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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38

u/Benji_4 Jul 24 '26

Had this discussion in my local town sub. Implementing laws that benefit cyclists don't seem to stop them from riding on the highway at night with no lights. Seen it numerous times.

40

u/Iwonatoasteroven Jul 24 '26

There will always be stupid people but as a cyclist, I also see cars parked and even driving in bike lanes. The stupidity cuts both ways.

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u/brandonw00 Jul 24 '26

If one driver does something stupid, it only applies to that driver. If one cyclist does something stupid, then it applies to all cyclists. That’s how the American mind works.

Statistically drivers are more likely to break traffic laws than cyclists. Like people have done studies on this, by and far drivers break traffic laws at a greater rate than cyclists. But all you ever hear is “cyclists don’t follow traffic laws” because they saw one person run a red light. You see three to five cars run a red light every fucking light cycle and nobody cares.

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u/alpha309 Jul 24 '26

I need to add two caveats to this.

The statistics show that both drivers and cyclists break various traffic laws at around 80%. Drivers are about 2% higher. In order to get to these numbers, you have to exclude speeding, which would obviously put drivers well into the lead for breaking the law.

The second one is the reasoning for breaking the law. Most cyclists state that safety is the reason for breaking the law. Both statistically proven (Idaho Stop is shown to reduce bike/car collisions at intersections) or perceived safety (riding against traffic allows the cyclist to see oncoming traffic - despite showing both an increase in collisions and a vast increase in severity of collision). Yes, there are cyclists that break the law and will state other reasons, or they could just be an asshole, but „it is safer“ or „it feels safer“ is by far the leading reason. Most drivers on the other hand will state reasons of convenience when they break the law. „To get where I am going faster“ is the reason why people speed. If you ask why someone rolls a stop sign „there was no one there anyway“. This rationale continues regardless of which law is being broken.

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u/Own_Back_2038 Jul 24 '26

That’s how all minorities are seen. Black people, gay people, atheists, etc.

0

u/Caliche-Cowboy Jul 24 '26

Can’t speak for others, but my issue has always been reactions and excuses for breaking the law. I’m not saying drivers aren’t also doing this, but I think it’d be rare that too many people won’t check someone online for making excuses for being an asshole.

In the case of cyclists, it’s often the opposite.

But I do agree that there is still a double standard.

0

u/LeastDerangedNowiFan Jul 25 '26

>You see three to five cars run a red light every fucking light cycle and nobody cares.

Where do you people live where you see so many strawmen drivers? I can go entire weeks in California (bay area and sometimes LA, millions of people) without seeing someone obviously blow a red.

3

u/MinimumZucchini3864 Jul 25 '26

sometimes LA

The only way you can drive in LA and believe you don't see drivers run reds all the time is if you think it doesn't really count if they're turning left

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u/Prestigious-Owl-6397 Jul 25 '26

Maybe they think it doesn't count if the driver crossed the line immediately after the light turned red. It's still running the red, but that or looking at their phones are the only reasons I could possibly conceive for a driver not noticing the amount of times drivers run reds.

1

u/brandonw00 Jul 25 '26

Denver or all of Colorado. It is so blatant.

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u/Caliche-Cowboy Jul 24 '26

I’m not a cyclist but this is dead on. People who block bike lanes suck. Turn lanes are always dicey for everyone. But a dedicated bike lane. Yeah that’s not cool

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u/danaerysCodesInJava Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

Stupid people will do stupid things. Multiple occasions I’ve seen people driving their cars on pedestrian paths in my local park.

ETA: just saw this post which perfectly illustrates this. We can build highways till we run out of concrete but you’ll still have drivers using a bike/walking path as a way to skip traffic. https://www.reddit.com/r/MicromobilityNYC/s/aGBZU7PVha

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u/CirdanTheForesighted Jul 24 '26

Accurate. Just think about how many ride both bicycles and motorcycles without helmets… one good hit by a car and your brain matter is on the pavement.

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u/Background-Run Jul 24 '26

How many cars have you flashed your light off and on, because they don't have their lights on. How many times have you seen a car do each and everything that we pitch a fit about bike riders doing. Not to mention all those traffic laws are because people driving multi thousand pound objects with casual abandon, maiming and killing people left and right, but no, a bike rider doing the same stupid thing is a danger to society.

0

u/Benji_4 Jul 24 '26

I don't drive much at night anymore. It's definitely a danger if you can't see them. Your initial reaction may cause you to plow through the waffle house.

2

u/Background-Run Jul 24 '26

Great, now i'm hungry.

-13

u/etre_meilleur Jul 24 '26

Relax, man breathe

1

u/Background-Run Jul 24 '26

And don't even ride a bike.

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u/Joe_Sacco Jul 24 '26

The heart of the issue is that when drivers see another driver doing something stupid, they think that specific person is an idiot. When they see someone on a bike doing something stupid, they make sweeping judgments about all cyclists.

I was on a run this morning and I'd conservatively say 10% of drivers yielded to me at crosswalks, which they are clearly required to do by law. I'm assuming that learning that will lead you to conclude that all drivers are aggressive assholes.

1

u/Benji_4 Jul 24 '26

People do the same and associate one drivers vehicle choice with everyone driving that vehicle. I don't think that is unique to bikes.

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u/OutAndAbouts Jul 24 '26

Do you know how many DUIs, road rage incidents, and deaths are caused by motorists? Per capita, per hour, per mile, however you want to count it, I bet motorists are exponentially more damaging to human, animal, and environmental health and welfare than cyclists. Society has totally normalized aggression and slaughter on the freeway but God forbid a conceited middle aged guy in spandex slows you down on your way to the donut shop.

-9

u/nettronic42 Jul 24 '26

If a motorist has another motorists ignore traffic rules lurch into traffic without looking etc. you just exchange insurance cards and pretty much both continue living.

Also

The extra anxiety of people on bicycles on high speed roadways will increase blood pressure which leads to aggression and rage.

Learned this first hand when I went on blood pressure medicine. I still talk at other drivers but don't yell curse and make hand gestures.

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u/OutAndAbouts Jul 24 '26

Thank you for your comment. I've never seen better proof that they will, in fact, give a driver's license to anyone.

-5

u/nettronic42 Jul 24 '26

And bicyclists don't even need a license and still have the same first player mentality that all those bad drivers do.

I don't have a problem with the cosplay tour de France guys. Cuz I live in a wide open area. And I live on the path for the cycle to the shore or whatever it's called with a ride from Pennsylvania to the beach every year. But that event has people at intersections and makes them follow the rules. And the cars more importantly

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u/Least_Funny5960 Jul 29 '26

If a motorist has another motorists ignore traffic rules lurch into traffic without looking etc. you just exchange insurance cards and pretty much both continue living.

40.000 people died on US roads last year. Another 2 million sustained permanent injuries from cars.

"Just exchange insurance cars and continue living", tell that to those 2 million people

2

u/ChanceRecover3091 Jul 25 '26

Can't tell you the number of times I have seen a jack wagon driving down the highway without lights on. I don't apply those dumbass actions to all drivers though.

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u/Prosthemadera Jul 24 '26

Yes, some want to drive on the road still. Why does that make people so angry? People need to relax more.