62
votes
Invested too much in my car! How can it be worth cycling to work?
It is a known psychological fallacy (sunk costs fallacy) that already having spent too much resources (time, money…) on something that turned out to be a mistake somehow justifies persisting in doing ...
- 14.2k
53
votes
Should I drive or bike to work?
Health
Two decades ago I threw away my bike. Admittedly it was worn, but I had that "I have a car, why do I need a bike?" thought.
After a long time in a sedentary desk job, I got back on a bike ...
- 120k
51
votes
Why do bike tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires don't?
The main reason is that bicycle tyres are much, much thinner than car tyres. A little tetrahedron of broken glass or a drawing pin that would puncture both tyre and tube on a bicycle won't trouble a ...
- 1,729
45
votes
Accepted
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
Ride like every driver is a psychopath who hates cyclists; you will be wrong 95% of the time. What if the driver who just cut you off is one of the 5% and has a knife (US == gun)?
It’s easier said ...
- 47.8k
39
votes
Should I drive or bike to work?
You don't bike to work to save money, you do it for the fun. Honestly, once you are a regular rider, you won't want to get into your car unless it's raining.
That said, of course biking is a lot ...
38
votes
Why do bike tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires don't?
An unaddressed reason is speed-induced wind and the shape of modern roads.
Motor vehicles travel in a lane, and a roadway is generally two or more lanes in opposite directions.
As such, these two ...
- 120k
31
votes
Accepted
Threatening swerving by driver - should I report it? (Canada)
I also live in Ottawa so I can provide some pertinent viewpoints. Yes, you should report it, and yes, it will probably be an exercise in frustration. Don't expect the police to do anything about it. ...
- 21.6k
29
votes
How to handle motorists' dangerous behaviour with an impassable group?
Don't create the situation in the first place. Every large event I've ever been on would either have the roads closed down, or send the riders out in waves so as not to create a situation where a car ...
- 21.6k
26
votes
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
What to do when a driver cuts you off?
Stay safe
Keep situational awareness in all directions - there may be another vehicle coming so look for it.
Keep moving - don't stop, get out to a safe place ...
- 120k
25
votes
Accepted
Might biking lower forehead temp readings at destination?
The body controls its core temperature, not the skin temperature. Skin temperatures will vary significantly, to the point they are generally considered an unreliable way to measure core temperature, ...
- 47.8k
25
votes
How to deal with impatient drivers
Given the asymmetry of the damage in case of accident (scratched metal sheet versus potentially serious handicap), I would not reason in term of "rights". Knowing that you were in your right ...
- 16.1k
23
votes
Invested too much in my car! How can it be worth cycling to work?
I would simply steer away of the bike vs car perspective, as people will instantly start obsessing over two metrics: cost and speed. Neither of these capture some of the true benefits of cycling. I ...
- 30.4k
18
votes
How to deal with impatient drivers
Ok, so there is a car behind you. And it's honking. That's great, they have seen you!
I believe, the best reaction to that is simply no reaction at all. Ideally, you shouldn't even give a start when ...
17
votes
Invested too much in my car! How can it be worth cycling to work?
My case is a particularly striking example: I would have to pay £8 per day to park. Plus another couple of pounds on fuel. I have a collection of bikes, but one that's perfectly adequate for this ...
- 55.8k
16
votes
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
Sometimes though, I still get drivers cutting right across me when I want to go straight and they are turning left over my lane.
What to do?
Try not to be there!
Seriously, the biggest skill you can ...
- 1,049
15
votes
Should I drive or bike to work?
Definitely bike that sort of distance. As for whether to treat yourself to a new bike or not, that's harder to answer.
An old, beat-up bike will still function perfectly well provided it's serviced. ...
- 341
13
votes
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
Personal anecdotes incoming. Some useful advice after that.
I see red and I want to go bang on the window and yell at the guy
From personal experience cycling in London and flipping off drivers (bad ...
- 282
12
votes
How to handle motorists' dangerous behaviour with an impassable group?
I'm not entirely sure about the relevant legislation. However, as the question contains "deutch" I'll give the situation for Germany plus an update about Switzerland. I'd expect a) the situation to be ...
12
votes
How to deal with impatient drivers
If you're bothered by the traffic on a route you ride, find another route.
There's really no other way to address it. If the road is wide enough where you can get to the right (or left, as the local ...
- 10.4k
12
votes
Can I trust my bike’s frame after I was hit by a car if there's no visible cracking?
Ideally, you should find someone who repairs carbon composites and who has ultrasound imaging equipment. They can detect delaminations (i.e. invisible fractures under the surface of the carbon) that ...
- 28.5k
11
votes
Should I drive or bike to work?
Asking whether you should bike or drive on a cycling site ... well, I suspect most people here would say use the bike.
5 km is a reasonably short commute and you should have no trouble with it (if ...
- 875
11
votes
Why do bike tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires don't?
Essentially all modern car tires have steel puncture-protection belts under the tread surface
- 2,825
10
votes
Accepted
UK - What constitutes dangerous driving?
What metrics can I use to make a judgement call about whether a vehicle's actions are actually making me unsafe
The UK Highway code says they should give you as much space as they give a car, ...
- 367
10
votes
Accepted
How to handle motorists' dangerous behaviour with an impassable group?
Context about OP's ride: There was a climate demonstration in Switzerland and people organized to ride there in groups, over large distances. So it was very much like a critical mass, but as a one off ...
- 1,760
9
votes
Invested too much in my car! How can it be worth cycling to work?
Be the change that you want to see in the world
I can't justify riding my bike into work if I'm investing so much money on my car in the first place
That is a totally bogus argument both for them ...
- 755
9
votes
Might biking lower forehead temp readings at destination?
One factor could be the lower emissivity of sweat compared to human skin. At a given temperature, different materials emit different amounts of infrared radiation for the thermometer to detect. Skin ...
9
votes
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
You can do nothing
By the time they've cut in front of you, it's happened and you can't change the past. All you can do is keep calm, and make sure you don't let their aggressive driving lead to you ...
- 720
9
votes
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
I reckon I drive, walk and cycle equal distances each year, so I feel a bit qualified to comment from all perspectives.
Yes, people should not cut you up, but you can help.
Flashing lights on cyclists ...
- 91
8
votes
Accepted
Invested too much in my car! How can it be worth cycling to work?
If people actually find coming by car slightly more comfortable/enjoyable, then the money they spent actually is an investment. Therefore the sunk cost argument is not neccesarily a fallacy. ...
- 96
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