Commuting - How many cars do you hit on your commute?

I guess this is for people in large dense cities only. How many of you go between cars a lot and end up slamming into car mirrors, fenders, and doors daily?

I'm in a large, dense city, but I guess I'm just not in that much of a hurry that I have to take chances that would get me doored or mirrored. Call me a wimp...but I's a live wimp! :)

I'm large and dense, and live in the city. I haven't hit anyone.

I am dense but not large. I am yet to hit a car.

I barely missed Ric Ocasik and struck Benjamin Orr. :D

All the time. Gosh, you wimps, just shrug it off...

A skilled rider doesn't "hit" cars on their commte . . . please corret me if my logic is wrong.

As an expert cyclist with excellent handling skills, I don't remember the last time I came in contact with a vehicle.

Only once, got "mirrored " right behind the knuckles of my right hand when a lady in a minivan overtook then crowded me into a parked car. Sometimes there's no possibility of avoiding contact. In my case, the leftside bar end put a pretty good ding in her rear quarter panel. It all happened very fast.

Well, sometimes when you have to wade through a mess like this, it's bound to happen once or twice..
http://westbynorthwest.org/springearly02/peace/newyork.traffic.jpg
Its something food delivery guys here I'm sure, put up with every day..
I was eating dinner with my gf once and out the window, we saw this cabbie let off 3 girls in the middle of the street while a delivery guy was passing them, the threw the door open and he skidded right into it at low speed, one of the girls said something and HE ended up looking confused and apologetic, walked onto the sidewalk and kept going, I felt kind of bad for him.

OMG, do you always ride against the traffic?

Seattle rarely sees traffic that bad, but I will scrub cars mirrors on occasion passing stopped traffic. Most drivers are real touchy about their vehicles, so I try to avoid it as much as possible. Threading the needle riding thru jams is different than most urban biking, for sure!

I used to travel to NYC for work once in a while. Same for a lot of other big cities.
It seems to me that the traffic is more dense, and a little crazier than just about any place I have been. Except maybe Rome. There are places in other big cities that are that dense for a while, but it is not so consistent for such a long way. The bad areas don't last as long. I think the conditions of your commute are only equaled by other New Yawkas, and a few other places.

I just read about some straight bars than have points on the ends for scratching cars!
CarScratcher handlebars. Fixie inc.

Here, our city was designed for cars first and everything else second. Lanes are wide, and even in heavy traffic, it's possible to scoot around and not hit anything. You still have to be very alert...

I'll get a little contact on every commute. Sometimes my bag will swipe a mirror, or I will need to fend off a truck while passing in stopped traffic, a hack will turn into me, some asshat will pass too close, etc.

I whacked my Vespa pretty hard the other day, slapping it with my hand and saying "piece o junk" as I abandonded it where it broke down, hoofed it back home, hopped on my trike and got to work an hour late.

I'll get a little contact on every commute. Sometimes my bag will swipe a mirror, or I will need to fend off a truck while passing in stopped traffic, a hack will turn into me, some asshat will pass too close, etc.

Whereas "getting a little contact on every commute" doesn't mean that you are an "asshat"? Why is passing close enought to fend of trucks and bagswipe a mirror ok for you, but not vice versa?

I wish.

Whereas "getting a little contact on every commute" doesn't mean that you are an "asshat"? Why is passing close enought to fend of trucks and bagswipe a mirror ok for you, but not vice versa?

Moving forward through stopped traffic, cars/vans out of position, so that clearance is limited between mirrors, passing around stopped traffic to find a way through sometimes leads to tight squeezes. I'm not knocking their mirrors off: just touching them sometimes.

The asshats are in vehicles traveling at, or over the speed limit, coming from behind and deliberately aiming, as a general rule: somewhat different than contacting a vehicle at low speed.

You don't do much biking in heavy traffic, do you?

Moving forward through stopped traffic, cars/vans out of position, so that clearance is limited between mirrors, passing around stopped traffic to find a way through sometimes leads to tight squeezes. I'm not knocking their mirrors off: just touching them sometimes.

The asshats are in vehicles traveling at, or over the speed limit, coming from behind and deliberately aiming, as a general rule: somewhat different than contacting a vehicle at low speed.

You don't do much biking in heavy traffic, do you?

Assumptions, assumptions, assumptions. Commuted in heavy traffic on PTWs or pushbikes for best part of 35 years until I retired last July. On the rare occasions I touched another vehicle I regarded it as my error, since I was the one doing the overtaking and I was, therefore, responsible for the position of my bike vis-a-vis the vehicle overtaken.

