tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post7053652297861424624..comments2012-11-01T17:23:00.319-06:00Comments on Reckless at CU: Tell us your story.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-70934496860105662962010-04-28T19:09:56.326-06:002010-04-28T19:09:56.326-06:00STOP PUSHING MONGO, LEARN HOW TO RIDE A SKATEBOARD...STOP PUSHING MONGO, LEARN HOW TO RIDE A SKATEBOARDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-91952714377881132202010-04-20T12:09:35.699-06:002010-04-20T12:09:35.699-06:00This isn't exactly "on campus," but ...This isn't exactly "on campus," but I see astonishing disregard for traffic law on the streets through and near campus. I'm a biker, I commute on the roads, and I expect to be treated like a legitimate user with the same right to be on the road as a car or Mack truck or anybody else. That only works if bikes follow the law -- and are seen by drivers as doing so -- just like other kinds of traffic.<br /><br />I regularly see bikes run red lights at Folsom and Colorado, Baseline and 27th, and all the intersections along Broadway. These are busy intersections, and I'm not talking about the middle of the night when nobody else is there. Watch for 10 minutes and you'll probably see a bike or skateboard run the light and dodge through the traffic or pedestrians with the green. I see bikes going the wrong way for the lanes they're in (in bike paths, bike lanes, and just regular traffic lanes). Three days ago, I saw a bike run a red light, collide with a car, and just ride off. The car was just starting and nobody was hurt, but still. You can say that it wasn't serious, or that the car should have looked more carefully, and those are both true, but it's still grossly illegal and dangerous behavior.<br /><br />As a biker, I would like to see more law enforcement applied to bikers (and skateboarders, rollerbladers, unicyclists, etc). I hate to say it, but I don't have a better idea. Bikes are far less dangerous than cars, but we can still hurt people, especially if cars have to do dangerous things to avoid us. And if some bicyclists provoke hostility among drivers, that's bad for the rest of us. I don't know if there's much the University can do to change attitudes in general, but enforcing the existing laws against the most dangerous bad behavior can only help. It might even spill over into how people act on campus proper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-21316815699877640132010-04-17T13:50:44.807-06:002010-04-17T13:50:44.807-06:00My biggest frustrations as a biker haven't rea...My biggest frustrations as a biker haven't really been pedestrians at all. It's other bikers. I have no idea what is going through a cyclist's head when they are going the WRONG WAY on a bike path. You are forcing a very dangerous game of chicken between cyclists going the correct direction and on-coming traffic.Alicianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-12822935444662539602010-04-16T15:10:52.304-06:002010-04-16T15:10:52.304-06:00I had it explained to me as "Dangerous, Irres...I had it explained to me as "Dangerous, Irresponsible, and Reckless on Campus" but I don't know if this is the "official" basis of the acronym or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-24751721774872547682010-04-16T12:40:15.717-06:002010-04-16T12:40:15.717-06:00Can somebody please explain what the h*** DIRC eve...Can somebody please explain what the h*** DIRC even means? Anyone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-30216162937987019192010-04-16T12:08:43.640-06:002010-04-16T12:08:43.640-06:00Some thoughts:
1. Like Eric (hi Eric!), I'd l...Some thoughts:<br /><br />1. Like Eric (hi Eric!), I'd like to see some data on this. I've been in two crashes that involved other people in 10 years of cycling in and around. In one, I stupidly tried to sneak by some peds on my bike at very slow speed, caught the edge of the sidewalk on my tire, and bit it. It was actually pretty funny. In the other, another cyclist passed me on the left going very fast and fell... somehow. I'm still not sure what happened, because I don't think we even touched.<br /><br />2. We used to have dismount zones, then the paint marking them was allowed to get worn away, and I don't think they exist anymore, but I never heard any official word. When and why was the decision made to get rid of them? I would support limited dismount zones at certain hours of the day. I am also a big fan of designated bike routes, where wheeled traffic would be allowed to move faster.<br /><br />3. About a year ago, a rule was instituted that cyclists have to travel at 5 mph on campus mixed-use paths at all times. Is this still the rule? If so, I disagree with it. Riding through campus at 6:30 AM is a very different experience than at 2:50 PM, and the rules should reflect that.<br /><br />4. Any rule that is in effect (bike/walk lanes, dismount zones, speed limits, etc.) should be enforced, otherwise the university is only punishing the honest, and irresponsible path users will continue to cause problems.<br /><br />5. All incoming students should be taught how to properly walk on a mixed-use path.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11073969531522296138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-87115513638357819952010-04-16T11:07:14.877-06:002010-04-16T11:07:14.877-06:00How serious a problem is all this, really? I'...How serious a problem is all this, really? I've been walking and bicycling around campus for five years and I've seen no serious collisions between pedestrians, skateboarders, and bicyclists on campus. I've been in exactly one crash: A skateboarder and I hit each other head-on when we both dodged to the same side of the path. We apologized profusely and went about our business. Other than that, all I can recall are minor annoyances. Do we have any kind of data suggesting that a real problem exists?Erichttp://systems.cs.colorado.edu/~andersoe/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-42583128081768512822010-04-16T10:31:57.474-06:002010-04-16T10:31:57.474-06:00@Scott
