Advocacy & Safety - The GOOD cager thread...

For all the bytching we do about folks behind the wheel, the great majority pass safely, and are courteous sharers of the road - case in point... this truck waited until the crest of the hill allowed him a sight line to pass safely. And AFTER passing gave a quick double toot to my hand wave.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5664/goodpassing9zs.jpg

Maybe I should call his boss, and tell him what a safe driver he is...

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/291/goodpassing23ng.jpg

Gotta love that helmet cam.

I always give a friendly wave to courteous motorists.

Maybe I should call his boss, and tell him what a safe driver he is...

Yeah, I think you should call. I bet they will be suprised. Usually people call only when there is a problem.

And then we have episodes of "Questionable Passing":

This car gave me plenty of space... but shouldn't he have waited 10 seconds?

http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/5845/questionablepassing2cu.jpg

http://img449.imageshack.us/img449/977/questionablepassing29bz.jpg

Could you tell us again exactly what make & model your camera is?

You've asked me this in every thread I've posted vids/pics!

It's that helmet cam - ATC 1000 - $80 at Circuit City.

You've asked me this in every thread I've posted vids/pics!

It's that helmet cam - ATC 1000 - $80 at Circuit City.
Sorry! I swear I looked. :( Thank you for posting. Writing it down now...

I don't strap it to my helmet though.. I've found it works best when strapped to the headtube.

It has a good mounting system with different Velcro straps to accommodate all sorts of attachments.

Is the video shaky when you attach it to the head tube? Could you post a picture of the setup on your bike? I'm very interested in getting one.

PS - Are those pictures you took or were they videos that you froze?

vids I froze.

It's somewhat shaky, but not nearly as much as on the handlbars or the helmet

You've asked me this in every thread I've posted vids/pics!

It's that helmet cam - ATC 1000 - $80 at Circuit City.

Circuit City in canada is called The Source. Do any canucks know if this is available here? I want one.

I thought the video you posted in that other thread was quite steady. I want one now, if nothing else but to capture what a beautiful commute I have and how nice it is out there. I think I could create a bar-end camera mount on my right joy-stick handlebar grip.

It's nice the trucker was a good driver. I see a lot of moves like car number 2 in this thread. What are they thinking?

Thanks for the report!

Although, I do notice that the both vehicles crossed double yellow lines to pass... This is one situation where I think there is a gray area, but I wonder what a police officer might do if he wanted to be a jerk. :)

I have heard that new officers, in some jurisdictions during their probationary period, must issue tickets for all infractions they see... without imposing their own judgement about whether the ticket is reasonable. Even for things like a trailer hitch slightly obscuring a license plate (the example given to me by the person who told me of this policy)...

BTW - I want a camera now too... ;)

Thanks for the report!

Although, I do notice that the both vehicles crossed double yellow lines to pass... This is one situation where I think there is a gray area, but I wonder what a police officer might do if he wanted to be a jerk. :)

I have heard that new officers, in some jurisdictions during their probationary period, must issue tickets for all infractions they see... without imposing their own judgement about whether the ticket is reasonable. Even for things like a trailer hitch slightly obscuring a license plate (the example given to me by the person who told me of this policy)...

BTW - I want a camera now too... ;)

In Canada, yellow lines are advisory only. White lines have legal meaning.

^You sure you're not confusing 'lines' with 'signs'?

vids I froze.

It's somewhat shaky, but not nearly as much as on the handlbars or the helmet
Can you post a pic of the heattube mount. Fine if you use the ATC to take the pic, but leave its mount on the headtube. I'd like to try this mount next. I found handlebar mount to take on a lot of vibration and helmet to be too wobbly.

Al

Good cager:

I flew home to my mother's for the holiday. Yesterday, she was driving me/us to a store, when she got a call on her cell. She pulled over to the curb, had a brief conversation, and after hanging up, continued on her way.

Wow-- I was pleasantly surprised.

Wow-- I was pleasantly surprised.
Go mom! That certainly raises the bar. I'm not likely to pull over, but I can certainly postpone the call, or install a hands-free kit in the car. Or if somebody would just steal my car that would be good too...

Being in the cell industry I have dealt with this problem for years. I make it a priority to ask if someone is calling me from a car... I ask if they are driving in traffic... if so, I tell them to call me back when they have stopped.

By the same token I do the same... if I am driving and cannot pull over, I tell folks I will call them right back.

Just insist that folks that talk to you, "should not be driving" and you are doing your part.

Here is a 1.8MB clip of several drivers giving me excellent passing clearance while I am riding in a WOL

http://www.optionnz.com/users/afs/wolpass.avi (right click and 'save target as...")

The only thing I wonder is why they didn't move one lane to the left earlier and stay there. Traffic was unusually light (about 1/3 typical volume)

Al

Here is a 1.8MB clip of several drivers giving me excellent passing clearance while I am riding in a WOL

http://www.optionnz.com/users/afs/wolpass.avi (right click and 'save target as...")

The only thing I wonder is why they didn't move one lane to the left earlier and stay there. Traffic was unusually light (about 1/3 typical volume)

Al

I wonder if it is because you are so far out on the WOLs... you look centered. Fast road. Whew!

