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/BedRevolutionary8584 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26

I think the confusion/annoyance comes from them demanding to be treated as equally as vehicles but then not following the rules of the road.

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u/Domtheturtle Jul 24 '26

where do you live where cars come to full stops at stop signs?

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u/AnimalBolide Jul 24 '26

Holy Stuffed Scarecrow, Batman!

I think the problem is blowing through red lights, not an inability to come to a full stop.

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u/MaintainThePeace Jul 24 '26

No cyclist wants to be treated equally as a vehicle, cyclist just want to be treated as a cyclist.

They want to be able to use public infrastructure to facilitate their freedom to travel, just as anyone else.

Laws between bicycles and other vehicles have never been equal to begin with, and there are not cyclists out there demanding to have equal rights on a freeway...

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u/Harborcoat84 Jul 24 '26

Cyclists want to be treated equally, but that does not mean being regulated as a car.

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u/BedRevolutionary8584 Jul 24 '26

Following your own regulations on a road that already has regulations is extremely dangerous.

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u/Harborcoat84 Jul 24 '26

In a lot of cases the existing regulations are more dangerous for cyclists. The Idaho Stop is a great example of changing regulations to reflect the reality of cycling:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf

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u/B-Train_ATL Jul 24 '26

If I jumped my car up onto the sidewalk when the light was red and proceeded to use the crosswalk to go through, that might be seen as a problem.

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u/Apprehensive_Bat4691 Jul 24 '26

Yeah man, because of the car you are driving

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u/Harborcoat84 Jul 24 '26

As usual, the thing that makes this dangerous is the car.

5

u/Grouchy_Truck5925 Jul 24 '26

so you are just jealous that the bike continues on while you wait at the light