Advocacy & Safety - Beware the Trailer

--- So today I was cycling in town and needed to get into the traffic lane on my left so I glanced over my shoulder and saw a van approaching with no other vehicles behind it. So I let the van pass and as soon as I saw its rear bumper I quick switched left and almost ran into a small trailer it was towing.

The bulk of the approaching van had blocked my view of its trailer behind. Close call. Learn from my mistake folks.

Where's their cheerful lil' yellow flag like a bike trailer has?

I've done the same. On another occasion I was on my way home from work when I saw in my helmet mirror a truck pulling a trailer with a bunch of junk hanging out the side. The item that almost hit me was a full size matress! It was haning out so far it almost clipped a parked car!

Ride safe!

I get passed by so many trucks pulling trailors on my rural roads that I just assume every vehicle that passes me is pulling one! I also assume that there is another car behind every car that passes me until I see otherwise.

Nearly hit by a mobile home once. Truck driver (and truck) gave me plenty of room, but the mobile home parked on trailer passed just over the top of my head

Nearly hit by a mobile home once. Truck driver (and truck) gave me plenty of room, but the mobile home parked on trailer passed just over the top of my head

Wow. It seems half the big trucks in my area are towing either a lawn care trailer or a boat on a trailer. The only problem I have is these trailers are general 3 feet wider than the vehicle towing it. So when the truck driver clears you by about 1.5 feet, you had better expect that trailer to get even closer.

d.tipton

Helmet mirror will save you. Keep checking your mirror every few seconds, and you'll pick up those problem trailers from way back and you'll have time to think about how to avoid them.

Helmet mirror will save you. Keep checking your mirror every few seconds, and you'll pick up those problem trailers from way back and you'll have time to think about how to avoid them.

I agree, although like you said you do have to check constantly, especially in fast moving traffic. The trucks come up quickly. At first you don't see the trailer and then before you know it, it is along side you. And as was said in the previous post, the trailers are often wider than the vehicle towing it and the driver of the vehicle is usually not aware of the hazard this poses. I too have had numerous close calls with trailers but the helmut mirror helps.