I agree that the greater danger comes from a motorist doing the same to me, but the culpability is the same.

More of a question.

I never said I was not to blame for any minor contacts, OTOH; drivers buzzing a bike at speed from behind is not the same thing, especially as the speed differential can be 20-30mph+, hence the term "Asshats".

Moving through Midtown here leads to contact at some point, not dangerous, not damaging, but Some, unless you decide to sit the traffic jam out. it's just really, really, tight sometimes. It can be hard to squeeze through with a large bag.

It's not like slamming into vehicles with the bike. If the bike were to be hit, it would more likely be the result of a dooring or vehicle turning . I don't have those sort of contacts.

When I said "a little contact" I meant "a little contact".

And BTW, do you mean to say that a vehicle clipping a person with their mirror from behind at 30, or more, mph has the same level of culpability as a biker laying a hand on a car's fender, or the side of a truck, or clipping a mirror with a bag, at roughly walking speed?

The worst time for me is in the parking lot of my apartment. I get off the bike and walk it in between two cars in their parking spaces to get to the steps of my apartment. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's a tight squeeze and I accidently nerf a mirror. Not often though.

Whereas "getting a little contact on every commute" doesn't mean that you are an "asshat"? Why is passing close enought to fend of trucks and bagswipe a mirror ok for you, but not vice versa?

Because when a cyclist strikes a vehicle, the worst that can happen is a little scratched paint. When a vehicle strikes a cyclist, the worst that can happen is death.

Death.. scratched paint... I can see where your priorities lie.

I smack at least one car on purpose with my hand, so I voted 1-4.

Not always, sometimes the opportunity just doesn't present itself.

I've hit at least 2 or three mirrors. One time it knocked me off my bike. I just learned to have smaller handlebars.

Lots of close calls, been hit my a car once on the bike. On a day to day, no hits, just close calls.

Super Geek

Not always, sometimes the opportunity just doesn't present itself.

:lol:

Did you try using a stick?

I almost hit a pickup truck the other day. Santa Fe isn't exactly a densely populated city. The guy was towards the left of the lane, stopped at a light. The light turned green and he turned right just as I was about to pass him. Skiiiidddd...

i can honestly say i can't recall ever hitting any car during my commute. Ive come close as hell to the benz's where i just want to appologize for thier heart attack i had induced because ive been so close to thier precious rides.

Have had it happen to me though, while driving my dads car, i had been on a two lane road stopped at a red light, about four cars back from the crosswalk. At the time there was a car on my right and i was in the left most lane. He was rather close, only a mere 18 inches i d guess,between us, but didn't care much till some moron on his bike came flying down, at least 20 mph to a red light, between the lanes and somehow hit the car next to me, bounced off and swerved my way, only to knock off my(my dads actually) mirror. I really wanted to kill him him right there and then, so i got out ran around to the passenger side preparred to throw a few punches, only to understand he's a fellow biker and i couldn't bring my self to do more then ask if he was okay and help him pick up his bike and straighten his handlebars. As for the other driver, he never got out, either he never realized or never cared, but his car was messed up anyway, so another mark of the city couldn't be so bad.

Luckily for him, if it had been a few months before i would say, i could care less if it was lance amstrong, i would have done some damage, having not been involved in commuting, i would have had no sympathy for him, but now i feel as all bikers are more or less friends of mine now that i commute by bike as well.

btw if it was any of you bf guys....u owe me $164!

I don't know how you made it through the traffic the other day w/o hitting any of the cars. I was bouncing off em like a pinball...

I'd like to commute with a hammer, hitting every car I see. The only thing stopping me are the cars with the blinking blue lights on top.

I'd like to commute with a hammer, hitting every car I see. The only thing stopping me are the cars with the blinking blue lights on top.

Don't worry 'bout it, that's all thats stopping many (I would say MOST) cagers from purposely making a hood ornament out of you.

never touched anybody with the bike, but i put 1-4 as i'll thump someone's trunk or side with my open palm about once a week, either biking or as a ped. tends to startle them off the phone and back into reality.

:lol:

Did you try using a stick?

Only on the cagers that take exception ;)

I don't know how you made it through the traffic the other day w/o hitting any of the cars. I was bouncing off em like a pinball...
i was probably more suprised then you considering my commuter has straight bars, but i was extra cautious because i knew that day most drivers were pretty high strung because of the traffic that week, so i figured some biker scuffing/scratching off thier car would probably just put them over the top.

