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Do you pass this cyclist ?

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Do you pass this cyclist ?

Old 06-01-15, 06:40 AM
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No. It might be fine 99 times out of a hundred but it's the one time that counts. Cresting a hill and you can't see beyond, I stay on my side of the road when it's discretionary.

If a car pops up at exactly the wrong moment, coming from the other way, it doesn't look like there'd be an incident if everyone reacts properly. But some people don't, some are not competent in the mechanics of driving, and some will panic. I've seen it happen.

And what if someone is pulling the same stunt from the other side? My number one driving rule is leave myself an out whenever possible. Not far down that list is leave the other guy an out. If you have people passing blind over a hill there are few escape options left, for anyone.
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Old 06-01-15, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Shouldn't you mount a Semi Horn, Ship Horn, or Train Horn on your vehicle... just to wake up the apparently dazed cyclist?
I could sure use one on my bike sometimes.
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Old 06-01-15, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
Cars are noisy as hell, unless someone is utterly oblivious, they know you're there already.
The motorized couch I just purchased is nearly silent.
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Old 06-01-15, 02:25 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
As the cyclist, I wish people wouldn't do that. I don't know why motorists think that a cyclist could possibly NOT be aware of a car behind them. Honking, even a light touch, is more likely to startle me. I'm very good about holding a line even if startled, but yes, I know you're there. I've known you were there for the last 30 seconds, as soon as you topped the hill half a mile behind me. Cars are noisy as hell, unless someone is utterly oblivious, they know you're there already.
Drivers who honk often do so when they are right next to the cyclist, when it's too late to do any good (after the cyclist likely knows the car is there).
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Old 06-01-15, 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by spare_wheel
The motorized couch I just purchased is nearly silent.
I bet that isn't true from the cyclist's perspective.
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Old 06-01-15, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by njkayaker
I bet that isn't true from the cyclist's perspective.
My cats can hear the Leaf from over a block away but its virtually undetectable on a bike or on foot.
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Old 06-01-15, 02:34 PM
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As far as sounds... it depends. It is easy enough to confuse 2 cars as being the sound of one. Or, in a noisy environment, one may not hear every car independently.

Or, if a car is matching my speed, especially going downhill, the noise is reduced significantly so that it may not be noticed immediately.
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Old 06-01-15, 02:43 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Question for the OP (CrankyOne) Is that a marked bike path? Or is it a rural road shoulder? How much gravel and junk is on the shoulder?
That's a shoulder not a path. There is considerable debris and potentially some glass or metal tire attractant. I'd have not wanted to ride on that shoulder on my city bike w/ 28 x 1.75 Schwalbe Marathons, much less anything lighter.

Like many of our roads they'll sweep this shoulder two or three times per year typically around Apr, Jun, and Sep. Other than potholes and cracks it will be good immediately after sweeping but steadily decline until the next sweep. This particular one tends to get a lot of bituminous gravel as cracks in the travel lanes develop and it's thrown to the shoulder by motor vehicles. When cleanly swept it's much easier to see glass, metal, and other stuff but increasingly more difficult as the road gravel builds up.

Last edited by CrankyOne; 06-01-15 at 02:49 PM.
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Old 06-01-15, 02:59 PM
  #59  
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As I said, I had been riding on the white line with my old sewups.
But, now with clinchers (usually 700-23 or 25), I just ride to the right, and try to avoid the debris the best I can.
A few flats are part of life, but I rank overall safety for me, and others on the road as very important.
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Old 06-01-15, 03:11 PM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by genec
And sitting in your rolling couch is just too much to take for another minute or two?

Or better yet, ask your self... would you want someone flying past you like that?
Actually, yes. One thing I HATE is when cars slow down and pace me while they pass. Assuming it's safe, just do it and get it over with (without buzzing me, obviously). The longer the car is lingering on my hind quarters, the longer I feel at risk, especially if other cars are lining up behind.



I will also note that when I ride I use a helmet mounted mirror and if I were the cyclist in that situation and the road ahead was clear and I could safely move to the right just a bit, I'd probably wave the car by me... or if it was unsafe to pass I'd put my palm back to signal to him to slow down.
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Old 06-01-15, 03:30 PM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by CrankyOne
County road, 45 mph limit but 50 - 60 mph typical. Unusual that there are no approaching cars at the moment as this is a fairly busy road. Bicycle rider can't really ride on the shoulder due to debris so he's as far right as practicable (and farther right than many along here who would be taking the lane). Do you pass?

Yes
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Old 06-01-15, 03:33 PM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by Doohickie
Actually, yes. One thing I HATE is when cars slow down and pace me while they pass. Assuming it's safe, just do it and get it over with (without buzzing me, obviously). The longer the car is lingering on my hind quarters, the longer I feel at risk, especially if other cars are lining up behind.



