ROAD BIKING IS A DYING SPORT...Here is why...
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- I stopped road biking several years ago and now I am seeing the trend with other riders growing locally. There is an unfortunate and sad truth around the sport that is causing a lot of cyclist to follow the same path. This isn't something that the riders can ultimately fix either. Today we are looking into what has changed...
#roadbike #roadbiking #cycling
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No. Unrelated incident that happened last week.
This isn't a problem with road biking, this is a problem with society.
Hear hear!
It's certainly a problem if you're the one on the bike!
Distracted driving is worse than drunk driving ever hoped to be.
yes. but the locality of culture matters, and the southern usa in the worst...
Author of video is totally exaggerating.
I'm an 87 year old life time bike rider, road bike for years, but on a gravel bike now for the wider tires and versatility. I ride for an hour and a half every morning here in Tucson, Arizona. I ride on the rather bumpy shoulder of a busy state highway, where everyone is driving at 60 mph or higher. Decent size shoulder, but recently I have started thinking about just how dangerous this really is. I've got a flashing tail light on the bike, but it just takes one distracted driver to put an end to my riding years permanently. I am thinking about what my options are, but haven't come up with anything better yet. Right now I just shoot out of my home and take off. Out at 5:45 this morning. Of course, I have already exceeded my life expectancy by some ten years, but I sort of like living.
Hey Mickey, love the attitude and although I've lived half the time you have, I hoped to be blessed with the years you have and also to still be pedalling away.
Mickey, Right there with you. 20 yrs behind you but, Here in SoCal with 20 million people I’ve turned into an armchair actuarial expert. I’ll either jump on the gravel/MTB to head straight into the state park from home or throw the road bike in the truck and drive to the riverbed trail that goes down to the beach. NO Automobiles (or very limited) interactions for me.
Far too many close calls for me including a few simple driveway pullouts over the years that resulted in minor instances. Way too many drivers on their phones, it’s only a matter of time from a risk standpoint before you get memorialized by one of those white bikes. Zwift in the winter and closed or semi closed riding trails for me going forward.
@@billyrayvalentine9360 Being from Santa Cruz, Topanga Beach/Santa Monica, I miss LA so much. Had to leave in 1970 for job reasons. What a paradise it was back then. Of course, You can't go home again, 🙆♂perThomas Wolfe.
Hey Mic, what an inspiration you are! I'll be 65 this summer. I worry about the day I can't ride anymore. I hope you find a way to continue your riding.
Here in Spain, most accidents to cyclists are on weekends. A cyclist or group of cyclists riding on early
morning Saturday or Sunday and they get run over by a driver driving under the influence of alcohol and
or drugs.
If I stopped doing everything that was deemed "unsafe", my life would be pretty fuckin boring. Between my job, riding my harley, and road biking, I would rather die what I love doing than live and not be happy.
This reminds me of what my partner used to say when he was in his 20's..."If life gets boring, risk it." He's 65 now and chuckles at the hubris of his youth.
Amen. Use common sense and do what you enjoy. When you stop enjoying it, then quit.
Take it from a former roadie that took a "life ending" (80+ km/h) hit but somehow survived. Dying would be a blessing, it's surviving that's hard.
It's all a matter of taking calculated, necessary and conscious risks and knowing when and where to draw the line, which is different for each person and situation. Like, for myself, I have no interest in taking up mountain or rock climbing, but if I did, I would never free climb. Like, ever. But others would and do and for them it's the right decision--or so they think!
I live in Spain and road bikes are everywhere
The only way I still survive riding my road bike out on the streets is to maintain the attitude that EVERY single car is suspect and I never expect drivers to do the right thing. I also watch driver's eyes and routinely yell at the ones I see on their phones. Even with all of that I still am very uncomfortable on the road these days. It is astonishing to me that there are not even more distracted driving accidents given the overwhelming number of people I see paying zero attention to their diving.
My dad taught me to imagine all drivers as a bunch of mad men on the road! That’s how you must drive. I have applied the same principle to my riding as well and so far so good. But still harassed by the aggressive drivers!
My biggest pet peeve is the black out windows they allow here in UT. I can't see the driver at all with how dark their windows are tinted and have no idea if they are aware of my presence. How is that even legal?!
@@fta1010 Definitely agree. I actually thought the full tinting is generally not legal but my understanding at least up here in Washington is that no one bothers to enforce it.
Many years of bike commuting caused the question "who's trying to kill me now" to stay in my head. A helmet mirror was essential for me to keep an eye on the idiots behind me, and they usually were the ones who were most likely to do something stupid to hit me. A friend recently got hit from behind by a truck, driven by a young guy. The guy stopped, called for help, and seemed very remorseful. Haven't heard why he hit my friend, though. My assumption is the cellphone, of course.
@@fta1010 Same here in Georgia. It's ridiculous, not being able to make eye contact with people, especially because the majority are looking at their phones OR playing with their car's screen.
Here in Austria, the legal distance when overtaking a cyclist has been set at 1,5 metres (in urban areas) and 2,0 metres (countryside).
And I have to say in 95% of cases , car drivers have become more careful.
There are also side roads and cycle routes where there is not so much or no traffic.
In Austria, the trend towards cycling is stable to increasing.
In Italy and France, where road racing is very popular, they love people in Lycra😊
When you ride up a hill in Italy, you often get a forza, forza (come on, come on) shout from people along the road.😊
Here in Trumpworld USA hatred and animosity are strongly encouraged.
in France roads are way more dangerous now than 10 years ago, it is almost risking your life each week. it is not funny anymore. drivers dont care, mostly arabic people, they are all over the place now.
I'm in Quebec, and since the signs popped up for vehicles to leave 1.5m when passing cyclists, it has been mostly observed. I was surprised tbh. But it works. Of course, it takes just one to take us out
I'm 72 now and have been a cyclist since my 20s. I agree that distracted driving is a big problem. However mountain biking is not without risk. I have had my worst injuries in MTB wrecks. So, I now only ride my MTB on dirt roads and bike paths, I don't bounce over rocks and logs like I used to. I need to drive 45 minutes to find dirt to ride. So, for general fitness, I still take my chances on the road. I still don't know how it became OK to not give driving a vehicle 100% of your attention. If the police enforced the laws already on the books, they would ticket every driver they see with a phone in their hand. Once enough tickets are written, the situation would improve. But, police are no longer interested in enforcing the law.
BTW, my insurance company put an app on my phone that gives me a discount for not using it while driving. Therefore I am never a distracted driver, money talks.
I agree with what you're saying about distracted drivers. On top of that growing hazard, there are also a number of aggressive drivers who actively make it known how much they hate cyclists. I've been honked at and yelled at when I'm following the law. I've been cut-off and brake checked. I've even been coal-rolled when I was road biking where a pickup truck pulled in front of me to douse me in black smoke and yell profanities at me before driving away. I haven't quit yet, but it takes a thick skin.
It's amazing how some people lose their mind when they get behind the wheel. I have seen cars serve at cyclists before like they aren't driving a 4,000 pound weapon. It's crazy.