I wonder if it is because you are so far out on the WOLs... you look centered. Fast road. Whew!
I'm further right than centered. Probably about where the BL stripe would be if there was one, maybe a tad left of imaginary stripe.
Traffic was quite subdued compared to typical, probably following speed limit (45mph). I have this sense that during the holidays many folks leave Phoenix-metro as they have family elsewhere in the country. the office today was nearly empty.
This stretch (which goes on for about 5mi with stop lights every 1mi is the least stressful of my whole commute because I always get good passing clearance.
Al

^You sure you're not confusing 'lines' with 'signs'?
Nope, this is true.

The only thing I wonder is why they didn't move one lane to the left earlier and stay there. Traffic was unusually light (about 1/3 typical volume)

Al

no kidding. i was wondering why every car got back into the far right lane after passing you. seems a bit odd. also - the 2nd to last car to pass (the little silver car) was actually pretty close to you. especially given how much room there was.

no kidding. i was wondering why every car got back into the far right lane after passing you. seems a bit odd. also - the 2nd to last car to pass (the little silver car) was actually pretty close to you. especially given how much room there was.

Now this I have often wondered. There is one route I take here in San Diego on weekends that is three lanes wide going either way... I have a bike lane for about 80% of the ride on this road. The speed limit is 50MPH. Why when vehicles pass must they stay in the right lane... when there are at least two other open lanes.

Now some may think it is because the motorist is turning right... except for the fact that there is little to turn right into... this route goes along a military base and there is only one open gate... far far down the road.

I find the same thing happening on another road I take that is very near my house. No bike lane... three lanes going either way. Yet motorists insist (at times being quite belligerent about it) that they somehow have to stay in the far right lane (where I am, as there is not a BL). I have had motorists actually yell at me while I am the only thing in the right lane, and there is not another motorist visible, and there are two other lanes wide open. Now that makes no sense what so ever. Guess there just isn't enough road for some motorists.

I'm further right than centered. Probably about where the BL stripe would be if there was one, maybe a tad left of imaginary stripe.

Went back and looked again... yeah, you're right on the right tire track. You just look to the left a few times and towards the end you drifted a bit left... but yeah, you are not as far over as I thought.

The whole right hand thing is baffeling... must be some real important right turn ahead, eh?

no kidding. i was wondering why every car got back into the far right lane after passing you. seems a bit odd. also - the 2nd to last car to pass (the little silver car) was actually pretty close to you. especially given how much room there was.


They want to show that it is THEIR LANE, and they were nice enough to move over a bit and not run you over as you rode your bike in THEIR LANE.

I've also noticed drivers that would pass very close and then further down the road, move over into the left lane. Another situation is when 2 lanes are merging into 1 and the right lane has the arrows pointing to the left instructing drivers to merge left, instead of moving over before passing you, they will buzz you and then move over, even though the lane ends anyway and there was no traffic in the left lane.

I have had motorists actually yell at me while I am the only thing in the right lane, and there is not another motorist visible, and there are two other lanes wide open. Now that makes no sense what so ever.
You need a sign on your back that says "Can't go faster please go around." I had a problem with people doing that to me on the freeway back when I had a crappy car that wouldn't go faster than 55 without shaking violently. People would tailgate me, get stuck behind me and generally just couldn't figure out what to do. Once I put that sign in the window they would pass me and honk and wave as they went by.

Sheep I tell ya. You gotta be their shepherd. Or sheep dog.

The whole right hand thing is baffeling... must be some real important right turn ahead, eh?
Actually there is an arterial intersection ahead, but no different than the right turn/major intersection everyt 1mi though. A number of cars turned right there, probably about half of those that had passed me. I ended the video just before the intersection, which is why I am drifting right. (its not a blind drift, it is intentional).

So it explains why some drivers moved back right, but not all of them, including ones who passed earlier who had plently of distance to get back instead of nearly right away. So that is why I found in interesting, but with the whole situation known, far from baffeling.


Al

A good cager is a non-existent cager.

Recently on single lane windy road could hear a Large truck approaching from behind and could hear from shifting/braking sounds that he did not want to pass- I pulled off to soft shoulder, stopped and truck went by. As I looked up saw an arm come up and a wave with all fingers showing... positive waves all around. :)

Actually there is an arterial intersection ahead, but no different than the right turn/major intersection everyt 1mi though. A number of cars turned right there, probably about half of those that had passed me. I ended the video just before the intersection, which is why I am drifting right. (its not a blind drift, it is intentional).

So it explains why some drivers moved back right, but not all of them, including ones who passed earlier who had plently of distance to get back instead of nearly right away. So that is why I found in interesting, but with the whole situation known, far from baffeling.


Al


In one area... the one without a BL and three wide lanes either way, there are certain vantage points where one can see quite well down the road... I have watched motorists who were determined to be in the right lane... cruise down the road and eventually move left, turn left, do anything except a right turn... they had no real reason to be in the right lane, nor to move back after they pass me... yet they just did it. Now I am not saying there was anything evil or hostile about it... (except for the one rare idiot) but it was interesting that there were multiple open lanes on a wide road, and the motorists all felt they had to be to the right.

