You can get all the lights and reflectors you want, but it still doesn't really guarantee safety. I'm lit up like a Christmas tree, and I almost got hit THREE times on Saturday evening - riding in the bike lane and in the diamond lanes downtown! Doesn't mean you shouldn't have the lights - just means you still need to be careful. As for the officer being a little agro, I'd like to see that attitude re-directed at the drivers in the city who are ignorant of the most basic of laws governing car/bike interactions.

The day I see one bike stop for a red light I'll donate $5 to charity.

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Next time I ride, I'll let you know. Can I choose the charity?

But yeah, I agree. too many bicyclists feel they are above it all when it comes to basic traffic laws.

Sorry you got pulled over, but hey, I think it's kinda funny.

You can catch me riding everyday. I'm the really attractive guy on a green Raleigh. You can give me the $5, and I'll make sure it gets to the right place . . .

Seriously though, there are a lot of car drivers and bike riders who need to learn how to go about this whole sharing the road thing safely. It drives me nuts when I see someone on a bike doing something stupid, but it almost kills me when a car driver does something stupid.

I agree with this. Too many cyclists do things that give all cyclists a bad rap and that pisses me off. But I've been nearly put into the hospital by a few bad drivers.

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Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us. -- T. L. Holdcroft

Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.-- S. R. Barr

As a driver I watch out for bike riders, but one time I wish I didn't. My wife and I were going to the Roxy on Sansom St to see the 1st Matrix. I couldn't find a parking spot anywhere so I stopped in front of the theater to let my wife out. As she opened the door I noticed a bike rider coming up, so I told her to shut the door and let the guy past. Well he stops at the car and starts screaming at me to watch out for bike riders and that I'm so inconsiderate. What he did next is what pissed me off though, he leaned over the sun roof, spit on me then took off.

After my wife got out, I continued on my quest for a parking spot when I noticed that this guy was right behind me again. So I did what comes natural when something runs in front of your car, I slammed the brakes. Well, I doubt this guy said anything to another motorist for a while after that wreck. Bastard.

Other than that idiot, I am very conscious about my surroundings when I drive. I ride a bike, motorcycle and scooter myself and all of my friends ride their bikes more than drive.

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Teahead215
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Great thread for Philly Bike Week.

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Cheesesteak the Impaler
http://bostodelphia.blogspot.com

As someone who bikes and drives ....
As much as I find bad drivers annoying, there are many people on bikes that make my blood boil when I witness the stupidity and discourteous way they ride.

Before anyone jumps on my butt ..... NOT ALL DRIVERS / BIKE RIDERS.

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