Why do so many Americans think it's ok to cycle on the wrong side of the road?

I'ver been wondering about this for some time. I moved here from the UK 3yrs ago and I still dont understand. People riding their bicycles AGAINST TRAFFIC ! all the time, everywhere. WTF? and I've checked and it is illegal, so if you are going to try and tell me otherwise, save it.

Despite the fact they are breaking law sometimes these morons do this at night with no lights and in dark clothing. Maybe its just the 'law enforcement' in my area isnt that great but I see this muppetry happening every day around here. Does this go on all over the US ?. If so why ? In the UK if you went around doing that you'd quickly be either arrested or killed in an accident within 20 minutes.

sunflower

I think many bicyclists consider themselves to be pedestrians, when in fact they are supposed to abide by the same traffic laws as motorists.

There is a rather busy 4-way stop near my home, at the bottom of a hill, and I can't even count the number of times I've seen bicyclists fly right thru the stop sign, even with vehicles present. It's usually younger people.

I think the schools need to do a better job of educating kids on bike safety.

Firecracker .

Stupid people think it makes them safer.
I hardly ever see traffic laws enforced when it comes to bicycles.
Which in turn makes them think it's alright.
If you do it in front of a policeman and he doesn't stop you it must be ok..............1/2 the cops don't really know the law either.

Javier M

They're afraind of getting ran over from behind, and they figure they're better off seeing the traffic coming towards them.

We don't have a habit of bicycling in the US, so know one really understands safety and the law when it comes to bicycling. It's rare to find public roads that are bicyclist friendly.

Ivory

That is one thing I've never understood either. Lived in Indiana all my life, always did it the correct way. Around my area, when I rode my bike all the time, we had no sidewalks (was a fairly new housing area and such) and lots of people rode their bikes. Not to mention the roads happened to be busy (less than 5 minutes away was a HS, worst from its district with crazy after school drivers, and a major highway only 10 minutes away), yet as soon as we got sidewalks, no one used them and drove against the traffic, even during the crazy high school drivers. No one even walked on the sidewalks even, I didn't get it.

But yea, it drives me nuts seeing people peddle the wrong way. That, or peddle so slow and take up most of the road so cars have to go around when there is a sidewalk next to them. That irritates me the most. You want to ride your bike? Sure, either ride faster to keep up with traffic, or you can peddle yourself on the sidewalk lol.

UCANTCME

Ignorance of the law...

anna

I see it every where. I asked some one once and he said that he wanted to see the traffic so that if some one was driving crazy he could get out of the way.

CwboyBill

Because those stupid bikers all have a death wish.

Friendly Stranger..

Sadly it does happen all over the U.S. I've seen it many times when I drive, and it can be annoying because they are supposed to stay out of the way when it comes to traffic. But the reason why they ride this way on the roads is because it is a known fact that pedestrians have the right of way. Cyclists are pedestrians therefore they always have the right of way, even if they are in the wrong. Its ridiculous and I believe that cyclists should be considered as motor vehicles but the law says they are to be treated as pedestrians. They take advantage because they know if you hit them, then they can sue you for damages since they are considered pedestrians. Its sad but its what they do. They ride like this because they are rude, and inconsiderate of the traffic around them. I wish there were a way around it but there isn't. We just need to make sure we share the roads with the cyclists no matter how wrong they may be. In the U.S. its just the law.

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