here in Finland. Bicycles count as vehicles, thus they must follow the same rules as any other vehicles while driving. Crossing does not give cyclist right to go first by default. In that videos situation it´s hard to say which is right since cyclist is TURNING left(turning vehicles will give way to vehicles not turning unless indicated otherwise), thus he must give way to cars. In the other hand cyclist is approaching from RIGHT and he does not have that triangle to indicate that he´d have to give way... so he would be right to go first. I read the manual about this again, cyclist must ALWAYS give way to cars when using crossing unless otherwise indicated to car driver with signs.

Laws considering cyclists using those crossings are outdated and messy at best in Finland. Usually safest way to do crossing is just getting off your bicycle, thus making you a pedestrian who has always priority.

Yeah thats definitely all on the car driver, the guy even clearly signals that he's about to turn.
Does not matter, car has priority.
(click to show/hide)
that sign is one of these two, left one means "road has priority, every road that connects this road have not". Right one means that priority ends. Basically it just means that those on priority road won´t give way to those connecting to it, including cyclists since they count as vehicle.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Swaggart on December 04, 2014, 04:11:56 am
If I was that cyclist I wouldn't really care too much about what the road sign said or the laws dictate. Me versus a moving car is not a battle I'm going to win.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: WITCHCRAFT on December 04, 2014, 05:19:23 am
It's HORRIBLE. However, different cities and states in the United States are drastically different. I've been to smaller cities in cooler climates where most of the population or at least half seems to bike. I wish everyone rode bikes, but most people drive cars, and it's a harsh world for a cyclist. They operate on schedules that assume you can drive everywhere, to the point that my bosses are trying to pressure me into buying a second car.

Yeah the US is all over the place, most major cities have at least rudimentary bike paths but anywhere else you're that one fuckin' weirdo who must be out to prove a point because they're riding a bike on the road, good lord!

The best thing about bikes is that you can still drive them whilst being incredibly drunk

I don't know if this is national or state law but at least around here you can get a DUI for biking drunk. Biking sober is enough of a death wish as it is. I mainly cycle for pleasure in the evening and at night. Stick to side roads or smooth sidewalks where you won't see another soul for miles. Late enough at night, even main roads will be empty and you can pedal wherever the hell you want to. I don't wear a helmet because I'm dumb and the wind feels good, man. One night I'm going to get hit-and-run smeared and I will vanish from these forums without a trace.  :|
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Vibe on December 04, 2014, 08:15:23 am
I don't know if this is national or state law but at least around here you can get a DUI for biking drunk.

Same here in slavlands.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: lombardsoup on December 04, 2014, 08:36:47 am
Definitely a state by state basis here in the US.  In some states cycles aren't legally defined as vehicles, allowing one to skirt a DUI

One night I'm going to get hit-and-run smeared and I will vanish from these forums without a trace.  :|

Watch out for obnoxiously large red Toyota Tundras driven by soup cans

jk
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Andswaru on December 04, 2014, 10:02:27 am
The best thing about bikes is that you can still drive them whilst being incredibly drunk

Also when the police catch you drunk cycling you lose your driving license in England and Germany.

In my city (Mannheim, Germany) cycle pathes are preety rare inside the city, but cyclists are well respected, at least in my personal experience, but outside the city into the country there are lots of nice bikepathes along the rhine and into the schwazwald. All in all the bike culture is good in my area.
However when I was home in England I lived in Middlesbrough and Newcastle and I would NEVER EVER ride a bike in either of those 2 cities unless I had a definate deathwish.  :mad:
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: FleetFox on December 04, 2014, 10:31:27 am
People on bikes are pretty nuts though, going past you at 50km/h where a slight step to the side woulde made them run into you. Bicycles are nice sure, but the ones riding them can be fucking crazy. Fuck bikes.

haha and what about Car drivers? I'm pretty sure you'd prefer to get hit by a bike at 50km/h than by a car  :lol:

I'd love to go to Holland and Denmark to see everyone using bikes, I've ridden a bike since I was 3 years old (no joke) fucking one of my fav things to do, especially mountain biking. Around 2 years ago I was in Freiburg and there were thousands of bikes around, especially at the University which was great to see.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Gravoth_iii on December 04, 2014, 11:36:16 am
Does not matter, car has priority.
(click to show/hide)
that sign is one of these two, left one means "road has priority, every road that connects this road have not". Right one means that priority ends. Basically it just means that those on priority road won´t give way to those connecting to it, including cyclists since they count as vehicle.

