Do you bike in the city?

[GoodEnoughForMe]

We have had general discussion on cars in this forums, and electric vehicles, but I want to use this thread to specifically address a point that is counterintuitive to a lot of people; that is, sometimes, slower personal vehicles are faster than faster personal vehicles. And I want to know who amongst us frequently uses bikes or e-bikes in an urban environments. What is the bike infrastructure where you live, for instance? Can you go faster than local car drivers?

This speed differential is often most apparent in urban environments, where traffic can become congested and move slowly. A bike can much more deftly move through space. If you have ever seen a cyclist bypass snarled traffic, you know there are fewer better feelings in the world.

Even police cars - built to be fast and afforded road use that no other civilians are allowed - can struggle to move through populated cities at the speed of bikes. See:

Not to mention the obvious benefits of being a much more environmentally friendly form of transport.

So I open the floor;
Do you bike in an urban locale? Manual or e-bike? Is it safe? Is your city working to accommodate bikes and buses as many US cities are finally starting to do? Could you outrun police if you assassinated a morally bankrupt CEO? Please discuss!

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Well I bike in my university, which is arguably urban

 

[Nick723]

I do bike in the city, not as a means of going from A->B but a necessity as part of recreational rides (to get out to nicer roads / trails). Generally it feels pretty safe, but I’m not faster than traffic unless it’s unusually snarled up.

 

[Gori the Grey]

I'm just amused by the thought of a murderer who is motivated by concerns of environmental friendliness.

My more serious answer to your question is also of no real use to you: I don't bike. Sadly.

 

[Fat Bastard]

I bike when I'm fit but right now I'm fat. I love cycling on road bikes in the city. My city has plenty of cycle routes, it's not dangerous at all. However in the country where I am now the only cycle route is littered with stones which would puncture my tyres.

I look forward to moving back to the city and cycling again. Speed doesn't really matter to me I just love the freedom of biking. I think the cars go faster than me, the traffic isn't that bad.

 

[Voidwalkin]

We have had general discussion on cars in this forums, and electric vehicles, but I want to use this thread to specifically address a point that is counterintuitive to a lot of people; that is, sometimes, slower personal vehicles are faster than faster personal vehicles. And I want to know who amongst us frequently uses bikes or e-bikes in an urban environments. What is the bike infrastructure where you live, for instance? Can you go faster than local car drivers?

This speed differential is often most apparent in urban environments, where traffic can become congested and move slowly. A bike can much more deftly move through space. If you have ever seen a cyclist bypass snarled traffic, you know there are fewer better feelings in the world.

Even police cars - built to be fast and afforded road use that no other civilians are allowed - can struggle to move through populated cities at the speed of bikes. See:


View attachment 711278

Not to mention the obvious benefits of being a much more environmentally friendly form of transport.

So I open the floor;
Do you bike in an urban locale? Manual or e-bike? Is it safe? Is your city working to accommodate bikes and buses as many US cities are finally starting to do? Could you outrun police if you assassinated a morally bankrupt CEO? Please discuss!

I ride everywhere. Mostly state routes, because I live in the country. 60 mile round trips regularly.

It's sorta safe. There is a bull who really doesn't like me, and remembers me, but the alternative route is congested with freight traffic heavily. One day, he will pile through the poorly maintained fence, and I will defeat him.

It's not accommodated. It's grueling country, too. Towns are usually worse: they're older, pre-bulldozer, and consequently usually have astonishingly steep hills.

 

[Snerk]

My e-bike is my main source of transportation. Bike infrastructure is decent here but with room for improvements. IMO it's less of a hassle than driving.

 

[Narz]

I was a bike messenger in NYC in 2000-2001, yeah even the slowest messenger is at least double the speed of cars in traffic.

I still bike, I'm lazy now, & my time more valuable I got an eBike, handy in this hilly area.

 

[Fippy]

So I open the floor;
Do you bike in an urban locale? Manual or e-bike? Is it safe? Is your city working to accommodate bikes and buses as many US cities are finally starting to do? Could you outrun police if you assassinated a morally bankrupt CEO? Please discuss!

