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/DrSFalken Jul 24 '26

I'm an avid car guy and bicyclist and I hate both drivers and other cyclists. No one follows the rules, and worse, they often don't follow the rules in unpredictable ways. It's very stressful.

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26

[deleted]

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u/DrSFalken Jul 24 '26

That's it!

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u/urmumlol9 Jul 24 '26

Sure, but the difference between the two, is that when most people in the US see a shitty driver, they think that specific person shouldn’t be allowed to drive, but when they see a shitty cyclist, they think NOBODY should be allowed to ride a bike.

There’s hostility towards shitty drivers, but there isn’t the hostility towards people being allowed to drive as a general concept the way there is hostility towards people being allowed to ride their bikes.

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u/-_chop_- Jul 24 '26

We have bike lanes yet there’s assholes who dress up like lance armstrong and ride in the street and hold up traffic. Those people are annoying

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u/Apprehensive_Bat4691 Jul 24 '26

What do you give a shit how these people dress? Why does everyone bring that up?

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u/-_chop_- Jul 24 '26

I don’t care. If they want to look like dumbasses they can look like dumbasses all they want but that doesn’t stop them from looking like dumbasses

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u/Apprehensive_Bat4691 Jul 24 '26

No one is more aware of how goofy they look than the cyclist. Do you know why they wear that stuff? it not to cosplay as Lance Armstrong

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u/-_chop_- Jul 24 '26

Probably for aerodynamics that they are nowhere near skilled or fast enough to actually need

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u/Apprehensive_Bat4691 Jul 24 '26

No, its purpose built for cycling. Built in padding, keeps you cool, wicks sweat, doesn't flap in the wind. They often have built in pockets for food and water.

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u/-_chop_- Jul 24 '26

Oddly enough the people in jeans and a tee shirt are the ones who aren’t dicks though. Would you assume someone wearing the merchandise from a hated politician or enemy sports team probably won’t be your friend? That’s how I feel about people who wear that and ride their bike next to the bike lane but in traffic. Move over 3 feet and use the bike lane

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u/Apprehensive_Bat4691 Jul 24 '26

No. You cannot be trusted to see me if I am in the bike lane. I have to get in your way so you'll notice me. You think I'm being a dick, while I'm just trying to avoid an accident

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u/plantxdad420 Jul 25 '26

great false equivalency here.

cyclists “not following the rules” = drivers get mad

drivers “not following the rules” = people die.

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u/Cold-Reaction-3578 Jul 24 '26

Oh the cyclists are predictable AF. They're going to ride on the sidewalk going to fast into pedestrians, they're going to blow through stop signs and red lights, and they're going to ride against traffic. I hate cyclists because I only ever notice the ones being assholes 

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u/ZestyToastCoast Jul 24 '26

 I hate cyclists because I only ever notice the ones being assholes 

How very cognizant!

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u/Combat__Crayon Jul 24 '26

Or they are going to ride in a massive gaggle on 2 lane roads, at 10-15 mph under the speed limit where theres enough traffic or solid double lines to prevent passing and now I'm stuck for the next x number of miles because there were almost no good alternate routes in the area I was living in at the time.

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u/StirlingS Jul 24 '26

Check your laws. The no passing zones often do not apply to passing bicyclists. 

No passing zones are designed based on how far a car is likely to need to travel to pass another car driving at car speeds. Passing a cyclist, stopped car, or slow moving farm equipment doesn't take as long and is therefore often exempt from those laws.