SFist: 10-Townsend Hits Cyclist

manys

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:49:48 -0800

well manys, this is the Caltrain station, so for 1000+ cyclists a day this is a starting/endpoint of their journey... Right, and several thousand more who don't ride bikes. All the more reason to, you know, be careful. I know, it's hard to walk your fancy Dahon or fixie across the street to where it's more safe, but be all hurrylicious and slap the wheels down as soon as you get to the corner (or snack bar) at your peril. Frankly, seeing that intersection when a train lets out causes me to wonder why more people aren't getting hit.

ChesterY

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:49:28 -0800

Fizzy: X% of bicyclists flout the rules of the road. Y% obey them. That is the case for drivers and pedestrians as well.

mcp

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:43:34 -0800

excluding rail -- i.e., the N -- the 10 is the worst muni line EVER. no schedule, always packed, crazy drivers... the worst. (in my humble opinion, anyway.)

Compur

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:37:45 -0800

fizz, as a bicyclist and a Who fan, I say "boo" to you, sir. Boo.

zippy_monster

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:18:41 -0800

ChesterY: thinking that bicycles ought to obey the rules of the road means I hate them? That's rich. Militant two wheeled terrorists with such an overreaching sense of entitlement like yourself are the reason that there's so much animosity towards people who (ab)use bicycles.

wsanders

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:36:55 -0800

Because it's been YEARS since we've had a bike vs auto whos-the-bigger-buncha-jerk-drivers thread. It's as if GWB was still president. Oh wait, he is. Nevermind.

ChesterY

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:18:18 -0800

Paraphrase of Zippy Monster: Because X% of cyclists do not obey road rules, I hate 100% of them. Interesting exercise in logic there, Zippy.

murphstahoe

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:16:05 -0800

zippy - guaranteed that I have to make an avoidance maneuver from a car far more frequently than you have issues with cyclists. Heck, I probably have more issues almost getting flattened by pedestrians who never learned "Don't run from in between parked cars into the middle of the road" than you do with pesky cyclists. Not to excuse poor cyclist behavior, of course. I had to check on a pedestrian who was almost flattened yesterday and finished by telling her "That guy will be on the same Caltrain I am taking and I'll be letting the air out of his tires". And yes, I did, and no I did not lend him my pump. Jihad against *morons*, not cyclists, not drivers, not pedestrians. Of course I fully believe that the moron population is highest amongst those behind the wheel of a car, which is a problem as that's the most deadly conveyance.

baldguy

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:15:40 -0800

I hope she's okay. I work at this corner and I see cyclists doing a lot of dumb shit around here. Most of it stems from the bike parking at the Caltrain station and people riding their bike right off the sidewalk and into traffic nowhere near an intersection (and right by a taxi stand) and expecting to have the right of way. Before you get on my case, I generally bike to work twice a week, so I know dumb shit when I see it (I've even participated in dumbshittery, myself). I'm not saying the poor girl was at fault, but the bus has a stop at this intersection and the only way it would be on an angle would be if it were pulling out from its stop. Which, I imagine, would mean that she was passing the bus and the Muni driver didn't see her in the mirror.

redtim

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:08:14 -0800

This accident wasn't at the intersection there, it was mid-block where the 30 and 45 park. I didn't see it happen, but saw the girl on the ground. And while the 4th and Townsend intersection is sketchy, it is only that way because cyclists (myself included) break the law trying to turn left against traffic. They should have a dedicated left turn arrow there.

zippy_monster

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:04:05 -0800

withak: considering how often I, as a pedestrian, have to jump out of the way of a bicycle wielding twat running a red light or riding on the sidewalk... yeah. Maybe the bicyclists should obey the rules of the road.

cablecarsam

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:30:58 -0800

Muni driver is high up cyclists down low... Muni is big.. cyclists are small. It's inevitable Just give Muni the dang right of way or lose your life!

Cyclelicious

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:08:02 -0800

Didn't I see something in the news about Muni hiring a safety expert because of all the pedestrians and cyclists they hit over the last year?

murphstahoe

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:56:27 -0800

and don't get me started on the Caltrain, it runs over someone every week! Caltrain == scofflaw!

withak

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:49:00 -0800

I would help if drivers would start obeying traffic laws. Running stop signs and lights, not yielding to pedestrians...Its no wonder so many of them hit bicyclists.

sy1211

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:44:05 -0800

It would help if the cyclists would start obeying traffic laws. Running stop signs and lights, not yielding to pedestrains...Its no wonder so many of them get hit.

murphstahoe

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:34:44 -0800

If I wished for death I would probably find a simpler and less painful way than going hunting for bad drivers.

cablecarsam

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:29:17 -0800

people who ride bikes in the city must have a death wish. I hate being a pedestrian and even driving in SF. Too many one way streets and people not looking. Pink Bags running all over Chinatown. Something needs to be done to improve conditions.

murphstahoe

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:16:38 -0800

well manys, this is the Caltrain station, so for 1000+ cyclists a day this is a starting/endpoint of their journey...

manys

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:03:16 -0800

I'd no sooner ride this intersection than I would the Bayshore/Cesar Chavez meat-grinder. Take King, 3rd, Embarcadero. Even 2nd. Or 7th. Stay safe and go around, it's not like you'd be losing any time by taking some other 10 blocks. They're all the same size.

fizzandpop

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:50:30 -0800

I got it! Pete Townsend hits on a 10 year-old. It's code. Nice.