Im pretty sure that means that car lane has priority, when it comes to a crosswalk the pedestrians always have priority. Cyclists may or may not be included there, he couldve jumped off his bike and walked over to be fully law abiding, but who has time for that shit, he signaled clearly that he was going over the crosswalk, and cyclists are basically considered to be the same as pedestrians.

haha and what about Car drivers? I'm pretty sure you'd prefer to get hit by a bike at 50km/h than by a car  :lol:


Cars dont drive on the sidewalk  :shock:
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Umbra on December 04, 2014, 11:42:09 am
Being Dutch I couldn't imagine what my life or our cities would look like without bicycles. It's like 4 times faster than walking and in cities they are usually faster than buses too, not to mention way more flexible. All the way from being like 4 years old until when I will have an income high enough to sustain a car, it is an integral part of how I get around and probably after that for short distances or city life.

What do people do without a bycicle when they want to visit a friend who lives 3 km away in a city, walk?

People here mostly take trams and busses since the public transport network is well covered and you can get away without paying a ticket. There arent enough bike lanes in the city to make it practical everywhere. Though i do live somewhat in the suburbs and close to the city artificial lake and recreation centre so there are more bikes around this part of town. When you get to the city core riding a bike is impossible because of the old narrow streets.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Lars on December 04, 2014, 01:04:39 pm
http://vimeo.com/109273337

I fucking hate cyclists...

He gave a signal. It was entirely the car drivers fault. Poor judgement? No, just too much trust in retarded car drivers to stop when they should stop.


According to the traffic code( i guess it's the same in Finland too), the cyclist in the video should have stopped and dismount from the bike; that was a pedestrian crossing and not a pedestrian-bike crossing. In order to be allowed to do what the cyclist did, this road sign must be present at the crossing  :arrow:
(click to show/hide)
which means cyclists can cross the road without dismounting and cars must give them priority   

Nvm, i rewatched the video, actually the cyclist is right, because there are the white squares on the road close to the zebra crossing
(click to show/hide)
. "white squares" at a crossing have the same value of this road sign 
(click to show/hide)

I have never seen before the "white squares" meaning bike-crossing without the vertical road sign.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: AntiBlitz on December 04, 2014, 02:12:18 pm
I don't know if this is national or state law but at least around here you can get a DUI for biking drunk.

you can get a dui/dwi for using rollerblades, or a skateboard.  anything that is considered a means of transportation that the person is operating.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Kafein on December 04, 2014, 02:27:03 pm
Being Dutch I couldn't imagine what my life or our cities would look like without bicycles. It's like 4 times faster than walking and in cities they are usually faster than buses too, not to mention way more flexible. All the way from being like 4 years old until when I will have an income high enough to sustain a car, it is an integral part of how I get around and probably after that for short distances or city life.

What do people do without a bycicle when they want to visit a friend who lives 3 km away in a city, walk?

Yeah, walk. It's a physical activity too. I like to bike for fun, but cycling in traffic is simply horrible. By using a bike instead of public transport to go to work I'd gain 45 minutes per day but it's too much stress. I like cycling in the city at night when there's almost no traffic though, that's really cool.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Hirlok on December 04, 2014, 03:29:43 pm
In Paraguay cycling is not very popular - mostly due to the sand/dirt roads everywhere. And the very limited awareness / general "industrialization" direction of the country...

But it is slowly taking up speed - the upper class bundle of stickss have discovered expensive mountain bikes as trend toys (if it is less than $5000 it's not worth it...), and some cheap ass bikes show up in supermarkets, occasionally you see kids in villages with less terrible roads on bikes, and here and there some old Paraguayan guy on some ancient something that remotely resembles a bicycle slowly pedaling along...  :)

Most folks here drive cheap motorcycles, and whoever can afford one has a car. Environmental aspects are almost non-existent, so nobody understands why riding a bicycle might be a useful alternative... 
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Spurdospera on December 04, 2014, 06:04:22 pm

Nvm, i rewatched the video, actually the cyclist is right, because there are the white squares on the road close to the zebra crossing
(click to show/hide)
. "white squares" at a crossing have the same value of this road sign 
(click to show/hide)

Yes indeed cyclist has right to USE the crossing because of those dots. Still that doesn´t mean that he´d have a priority while crossing; cyclists who wish to cross a road by using crossing must still give way to normal traffic since bicycles are vehicles. Thus that cyclist is still an asshole.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Maple_Syrup on December 04, 2014, 06:16:13 pm
Canadian Cyclist here, been hit 2 times this year. our infrastructure is shit in my city and drivers are the large majority with aggression towards cyclists being common. :/
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Xant on December 04, 2014, 06:33:18 pm
Well, the fact is that in a collision, car>bike. I personally don't care what the "law says", I'm not going to walk under a car either because "I had the right."
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Wiltzu on December 04, 2014, 06:43:31 pm
Yes, because it was the cyclists fault here right and not the car that almost ran him over AT A CROSSING?

