[billwatson58]

I'm curious to know if it's just me or not. I'm on a two way street, with cars parked on both sides, and it's just wide enough for myself and a car, and probably not wide enough for two cars to pass each other. The car coming toward me thinks it's better to pass closer to me than to the parked cars on the right. It constantly amazes me that drivers do this...that they think I'm more expendable than a parked car or it's mirror. Today it happened....a lady with kids in the car, her left hand on her forehead, and for some reason speeding up so she could then slam on the brakes for the stop not to far ahead of her. She no doubt saw me, as I had a bright orange jersey on. As she passed...her windows were down, I let out a very loud "HEY" to wake her up.

Has anyone noticed cars that like to pass closer to you than to parked cars to their right in situations like this where the street is narrow?

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[sbhikes]

Yep. You they can see, getting doored (cars can get doored, too) or having kids dart out from betweeb the parked cars they cannot.

[AndrewP]

I probably do it when I am driving, because I am very bad at judging the width of my wife's car.

[Dahon.Steve]

This happens quite frequently in cities and I've had it happen to me. As a former motorist, I was never comfortable driving down narrow streets like this because you never know what could happen should one of these parked cars open their door. You kind of had to close your mind about the bad things that could happen and just motor on hoping for the best.

I've said it before that yellow line down the middle of the street is helping create this problem. The line down the middle of the street gave you the illusion the motorist coming down the street in the opposite direction would respect it and stay in his lane. A mistake.

If you eliminate the yellow line, the motorist would drive more to the center and out of the door zone. On the other hand, you would not expect the motorist to stay in his lane (since there is no lane) and would be more cautious. The motorist would have to drive slower since cars in the opposite direction will also be driving more to the center slowing down average speeds for everyone.

[bike2math]

All of the motorists concerns: hitting you, kids coming from between parked cars, or being doored would be minimized if the would just SLOW THE F*&%$ DOWN.

The only response of most motorists I see in any sort of sticky situation, or dangerous situation is to move the car to a different position on the road.

Narrow streets, neighborhood streets. You should go slow. I get so annoyed at cars lately,
They treat the speed LIMIT, as if it was the speed minimum. Won't go slower than 30 on our neighborhoods streets unless Jesus himself was standing in the road telling them to stop. and I doubt that would even do it.

[MichaelW]

I ride a lot of narrow roads like that.
Ride wide, they are just playing a game of bluff with you and will back down if challenged. As the car approaches you, it will slow down and move out and you can then yeild some space.
This will also discourage cars behind you from pulling off an "overtake-then-stop" manouvre.

[Applehead57]

I always back down and let them have the extra room.
Being right doesn't make up for the bumps & bruises, it takes too long to heal.
I assume the driver is distracted, ignorant or stupid, I'm rarely contradicted.

[geeklpc1985]

Happens all the time, just take the lane, yes they will get mad, but it helps you not to get mad at all those ***holes.

Good Luck,
SUPER GEEK

[dynaryder]

I commute on a section of road like this down the street from my apt every day. There are no lane markings. I usually pull in behind a parked car and give them a dirty look as they pass by.

[John E]

It may happen simply because most drivers are far better at judging the position of the driver's side of the car than the passenger's side.