There are many bad people. They don't care if you die. These are the first ones who shoot others if it comes to war and it gets legal to do and no more just murder.😢
By “following the law” do you mean hogging an entire lane going 30mph below the speed limit?
Yes, it definitely takes thick skin. Mine is not but, then again, I'm getting old so my skin is thinning anyway...LOL! That said, I was always confrontational (not so smart for a 5'3" woman...LOL!) when given the chance and would not hesitate to throw colorful words back at the assaulting drivers. Probably not a good idea these days since we have such a trigger happy society. I stick to the trails and double-track and everyone's happy...in my world.
@@Silidons91
Then you should be an advocate for biking infrastructure that allows riders to be safe. The primary reason most riders claim the lane is to be safer….less likely to have a motor vehicle crowd me off the road to save 3 milliseconds.
The one thing I dislike about mountain biking is that I cant just jump on from by house and ride, I'd have to find a trail or something. I agree that road biking is scary and unsafe, however, as an area becomes more developed it also affect the amount of places where you will find trails. That means if you are a mountain biker you will eventually have to go further to find a spot to ride.
Urban mountain biking is pretty fun, roadbiking in the city is sh*t, lame & dangerous...
I bought my house location, not the house... Good roads and trailheads in my backyard!
I live in Phoenix which is very dangerous to do roadbiking- i been mountainbiking for 2 years on and off the road. One thing about urban biking you will be able to pick your line anywhere 😊
Agreed. I have a mountain bike park just a few miles from my house, but I'd rather just leave my house on my bike rather than "gear up" and drive to the mountain bike park.
And that’s why I just bought a gravel bike
@@petersouthernboy6327 True, but riding your gravel bike on the road will eat up your tire tread real quick.
Road cycling is too dangerous due to drivers, too expensive due to the cycling industry, too elitist due to the riders, and too old because the road cycling industry has prized money over youth.
Your wisdom would indicate that you would have myriad awesome options for everything. Don't let the rest if us detain ya.
Adjusted for inflation, bikes aren’t any more expensive than they were 30 years ago. But the cost of living is definitely higher.
@@WesMacaulay like any lawyer will tell any judge, it depends. A high end road bike that might have been good for me 30 years ago if I was on a strict diet, exercise, and sleep program is overpriced at $20K. However, my 1984 Bianchi Limited race bike with an Italian steel frame was $300 last year and makes me feel 40 years younger every time I pedal it. We have a perfect storm that will likely cause a 50% bankruptcy rate in the overall cycling industry in 2024. However, the BMX bike cycling industry is going strong due to its youth focus and inexpensive yet durable BMX bikes. If the road cycling bike industry wants to recover they need to learn from the BMX bike industry recovery.
@@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe I would disagree about the awesome options at the very least. The options are not awesome at all. If I found and awesome option to save the cycling industry I would execute on it and let everyone know how to help or do the same. Wisdom is knowing you are ignorant. Experience is a painful but effective teacher.
Riding impossible due to th Cycling Industry? Bot Hysteria!
67 year old rider and racer here who has too many close calls with SUV's and passenger side mirrors. I lived in Italy for 5 years and every rider is given respect by autos as everyone is rider. I quit riding in the US it's hopeless.
I think we just need to do something about it. Never lose hope. Get angry.
62 year old rider who raced in his early twenties. Mostly try to stick to Greenways now to stay alive. Too many crazies on the road today. Boy do I miss riding in the 1970's when the roads were so quiet in NC
Been in Central Texas since '72 and remember riding for hours from UT (downtown Austin) to around Lake Travis during weekday afternoons. No problems back then but now it would be a crap shoot to stay alive. Family and friends in Germany have no issues with biking and walking despite the higher population density. US drivers need to be more attentive and share the paths.
I totally agree. I'm 62, and I didn't get a driver's license until 2001, at age 39. Until then, I mostly got around by bike. But I remember bicycling started to feel more dangerous in the mid-90s when SUVs started flooding the roads. Before then, it was mostly smaller cars. Those giant SUVs just take up more space, leaving less space for the cyclist. And the attitude that goes with driving an SUV. I'm in my tank. FU for trying to get around on that silly little bike. I'll show you. I needed the license in 2001 to get to a new job in the suburbs, 10 miles through dense traffic from where I lived. I tried commuting by bike for the first few months, but I could see that it wasn't going to work in the New England winter. After I got my license, I tried to keep riding when the weather was decent, but it just got too scary, and driving (in a small car, of course) just made more sense. My bike is gathering dust.
Gave up road biking after one-too-many near things. My wife noticed i was reluctant to go out for a few days and when i told her i was nearly killed, she bought me a Kickr and a subscription to Zwift. I have never been on the road in the last 3 years. It's a shame, but i'm as safe as houses, being as i don't move out of my garage.
Far, far too many psychotic, uncaring, impatient, negligent drivers with a deep hatred of cyclists on UK roads.
The UK needs more paved cycle paths. Lord knows they have allot of disused rail lines they could pave. I am waiting for the Tweed Valley Greenway to be finished in 2027 from Tweed Bank to Berwick on Tweed. Happy trails!
Yep. I was out with my cycling club last night and we were lamenting the same thing. It's definitely more dangerous out there and it's getting worse by the day.
This isn't just distracted drivers either. There's a genuine hatred toward people who cycle for sport in general, fuelled by MSM/Social media.
One example I could give was from a few days ago when a fellow cyclist known to my club was shoved off his bike at 25mph by the passenger of a car that purposefully drew up along side whilst he was riding. He suffered a broken collar bone and his bike it totalled.
The police are "appealing for witnesses".
Stay safe out there 🙏
Was he the guy in the youtube clip, or did you see that clip yourself and claim it happened to a friend?
A few years ago a truck pull up to me while I was riding down a hill and hit me in the back of the head with a full water bottle. Luckily I didn't fall off the bike. Now I try to stick to Greensways since I'm 62 and want to live a bit longer.
I'm completely neurotic when it comes to choosing my routes. I choose roads with speed limits under 40mph. The lower the better. I also use a Garmin Radar and I ride right out in the middle of the road. I can see them coming on the radar and then only move over when they get close. It forces the driver to recognize that I'm there and it slows them down. If you ride on the shoulder they'll just be blowing by you at 45mph. Take the lane. It's counter intuitive but it's safer.
exactly. well said.
Where I live you are breaking the law by hogging the lane. Bicycles by law are required to stay right as much as is practical. You are much safer to follow that law because some cell phoner is going to run over you as she texts about a cake recipe.
Add wees, every 5th car it seems leaves a pungent trail of Marijuana odor, that always helps you pay attention as a driver
Yep here in Minnesota it's only legal if you're stationary in your home but drivers use it and people stand on street corners using it. But it affects reaction time. It's a bad deal for pedestrians and cyclists when entitled potheads feel like doing that wherever they want.
@@aliensporebomb Minnesota is a mess! A beautiful state (have lived here for eight years now), but my wife and I will be retiring in Iowa at the end of August, and I will be glad to get out of "blue" (political and pot smoke) MN!