Vibe it would've been the cyclist's fault. He would've had to pay the damage on the car. If you jump in front of a car at a crossing it's your fucking fault, not the driver's.

And besides.. who the actual fuck would be so fucking stupid to turn in front of a car which is clearly moving. This right here should be some fucking common sense. Even if some magical Vibe's Law way the cyclist had been right, he would've still suffered damage if hit by a moving car (okey the speed limit is 50km/h and he was wearing a helmet so the bike would've been the only damaged item).
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Wiltzu on December 04, 2014, 06:46:14 pm

According to the traffic code( i guess it's the same in Finland too), the cyclist in the video should have stopped and dismount from the bike; that was a pedestrian crossing and not a pedestrian-bike crossing. In order to be allowed to do what the cyclist did, this road sign must be present at the crossing  :arrow:
(click to show/hide)
which means cyclists can cross the road without dismounting and cars must give them priority   

Nvm, i rewatched the video, actually the cyclist is right, because there are the white squares on the road close to the zebra crossing
(click to show/hide)
. "white squares" at a crossing have the same value of this road sign 
(click to show/hide)

I have never seen before the "white squares" meaning bike-crossing without the vertical road sign.
(click to show/hide)

Lars this video is from Helsinki, Finland. We don't have the laws that you state you have in the "traffic code".


I don't want to make 3rd post so well:

CROSSWALK "SUOJATIE"

Finnish traffic code orders vehicle's driver to give way for pedestrian who are on the crosswalk or about to step on it. Vehicle's driver has to give way for cyclists or moped when the vehicle's driver has a ?Yield sign? or vehicle's driver is about to turn over the crosswalk. Cyclist who has got out from its bike has to be treated like a pedestrian. If there's a vehicle parked or a vehicle has stopped right before the crosswalk, driver has to stop before the crosswalk before driving over it.

/shitty translation

It would've been the cyclist fucking fault. The cyclist was a fucking idiot for giving the giggle and finger afterwards. End of the fucking discussion about that particular video.

Here you go, a random video from youtube

Now start arguing about whose fault it was and implement laws relating to this situation. HOWEVER, IN ANY CASE. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. DO NOT CHECK IF THE LAWS APPLY TO THE COUNTRY WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED!


(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Xant on December 04, 2014, 11:12:28 pm
So do you guys wear helmets when riding your bikes?

Seems to me that there's way more hate for people who don't, or at least people who wear helmets care a lot more about the fact that some people don't. I used to ride a bike to college every day, and never saw the need. If you don't go over roads at full speed and have decent reflexes/know how to fall, there's no more reason to wear one than when walking.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Prpavi on December 04, 2014, 11:17:27 pm
I never wear a helmet... never really crossed my mind tbh.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Kalam on December 04, 2014, 11:54:23 pm
So do you guys wear helmets when riding your bikes?

Seems to me that there's way more hate for people who don't, or at least people who wear helmets care a lot more about the fact that some people don't. I used to ride a bike to college every day, and never saw the need. If you don't go over roads at full speed and have decent reflexes/know how to fall, there's no more reason to wear one than when walking.

My insurance won't cover me if I don't wear a helmet. Also, I recently flipped my bicycle and landed head first...on my helmet. So that kind of cemented the habit.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Vibe on December 04, 2014, 11:59:44 pm
It's probably smart to wear a helmet just in case there's a ledge right there to plant your head on when you fall, but I don't and I cycle to work every day (it's not far, but still).
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Hirlok on December 05, 2014, 12:02:25 am
So do you guys wear helmets when riding your bikes?

Occasionally, many years ago, when I was still riding racing bikes at questionable speeds and had more fear of "accidents" (in which I do not believe any more today)...