I've noticed for years that pedestrian...@Scott<br /><br />I've noticed for years that pedestrians getting off the Buff Bus across Euclid from the UMC have absolutely zero respect for ANY laws of traffic. Not only do they flood across the bike lane, but they'll walk in a mass across Euclid, NOT at the crosswalk, regardless of whether or not they have the walk signal at the light. I don't think signs are going to cut it at this point (though they may in the future), since I've seen messages put up in that space in the form of sidewalk chalk asking pedestrians to please, you know, <i>follow the law</i>, and they were blatantly ignored. There need to be consequences for this behavior (both walking in the bike lanes and crossing roads incorrectly) so pedestrians will get in the habit of following the rules.Kathryn K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-21166940126768647322010-04-16T07:35:32.879-06:002010-04-16T07:35:32.879-06:00What the f*** is a DIRCWhat the f*** is a DIRCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-6850226734158381862010-04-15T11:41:18.989-06:002010-04-15T11:41:18.989-06:00My first suggestion is not to use the money that w...My first suggestion is not to use the money that we pay in fees to demonize bikers in you marketing campaign. While this site seems to treat the issue fairly, the signs make me feel like a criminal even though I am a responsible biker.<br /><br />My more important suggestion is to place signs at every bus stop that stops next to the bike path to alert people exiting the bus that they are about to walk across the bike lane. Many people get hit or almost get hit at these areas, and it is usually not the fault of bikers. I have a right to ride fast when I am in the bike lane, and just like a car driving in the road, I should be able to expect that pedestrians will not suddenly step in front of me. A simple sign that says "Hey--you are about to cross a bike path, watch out for bikers!" that people will see when they exit the bus should do the trick.<br /><br />I think if this campaign, which I understand has good motivations, continues to make bikers feel persecuted the way I feel when I see your signs, the University will discourage biking and encourage driving, which will create more problems, both environmental and safety related.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10885637331552355962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-72559338533377142172010-04-13T19:32:27.041-06:002010-04-13T19:32:27.041-06:00@anonymous poster whose message was put up by cutr...@anonymous poster whose message was put up by cutran:<br /><br />The Regent underpass by Kittredge is a major problem for me as a cyclist because whoever laid out the walkways and bicycle detour for the construction area was being completely unrealistic about both the amount of traffic that would be coming through there and about what cyclists could reasonably be asked to do. Yes, there is a bike detour that does not use the paths (one sidewalk and one blacktop) laid out for pedestrians. No, it is not in any way an acceptable route to take. I tried it once in the hopes of getting clear of the crowds, and it turns out it forces you to cover three times the distance and to cross both a busy street and a busy parking lot. What the hell, CU?! How is that in any way safe for the cyclists meant to take that route? I don't know if those bike detour signs are even still up, since I'm sure it became clear pretty quickly that no cyclist was going to use that alternate route. <br /><br />Generally it seems like most pedestrians moving through that area use the white sidewalk, while most cyclists and skateboarders use the black one, which does sort of reaffirm my faith in our ability to divide ourselves into lanes and then stick to those designations. And of course if it's very crowded, I'll slow to a walking speed (and yes, I can control my bike perfectly well at walking speed) or dismount, but that's just how it's done all over campus. Can I suggest that when construction is finally done in that area, we have permanent bike and walking lanes set through there? Also, better mirrors for seeing around the blind corners when you're coming out from under the bridge would be great. I love that we have that bridge now and I don't have to worry about getting hit by a car going through there, but I'm always nervous when I come out from under the bridge no matter how slow I'm going, because I simply can't see if anyone is coming.Kathryn K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-15417915316607316462010-01-11T11:35:19.108-07:002010-01-11T11:35:19.108-07:00Got rallied by some asshole on a mountain bike tod...Got rallied by some asshole on a mountain bike today.http://boulderfixedgear.