General Cycling Discussion - preference: cars to swing out far into other lane or slightly to allow enough room

i like for a car to slightly veer into or onto the yellow line when passing. the car that exaggerates and goes all the way into the other lane for several yards before and after the 'pass' doesn't improve his passing skills for when there is traffic.....

jeez. i need to think about other things while riding.

happy 4th.

charcoal or gas?

I'm a wide swinger. If theres room, i'll move over into the other lane... I love it when other cars do the same for me when im on the bike.

charcoal, better flavor.

No preference here. So long as they don't crowd me I'm happy.

I try to give as much room as possible without hitting the on-coming traffic or the cyclist nonchalantly weaving in and out dodging road debris and caring less if their action impedes my progress.

Oak & Maple. it's plentiful, cheap (free)and makes great steakss taste better.

Three feet of air between them and me, so if I fall down ( not likely!) I don't get run over and if something falls off their car it's not likely to hit me. I have nightmares bout big round haybales falling off trucks!
kev:eek: :eek: :eek:

In coming bales of HAY!!! ;0

I prefer just a little room... guess I feel that if someone allows too much passing space into oncoming traffic, there's room for head on collisions.
The only time I like a lot of room is going up major hills. If I wobble a bit it could be scary for me and the driver!

Three feet, slow down and wait until it's safe.

I like intelligent drivers who know how to pass a bicycle on a four-lane road. If the drivers keep proper formation, maintaining at least a few car lengths between each other and an open space in the adjoining lane, cars can merge slightly between each other when passing a bicyclist (me.) If it's done right, they may not even have to slow down.

what LittleBigMan said.
smart drivers, 2-3 feet between thee and me.
Marty

As long as I am not being harmed or menaced I don't really care too much. I find that motorists generally leave a reasonable berth while passing me. Then again, I do not ride along 'scraping my tires against the curb' because when I used to do that I would frequently be subject to the mentality I describe below. They way I ride, when the curb lane ends up being too narrow for them to pass me within the lane, motorists are forced to merge with traffic in the other lane. This has greatly reduced the number of incidents of being 'buzzed'.

Most of the drivers that pass me way too close (< 1 foot handlebar to mirror) are clearly doing it deliberately (the "I'm staying centered in the lane and if you happen to get hit, it's your own damn fault" mentality). As I stated above, for me, riding about 2-3 feet from the curb and adjusting my position as necessity dictates seems to alieviate this for the most part.

Of course, if all curb lanes were built sufficiently wide, it would be a moot point for the most part.

Originally posted by LittleBigMan
Three feet, slow down and wait until it's safe.

I like intelligent drivers who know how to pass a bicycle on a four-lane road. If the drivers keep proper formation, maintaining at least a few car lengths between each other and an open space in the adjoining lane, cars can merge slightly between each other when passing a bicyclist (me.) If it's done right, they may not even have to slow down.

What he said.

Originally posted by bikerider
Most of the drivers that pass me way too close (< 1 foot handlebar to mirror) are clearly doing it deliberately There are two possibilities. They're doing it deliberately, or they're bad drivers. It's ususally difficult to tell.

If I'm riding in the right lane of a 4 lane road, and a driver moves from the lane to my left in to the lane I'm in as they pass me, then moves back in to the other lane after passing me (as happened to me the other day), then I'm pretty sure it's intentional.

Unless the road is truly wide enough for a car to pass me safely without crossing the center line, I generally 'take the lane' so they have to wait until there's no traffic coming the other way, and aren't tempted to try to squeeze past me. If I give them enough room to tempt them, then it's partially my own fault.

Most drivers try to be courteous, but some people just aren't very good drivers, and they don't see enough cycliists that they know how to pass them.

When I'm driving I give cyclists quite a bit of room, and always check my mirror after passing just to make sure they're OK.

I like at least a foot of space from the mirror but I find many drivers don't even bother. It's like steering wheels are become just as much of a hassle to use as signal lights. I make an exception for semi-trucks. I'll hug the curb for them or course as soon as the truck passes there's always three or four vehicles eager to buzz past as well.
My rule of thumb is, the closer the cars start getting to me, the more of the lane I'll take up to make my presence a little more clearer. It's the only "practicable" way to stay out from under peoples wheels as the law dictates.

I like a minimum of 3ft, but often don't get it... If vehicles are passing in excess of 60 mph I prefer a little more, particularly if they are artics.

Hey,

couple of things to remember... If someone goes by and gives whole lot of room.. WATCH OUT an ******* is coming next.....

For those, (who might not know)

Whenever a car is going to pass you on a two lane road, stand up on your pedals and create a bigger silohouette.

If a car is in the oncoming lane, move out to the center of your lane for a moment, then start to ease back to the curbside when you know the car or truck can get by you without "squeezing" on coming traffic......

More people get hit on the side of a road than in the center of it!

Or sumpin' like that........

I like for them not to catch me with their wing mirror. I used to find it insulting if they gave me an entire lane. (What? Do they think I can't cycle straight?!) Although it's only the tourists that do that around here anyway... :)

Ellie

I personally would rather them get over into the next lane, no, block, no, city. (Get the hell outta here). It's not that I am worried about my driving skills. I have been driving in heavy traffic for years.

It's them I'm worried about. They probably don't even know how to deal with cyclists, do they. Most of the time we don't get enough room from them so they should be forced to give us extra now.

Speaking of damn cars. The Molson Indy is on now where I work. I am actually blasting loud music (Ramones, Metallica, etc) just so I can't hear that ugly sound of engines and tires. YUK.

OFF TOPIC>???where are my earplugs.