You bet, and it's only us folks who are out walking and/or cycling who notice how frequent it is.
Yes I notice that landscaper’s trucks always leave a trail of pot smoke!!!
I commuted 18 miles each way back and forth to Boston 2-4 times a week for almost 20 years. In all those years I never experienced getting cut off by a driver or any of the other car/truck driver war stories.
That said, I stopped commuting a year before Covid happened because cell phone distracted drivers got into my head so I stopped and road the trails until last summer when I got back on the roads to train for the D2R2 gravel ride.
I’ve been back on the roads since. I even bought a “new to me” road bike. As a recent retiree, I can ride the back roads at mid-day when the traffic is minimal.
I’m a lucky guy. So far, so good.
I commuted Stoneham-to-Cambridge and back for almost 30 years. Never had a problem with drivers. Pay attention, keep it slow, remember where your brake levers are.
In the last two and a half years I've been hit by two different cars wound up in the hospital both times with brain injuries 7 months ago I was hit by the second car and wound up in the hospital for 3 days it's been 7 months and I'm still recovering
So sorry to hear that. I wish I could ride on the rd but there just is not enough room on the shoulder to do so, and even if there were it would still not be safe.
😢
As a 75 yr. old rider I see way fewer riders in the 16-28 yr. old age bracket these days. Back in 1968 as road bikes were really beginning to take off in my area of Athens, Ga/UGA, there were so many kids out there riding but with cell phones, video games, movies on demand, TikTok, and social networking, etc. it seems more and more young people would rather go that route than climb on a bike and enjoy the day. Plus, the cost of a new, good entry or mid-level bike is just stupid these days and most kids don't have any idea or the experience of how to work on their own bikes much less how to choose a good used bike or rebuild one. So, I do agree that road riding in particular and biking in general seems to be at least a declining sport among younger riders for many reasons. However, in many parts of the country there still seem to be lots of young, middle-aged, and older riders still flogging away and enjoying their road bikes especially where they have access to Rails to Trails, less traveled roads, beach and inter-city paths, etc.
Nearly all teenagers who ride any kind of two wheeled transport these days are riding class 2 e-bikes, specifically the mini bike/moped style bikes like RAD, Super 73, etc. These kids don't have the slightest iota if interest in traditional non electric bicycles. That to me indicates analog bikes will be a very very small niche activity in maybe 10 to 15 years.
I've been riding with the same ride for 30 years. The average age of the ride gets one year older every year. Young people can't afford road bikes anymore.
@@goldenretriever6261 Young people are riding expensive class 2 e-bikes. I think it has more to do with interest than affordability.
I see that anything that has to do with being outdoors and exercise is on the decline with younger people. Ever seen the movie wally, where everybody is fat and dumb? That's the road we're on.
@@goldenretriever6261they also can't afford to sweat or breathe hard either! Lol
I’m 67 and have been on a bike for fun, transportation, or racing since I could ride without training wheels, also road raced off and on for 35 years, even got to catch 2, though I was mostly fodder. I gave up road riding in 2015. Cell phones were a big part of that, also the place I lived goat terribly congested and riding became a daily battle. I then moved to Mexico for seven years. Riding on the road in Mexico is just not advisable, cell phones or no cell phones. I took up mountain biking in the high semi-desert of Querétaro and haven’t looked back. Moved from there to hilly South Central Indiana and expanded to gravel. I’ll never go back to road riding and there are a half dozen or so people a year in the local bike club who switch to off road and/or unpaved riding every year. Safety is the main concern for nearly all of them.
I’d add another reason for this migration; the pandemic unleashed a wave of aggression in drivers the like of which is unprecedented.
So now we have a significant number of drivers who are not only distracted, they’re distracted and aggressive. I’m staying in the woods.
Picked a good part of the Midwest Southern Indiana has the best riding mtb and gravel in state and surrounding states as well
Riding in Querétaro is not advisable,it doesnt have infrastructure for cycling and it is full of chilangos with terrible driving habits. I live in celaya, although it is the unsafest place to be, riding your bike is beautiful, car drivers have developed lot of awareness about cyclists and it is very rare aggressive driving towards cyclists. Querétaro is a beautiful place but it grew to fast to soon, if you want to ride safe you gotta go to Bernal towards pinal de amoles or san Joaquin or casa de máquinas and always bring a support car behind you...
@@knirriHad to look up "Chilango"- thanks for expanding my vocabulary! 😄
I used to be able to log 5000 and more a year riding my bike but I have had to become very selective about where and what time of day I ride on the roads now. I liked riding the country roads before but now pretty much stay in the parks or on bike paths or in the Industrial Park where my office is located. I've only gotten 600 miles so far this year so it doesn't look like I'll even come close to what I used to get. I've also put on some weight because I'm not burning the calories. I see everyone driving with a phone in their hand all the time. That phone has triggered something within us, something in our brains that eats at us when it makes sounds and we can't say no to, we just have to pick it up and see what the message is. Usually it's an email add or phishing, something not important at all but still we have to look at it, even though we know it takes out eyes off the roads. Even though we know it might cause a disaster, we have to look at that phone. There is nothing that can be done about it except self regulation, self control. I think the punishment for getting caught using your phone while driving should be higher than that for a DUI. It's the only way it's going to stop. My job requires me to be on the road daily visiting our customers and I tell everyone if you text me or email me I will reply when I can but if you don't get a response right away it's probably because I am driving. I'm religious about that too. Even the hands free tech is distracting. If you tell yourself it's the other guy and you're not the problem, think about it, every time you touch your phone while you're driving you are the problem. Please everybody, for my life too, don't become part of the problem. Lives are at risk.
I own a bike shop in a very small, remote town in Oregon. during the season I host three different group rides, road, mountian, and gravel. The road ride consistantly draws the biggest numbers and most regular riders, followed by the gravel ride. Mountian bike ride is often a solo event for me. Interestingly, I sell many more mountain bikes than road and gravel bikes combined.
What/where is your bike shop?
@@jt3366 Tall Town Bike & Camp in Lakeview, Oregon.
You don't need a group to mtn bike. I prefer to mtn bike by myself.
I ride over 7K miles a year. Older cyclist. Yeah, I ride road a lot, but I also ride designated paved trails set up for walkers, joggers and bikes. My bigger fear is the number of idiots that ride electric motorcycles on the same trails at excessive speeds well over 20 MPH. Unlicensed “KIDS” under 16. Drivers on roads: yeah they’re problems. Road cycling? Not giving it up.
Agree 100% Rob, I'm seeing the same here in Scotland, UK. I used to live in Chapel Hill, NC and stopped riding my road bike outdoors because of distracted drivers, it became too dangerous, I have two young boys and I was just not willing to risk it. I will say, in general Scottish drivers are more courteous towards cyclists and give them space, but I do see lots of distracted drivers here as well.
Columbus Ohio has a strong road scene. 30 to 60 riders on group rides. Most days of the week you can find a great ride.
