Spring is here, and for many, that means hauling out the bike to get a little exercise, -and maybe save a couple of bucks by not driving or taking the public transit.

I always enjoy getting the bike out in the spring, and going for that first 'pedal.'

I used to ride my bike year round, but now that I'm a little older, (lazier) I usually don't pull it out until most of the snow is gone.

I've ridden a bike my whole life -I've never owned a car- and hope to continue to do so, so you would think that I'm firmly on the side of cyclists when it comes to the cars/bikes debate

No.

Although there's a lot of lousy drivers out there in cars, lately it seems to me, that there's a growing number of cyclists that are just asking for it. Maybe it's because people are trying to stay in shape, or to avoid polluting the air, that I'm seeing more cyclists on the road.

Unfortunately, I'm also seeing a lot more dumb cyclists.

Anyone at all, even those with something that only remotely resembles a bike can hop on it and pull out into busy rush hour traffic, and expect (hope) to be respected by automobile traffic. Cyclists do have rights and are alotted a portion of the roadway to drive on. 

Unfortunately, it seems to me that a growing number of them (us) don't know what these rights are, or just out and out disregard them.

People that have either little or no knowledge of traffic laws are free to just hop on to their shit-can of a bike and dive right into busy traffic.

I'm reminded of that old saw that goes something like this:

You've gotta get a license to drive, but any fool can have a baby.

Modify the last half to 'any fool can ride a bike in traffic', and you'll see what I'm getting at.

I've seen cyclists driving down the middle of the road, and then get pissed off when cars start honking at them.

I've seen cyclists get 'car doored', when they could have saved themselves the pain if they had only checked to see if someone was about to exit the vehicle.

I've seen parents riding with their kids, going down busy streets the wrong way! "Good thing you got those helmets for the family, Dad, you're gonna need 'em!"

A few years back, I actually witnessed a cyclist die right before my very eyes because he had jumped the curb into moving traffic, and didn't think to check if there was anything coming…….. (I'll never forget that)

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Here in Toronto, as with many other big cities, we've got dedicated bike lanes. That's a GOOD thing. Bikes should have a piece of the road, and should be able to drive safely without having to worry about getting schwacked by a car or truck.

However, a lot of bikers don't think to do other things that could save them lots of grief, or, quite possibly, their lives.

A simple shoulder check when pulling out into moving traffic. A little body language when making turns. A basic understanding of what a 'stop' sign or a traffic light means……..

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Alright, alright……. I give up. I just went back and read what I had written above, and decided that I'm wasting my time here. Fuck it. Who am I trying to kid? I'm not gonna change anything.

Idiots on bikes are always gonna fuck themselves up, or get killed, just as idiots in cars are gonna do the same.

I don't want to seem like I'm only picking on cyclists here -there's a lot of morons driving cars out there -hello cabbies!

It seems that for many, that when the key goes into the ignition, the brain automatically shuts off.

Unfortunately, in the battle of cars and bikes, cars always win.

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