Toyota, Progressive Insurance, and a data analytics firm are now being accused of collecting detailed personal driving information without proper consent
Toyota, Progressive Insurance, and a data analytics firm are now being accused of collecting detailed personal driving information without proper consent
I rode my bike in the a smaller city for nearly a decade regularly just fine. The one time I was hit by a car, luckily barely, I was on foot.
To me, here at least, when I left the small city,that’s where it gets wild. When the place has no pedestrians, and it’s all cars only, with really limited side walks. Those are the scary places to ride.
Yeah in the country it’s a different beast entirely. Riding on the shoulder of highways and county roads. I do the left side so I can see the cars coming at me and get out of the way. Going with traffic on the shoulder is madness and trusting everyone to see you and not hit you, yet half the population thinks that’s the way it should be done.
But good luck getting anywhere in the country right now on a bike. There are snowbanks piled up, little shoulder is left off of main highways, you would have to ride in the road, switching back and forth left to right to avoid incoming cars, or stop and pull yourself into the snowbank. It’s just not possible for me here. Half the year it’s just not possible in much of the north.
I’ve always been more comfortable riding with traffic, and I don’t understand how it feels safer going opposite. But I’m not a rule enforcer, do what’s best for you. Anywhere without common walkers/public transport too. Its not just like, “the country”. Suburbs and strip malls.
I’ve also ridden in winter, in New England. It’s baby thought thinking you can’t. No bad weather, just bad dress, and you warm up quick.
I’m saying on the shoulder of a highway, not in the lane. Riding on the right hand side means constantly looking back over your shoulder, and trusting cars to have seen you and not decided to bust onto the shoulder. It’s madness, and it’s a misunderstanding that leads some people to think you are supposed to, experts have made it clear it’s safer to see traffic coming at you in such situations so you can get out of the way.
And ha, no, you can’t ride your bike where I am right now as I explained. There is no shoulder, you are in the lane, lanes covered in packed down snow. Baby thinking is a rather insulting way to respond to a situation you clearly do not understand. Riding in the lane with cars going 55 mph or faster on ice and snow cannot be done here right now, snowplows leave 4 or a 5 feet of snowbank off the road, something someone from new england should know, city boy.
I got a laugh out of that “baby thought” jab. I’ve lived where it wasn’t safe to walk by the roads during winter, much less cycle there. With no bike lane or even a road shoulder to speak of and a foot or more of snow, you end up with two choices: cycle in a snow bank or hope traffic isn’t coming when you end up horizontal in the road.
So do nothing. Don’t fight for better infrastructures, just stay car centric. I love paying thousands of dollars a year to get to work/shops/friends. Wah wah.
I’ve ridden these roads in winter. I’ve done it from necessity. Yeah it’s scary at first. No, not all places it’s possible, yes, it could be done more if not for your preference for comfort. Wahhh “I can’t and nothing can change this”. Fucking hell. I’m a down vote queen today eh? Y’all need to watch some “just not bikes” and maybe help change perceptions.
Or stay in your comfy car. I don’t care. I’m literally in the position where I can’t get a job because I don’t have a car, or a bike, or public transport, and a kid with mad appointments right now. And I’m extra spicy about it. I miss being free on my bike and marking open availability on job apps. I’m spicy okay? Down vote away. I uses to ride 7 miles in winter, snow, sleet, ice, to be at work for 6 am. Then seven miles home, 6 days a week. Two years. It can be done. Its not fun no, but its not like, the most difficult thing either. Y’all just used to comfort. I’m used to poverty. It’s fucking fine.
I don’t know what your issues today or in general are, but don’t take them out on me. That you had to make so many assumptions about me to air your many assumptive grievances should be your hint that I’m not your problem.