Ohio has one of the best paved bike trail systems too! Great state to visit and bike ride.
I live in the uk and I think we have much smaller and busier roads in worse condition . A police force who just don’t care and as you suggest a significant minority of drivers on their phones ( it is illegal over here ) . What you do hear about in the msm are the tiny number of incidents where cyclists have collided with pedestrians with sometimes fatal consequences. It is always the “ Lycra lout’s” fault . There was a celebrated case a few years back where a woman on her stepped off the pavement ( sidewalk ?) whilst concentrating on her phone and died as a result of her injuries from a collision with a passing cyclist. It’s always the cyclists fault.
There’s to many aggressive drivers out there but I soldier on ,
When working I used to go out 4AM - 5:30AM on weekdays on a series of neighborhood loops; very few cars out at those hours. After retiring I started going later in the AM. What I found was avoid being out on a road between 7:45AM and 9AM as those are the hours stressed-out parents are taking their kids to school. You get near a school and its chaos with SUVs cutting off other SUVs, bicycles, even pedestrians. Same with the afternoons between 2PM - 3PM. Other than that I have wide roads with striped bike lanes in my area, drivers seem to be attentive (yeah, a few phone addicts), and I always give the driver the ROW even if the driving laws say I have it. I've also got a nice long paved MUP nearby if I just don't want to deal with vehicles.
I stopped riding on the open roads because drivers were being nasty, it was no longer safe, I got my old mountain bike out, nice to know that i"m not alone
Get off the roads then.
@piersderoos6941 what do you think I did, what you don't know how to read ????
@@piersderoos6941 exactly what I said, you don't know how to read, I see
@@ramiroguerrero6331 what I said was half a joke ,and yes I can read . You said you stopped riding but then got your mountain bike out.
@@piersderoos6941and you’re one of the nasty ones - and probably proud of it.
Today, 16 May, a driver ran into the rear of a tanker semi stopped on the shoulder of I-70 west of Denver, causing a massive fire that killed one person.
If drivers can’t see an object that large……,
I live in Silverthorne. I saw that crash that closed the interstate for quite a few hours. Was the SUV driver distracted?
What are the chances he/she wasn't? Is it a wonder insurance rates keep going up.
Don't ride a bike on that kind of road. Ever.
@@sevenratsthat wasn’t the point 🙄
A strong flashing tail light (even in broad daylight) may help a lot.
After getting hit by a car in 2018, I'm back on my bike trying to get into some kind of decent shape for bike touring. Now, though, I have a cam attached to my helmet. Unfortunately, in the state where I live, there's no real civil recourse for those drivers who jeopardize the safety of cyclists. Hell, even the local cops won't enforce cycling laws because it's "not a priority" of the DA. So, the only good the cam is for is after someone runs me over.
Need to vote that DA out if they’re elected! Grrr
Same here in SC it seems. No enforcement of basic traffic laws so speeding, etc are rampant. Also many darkly tinted windows which is illegal but never enforced. What state do you ride in?
@@sixdogbob543 Tennessee
I’ve been a pretty hardcore roadie for 38 years but also frequently ride serious mtb here in Oregon, Washington and Utah. Road bikes are the ultimate training tool while mtb is arguably more entertaining. Most of the nearby roads we used to cycle on here in Oregon and Washington have become too congested with distracted car drivers. Yeah so dangerous that now I frequently just go mtb at Sandy Ridge, take day trip to Hood River, take a weekend trip to Bellingham or make a big annual trip to Moab. But road cycling is hard to give up. 12 years ago I went to Europe to ride many of the hallowed climbs such as Mont Ventoux, Duez, Izoard, Galibier, Telegraph, Croix de Fer, Stelvio and many many others. Would be very sad that younger people may never have such road bike experiences….
I agree, drivers are more distracted and that's one reason why many people are afraid to ride on the roads.
I saw a young girl driving on the freeway almost drive into the back of a dump truck in rush hour stop and go traffic. She had to lock up the brakes and almost crashed. What was even more worrying was that it didn't even phase her. After she nearly crashed she went right back to putting her face on the phone,, like immediately after she managed to stop she went on as if nothing happened. Insane!!!
Later that day I was out riding and another younger teen was walking right down the middle of a neighborhood street with her face in her phone. A sidewalk on both sides, yet she was walking down the middle of the street not paying attention to anything around her. Then shortly after that I saw a young boy, maybe 12ish, walk across an intersection without looking away from his phone.
So it's everywhere. Drivers, pedestrians, other cyclists, and so on. We have a whole generation of people who absolutely can't take time away from their devices no matter what they are doing. And as much as we create laws and call this issue out, the problem is still getting worse.
The issue is bigger than we think. People now feel like they have to be connected all the time and that they can't wait to respond or watch a video or whatever.
Our phones have technology in them that can prevent this and I think it's time to require that when a phone is moving only the most basic features or GPS map can be accessed.
The technology is even there to have a phone almost entirely disabled with the exception of GPS directions once a certain speed is reached. This way drivers have no ability to use their devices.
As much as people hate regulations, it's clear to me humans can't self regulate so it is badly needed.
The problem why people keep tinkering with their phone isn't so much the need to feel connected all the time, the problem is that the rate of being caught is way too low.
In The Netherlands using you phone while cycling is prohibited as well, but they are hardly caught and fined... Same goes for texting and driving.
I agree entirely, but I think the cell phone companies are bribing the big wig politicians to not take steps to make us all safer by implemented things like you mentioned in your comment. Today, making money takes priority over safety, and even saving lives!
I do strongly agree with you but I would add two points or thoughts. I think that car thing will get worst for next couple of years, but it will get better thanks largely to new safety systems implemented into cars, like automatic obstacle avoidance and collision avoidance which may actually prevent cyclist getting hit by a car. On the other hand strong road bike killer is gravel bike. Most people I know are getting those instead of road bikes due to their more universal nature.
I got off the road 2 years ago. If I can’t hit the trail because of conditions, the road bike has a permanent home on the trainer and gets it done.
I ride the roads three miles to the Silver Comet trail, 33 miles on the trail then another 3 on the roads home. I'll do the roads in a group ride but do not prefer a solo ride on the roads.
I gave up road riding for this reason as well. It was probably close to 20 years ago when I was a competitive road racer in the pacific northwest and was hit head on during a training ride. Fortunately I was ok.. broke the bike in half and went flying through the air. At the time I was a few months away from being a dad so it put the fear into me. I raced a bit after that but really slowed it down and eventually stopped. When I moved to AZ I got back into mountain biking, but won't go near the roads here.. way too sketchy. I'll take my chances with the snakes.
Road cycling very popular here in Australia. But damn it, those drivers! I am counting the days for my turn to get hit! 🤦♂️
Gravel bike has entered the chat. I'll still ride pavement, but try to stick to back roads and gravel. There are still cars on gravel but not nearly as many. Regardless, everyone on road or gravel should be riding with a radar light. I was nearly hit two years ago and it shook me. As soon as I got home from that ride I ordered a radar light.