Good sheep I suppose.

Perhaps the next time I ride that road on a quiet Sunday, I should simply ride in the left most lane to avoid all the motorists. :rolleyes:

A good cager is a non-existent cager.

Great attitude. I wonder how many bicycle riders would be on the "good cyclist" vs. "idiot on a bike" threads in any automotive forum.

I love it when I get out into the country because drivers there seem so much more courteous and kind. They're so much more inclined to haul over to the other side of the road to get past you. Also, there's a lot more communication between drivers and cyclists. If you're out on a country road that is a bit winding and not particularly good for passing, it's quite common for the cyclist to use their vantage point to scope for clear points and then beckon the driver around whilst their still blind. That extra 30-50 meters can really make the difference between being able to pass and not. It's always appreciated, even by pimply-faced boy racers.

This stuff just doesn't happen in urban traffic, which pretty sad.

Thanks to the country drivers, who understand a bit more about sharing.

Different times, different police. In 1983 I was riding a faired, recumbent trike from Southern Cal to north of San Francisco and started to enter a legally open section of HWY 101, 3 lanes each way. A CHP sergeant and a trainee on their motor bikes pulled me over on the on-ramp and told me that I couldn't ride there. I told them that I had a map from the state hwy dept, CALTRANS that said that I could. He again said that I would have to get out and push it back up the ramp and use a different route. I later found that the only alternate was much longer and very hilly. I bet he didn'y like loosing face in front of a trainee. I pointed out that my machine was a legal vehicle in this state and showed him the leaflet from CALTRANS that said that I could use this section of road. Then he said there was a hole through the fence a mile down a frontage road that I was supposed to use. I repeated that I had a right to be where I was. He finally let me go.

Twenty two years later I rode that same section of road 16 times in two weeks and only got waves ands smiles from the solo officers I met. One had even pulled a motor bike over in a traffic stop on a narrow section of the shoulder. He moved the bike on down the road to a wide spot when he saw me coming.

Can't view that video. I hear wind noise, but can't see anything :/

Can't view that video. I hear wind noise, but can't see anything :/

Right click and save. I have the same problem unless I save it first.

Al, those drivers WERE pretty courteous compared to the norm (at least in my experience). I don't know if it's because of my close proximity to Sun City or what but I get buzzed regularly. I also like how people will pass when I'm in the bike lane and the next thing I know, they too are in the bike lane. :rolleyes: Do you notice that as well?

To keep it positive, I do get a lot of courteous drivers as well that I always make sure to give a wave to.

I just got my helmet cam, so I'll have a video together in the next week or so.

Right click and save. I have the same problem unless I save it first.

Al, those drivers WERE pretty courteous compared to the norm (at least in my experience). I don't know if it's because of my close proximity to Sun City or what but I get buzzed regularly. I also like how people will pass when I'm in the bike lane and the next thing I know, they too are in the bike lane. :rolleyes: Do you notice that as well?

To keep it positive, I do get a lot of courteous drivers as well that I always make sure to give a wave to.

I just got my helmet cam, so I'll have a video together in the next week or so.
I too get buzzed quite regularly round here. But very little in the last week or so as I've been riding off rush hour and traffic is lighter. I do find that I get buzzed more often when I am riding in the center of a Narrow Outside Lane (when usually tense/aggrivated/angry drivers still don't fully move into the next lane) or in a BL (when they don't even move a even tiny bit left within their lane when passing me in a BL) compared to riding right biased in a Wide Outside Lane as I showed in the video. My experience has always been best when riding on a WOL - even during denser rush hour traffic.

Al

* Once a UPS (or FedEx, etc) truck passed me while I was in the bike lane right before an intersection, and turned right. As always, I was prepared to be cut off so it wouldn't have caught be by surprise, but I was shocked that, when the driver passed me, he yelled towards me, "Watch out, I'm going to turn right!" (it was one of those delivery trucks that have the doors removed.) I gave him a friendly handwave back.

* The weirdest story was about a week ago, when I was riding in the rain, and came to a red light at an intersection. The car at the front was pulling to the right, so I (correctly, it turned out) assumed it would turn right and so passed it on its left side. But then the driver honked at me. She then pulled up to me, rolled down the window, and said, in a friendly-conversational tone, "I'd have seen you!". I was quite speechless, so I just thanked her, haha. I mean... why did she feel the need to tell me this?

I rode over 5000 miles this year, most of it in a busy suburb often on narrow twisting roads, I am certain I encountered several thousand cars while riding, I can't recall a car passing a little close or cutting me off intentionally this year , I did have a minor hassle with a redneck in a pickup last winter( he lost)
What I do see a lot of is so called *serious cyclists* in "lance drag" riding through stop lights and stop signs cutting motorists off. I frequently see cars in a right turn only lane with thier signal on being passed by a cyclist on their right.

*bonus rant* I don't get this BS of generalizing motorists with derogatory terms like " cagers". It serves no purpose but to further divide two groups that have to interact in the same space.

Cagers and motorists are different. A motorist is a person driving a car. A cager doesn't know any better.