Dunbar

I've had a couple of occasions recently where I got buzzed at high speed. Happens on fairly lightly travelled road where I usually have a good tail wind so I'm usually cruising along in the right lane in the low 20's on my road bike (there's no bike lane or shoulder.) Both occasions I could see the car bearing down on me at 50+mph and change lane at the last second. I'm sure it looks worse in my mirror than reality but it's pretty scary (especially since 98% of cars give me plenty of space). Last night the guy was speeding up to get in front of traffic so he could get over without having to slow down. I wonder what would happen if he ran out of space Is there anything you can do other than stand your ground or avoid those roads?

Blinkie

My only suggestion is to just hold your line. A lot of drivers around here pass that way on multi-lane roads (car traffic), and I imagine if that's the way they treat a car, they won't care the be different for a cyclist. My favorites are the ones who, when there's plenty room and time to pass, the other driver creeps up to my car, slows to my speed, keeps pace for a half mile or so, then nearly rear-ends me as they accelerate and pass with their engine roaring. I can't see them doing much different to anyone else, anywhere else. It's just their own brand of idiocy.

So yeah: hold your line. You can't do anything about the drivers around you.

silmarillion

+1 Yep, hold your line. I don't like it when people buzz me at that speed, but not much else you can do.

Bekologist

1) improve your conspicuity
2) increase your apparent width
3) practice yielding slightly just as the motorists passes; if you've left yourself enough room it's something they won't really notice but you will increase the passing clearance.

Camilo

Quit using the mirror if it makes you nervous!

PedalingFool

Nice!

JoeyBike

I am always exhilarated when cars approaching from ahead on a 2-lane highway begin to pass a slower vehicle regardless of my presence and buzz me "head on" at 60 mph. Like everyone said - just hold your line and watch the road surface ahead for any debris that can not be ridden over by you that could pitch you into the path of doom. I very often bike miles out of my way to avoid stretches of road that continually promote that type of motorist behavior, but realize it is often not possible/practical to do so.

Jamesw2

Hold your line I have been hit by a pickup mirror (at 45 mph), buzzed and passed by farm trucks pulling trailers blasting air horns with an oncoming garbage truck. And on an uphill i notice a small oncoming pickup truck riding the double yellow line while a 18 wheel dump truck was passing me. the dump trunk had to stay in his lane (also my lane) . with mo berm, left hand curve and on the fog line the dump trucks rear tires just missed me.

genec

Get out of the saddle and wobble the bike back and forth while you make a bold show of attempting to sprint. This makes you appear far larger and just a bit less predictable to the offending motorist. Continue to hold a predictable line, but do so with this action to show that you need more room.

rydabent

genec

I too have used that to keep cars further away. If you appear to be wobbling around, the drivers think you are unpredictable and give you a wide berth. BTW drivers seem to give my trike a much wider berh. Many may think I and handicapped, and sure wouldnt want to appear in the papers a a person that hit a handicapped person in his wheelchair.

rumrunn6

sounds like a kill zone worth avoiding

genec

When I commute, I do so with panniers... and those make the bike appear larger... it may help... I can't really say.

rumrunn6

aside from my strobe on my rear rack I added one to my left drop bar and it made a nig difference with the courtesy room I get. I still don't think the road the OP is biking on is safe.

unterhausen

wobble a bit before they get there, it works. If you are riding a straight line, there is a type of person that will pass closely

Doohickie

I kind of like the wobble idea.


If I see a car getting uncomfortably close in my mirror, I put my left hand and down and flash my palm at him. Just knowing I see them coming seems to make them more passive.

Lot's Knife

A sweeping outward and upward motion with my left hand ends with the hand atop my hat, as if I were afraid it would blow off. This also can buy some room.

Daves_Not_Here

More and more, I'm finding that appearing to be slightly unsteady and unpredictable while strategically drifting right per Bek's earlier post seems to result in the most passing clearance.

I know this violates the conventional wisdom and recommendation to ride predictably -- I'm just finding it works for me.

Chris516

I frequently encounter situations like this. I just continue to 'take the lane'. It doesn't matter if I am on a 40mph state road, or a local 30, 20, or 15mph road. I don't budge. Also, Like you, I have a road bike and, I will be cruising along, at the mid-20's. I don't use a mirror, just my eyes n' ears. When I see/hear a motorist getting 'punchy'(revving engine/beeping horn/telling me to get off the road), I continue to 'take the lane'.

GodsBassist

My favorite solution to stuff like this is the infant seats that attach to the back of your bike. Use it like a pannier and put your backpack in it, but I guarantee they give you more room when they pass.

+1 to the unpredictable wobbles that make it look like you don't know what you're doing and could fall down at any moment.

curbtender

With a helmet like that, I figure you'd just duck...

Daves_Not_Here

AlmostTrick

4) Default farther left.

The sooner drivers figure out they have to switch lanes or slow to your speed, the sooner they will act. A center or left of center lane position will convey this message much sooner.

009jim

Saw this idea in another thread and I reckon it deserves 10/10. I'm still figuring out how I can fit that bar-end rear light to my flat bars.

Bekologist

a lot of times, and concurrent with higher speed differentials between bicyclist and cars, a left of center position is both unnecessary and unwise.

AlmostTrick

My experience on a high speed, narrow lane road with no shoulder on my work commute goes like this:

Ride the right tire track and drivers are more likely to run up close to me before switching lanes or slowing down. My guess is this is because to them it looks like they may be able to squeeze by. Once they figure out there is not enough space to pass safely, they do one or more of the following: brake hard, change lanes when there is insufficient room to do so, or buzz me at high speed. (often while honking)

Ride center or left of center and drivers are more likely to figure out early that they have to make a lane change or slow down. This leaves them enough time to do so in a safe manner. Once the lead car has moved left and is about to over take me, I'll glide right for more clearance. Following drivers are likely to play follow the leader.

7 years and over 1300 uneventful trips proved to me that center/left of center does in fact work.