cambridgecyclist on YouTube recorded his commute every day for a while and posts results for all to see here: http://www.youtube.com/user/cambridgecyclist

The verdict? Everybody his screwing up out there. Some of his videos are voted down because the driver or cyclist thinks he is targeting him. He is targeting everyone. I highly recommend that everybody look through his videos.

“”Bike riders don’t obey the law” QED they get what they deserve.”

Except that no one is saying or implying that they get what they deserve, at least here.

“Imagine if a similar standard were imposed on motorists… or corporate executives, for that matter.”

But that is what cyclist advocates discuss, drivers behaving badly. Also, can you please clarify what you mean here? Corporate executives are watched now more than ever after Enron. Where I work, the big bosses were talking about how paper work has gotten ridiculous after Enron, but that they had to do it whether they liked it or not.

I love riding my bike in the city, but I do so defensively, with two hands and both ears.

If your in such a hurry to get somewhere, Running over a cyclist/pedestrian will only delay you on your journey. The last time I had an auto accident ( 6 years ago) It took me 3 hours to get to my final destination.

In a city as large as LA you see motorists eating their morning cereal while putting on makeup. And you also see cyclists with headphones on running red lights and talking on cell phones.

Either way, if a cyclist makes a mistake its a higher chance that he life is at risk. If a motorist takes the chance, he might get hurt. but likely he will be late to work and his insurance rates will go up.

Either way, Pedestrians can be killed by both parties (yes cyclists have hit and killed pedestrians)

So just be careful.

When was the last time you drove your car under the speed limit for your entire trip? When was the last car ride that you didn’t illegally text message or use your cell phone? QED, car drivers are hypocritical bastards.

I didn’t mean to be quite that snappy, but in all seriousness, the implication that cyclists as a whole break traffic laws and are irresponsible road users is something that comes up repeatedly every time there’s a discussion about transportational cycling, no matter what the context – ask anyone who’s attempted to advocate for cycling. Not only is this an insulting sterotype, it also suggests that cyclists using public roads (again, as a whole) are an inherent danger to themselves and other road users (if not to the very fabric of American society). This conclusion is always drawn purely from anecdotal evidence of cyclists’ behavior.

Discussion of cycling as a mode of transportation, or the rights of citizens to choose a bicycle to get around on public roadways, should not center on laws that are broken by individuals. Imagine if a similar standard were imposed on motorists… or corporate executives, for that matter.

@bikinginla

One thing I would like to add to your comment, which is a viewpoint I hear a lot, is that a cyclist’s fatal mistake (say, running a red light) can involve a legally-driving motorist, who involuntarily becomes the cause of death. So I would say that the repurcussions of a cyclist acting irresponsibly could extend beyond his or her own life.

Now that you’ve fulfilled the prerequisite “lawbreaking cyclists” comment requirement, please STFU.

Which is why it’s vitally important for both drivers and cyclists to minimize mistakes and obey all traffic laws.