I will also note that when I ride I use a helmet mounted mirror and if I were the cyclist in that situation and the road ahead was clear and I could safely move to the right just a bit, I'd probably wave the car by me... or if it was unsafe to pass I'd put my palm back to signal to him to slow down.
Actually we are in agreement. While I don't want anyone to linger if the coast is clear, I do appreciate it if they slow down a bit... just as they might appreciate me pulling over and waving them on, if my coast is clear.

However, in this situation... the coast might not be clear... and I'd rather they hang back, instead of squeak by.

BTW I too use a mirror... it just keeps me be more... "in the game."

Last edited by genec; 06-01-15 at 05:59 PM.
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Old 06-01-15, 05:34 PM
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I'd wait to hit the stop sign, then pass. If there were no upcoming stop sign I'd pass slowly, and give a bit of clearance. Tailing a bicyclist is annoying to him/her as well.
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Old 06-01-15, 07:25 PM
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What really bugs me is when cars slow down a lot to pass. If I couldn't handle full speed passes, I wouldn't be on this road. My problem is that by slowing down, they're irritating everyone on the road, who in turn will blame me. Also, if I need to merge over to turn left, well, with someone slowing down, they just packed all the cars behind them together into one solid lump, making it impossible for me to get over.
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Old 06-01-15, 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by spare_wheel
My cats can hear the Leaf from over a block away but its virtually undetectable on a bike or on foot.
I don't know, I can hear that piercing high pitch whine that EVs and hybrids make, but it might be because I'm a SOB.
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Old 06-01-15, 07:36 PM
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JGM411:
the reason to drive over the double solid lines is because it feels great. A different feel under the tires, literally (a smoother feel).
Even more, when in the rain/wet roads.
I not only say this, I have ridden in such conditions.
And so many other cyclists say that the dsl be 'too slick' -- to do so.
I speak of road & atb.
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Old 06-01-15, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
What really bugs me is when cars slow down a lot to pass. If I couldn't handle full speed passes, I wouldn't be on this road.
Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
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Old 06-01-15, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
No. It might be fine 99 times out of a hundred but it's the one time that counts. Cresting a hill and you can't see beyond, I stay on my side of the road when it's discretionary.

If a car pops up at exactly the wrong moment, coming from the other way, it doesn't look like there'd be an incident if everyone reacts properly. But some people don't, some are not competent in the mechanics of driving, and some will panic. I've seen it happen.

And what if someone is pulling the same stunt from the other side? My number one driving rule is leave myself an out whenever possible. Not far down that list is leave the other guy an out. If you have people passing blind over a hill there are few escape options left, for anyone.
Most definitely this. For every accident, there's probably 99 that "almost happened". You'll never see most of them in the news or Facebook. And then there's the 100th in which everything that could go wrong, did.

Many unspeakable tragedies are formed of this "perfect storm" of coincidences and bad decisions, like the Tenerife Disaster. It only took a tiny reckless mistake to kill almost 600 people.
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Old 06-01-15, 09:37 PM
  #69  
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Confession: after reading some replies here by (even) "our own", I'm becoming slightly (even) more apprehensive about sharing roads.
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Old 06-02-15, 07:18 AM
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Absolutely not. Not until I got over the crest of that hill and could see if another vehicle was coming the other way. This is a terrible moment to pass and I'm amazed (or maybe not so amazed) at all the folks who aren't seeing this.
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Old 06-02-15, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by vol
Confession: after reading some replies here by (even) "our own", I'm becoming slightly (even) more apprehensive about sharing roads.
Now just think about how many drivers wouldn't even notice that there's a bicycle rider there.
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Old 06-02-15, 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Agent Cooper
Absolutely not. Not until I got over the crest of that hill and could see if another vehicle was coming the other way. This is a terrible moment to pass and I'm amazed (or maybe not so amazed) at all the folks who aren't seeing this.

The cyclist is heading uphill, probably doing around 10 to 15 mph, no oncoming cars, 45 mph speed limit, wide enough roadway to give plenty of passing clearance with minimal crossing of the center line...... judging by the picture that was presented, I would have passed by the cyclist without incident.
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Old 06-02-15, 07:36 AM
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I get passed by cars while in this exact situation all the time. It's not a problem.
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Old 06-02-15, 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by dynodonn
no oncoming cars
You're sure about that?
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Old 06-02-15, 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by CrankyOne
You're sure about that?

I would have passed by the cyclist, giving them more than of 3 ft clearance, and back into my lane well before the crest of the hill.
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