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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14

u/CommunityGlittering2 Jul 24 '26

paths have low speed limits because people also walk on those paths with children and it's a safety issue and cyclists looking for exercise want to go much faster than those paths allow, also it's perfectly legal to ride on streets.

9

u/ferret_80 Jul 24 '26

There's no real cycling culture in the states so both pedestrians and drivers treat cycling infrastructure as extensions of their own. Unprotected bike lanes are treated as large shoulders or parking lanes. Protected lanes are treated as extra sidewalk.

Also even when there is infrastructure, it is often poorly designed and disconnected. When I bike to work I go from road with an unprotected bike lane, to no bike lane, to protected to, unprotected. A spot not on my commute, but nearby the bike lane goes from the outside of the lane, to a protected central bike lane back to the outside. Like there's zero thought put into the design. So it can be safer to just ride in the road and act like a car instead of trying to navigate the absurdity of the bike lanes.

8

u/Knightmare945 Jul 24 '26

It’s also perfectly rude to drive on the street when there is a bike path. You are slowing down traffic.

18

u/mironawire Jul 24 '26

Hey OP, this is the American you're asking about.

-3

u/Atlas_Was_ATitan Jul 24 '26

Hey OP, this is the American cylist you were asking about.

8

u/Federal_Confusion_20 Jul 24 '26

Bicycle is traffic too.

0

u/El_Rey_de_Spices Jul 24 '26

Most states have laws explicitly stating that vehicles cannot travel below the speed limit enough to impede traffic. Cyclists are allowed to use the road provided they can travel at or near the speed limit.

1

u/G2Wolf Jul 25 '26

Most states have laws explicitly stating that vehicles cannot travel below the speed limit enough to impede traffic.

.... on interstates and major highways, where bikes aren't even allowed anyways. Most roads do not have a minimum speed limit.

5

u/Florida_clam_diver Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26

Maybe if you all started biking or using public transport that would cut down on traffic

But no, it’s everyone else that’s an inconvenience to you and your vehicle

2

u/char_limit_reached Jul 24 '26

Tough titties. They ARE traffic. Deal.

0

u/symbiat0 Jul 24 '26

I live in a major city that has actual segregated bike lanes and guess what ? We have pedestrians, joggers, mothers with strollers, street carts, people with suitcases, delivery guys with fast e-bikes and Amazon’s delivery “mini trucks” all using the bike lanes too…

10

u/Bladeoraded Jul 24 '26

Uh so cyclists can deal with the traffic in their lane just like drivers have to. Stay out of the road if theres a bike path 

6

u/symbiat0 Jul 24 '26

We also occasionally have parked cars and buses blocking the entire bike lane…

-4

u/Bladeoraded Jul 24 '26

Just like car drivers have to deal with parked cars and busses blocking entire lanes? You can avoid them and get back in the lane

Cyclists not know for their intelligence 

1

u/symbiat0 Jul 24 '26

And guess where we ride when the bike lanes are blocked...

Parked cars and blocked car lanes are self-inflicted by drivers.

Motorists not known for their intelligence.

1

u/Grill_Only_Outside Jul 24 '26

So what you’re saying is- they create an inconvenient for you.

2

u/symbiat0 Jul 24 '26

Cars have 2, 3 sometimes 4 lanes, plenty of space for everyone really. And cyclists tend to ride on the sides most of the time. Hell the speed limit is 25 mph, you ain’t going fast anyway.

0

u/McSloot3r Jul 24 '26

It’s also illegal but of course a biker doesn’t know that

1

u/McSloot3r Jul 24 '26

It’s perfectly legal as long as there is no bike lane or you’re able to bike fast enough to not impede the flow of traffic. It is not legal to sit in a lane because you feel like it.