Or use an inexpensive helmet mounted rearview mirror, or both! The radar units are super cool technology and they do some things better than a mirror, but a mirror gives quite a bit more information to the rider. ie is the car behind moving towards the center line or straddling it, how big is the vehicle and how many etc.? It seems the biggest reason road riders don't use mirrors is that they aren't cool, but I'm too old to care about that.
@michaelcapilla1828 I actually did a review on the new Trek radar light and a few ppl mentioned mirrors in the comments. I may need to look in to this. I don't care if I don't look cool if it keeps me alive.
Same. Just bought a gravel bike.
@@michaelcapilla1828 Yeah, preventing yourself from being killed or crippled , just isn't cool! Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?
I’m not in USA. England and Australia
After 70 years of road, trail and track cycling, and racing, I abandoned them at lockdown in February 2020, to fully convert to a Wahoo Kikr Snap smart roller with FulGaz. I ride all four of my bikes almost daily everywhere from Juneau to NZ, and in Seattle yesterday.
I’ve been road cycling since 1974, and it is as good as ever where I live. I was just out today for a 30 mile ride - I rarely have any incidents, so maybe it is area dependent. Staying off the roads just surrenders them to cars.
They've already won. Best bet is to hope for some seperate bike paths in cities and riding on quiet roads or off road. After 62 I'm done fighting this battle.
Where do you live?
You could not have said it any better. Mode share was dismal even during so-called "bike boom" periods -- now it's rare to never I see someone else out there riding. Even in the nearest college town, which there appears more scooters now than bikes, few ride bikes. Vehicle lane excursions are very common now, with cars routinely driving over the white line or in the bike lane itself. If it wasn't for my helmet mirror I'd of been by now. I've been riding since the '80s and things began dying off at the onset of the 'smart' phone revolution. There is no question that club riding (at least here, in Delaware) went into decline by the mid-2010s. Just up the road from me there was a memorial service today for a legendary rider and volunteer, who got mowed down from behind and left for dead in Florida. So for sure, you nailed it; reckless driving is the primary reason nobody rides on-road anymore and the police don't care.
well it's clear this is a regional issue. In my area the hostile car drivers are numerous, but the friendly legislators are numerous. The car drivers will stop, roll down their windows, and verbally harass and argue as a tactic. Not to mention those that use threats and violence. Nevertheless, the city is now building up huge barriers to cars to drive in a bike lane. If you do that you will hit a physical pole. Someone is going to win this one - the lawbreakers on one side, the lawmakers on the other.
@@robertdulany6811 most of the problems relate to slip lanes. They are appearing on all roads regardless of posted speed limits and it's impossible to safely navigate even a "protected" bike lane thru one -- unless you drastically reduce bike LOS which is unacceptable. They put the bicycle "pocket lane" but nobody (except us crazies) are going to ride in a high speed mixing environment like that. The so-called "advocacy" orgs, MPOs, and DOT "planners" don't care one iota about getting us through these traffic sewers safely.
Even if you could build a safe and equal LOS facility alongside stroads, for example, they cite that nobody rides so "why build good bike infra when nobody rides because of the lack of good infra". Nothing is going to change unless oil enters terminal decline and driving cars becomes more prohibitive. People do look for alternatives when gas prices are high enough, esp if there are lines at the pump al la 1973. But that's not going to happen. It's a predicament, paving the way (fast) to the 6th mass extinction.
Just came from a spin around today. Not 1 road cyclist did I see. Commuters or hybrid family riders yes.
Yeah the numbers have really gone down over the past couple of years. It is sunny and 60 out right now and there is no one out.
My wife and I just started riding (as we enter retirement) and this is truly the one thing that scars me - distracted drivers! Fortunately we are retiring in a small community (around 12K) which has a great bike trail (which also connects to a nearby small city 25 miles away). Otherwise, I don't think we'd do it. (And my son-in-law owns the local bike shop!)
Yes, this reflects my own experience. I was a huge road cyclist (3,000 miles per year-ish) and mtn biker. I have been twice hit by cars (broken shoulder in the worse event) as have some fellow cyclists who ended up with more serious injuries. In 2016, I started to switch to running. I now run road and trail races (including many marathons) and have been loving it. This is ironic because when I was a cyclist, I thought running was the most boring activity possible.
Exact same for me. I use running now for fitness and used to hate it.
Me too! So nice to go for a run and not have to deal with traffic conflicts AT ALL. I loved riding my bike, but at least once a week I'd be honked at, heckled, or have a close call. I don't want that added stress in my life. I used to think running was boring too, but I have come around to really enjoying it.
I was on a country road without hardly any traffic and the car passed within a foot from my drops. I'm starting to think it's safer to ride in heavy traffic where drivers are maybe paying more attention. I may die or even worse because of a crash with a vehicle but nobody is scaring me off my bike. Saying that I do ride more gravel now when the trails are too wet to ride mtn bikes 😊. Great topic and great video.
Move further from the edge of the road, Own The Road.
Thanks for making this short video. Sadly, I am considering options other than riding my six road bikes for exercise and outdoor enjoyment. I have one MTB and one cross bike that may work, but at 73 I’m more risk averse than in past years. I live in a metropolis with a population of close to one million and use my road bikes constantly. I can spot phone using drivers from some distance while riding now and they are so obvious at stop lights. My observations reveal that it is of epidemic proportions now.
I was going to quote the fines for violations of Oregon’s Distracted Driving laws but when i looked it up I found a long list of variables with fines roughly ranging from $260 to jail time if an accident results from fooling with a phone. I strongly suggest everyone look up the laws that apply to their area and pass the info on to any drivers they know. More and more it appears that solutions to the problems in our society are coming down to individual actions by citizens. Stand up. Get involved (and save democracy - vote blue).
I have a few vintage road bikes. Bianchi and I can’t give them away. I think you are right. Another reason could be that I heard during the pandemic everyone bought a bicycle. No one needs a bike.
You nailed it. This pushed me to ride the rail trails only and selling my rode motorcycle as well. Distracted driving is out of control and continues to get worse especially with the increased use of cannabis while driving.
After about a 20 year layoff from cycling, I'm getting back into it. I used to ride 2,500-3,000 miles a year, much of it on the road. I used to run errands on my bike whenever and wherever possible. I worked out on my bike. I cruised around the shore towns on my bike. I also explored the canal and bike trails in NJ where I'm originally from. You get the idea.
Now that I'm returning to cycling, I don't know how much road riding I'll be doing. I'll do some on my city's side streets, but I don't know about venturing beyond that; the traffic is heavy, and much of that traffic has distracted drivers. Back when I was riding whenever possible, people saw me and worked with me, and I worked with them. I had no problem sharing the road with motorists. I put John Forrester's tenets into practice, and they worked. Now, I don't know if I'd be willing to do that. I don't know if I want to deal with today's motorists.