Almost daily in Munich - manual mountain bike - i hope it's safe..but yup - there are many many buses driving here, and most roads have cycle paths.
I could go ~35kmh but ofc you almost never have a clear path for that in cities. When i bike just for fun i drive on field & forest ways.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

It's been decades since I was last able to ride a bike. Red Deer has miles and miles of hiking and biking trails throughout the park system. It's possible to go all the way across town and out into the county and never have to ride on the street other than to cross, since the trails connect so well.

Of course you do need to be aware of your surroundings. There are some homeless people who camp off the trails, and it's also part of the wildlife migration corridor. So you could encounter deer, moose, bobcats, etc.

 

[Fippy]

So you could encounter deer, moose, bobcats, etc.

I see some deer here, but usually while walking in the forest not on bike.
They seem to like early morning hours..or maybe it's just random luck (always fun to watch them).

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Our bike trails go through a fair bit of forested land. There are some really nice areas with lots of trees, and the trail winds its way next to a creek, or by the river. In certain spots at the right time of year, you can even pick some saskatoons to munch on since the bushes grow right next to the trail.

 

[Lexicus]

I used to bike to work every day but now I'm too far away and it's too much uphill. It was mostly safe except when drivers tried to kill me, which happened roughly once a day. I could move faster than traffic when it was waiting at lights or gridlocked.

 

[uppi]

I use my bike for pretty much any trip within the city or to the adjacent towns. One of the very few exceptions is too much ice and/or snow (more than half a meter is really not fun to bike in).

How safe I feel, really depends on the route and the time of day. I often use slightly longer routes which are safer.

There are definitely routes which are faster by bike than by car in rush-hour traffic. I actually don't think there is a faster way to get to work than by bike at typical office hours.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Tried it a few times ten years ago, but my access to the city involves a 2-mile approach on a state highway and I had 3 near-accidents and decided, screw it. Much as I love Alabama, its highways ain't bike friendly.

 

[Kaitzilla]

The assassin who killed the CEO of United Healthcare in New York City today fled on an E-Bike and still hasn't been caught.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/us/brian-thompson-united-healthcare-death/index.html

Some kind of professional with a silencer?

Goes to show bikes in the city really work to get around town.


How have they not caught this guy?
Is he Jason Bourne?

UHC is like the biggest healthcare company in the world by revenue!


Personally, I used to ride a bicycle around my college town.

It was ok, but cars are way better.

 

[Lexicus]

Some kind of professional with a silencer?

I saw the footage, wouldn't surprise me. The guy was way too calm.

 

[pob]

Do you bike in an urban locale?
I used to when I was younger in Birmingham, UK, although haven't cycled since my bike was stolen a while back. My grandfather was a pro cyclist, so I have a similar cyclist's physique. I'd cycle at least 10 miles per day, and this was mainly on a dual carriageway with heavy traffic, no cycle lane. I used to have fun racing the bus, and would usually win.

Manual or e-bike?
Manual

Is it safe?
I felt safer on a bike than a motorbike. And on the days that I took the leisurely route along the canal tow path, I was more worried about falling in the canal than I was about the traffic on the road. Night times on country lanes could be a bit scary.

Is your city working to accommodate bikes and buses as many US cities are finally starting to do?
My current city is doing some token efforts, although they aren't well thought out. There's lots of cycle paths that are part of a supposed network, but no one uses them. The council is currently digging up the main road to expand the pavement for a cycle lane, which is causing huge disruption. It will link to an already existing cycle lane which is unsafe as it crisscrosses a bus lane. I think it will be mainly used by the uber eats riders rather than commuters.

Could you outrun police if you assassinated a morally bankrupt CEO?
I'd like to think so.

 

[Kaitzilla]

How have they not caught this guy?
Is he Jason Bourne?

Here is a picture of his face they got from a hotel.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864706407985221974

He also put messages on the shell casing.

https://www.newsweek.com/united-healthcare-ceo-shooting-message-may-have-been-left-bullets-1995856

According to ABC News, which cited police sources, three shell casings recovered from the scene were emblazoned with the words "deny," "defend" and "depose." Newsweek contacted the New York Police Department press office for comment by telephone on Thursday outside of regular office hours.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Good looking and environmentally friendly!