Otherwise it is total bs in my opinion

Reminds me of a pro-helmet propaganda campaign in Switzerland that I came across during my bicycle-hobo-years, travelling Europe with a bike, 90kg-trailer and NO effing helmet... the poster basically says "without a helmet, your hair style might suffer" - well... LOL
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Xant on December 05, 2014, 02:16:15 am
It's probably smart to wear a helmet just in case there's a ledge right there to plant your head on when you fall, but I don't and I cycle to work every day (it's not far, but still).
Would have to be going really stupidly fast though to not be able to get my hands in front of me, or at least take the impact with my shoulder. If you put your chin down and your shoulders up, the only way your head is taking the impact is if you don't twist at all and headbutt the ground straight-on. So for everyday stuff, I don't think a helmet necessary at all. If you do some extreme mountain biking at high speeds, then it's probably a good idea.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Armpit_Sweat on December 05, 2014, 03:08:29 am
As someone living in the near-center Copenhagen, i can say that wearing helmet is gay :) Only pencil-pushing office dwellers, family-fathers and "pro" legginswearing-cyclists use a helmet here. Deep in their heart, everyone feels that wearing a helmet makes them a house-cat, and they are no longer born-to-be-wild men. Every time you lock them chin-straps, you become a responsible member of society, and your soul dies a little...

Check out the OP video, and see how many helmets you can count, and who wears them.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: lombardsoup on December 05, 2014, 05:29:03 am
Helmet wearers

visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Andswaru on December 05, 2014, 10:02:24 am
MY brother is a amateur cyclist and has had a couple of high speed crashes at 50-70mph (downhill) and the wearing of a helmet has saved his life on at least 3 occasions.

Didnt help him too much tho when he got wiped out on a roundabout and suffered a broken leg from some guy who didnt see him while switching lanes.


@Hirlok im not sure I'd cycle in certain parts of switzerland without a helmet.. you seen how they drive in Kanton Aargau its almost like they are given a driving lisence when they are born not because they passed any kind of test teaching them the basic rules of the road...
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Teeth on December 05, 2014, 11:01:03 am
I live in a flat country and I only ride utility bikes, the fastest I am gonna go is like 35 if I am in a real hurry. I have fallen with my bike a dozen times over the course of my life and I can't imagine how I would fall on my head. Never really got injured at all really, falling is pretty easy. Few people wear a helmet here, mostly only people on racing bikes.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: jtobiasm on December 05, 2014, 12:40:39 pm
Wouldn't dare go on my racing bike without a helmet, too many fucking retarded drivers

I go down country lanes and daft cunts think it's all rate to fly about in their shitty punto
playin this shit
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Overdriven on December 05, 2014, 01:18:28 pm
So do you guys wear helmets when riding your bikes?

Seems to me that there's way more hate for people who don't, or at least people who wear helmets care a lot more about the fact that some people don't. I used to ride a bike to college every day, and never saw the need. If you don't go over roads at full speed and have decent reflexes/know how to fall, there's no more reason to wear one than when walking.

I always wear a helmet. It's saved my life once before so I do think people who don't wear them are stupid. I came off my bike over the handle bars and face planted the ground. Bit through my top lip and smashed the entire front of my helmet. Doctors were convinced without the helmet I'd have been dead. Fortunately only needed stitches to put my lip back together. That was on a road and wasn't doing anything dumb ect. Just a random accident.

It also depends where you're cycling. In Brighton the route I cycle now is all cycle paths on the pavement so there's little need. I still do just to make sure. But when I used to cycle to uni the cycle paths were on the road and more than once I've almost been knocked off by buses (fing public transport) so I always did then.

Funny thing is, I've had repeats of that accident whilst doing downhill off road runs and come out with barely a scratch and not a dent in my helmet.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: jtobiasm on December 05, 2014, 01:38:10 pm
Funny thing is, I've had repeats of that accident whilst doing downhill off road runs and come out with barely a scratch and not a dent in my helmet.
oni takes 1 accident to kill you, better to be safe
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Xant on December 06, 2014, 01:09:00 am
I always wear a helmet. It's saved my life once before so I do think people who don't wear them are stupid. I came off my bike over the handle bars and face planted the ground. Bit through my top lip and smashed the entire front of my helmet. Doctors were convinced without the helmet I'd have been dead. Fortunately only needed stitches to put my lip back together. That was on a road and wasn't doing anything dumb ect. Just a random accident.
Good for you for wearing a helmet, but why do you think people who don't wear them are stupid? If you weren't going 70 mph downhill, then how do you faceplant the ground when coming over the handle bars? If you know your physical limitations, then wearing a helmet is smart -- but realize that there are people with better reflexes and who know how to fall safely. It's like someone who keeps falling when walking and cracking his bones calling people not wearing a full safety gear while walking stupid.

