Joe Blow wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:01 PM:
" fyi . . . i never wear spandex, i never ride in a group . . . hell, with all the inattentive drivers these days with their cell phones, fighting kids, coffee and doughnuts, etc. i hardly even ride on the highway anymore. it's way too dangerous! almost been run over more times than i can remember. and then there were the times car drivers threw beer cans or firecrakers at me, opened doors trying to knock me off the road, hurled every cuss word you can imagine, honked horns, etc. yep, car drivers are your best sort of (people?) too! "
ozzman wrote on Jun 16, 2008 6:48 PM:
" you cant haul your date back from the 4 mile on the back of your bike anyways. shes too heavy to get over the bridge on your bike!! "
justfillinin wrote on Jun 16, 2008 5:32 PM:
" I actually like the comment about the heart attack and cpr. Joe Blow, have you ever donated most of your time to a volunteer department only to be scrutinized by people like you. I have nothing against bikes, I enjoy riding around the lakes in Winona, I enjoy riding in the country. What I don't enjoy is going to a heart attack e.m.s. call, not being able to get by a pack of "bikers", and honking the horn with flashing lights trying to get to a patient, only to be flipped off. I had to go thru a ditch on the wrong side of the road to get to a call, because a group of "bikers" thought they needed the whole road. Last time I checked, they don't have license plates. But they need equal rights. "
E.Cartman wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:00 AM:
" O.K Joe Blow I'm gonna give it to ya straight. There are bicycle laws,and rules which give you every right to ride where ever the heck you want. Then there are the real rules of the road, like the bigger vehichle always gets the right of way. Not my rules, I didn't make them up.. I just follow them. I dont have any thing against bicyclists other than those ultra tight unifoms you all where, and you dont signal(admit it). This isn't France Joe Blow!!! This is majority rules good ole USA. I suggest keeping your bike off the bridge or you may just get a close up view of one of those rusty gusset plates. "
homey_girl wrote on Jun 16, 2008 7:43 AM:
" No bikes means no bikes. There are millions of other places to ride your bike. Just because they said you cannot ride your bike over the bridge doesn't mean you cannot ride it other places. If you want to go across the bridge, put it in your car/truck and then ride it. Geez! "
Joe Blow wrote on Jun 16, 2008 12:34 AM:
" I'd really like to know what all this hatred of bicycles is about . . . don't hold back! Does it bother you that there are people who's shoulders are wider than their ass? Is it that nagging fear of the heart attack looming in your sedentary future, the inevitable 911 call, the helpless bystanders who were too busy watching American Idol to learn CPR? Come on be honest! Why do you hate bicycles? Sure there are bozos who ride bikes. Just like there are bozos who ride motorcycles or drive cars or semis or jet skis or power boats or motorized wheelchairs. But that's no excuse for singling out bikes for discrimination. There is something else going on here. Let's fish it out. "
Jack Sparrow wrote on Jun 15, 2008 11:06 PM:
" Guess what, bikes get in the way of the flow of traffic anytime they are on the road. There's a reason for that bike lane on many of the city's major streets, so that bicyclists don't impede the flow of traffic. The city has implemented a plan to provide cab rides for pedestrians AND their bikes across the bridge, so quit griping about it! "
Joe Blow wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:25 PM:
" For instance, look at the photo of the bridge on the front page of the DN website. looks like plenty of room for bikes to me. "
Depot 07 wrote on Jun 15, 2008 8:18 PM:
" Wow. Since there are serious bike riders positing on this site, I would like to know some things. Like why is it when there is a group of bike riders they never ride single file? Or why do they act oblivious to any kind of car traffic and pass each other repeatedly, pulling out into on-coming traffic to do so? Or why so many of the bike riders dont even pay attention to any traffic rules? Just curious... "
Joe Blow wrote on Jun 15, 2008 3:11 PM:
" Has anyone actually looked closely at the width of the bridge. I did as i drove across today and now that there aren't big trucks on there it appears as though there is a plenty wide shoulder to accomodate bikes without impeding car traffic. I suspect the closing of the bridge to bikes was based on an erroneous assumption by the DOT that bikers where using the sidewalk, when the truth is most serious bikers use the roadway. "
WSUsportsman wrote on Jun 15, 2008 11:02 AM:
" I have to agree with justfillinin. the fact that bikers think that they can impede on traffic is detrimental to the safety of themselves and others especially if they slow traffic to the point where cars start piling up. That would put more weight and strain on the bridge and gusset plates. I know that the sidewalk is closed but bikers should use that instead when it opens. Plus if you cant avoid hooking your handlebars on the bridge or fence you probably shouldn't be riding bike anyway. "
Joe Blow wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:13 AM:
" Why is it that some people think it is "sickening" or "whining" when people stand up for their rights? Bicycles have equal rights on the roadway. I have never ridden my bike on the sidewalk in the bridge. It is dangerous to do so. If you catch your handlebars on structure a serious injury could result. I have always ridden across the bridge on the roadway. You see the bumper stickers "Start Seeing Motorcycles" etc. Well, get off your cell phone and start seeing bicycles too. If there is a traffic hazard that should be banned it is cell phones. And once the bridge is down to one lane cars will be creeping and bicycles will have no problem rolling with the flow of traffic. "
justfillinin wrote on Jun 15, 2008 9:21 AM:
" You know it is getting pretty sickening around here lately, If someone isn't whining about the bridge being closed, their whining they can't ride their bike across the bridge. Their are a lot of very nice and generous people in this area that drive trucks. Those trucks are allowed over the bridge, these trucks have a box in the back that could hold multiple bikes. Instead of complaining about it, why not put something in the paper or a letter to the editor. I'm sure someone will haul you and your bike over the bridge. As I work in the E.M.S. field, I'm glad they don't allow bike traffic. If someone were to be hurt on their bike, it would be a frenzy for the fire and rescue. Try to make the best of this, everyone else is. "
RiverLiver wrote on Jun 15, 2008 8:16 AM:
" 169.222 OPERATION OF BICYCLE.
Subdivision 1. Traffic laws apply. Every person operating a bicycle shall have all of the
rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this chapter, except in respect to
those provisions in this chapter relating expressly to bicycles
Subd. 4. Riding on roadway or shoulder. (a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a
roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway
I have every right to ride my bike over the bridge....period I'll determine the level of risk I'm willing to take to do so. If I occasionally impede your progress, too bad. Despite what you may think, the world doesn't revolve around you and your sacred automobile. "
PerfectStranger wrote on Jun 15, 2008 7:54 AM:
" A bicyclist would have to be totally nuts to want to ride across the bridge in the traffic lanes. There simply isn't enough room. "
MotherNature wrote on Jun 15, 2008 7:26 AM:
" I believe the reason for no bikes on the bridge is due to the fact that there are no shoulders. Allowing bikes on the span would not only impede traffic, but would also endanger the safety of the cyclist. "
smilingangel8 wrote on Jun 15, 2008 6:34 AM:
" dont complain!!just be happy you all are able to get across that bridge.considering that the same thing that happend up here in the cities can happen anywhere at any time. just be thankful they found those gusset plates needing to be repaired before that bridge gave in.who knows on the no Bikes situation...im kinda stunned myself as to why they wont allow those? "
ewbrom wrote on Jun 15, 2008 2:18 AM:
" Please explain the bit about bikes being prohibited in regular traffic on the bridge. The Interstate Highway System has these rules, but this bridge is not part of that system, its a MN state highway.
So there is some rule about bicycles not crossing state lines in regular traffic? On closer examination, though, I find that the affected span doesn't even cross the state line, its entirely in MN! "
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