I won't give up my road bikes though, as they're literally irreplaceable; one cannot find a modern equivalent of either of my road bikes. I have a Marukin M420 with a CroMo frame; I've had it 38 years ever since I got out of the Navy. I just picked up a Cannondale SR500 that my LBS restored for me-sweet bike! By today's standards, it's old, but I think it's nice looking and nice riding bike. It also has a place in cycling history. You can't get any road bike like either of mine, so they're not going anywhere while I'm alive. Besides, new road bikes are excessive. Electronic shifting? GTFOOH! Are you serious? Downtube shifters are all I want and need on a road bike, and no new road bike has them. I'll still ride my old school road bikes in my neighborhood now and then.
Since I have a lot of bike and canal trails near my house, I expect to be spending most of my time there. I have one about 0.2 miles from my house, while the other is about a mile away. I have two mountain bikes set up for that kind of riding; they both have Continental Contact City Plus tires, so I can hit the bike and canal trails, explore an inviting meadow, and hit the street on occasion. With no cars around, I feel safer. Dealing with traffic while crossing the roads intersecting the local bike paths is about as close as I want to get to cars now.
It's a shame that distracted driving has made road biking so dangerous. I’ve heard similar stories from other cyclists. It really makes you think about the future of the sport.
I as well have shifted my riding more to MTB. I love the road. I quit motorcycling and now riding the road may be on the list next. In MTB, trees don't just jump out at you or make lefts while coming toward you. I'll keep taking the risk off road and reduce my road riding as long as I can.
100% agree. Several close calls and two clapped friends led to me making the same decision. It's a shame too, road bike commuting was a part of my daily routine and an easy way to maintain fitness.
I fully agree. We've lived in the Austin TX area for 49 years. In '73, I lived about 10 miles from the University of Texas. Some short stretches of road didn't have a shoulder and I could sprint to merge with rush hour traffic for brief stretches. There were bicycles everywhere and people were relatively alert and respected them. Motorcycles were widely used too. We keep moving further out but the development eventually catches up with us. I still ride in our relatively quiet, rural neighborhoods and local park trails but due to accidents caused mostly by distracted drivers, avoid road shoulders whenever possible. It's refreshing to visit family and friends in Germany where drivers seem more attentive, skilled and have respect for the higher percentage of both bicycles and pedestrians.
Had to stop because of increasingly dense, high speed (speeding) traffic and driver aggression … and increased roadside diesel and gas pollution in my rural area.
Pollution is ridiculous. You’d think that combined with the climate crisis would lead to major changes, but we seem to live in one of the most dystopian of all societies in North America.
I'm lucky to live in a state with more gravel then paved roads, Micigan. I sold my road bike when I got the gravel bike, There are fewer vehicals, on gravel, and Sure people drive stupid on gravel, but there is a bigger space between vehicals, cuz' of rocks breaking windshields, so there is a better chance of being seen, I wear bright clothing, and have blinky lights. I ride on snowpack in winter, and gravel spring and fall. If the trails are rideable I ride mountain bikes, if enough snow I ride Fat Bike. I've just picked up a 26 in Haro Dirt Jumper, I ride it on pump tracks, man what a great workout, I'm 77 and ride thousands of miles on my bikes. No electric bikes, no Tricknology, no battery opperated shifters/derailleurs/suspension/seatposts, I raced Scrambles before MX was in the USA, MX, Hare Scrambles, TT Flat Track, Ice Raced, plenty of Harleys, and other road bikes, I'm now the motor, I only miss one motorcycle, but I would'nt have time to ride it much anyway, cuz' I'm riding for exercise, or I'm working on MTB Trails, the motorcycle I miss is my H-D WLA I rode with the Yankee Air Museum in parades/air shows.. Happy Trails..
Same reason I quit road biking. I got slapped by a pickup truck mirror 3 years ago. Only mountain bike and gravel ride now.
Know your neighborhood well. Used to carve the N GA mountains regularly (on my sport bike) LOL when I wasn't at Deals Gap. Lived in Brasstown, NC just over the state line. Sorry to hear how bad it's become for road bikes. Used to see many road bikers out that way back when. Never minded sharing the road with ya'll. Best of luck.
My Ridley has been a roller queen for the past six years or so. Like you, riding the road was always the second option to mtb, but it was fun and great to go straight from the house. Ditched it though after a couple of close calls and an ugly driver altercation. I ride for fun, and the fun was totally being sucked out of the road equation. I'd rather take my chances with trees and rocks than vehicles. I still will join large, charitable rides as they are well marked and attended, but forget just myself or a small group on a road ride. Just not worth it.
We had some great rides back in the day too!
I record my road rides, for the funeral... don't miss getting grazed - after 30yrs+ of road/group rides I'm limestone/gravel/dirt now
Hi from the UK. I’m 65 and have been riding since I was ten years old. As a ten year old I could go anywhere, anywhere and did. On my own with my friends I loved it. I even continued while I worked in the city of London. Didn’t enjoy the proximity of traffic but eventually quit as attitudes started to charge at the end of the ‘90’s. Still no phones yet. Moved to the country carried on until about 2012-14. Cycling became huge overnight, Lycra every where. I initially thought, great, but suddenly I had these 20-30 year olds blasting past looking down their noses like I was pathetic and then the drivers came and they were psychotic literally trying to force me off the road, screaming abuse and violence. I stepped off my bike and left it. I thought that was it until I went to France and got back on the bike. I was stunned, cycling was fun again, I felt so so safe. Wondering why I did some research. In France, if you knock a cyclist down you’re in deep sh*t! You must prove yourself innocent, that’s the law, so naturally cyclists are given space and also they’re respected because the French love cycling. However until I get to go there again my biking days are over, nobody cares if I get smeared across the road so I take care of myself.
Road biking is strong.. Riding off road is too inconvenient. Having to take your bike somewhere to ride wastes a lot of time. I jump on my road bike and I'm out the door straight away. Nice and easy. On the road, just expect that every driver is going to hit you. Keep your head on a swivel.. And never use ear bubs when riding on road or off road. I've been riding on the road all my life and that won't change. Also, stay off main roads as much as possible. I can take several long rides in my area and only cross a few main roads. If that means taking the long way to avoid the main drag, then do so. That's why your riding your bike in the first place, because it's good for you and it's fun.
I stopped riding for the exact same reason. I live in San Diego which is a very special place to ride, but folks just don't care or are too distracted. I feel safer on trails and we have so many to pick from without the danger of getting run over. We do have protected lanes along the bay, but it's all flat you can do it on any bike.
I used to do big group rides and races. After a big wreck where I was cut off by another rider I gave it up. A torn rotator cuff and back injury was enough for me to hang it up.
Agree with the point of view and sentiments expressed in the comments. Nowadays all my former road riding friends have taken up riding on gravel roads - finally broke down last year at age 67 and added a gravel bike to the N+1 stable. Enjoy the slower conversation pace and quieter scenery of our northern New England area gravel back roads. That said I absolutely refuse to be pushed off the paved roads and continue to enjoy solo rides on the tarmac.