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-was-biking-on-campus-today.htmlpeterabbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727110964205200277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-71862069107902094332009-11-19T09:16:46.000-07:002009-11-19T09:16:46.000-07:00"Cell-Phone Users Can't Spot a Clown on a..."Cell-Phone Users Can't Spot a Clown on a Unicycle" - University research study<br /><br />http://www.livescience.com/culture/091019-cell-phone-clown.html<br /><br />hahahahahaha AWESOMEMichael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901895473856712596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-30021085805588162192009-10-27T15:55:55.268-06:002009-10-27T15:55:55.268-06:00As an everyday bike commuter I know all about the ...As an everyday bike commuter I know all about the frustrations. Like pedestrians in the bike lane, skateboarders carving huge S's across both lanes of the broadway bike path,etc., but cyclists themselves can solve a lot of these problems by a) slowing down anywhere near campus, b) using verbal alerts like "on your left" c) using hand signals before turning and d) riding more defensively. By riding defensively, I mean ride like some one is definitely going to walk out from behind that blind corner, ride like the cyclist in front of you is going to make a sudden unsignaled turn just as you try to pass them. That sort of thing will go a long, long way. and you won't crash.backpack journalisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06216174625089123189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-53819560516424239542009-10-27T11:47:05.078-06:002009-10-27T11:47:05.078-06:00On behalf of Ryan:
Hit it with speed, that’s the ...On behalf of Ryan:<br /><br />Hit it with speed, that’s the way I ride the trails, yet when traveling through campus we (bicyclists) need to put on the brakes and be mindful of others. I love to ride my bicycle to support a healthier environment, and Boulder offers one of the friendliest bike communities in the country. It is our responsibility as two-wheelers to maintain a positive relationship with our pedestrian friends. We must ride safe to preserve our reputation and encourage others to jump on the saddle. I talk to many students who drive or bus because they are too afraid to ride a bicycle on campus. I want to see a campus where bike racks outnumber parking spaces, but this can only happen if the environment is safe for everyone. <br />If you are a biker or boarder here are a few helpful tips to make us look better and keep everyone safe. First take out your headphones, your hearing may save you from a head on collision. Second tip is just slow down. If you want to ride fast, find a trail or go hit the roads, campus is not the place to display how fast or hard you ride. And finally communicate with pedestrians around you. Tell them you are on their left, or ring your bell. And remember if you think you can’t ride it, chances are you need to dismount and walk with the crowd. <br />One time I was riding outside the UMC when a pedestrian jumped out in front of my bike, nearly causing a catastrophe. Fortunately, I just had my bike tuned at the CU Bike Station and my brakes worked perfectly. We both exchanged apologies, and felt terribly embarrassed. It was a collaborative effort of absent mindedness. She was listening to her iPod and I was going too fast. This incident may have been avoided if I were going slower in this heavily trafficked area, and if she were paying attention to her surroundings. The point is this DIRK business is a two way street. All bikers, skaters, and pedestrians need to pay more attention. Accidents don’t have to happen, they just occur when we are being complacent. Don’t be a DIRK, ride, walk, and skate safely; it’s much more fun than a visit to the hospital. <br />A student asked me the other day if I supported designated bike paths through campus. I didn’t know this was on the table, but feel it may alleviate some of the congestion. It may be a long ways a way, so in the mean time I told him just ride slower and know your situation. Riding through the UMC during lunch time makes little sense, but cruising down 17th street to burn off some stress, makes every biker grin. As a two-wheeling advocate, I recommend knowing your environment. Take some time to map out the best routes on campus, and try to avoid riding during class changes. You can always leave for class 10 minutes earlier and bypass the crowds. Also keep your bike or board in working order. If your brakes don’t work take your bike to the Bike Station or contact the Mobile Mechanic, a bike without brakes is an accident waiting to happen. And finally if you are a pedestrian be mindful of riders around you. Know that not everyone has a mastery of the bicycle or long board, so if they are going to fast or riding reckless try and get out of the way. If they are being reckless ask them to stop so you can tell them how they are harming our campus.CU Transportationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01748017597147126123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-27248379340828381662009-10-23T20:16:13.710-06:002009-10-23T20:16:13.710-06:00@Tim: Thanks for clearing that up.@Tim: Thanks for clearing that up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-44125117507888924442009-10-23T07:48:31.045-06:002009-10-23T07:48:31.045-06:00This is for all of us cyclists. I have recently be...This is for all of us cyclists. I have recently been through a reality check. In this campus environment, I believe that cyclists and skateboarders exercise a certain unspoken privilege. This privilege is one of operating a mechanical device that artificially enhances our mobility. (In the case of a bicycle, our gear ratios range from 1:1 up to nearly 6:1!) I call it a privilege because the vast majority of our campus' infrastructure was not originally designed for this purpose; instead, that infrastructure, which includes sidewalks, crosswalks, plazas, benches, greens and more, was intended for pedestrian life. Our campus is in fact nationally renowned for this.