Quote
It also depends where you're cycling. In Brighton the route I cycle now is all cycle paths on the pavement so there's little need. I still do just to make sure. But when I used to cycle to uni the cycle paths were on the road and more than once I've almost been knocked off by buses (fing public transport) so I always did then.
If you got at reasonable speeds in intersections etc., the danger is really no different to walking.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Gurnisson on December 06, 2014, 10:31:08 am
I use a helmet when I use the bike for long rides like training. Cba carrying a helmet around at Uni all day when it takes ~5 minutes to bike over there. Just can't bike like a maniac when there's cars around!

Couldn't imagine myself without my bike, it really makes everything much easier.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Lars on December 06, 2014, 11:04:51 am
Yes indeed cyclist has right to USE the crossing because of those dots. Still that doesn´t mean that he´d have a priority while crossing; cyclists who wish to cross a road by using crossing must still give way to normal traffic since bicycles are vehicles. Thus that cyclist is still an asshole.

Indeed, the cyclist was an idiot; before crossing the road, when i'm on foot(or bike), I always check if there  are vehicles coming, even if i have priority.



Lars this video is from Helsinki, Finland. We don't have the laws that you state you have in the "traffic code".


I don't want to make 3rd post so well:

CROSSWALK "SUOJATIE"

Finnish traffic code orders vehicle's driver to give way for pedestrian who are on the crosswalk or about to step on it. Vehicle's driver has to give way for cyclists or moped when the vehicle's driver has a ?Yield sign? or vehicle's driver is about to turn over the crosswalk. Cyclist who has got out from its bike has to be treated like a pedestrian. If there's a vehicle parked or a vehicle has stopped right before the crosswalk, driver has to stop before the crosswalk before driving over it.

/shitty translation

It would've been the cyclist fucking fault. The cyclist was a fucking idiot for giving the giggle and finger afterwards. End of the fucking discussion about that particular video.

Here you go, a random video from youtube

Now start arguing about whose fault it was and implement laws relating to this situation. HOWEVER, IN ANY CASE. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. DO NOT CHECK IF THE LAWS APPLY TO THE COUNTRY WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED!


(click to show/hide)

I thought EU countries had (more or less) the same traffic code(excpet England where they drive on the left), wrong guess apparently.
Anyway, good for you guys in Finland, here cyclists at bycicle-crossings have always the priority, because they are considered the same as pedestrians, and they can cross the road without dismounting from the bike.
Like this crossing for example:
(click to show/hide)
at least there's also the vertical sign, even tho i have been told that there are several bike crossing in the region withouit it, just the horizontal road sign ( "white squares").

So do you guys wear helmets when riding your bikes?

I never use a helmet, i ride my bike only in the city tho.
 


Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: WITCHCRAFT on December 07, 2014, 02:56:10 am
I don't wear a helmet, but I also don't spaz out and go 110%. I bike at a moderate speed that's tiring over long distances, but I do it more for recreation and relaxation than exercise and fitness. Riding along the lake shore with only the moon for light... climbing up and coasting down hilly back streets under orange sodium street lamps... It clears my mind before bed. Much easier to relax during/after a ride. Meditation and yoga are not as effective for me.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Kafein on December 07, 2014, 12:25:11 pm
climbing up and coasting down hilly back streets under orange sodium street lamps...

I hope it's a 70s bicycle.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: Kalam on December 07, 2014, 06:03:09 pm
And how many of you use 'clipless pedals'? I've been pondering getting some for my commuter, but there's currently no adapter designed for non-cycling shoes. Give the amount of shit I have to lug around with me anyway, I'd rather not have to get an extra pair of shoes. On top of that, going any faster than 12mph ish is detrimental with the amount of stops I make along the way.
Title: Re: Bike culture?
Post by: WITCHCRAFT on December 07, 2014, 08:48:42 pm
And how many of you use 'clipless pedals'?

Never given them a try. I don't feel the need for them since I'm not racing anybody, but it's always scary when your foot slips and you fishtail for a few meters next to traffic. One time I lost a sandal on the shoulder of a busy 4 lane road.  :oops:

I hope it's a 70s bicycle.

Almost. '82 Kabuki Skyliner, custom oversize steel frame*road bike. Got it on craigslist from a guy who is 6'6" tall. It's the only bike I've ever used that fits my legs right. Only cost me $75 (new tires/brakes and tune-up was more expensive than the bike itself). It was barely if at all used when I got it.

What kinda bike do all y'all got?

*STEEL IS REAL