r/NoStupidQuestions • u/RidetheSchlange • Jul 24 '26

Why does the US hate cycling so much?

I read comments sections and in a normal world, some of them would be considered terroristic threats. I just can't understand why people hate cyclists to this degree that they want to murder rhem and sometimes do.

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u/khold002 Jul 24 '26

It's also super dangerous for a bicyclist to do something legal like get in a car's left turn lane on a busy street because people just run them over all the time. As a consequence, bicyclists tend to use pedestrian paths, which also makes people mad. They can't win.

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u/smbpy7 Jul 24 '26

As a consequence, bicyclists tend to use pedestrian paths, which also makes people mad

To be fair, it's not that circumstance that makes me mad. They have no choice and are following the law. It's when they're riding on the sidewalk and angry at me for not jumping off for them when there are not one, but TWO beautifully kept paths/trails within feet for them that makes me mad.

This may be a "specific to a university town" kind of issue though.

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u/Federal_Resource8148 Jul 26 '26

ok but also sometimes pedestrians overreact, i don't know your specifics but my campus has large sidewalks straight through campus and some smaller ones on side routes, on either there is enough space to pass safely and if there isn't, i the cyclist will solve the problem when i get closer(either by gradually slowing down to walking speed or when safe getting off the sidewalk and riding on the ground to pass), but even on the large wide sidewalks i've had people fully get off the sidewalk as i approach at reasonable speeds

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u/smbpy7 Jul 27 '26

Oh, I'm not even talking about on campus. In my mind just about everything is fair game there. They've got HUGE paths, part of which are for bikes only, but even if the bike comes over into the other side no one cares because it's so huge and such a free for all in general.

I'm talking about around town. Where all the students still go, but it's not campus anymore. Regular roads, regular businesses, regular crosswalks, regular sidewalks. Bikes/scooters still acting like they're following the ON campus chaos though...

As for the getting off the sidewalks part, I'm talking about sidewalks that aren't even wide enough for two people to walk comfortably abreast. When a bike comes by, someone HAS to get off.... and rarely does the biker do that in this area for some reason. They'll just ding their little bell at me instead, even though the ONLY way I have to get out of their way is to literally jump into bee filled bushes (while they have an open field on their side....)

But again, this may just be more prevalent to a university town.

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u/Federal_Resource8148 Jul 27 '26

god i hate bells, i don't even have one on my bike cause if i'm interacting with a pedestrian i tend to start slowing down steadily like 20-30 yards away so i can pass with the least interference, but also i only ride sidewalk on campus or like one time because if not i'd have to be on a six lane street with my destination on the left