<br /><br />Many of you have called out the need for better bicycling facilities, such as bike ways, and I agree whole heartedly that in order to balance that privilege of operating at our greater speeds, our campus should improve facilities which enable this.<br /><br />However, it does not change the fact that most of our campus was intended for pedestrian uses, and that this is a value not likely to change for some time. It upsets me to read so much discontent with pedestrians from the bicyclists and skateboarders, as though they serve the only purpose of impeding our greater speed.<br /><br />I suggest that we all try to remember that walking (being a pedestrian) is so much more than a simple mode of transportation. It is a fundamental element of the human experience. Nearly all of us, at least once in the day (and often many more times), are pedestrians. We are pedestrians not because we make an active decision to begin traveling in that specific way, but because it is completely native to us.<br /><br />I urge us cyclists to be very careful when complaining of the "bad behaviors" or "recklessness" of pedestrians. As so many here have suggested, if we begin to regulate our most fundamental mode of travel, not to mention mode of existence, we lose that ability to socialize, move freely among outdoor spaces, or worse. Walking on campus is so much more than quickly and efficiently moving from one place to another.<br /><br />Personally, I have often resorted to this line of thought as a defensive measure, unwilling to realize that cycling is a privilege on most of our campus. My call to all of us involved with cycling and skateboarding is to help the campus understand our desire and need for greater speed (often to meet class-schedule requirements), and facilitate the development of more bike/skate ways across campus. Let's improve the ones we've got so that there isn't this animosity between pedestrians and cyclists.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05443086063061451712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-86133311656428183932009-10-22T20:50:29.920-06:002009-10-22T20:50:29.920-06:00Flyfast and Stephanie:
The law I read says that i...Flyfast and Stephanie:<br /><br />The law I read says that it's okay to ride through a crosswalk in Boulder. However, you DO NOT have right-of-way (and therefore must yield to all other traffic) if you enter the crosswalk faster than walking speed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16378856044406674397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-16233206524926062622009-10-22T16:57:07.264-06:002009-10-22T16:57:07.264-06:00I completely understand that the careful and safe ...I completely understand that the careful and safe bicyclists are upset about this - but the fact is - a few bad apples DO ruin things for everyone. I have been on this campus for 10 years and have progressively seen this problem getting worse and worse. I have a HUGE problem with the reckless bicyclists and skateboarders on this campus. How many times have you seen a skateboarder bail off of their skateboard only to see the skateboard fly into a group of pedestrians!? Well - thank goodness that skateboarder was able to bail off of his board before HE got injured - never mind the pedestrians on campus. As for my MOST RECENT story (because I have a TON) I was stepping onto the Hop bus recently (seriously - getting ready to step ONTO the bus) at the IMIG Music Building stop, and a skateboarder barreled down the sidewalk and actually skated IN BETWEEN the bus and I. He knocked me back into the person behind me and never even looked back. It wasn't an accident. It was reckless and careless and I, for one, am absolutely THRILLED that we're finally talking about this and am ready for SAFER sidewalks at CU!!!!!Alanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065730291686899799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-75211373991534262732009-10-22T16:30:25.247-06:002009-10-22T16:30:25.247-06:00So, today I was biking through campus as usual, wh...So, today I was biking through campus as usual, when all of a sudden, I see this blind guy and think, "what the hell, stupid blind person, I'm a DIRC, GTFO of my way!" Needless to say, I ran that dude over, then I pushed over someone in a wheelchair (shit was SO cash), plowed into three students (probably freshmen, LOL) before getting on my cellphone and telling my homie how funny my morning was. <br /><br />Normally, I'm a safe biker--I don't even ride on campus--but ever since I saw those sweet DIRC scenes on campus, I decided to DIRC it up and ride my bike like those Reckless at CU people think I do.<br /><br />Protip: Pedestrians and bikers behave like idiots. To single one group out is foolish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-56174563308292142092009-10-22T14:04:48.227-06:002009-10-22T14:04:48.227-06:00This morning I was travelling at a very reasonable...This morning I was travelling at a very reasonable speed down the broadway BIKE lane and some naieve sorority girl walked directly in front of me with her eyes glued to her blackberry causing me to slam on the brakes as to not stain the pavement with her makeup. I know theres some bad cyclists out there but almost every accident and near-miss I've ever seen in my 4 years cycling to class has been because of a walker not paying attention and drifting cluelessly into the clearly marked bike lane. I've been doing my part raising awareness for a while now - if someone is walking down the bike lane during high traffic I cut them off as close as possible so they get the point.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02344008824530711912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-16660554141961737722009-10-22T09:51:28.779-06:002009-10-22T09:51:28.779-06:00Reposted anonymously here by request:
I've ne...Reposted anonymously here by request:<br /><br />I've nearly been hit by cyclists several times at the new Regent underpass by Kittredge. I know that there are signs up saying "Pedestrians only", but few seem to think that applies to them. So, that would be a wonderful place to station volunteers (or cops) to try and cut down on the high-speed runs around the blind turns. Skateboarders are pretty bad through there too.<br /><br />Also, I've been around long enough to remember the central campus "Dismount Zones". As a cyclist, they were a pain, but as a pedestrian, man, did they make life more beautiful. Any way we could resurrect those, ideally from 9-5pm? It's silly to make people dismount at 11pm, but the cyclists and skateboarders who think that the central mall between CIRES and CHEM is a velodrome really need to just walk it during the school day.<br /><br />Thanks for raising awareness, from somebody who has stopped biking on campus because of the crazy pedestrians and cyclists. Hopefully peer pressure will help people realize that if you're cycling irresponsibly on campus, you're not being eco-friendly, you're not being forward-thinking, you're just being a dick.CU Transportationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01748017597147126123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-22713227733070901052009-10-22T01:44:54.920-06:002009-10-22T01:44:54.920-06:00@Flyfast: True. However, the part below that says ...@Flyfast: True. However, the part below that says people aren't allowed to ride bikes across crosswalks where it's prohibited. I guess it really depends on the city/area, and I'm not sure if Boulder specifically prohibits it. If it isn't prohibited here, it really should be. If I remember correctly, it's been prohibited everywhere else I've lived, inside and outside of Colorado.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-12973519704271086932009-10-21T13:45:21.304-06:002009-10-21T13:45:21.304-06:00Speed control is the best measure to ensure the sa...Speed control is the best measure to ensure the safety of all (cyclists, boarders, pedestrians). Middle campus and the surrounding multi-use paths are certainly the most crowded and therefore most dangerous. <br /><br />As a cyclist, I avoid all bike lanes and walkways when I care to travel with speed by riding in the road. When I do use these paths, I make my way with caution/alertness and a considerably reduced speed.<br /><br />Pedestrians have priority with the use of walkways. When presented with a bike path, pedestrians should be educated about the use of these multi-use paths and make an effort to stay in the proper lane. In the case of middle campus, multi-use paths become so crowded that pedestrian overflow into bike lanes is inevitable and therefore cyclists and boarders should be understanding and travel reduced speeds.<br /><br />Keys: Bikes and boards stay to bike lanes and roads, Speed Reduction, Alertness and CourtesyWOODBINhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13819130451915671713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487997866645638342.post-67603811407237872472009-10-21T11:16:38.666-06:002009-10-21T11:16:38.666-06:00There's a very simple rule that applies to whe...There's a very simple rule that applies to wheeled vehicles and pedestrians: pedestrians have the right of way. CU is primarily a pedestrian campus, since sidewalks greatly outnumber bike paths. That's not to say that bicyclists and skateboarders can't use them - but they have to use greater caution, especially around populated areas.<br /><br />I walk on the sidewalks around Norlin, and it's fairly common to see someone moving like a bat out of hell on a bike, flying by me. No warning, no bell, no "on your left/right" - nothing. I know pedestrians sometimes do random things, but even so - bicyclists and skateboarders do too! I don't use my cell phone for chatting or texting when I'm walking, and I don't listen to an iPod either. However, I have seen bicyclists and skateboarders doing those things to the exclusion of everything else.<br /><br />I like to think I'm pretty conscientous about paying attention to people and vehicles around me, but I don't feel like the people on bicycles and skateboards reciprocate. Just the other day, a guy on a skateboard who was rolling behind me cut directly in front of me just so he could pick up some momentum going down another path. No warning, no apology afterward, he didn't even look back. It's the feeling of entitlement, that they have more right to the sidewalks than I do, that bothers me!<br /><br />So, let's make a deal: bicyclists and skateboarders slow down, watch and dismount if necessary, and us pedestrians will try not to get in your way. How's that?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10987008114004053180noreply@blogger.com