Chris516

I am glad you are okay.

B. Carfree

Perhaps it would reference the statute that the driver was violating.

Geez, just keeping the rubber side down is insufficient. When I was driving a commercial rig, the companies I worked for took such complaints seriously and more than one driver who insisted on staying in a stupor while behind the wheel was shown the exit.

Six jours

If the OP wants to avoid what he considers "close" passes, perhaps he should move over in his own lane. Riding right up against the adjoining traffic lane and then demanding that everyone move over to give him the space he deems necessary is arrogant at best - and that arrogance is compounded by the complaints that the motorist is flaunting the law. It's akin to taking out a restraining order against someone, and then chasing him around and complaining that he's violating your space.

weshigh

So the video might not be the best example, but this does happen all the time to cyclists Do you have any advice for when he is all the way over,sharing a non-bike lane or taking the full lane when someone passes within the 3ft? I don't think your previous letter example would be very effective.

Chris516

I remember a couple months ago, I was on a local 30mph road when a vehicle passed me less than three feet. A police cruiser was right behind the driver, yet did nothing. I wanted to make a report. But both, officers' and motorists' that don't bike, just don't care. They behave like they couldn't be bothered with that law.

I agree.

Good job.

Jamesw2

Today a guy in a one ton duley pulling a 24 foot long farm trailer Not onle tryed to push me off the road but blew his big truck air horn as he went past me. No berm on the road. In a two mile section of road i was buzzed three times with horns blaring.

Chris516

Your video is more appropriate than the OP's video, for the essence of troubling close passes. The OP was riding, not in the travel lane but on the shoulder. So I don't think the respective passing law could apply. In your video, the white car that passed really close, then quickly changed lanes back into the travel lane is the reason why I 'take the lane'. It was obvious the motorist was an aggressive driver. The SUV driver didn't bother me UNTIL he pulled that moronic move forcing you into oncoming traffic. They both should be cited.

degnaw

Still not sure how this guy managed to squeeze past while staying entirely within the same (narrow) lane.


Others:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5tXoV219Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKrxxrOsihU

dynodonn 

Double yellow, oncoming traffic, and the door was left open just enough, a bad combo for Mario Crashcups in their taking advantage of.

My closest pass was even more intimidating when I reviewed my rear video and saw the motorist's severely damaged right front fender and bumper, from a previous collision, that I happen to miss on the original pass.

Chris516

I am guessing that is a semi-rural road, and motorists' have a tendency to go fast, on occasion? I would 'take the lane' on the road in the video, in order to have an 'out' when there is a close pass.

Jim-in-Kirkland

What do I do when I see the fast moving vehicle who does have the time or willingness to move over and pass safely?

I let out a primal scream. With a little practice, you can time the scream as the motorist is close at hand. It helps me release the rush of adrenaline from the possible near death experience. I also try to note & remember the license plate number as a memory exercise.

Cheers!

digibud

Use a mirror and as a car approaches move to the left, forcing him a bit left then move right as he gets close. It is helpful in some marginal situations.

degnaw

It's a 45mph road, so many people do 50+. I don't take the lane on this type of road (quiet, fast, semi-rural) because close passes are extremely rare, and I appreciate the extra buffer room from people flying by at 55mph.

Funnily enough, there was no oncoming traffic at the time.

dynodonn 

As you said, motorists are traveling at 55 mph and 4 seconds later the motorist meets up with oncoming traffic at a closing speed of 100+ mph.

Chris516

A lot of motorists do that around here.

degnaw

4 seconds is a really long time to move back into the lane - other drivers manage to pass perfectly safely through much smaller gaps than that.

dynodonn 

If this is considered a rare incident for you, then continue to enjoy your rides and chalk it up to as an isolated incident where an arrogant, or lazy motorist didn't wish to take the time to make a safe pass.

I could not make out the license number, were you able to?

dougmc

In Austin (we don't have a statewide "vulnerable road user passing law" yet) the law says 3' or 6' for commercial vehicles, but also says that passing in a different lane satisfies the law even if the distance is small. So the Austin law wouldn't have even considered this to have been a moving violation.

As for what to do about it, right on the ride side of the shoulder? Use a mirror? The police certainly aren't likely to do much based on this video.

nashcommguy

Clearly, this guy was at least guilty of public profanity and verbal intimidation. Whatever there's definately a crime here simply in the exchange. I'd have filmed his plate number, filed a complaint and let the authorities handle it. If anybody was an 'effing idiot' in this situation it was him. To quote Bugs Bunny: Whatamaroon!

Chris516

I sure hope the cops get to see this video. Because that is blatantly obvious.

vol

Today I was swiped by a mean cab driver. I was on the right-most lane which in fact no other cars would go that far to the side, because it was coming to an end as the street got narrower at a construction area. This cab suddenly came from behind on my left; before I could dodge to the right, he passed me and clipped my handlebar. He then stopped in the front. As I continued riding and passed him, he shouted from the car: "What's the matter with you?!" Huh? I didn't even know why he took the trouble to drive to the very far side of the street just to cause some trouble for me! I replied the same, and continued ridng. A few seconds later, he came from behind, and again passed me closely, with accelerated speed, then sped away. Heaven knows what made him unhappy today. I had two great taillights (it was already dark near 6pm), one in center, one on the left, so unless he was deliberately causing trouble, there's no reason he chased me to the side of the street and showed all this inexplicable rage. I guess there is no way to prevent this kind of drivers.

Chris516

If he did it twice, he clearly did it on purpose.

I re-read my response and, I wasn't trying to be insulting. I was just being 'matter of fact'.

sauerwald

On the day that the OP posted his question, on my commute home, I had a very close pass (the car brushed my arm and leg). I captured it on video here

https://youtu.be/wyf3nRhOUtg .

I am on a 4 lane road, with parked cars along the side of the road and Sharrows. I am riding towards the left side of the sharrow markings, which is as close to the door zone as I dare ride. My tail light is a dinotte, so it is doubtful that the motorist did not see me.
At 17 seconds into the clip I am passed by a silver car.
At 20 seconds, the car that just passed, applies his brakes.
At 23 seconds a Prius passes me close enough to make contact with me - hitting my left arm - I yell 'Watch It' at him, and he slows, which means that I am once again in front of the Prius driver, who starts to lay on the horn, expressing his displeasure at my existence.
He then passes again, again, very close, and starts rapidly weaving back and forth within the lane.

I moved to the left lane, and I make a left turn at the next intersection.

This took place on Southbound Bowers, in Santa Clara, CA, between Monroe and Cabrillo, on Jan 6 2012, at approximately 5:30pm.

weshigh

Have you sent this video to the Police? That is a hit and run+ probably more. Even if they don't end up pressing charges at least the police show up and talk to them. Geez.

JHendrix

The right side of the bicycle lane is filled with gravel, glass, etc. That's why I was riding on the left side of it. Also, how am I arrogant by wanting motorists to give at least three feet and large vehicles 5 feet? It's a safety thing, and also a law here in Florida. The truck driver had plenty of room to see me and adjust, but yet he decided to pass me within 2 feet. There's no justifying that.

FYI, my elbow or any part of my bicycle was NOT inside the right traffic lane. Regarding the letter, I could cite the statue that explicitly states that you must give cyclists a minimum of three feet when overtaking them.

It's a bike lane, not a shoulder. I don't follow your logic in saying that the law wouldn't apply.