Two weekends ago I rode in the "Ride for Mo" gravel ride in memory of Moriah Wilson. One of my riding companions inspired me with a cheerful "thank you" for every corner volunteer keeping us on course. On my next road ride I decided to change my approach to discourteous drivers and did my best to not get wound up by those driving at excessive speed, too close, etc. etc. Instead, whenever I encountered a courteous driver who respected my right to share the road and my vulnerability, I made a point of expressing my gratitude - a word of thanks and a friendly wave. Perhaps only a drop in the ocean, but as the saying goes, “you get more flies with honey than with vinegar”.
Last year, I was hit by a car while commuting on my bike. I was wearing bright clothes and using a flashing taillight but there's nothing visual that can grab the attention of a distracted driver. In my accident it was a young lady who had a crying baby in the back seat. Anymore, I just have too much anxiety riding on the road. We have a paved trail nearby that goes for nearly 100 miles so I ride on it instead. The downside is I have to load my bike into the car and drive to it.
As another example, this year the long tenured Ride the Rockies one week road bike tour in Colorado was cancelled due to lack of entries. 30 years ago it was so popular that there was a lottery system to get in. A very popular century ride in Castle Rock, CO called the Elephant Rock was also cancelled due to traffic concerns. Meanwhile, the gravel events are getting more popular by the day.
For me: I am 49 and have been road biking for 8 years. Over the past 2 years, I cut my mileage down by half(125 miles per week to 60 ish per week) I no longer traverse the high speed/highly traveled roads. It has become more dangerous w/distracted drivers. I’ve found new, quieter/less traveled roads…and sometimes opt for the bike paths because I love road biking and I will not let others/society deprive me of something I like to do.
Vive le Tour✨
I definitely miss cycling. I used to do Ironman, half and Olympic triathlons. I stopped when I got into PA school due to lack of time. Tried to pick it up again, but notice people not paying attention just like you mentioned in the video. I hate biking on trails because I can’t get up to the fast speeds. Used to cycle at MSU with a group. Loved it. Every Wednesday we would meet at the commuter lot. We would get up to speeds of 32 mph on flats drafting. Felt like I was a professional. Like you mentioned the quiet; yet, humming of our bikes. Pushing each other. Adrenaline rush. Being out in nature with friends. Really miss it a lot. Want to get back into it, but I have moved and in Port Huron I don’t see many cyclists. If I do, they are by themselves. No team. So very sad.
Completely agree with this sentiment. I feel so much more nervous on the road in the last couple years. People are absolutely obsessed with their bloody phones!
THE reason I became almost exclusively a mountain biker 7 years ago was the opening up of trail networks right by my house. It is 1 mile from my garage to one trailhead; 2 miles to the other one. About once a week I put the rack on my car and drive somewhere. Now, I would like to road bike more, but it’s tough to find a time where I feel safest. Usually that will be a weekend afternoon, but if a friend asks me to hit the trails - I’m on the trails. 20 years ago I would have ridden my road bike after work. Today? No way - too many distracted and angry drivers. Bottom line - my road bike gets out there 1-3 times a year. I’m currently planning to take it out this weekend, but if a friend asks me to hit the trail? I’m hitting the trail.
I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil, biggest city in South America. I must agree. So many drivers do take cyclists as enemies... terrible. I'm glad that there are easy escape routes to go out metropolitan area, then you can take a 80km ride with peace, but not entirely in safety. To go real fast in the city, only option is to get along pelotons with 10, 20, 30, 40 road bikers or around this, you count it... stablishes an average velocity when heavy traffic is diminishing arou 8PM. Late hour, but it works... along the weekend everything chages. Most of us go to kind of XCM.... 80, 90km up and down the hills and greener areas outside the cities with MTB.
I agree with your seeing a trend to danger on roads. It's unmistakable, and I've been road riding (albeit not racing) for over six decades. I can still do a 100km day jaunt albeit tend towards quality rather than quantity as age catches up to me. That being said, I've always tended to avoid major roads save for in the city where they're unavoidable, in which case I cycle less busy roads, even if it's farther to do so.
For my distance jaunts, I choose trails and back roads. I'll take a commuter train out to one locale, do my distance down back roads and trails to another, and take a train or bus back into the big city. I've never been one for cycling with 'clubbers' (canary outfits and so on) but do wear padded undershorts, cycling shoes and gloves. I travel with escapees, not jocks, and moderate speed to meet a connection at the end of the planned trip.
So it's with interest that I hear you claim 'road biking is a dying sport'. I didn't realize it's so observable. What I have noticed is how underused some magnificent rail-trails have become in this part of Ontario. On one hand, it's great that those that do use them are serious escapees, but on the other hand, if they're not used, they will lose funding. When I state 'trails' I mean ones that can be done on road bikes, albeit best with 28c or more tires.
I'm subscribing to this channel to see how this debate unfolds. The market is definitely changing.
I've been hit twice and had many near misses. At 60, I quit riding roads and just rode the bike paths in and around Denver. There are hundreds of miles of pathways in Denver and many thousands of pathways for bikes all over the world.
I upgraded my situational awareness on my motorcycle long ago. And I live in corner of Canada where the roads are constantly re-engineered to favour mixed traffic. I have few concerns out on the road, but I stay alert.
I’ve got to honest. In my….um….neck of the woods, road cycling doesn’t appear to be waning. I saw a lot of road cyclists again this year.
If I moved away from the bay area I think I would probably just quit road riding. When I lived out on the east coast it was just insane how aggressive and angry drivers were towards me.
I went to Spain a few months ago. It was absolutely shocking the difference how I was treated on the road vs how I'm treated here in the US.
The main reason, in my opinion are the people in vehicles staring at cell phones as I agree . I'm an all around cyclist that enjoys MTBing as well .
I reside in the small city of Manchester NH ,as I'm often biking around the city which isn't that bad as far a people on cell phones .
But as far as road cycling on busy roads , or country roads I'm all set as that's where the danger is . I have a lot of local rail trails that are excellent to ride on for fitness as that's where most of my riding happens these days. Although when they're busy , the pace is rather slow.
This might sound odd, but thank God I live in Brooklyn NY.....it’s 15 minutes to Prospect Park, and around a hour to Central Park if in feeling 27 as opposed to my actual 47 years of age.....both closed to traffic....and there are certain streets and avenues that are safe for a fast experienced rider with his head on a swivel....I don’t know how riders elsewhere can enjoy the Russian Roulette of single lane, traffic coming up behind you, riding....stay safe
I wonder what NY would be like without cars downtown. Whenever I’ve driven there it’s insane.
We’re getting more parks closed down in DC too.
The fight has just begun and “I don’t think it can be fixed” is not the solution I’m looking for.
Before there were cellphones people were having their beers while driving. I was a runner and a cyclist until a drinking driver sent me by helicopter to shock trauma in 1988. I was in a pickup truck. I was never able to fully recover.
I’m all in on road cycling. In spite of the injuries and expenses, the beautiful highway overlooks and the wonderful people make it all worthwhile, not to mention the fitness aspect of it.
I totally agree with this rider. Many times I’ve thought of doing a spin on my road bike thinking will this be my last ride because of increased congestion and bad drivers on the road?
Last week I purchased a gravel bike. Now I can ride without feeling the dread of being ran over from behind by someone texting.
Can confirm Toronto is an SUV stroad sprawl cesspool, and I've cut way back on the road bike but not completely. Go out relatively early and only for a couple of hours. Rolling back into the city after noon is just annoying and zero peace. There's a decent ravine system and wooded area along a river that connects to a park which is 90% off road for the gravel bike which I use a fair bit. Zero inclination to do the gridlock shuffle way out of the city to take up the whole day for a 2 he MTB ride.
I've tried to quit road cycling, but road cycling can't quit me! The pavement is the only place to ride when the trails have been underwater for 6 months in my area with the monsoon level rains . I do see a shift in road cycling as a way to ride in the surburbs to a more urban style of riding. I've been to Cumming GA and your surburb situation is very similar to that of the surburbs of Dallas. We're losing our quiet roads not only to distracted drivers but also to sprawl and development that the roads aren't ready for. So it's a lot more complicated than whether or not it is disappearing. It is going away in some areas and increasing in others IMHO.
I road bike and absolutely love it! Been cycling for around 22 years, and in most cases, I am not afraid of cars. I've had a couple close calls, but that's it. I want to tell people to never give up what they enjoy. Even though more distracted, impaired, and raging motorists are on the roads today, cycling infrastructure is also improving. Choose states that prioritize cycling over cars to ride in. Choose the best bike for the type of riding you plan to do. Never ever let anyone tell you to keep your bike off the streets. Lastly, E-bikes are not a requirement to ride on the roads. In fact, some states are already dishing out regulations for E-bikes with many other states/provinces following. It is up to every cyclist to determine the fate of every type of bicycle out there. Want to keep road cycling going? Buy a roadbike and encourage others to follow.
I road biked for decades. From 1975 to 1995. Loved it. Still do. But, the car drivers have gotten so much more hazardous for us. Now, only ride on class 1 bike paths. But mostly, I mtb.
Agreed. Got hit by a distracted driver a few years ago. She got distracted and swerved into the other lane that I was in and hit me head on. I tend to gravel bike and mtb more frequently because of that very reason.
Age and moving to more congested area has definitely curtailed my road cycling passion. I was spoiled years ago to live and work next to a large military base on the coast that was virtually empty on the weekends. Miles of well-kept roads that hugged the ocean with challenging climbs too. It was cycling paradise.
I hung it up years ago for the exact same reason. Been hit by 3 cars over the past 30 years and this was in NWGA as well! People are idiots on the road. The addition to rumble strips in GA as well has caused all sorts of havoc for cyclists. A sport I used to love and adore is one I steer clear of now sadly.
Road cycling has always been dangerous. Even off road have managed to maim myself a few times. You are right about social media. Strava and Carbon wheels is what killed Road cycling. The e-bike will definitely finish it off, because I won’t ride with anyone that has one. So I agree distracted driving is a problem. And let’s not leave out the drug abuse problem. Cycling is just dangerous. But I love doing it.
same situation in NE...used to have several group rides a week going various places, now (like you said) it's maybe a handful of people I see on the roads. Not only are people not paying any attention but there's also the issue of road maintenance, which has really fallen off, so there are large chunks of pavement missing on the shoulders which makes it hard to want to take a chance against vehicles going 60-70mph. Pretty much all we have here now are gravel rides.
Definitely a valid point you're making although i would say it is still fairly safe in the uk and you still see alot of folks out on their road bikes.
I agree, distracted drivers are a huge danger on our roads. All my road riding buddies up here in Canada agree.
But I think governments should mandate the following technological solutions:
Make all new phones capable of detecting if they are in a moving vehicle and then disable all functions that are:
1 - Not voice operated,
2 - Only seen through the dash screen via Apple or Google Play, or on back seat.
3 - Not essential for car operation or safety, for phoones on front seat.
After 5 years ban all phones that are not compliant.
This would also save the lives of countless pedestrians.
I raced Motocross for 25 years, fly planes, SCUBA dive, mountainbike, etc, but road biking scares the heck out of me.
In my mid sixties and I am about to put at least 5,000 miles on my third hybrid bike, but I have transitioned from the road mostly to a bike trail after 30+ years riding on the shoulder of suburban roads outside of NYC, Chicago, Cincinnati & Wash DC. I totally agree about distracted drivers make the roads more dangerous…
Yup. I'm one and it's the distracted driving that has caused me to shift from the road to gravel. It's a law not to use your phone but the police never do anything about it - Sad 😥
We used to ride the twisty back roads of northern Virginia early Sunday mornings. Five or six strong riders having some high speed fun. That was thirty years ago, but my Schwinn Paramount hangs in my living room to this day. Fun memories.
My experience is not just distraction but also the volume of traffic, less driving skills and the increasing size of cars. My miles on the bike are down and I see fewer riders out there.
I live in Washington DC. I've been a bike messenger for 13 years and I did biathlons during those 13 years (1987-2000). I still ride my rode bike and my ATB (all terrain bike...1994 GT Terrain) weekly all year round. The biggest change I've seen hasn't been so much of the car traffic and distracted drivers...The biggest change are the BIKERS THEMSELVES. When riding on roads, and especially on city streets, drivers are more forgiving if they can see that you are riding predictably...i.e: You keep your line and you don't take the whole street (riding 3-4 cyclists across). This was a given among cyclists in this area until when e-bikes and disc brake bikes came along....This new breed of rider could not care less about cycling etiquette on the road, and the price paid is an increase of these bikers getting hit. In DC, type A personality drivers are rampant. These people will hit you and leave you on the road and fellow drivers will NOT call about it because, well, they feel that these types of bikers got what they deserve. We've had a huge uptick of cyclist injuries and deaths in the DC area, but ironically, almost all these cases have no witnesses or people stepping forward and telling the police what had happened. This is strange, since DC area is a high density car and bike sharing the road area. I still ride my bike at least twice a week/year round in this area, and I just wish that these 'newbies' on the road learn that when they challenge cars/trucks....What will happen is this: There's a lot of people in the hospital/ graveyard who THOUGHT they had the right of way....We have to learn to share the road and not be stupid. If in doubt, LET THE CAR GO BY.
In 2016, I stopped riding on the road after 30 years of doing it. Even then, too many distracted drivers. The math is simple…250 pounds of bike/man vs 3500-5000pounds with a 20-50mph difference in speed. Lots of potential for energy transfer and deformation of structure (yours and the bike’s). Group rides were awesome, even when you get dropped. Too many distracted, intoxicated, and frankly angry/crazy people on the road.
I’ve been hit twice by cars. No more road for me, since 2013. I now ride an emtb on mountain trails only. I did enjoy a few centuries and was hardcore road biker for 5 solid years. Distracted drivers and hate for cyclists has me staying in the woods.
I was riding on the road at my peak about 20 years ago, and as soon as smart phones hit the market, it was so obvious how distracted drivers were. It just got worse with time and I went to the wind trainer indoors for 5 years. Now it’s weight and resistance training. Also, now I am 63.