In my all of my time as a commuter i have hit two cars. On ewas by my lock, and was not actually my body. Anyway, I do not routinely hit cars.

Because when a cyclist strikes a vehicle, the worst that can happen is a little scratched paint. When a vehicle strikes a cyclist, the worst that can happen is death.

Death.. scratched paint... I can see where your priorities lie.

You are joking right? If you are riding at 30+ mph and you t-bone a car running a red light, I assure you there will be more than scratched paint.

No, I'm not.
Because a) unlike you, I probably have a pretty good idea about how much kinetic energy a cyclist at 30mph has, b) I can assure you a cyclist imparts a LOT less damage to a car than vice versa at 30mph when you consider a few cuts from flying glass vs. dying and c) I'd like to see someone reach 30mph in NYC traffic that deep.


You are joking right? If you are riding at 30+ mph and you t-bone a car running a red light, I assure you there will be more than scratched paint.

The worst time for me is in the parking lot of my apartment. I get off the bike and walk it in between two cars in their parking spaces to get to the steps of my apartment. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's a tight squeeze and I accidently nerf a mirror. Not often though.What do you do if you have to move a fridge or something else large in?

What's much more annoying than you scrubbing cars is when the cars scrub YOU....I HATE that! I've kicked a few rear quarter panels in response to the scrub, and have also been taken down by an asshat taxidriver (presumably trained by NYC's finest bike messengers and sent by the taxidriver's union to the Left coast to terrorize bikers here) ;)

I got one in all of 2005. I felt so bad. It was some young woman in an older car. I did not hear the crash of glass, and it was a mild hit, so I dont think that I damaged her car.

No, I'm not.
Because a) unlike you, I probably have a pretty good idea about how much kinetic energy a cyclist at 30mph has, b) I can assure you a cyclist imparts a LOT less damage to a car than vice versa at 30mph when you consider a few cuts from flying glass vs. dying and c) I'd like to see someone reach 30mph in NYC traffic that deep.

OK, Dr. Science....

Tell that to someone who has died after being doored. It isn't just about kinetic energy- but regardless- traveling at speed and hitting a stopped vehicle is no picnic, either. Also, a cyclist riding at 30 mph will do more than scratch paint if he/she hits a vehicle- could easily do several thousand dollars damage to a vehicle. The bike might be totalled, but how much does a beater commuter cost, anyway?

Frankly- back to your original post, you are probably riding where you shouldn't be riding if you are contacting other vehicles.

I am in an urban sprawl area with 10 miles into work that each pretty much just like the last mile (sigh). When I hit a car, it is because I am being stupid (ducking under their mirros to filter on the right, etc.). Not that I have done that or anything. :).

damn, i NEVER hit cars cept for the occasional hand-tap on the hood/quarterpanel to let them know of their @sshat behavior.

in philthy i would imagine you'd get shot sooner or later if you made contact with peoples cars on a regular basis. i wouldn't mess with someones pride and joy....

do these people regularly SCREAM at you? i would! i mean, i love you fellow bikers, but i still don't want you scuffin up my ride.... :eek:

As an expert cyclist with excellent handling skills, I don't remember the last time I came in contact with a vehicle.

.....and to continue, if I did come in contact with a vehicle due to my fault, as I wish not to live in shame, I will commit harakiri. Thank you. :(

Just the one car. He startled me by ootching past on my left at a stoplight. I was in the leftmost lane already, and toward the middle of it, even.

My foot slipped off the pedal and hit his door, twice. He started to get out - presumably, to see if my foot had been damaged in any way - but then, realizing that the loud noise coming from me was not a bellow of pain, he stayed in the car..

My foot slipped off the pedal and hit his door, twice. He started to get out - presumably, to see if my foot had been damaged in any way -

:D :D :D

I smack at least one car on purpose with my hand, so I voted 1-4.

Did that yesterday... the biach ran a red stop light right in front of me. And here's the real rub... it was bumper to bumper traffic... barely moving. I was on a bike path that was designed to allow me to cross this dense traffic by giving the traffic a red signal.

I had hit the button, and waited for the cross signal (when the cars have a red), and then started to cross, when this impatient woman then runs the red and crosses the bike path at a walking speed right in front of me, just as I was using the bike path.

I slammed my hand down on her rear fender as I snaked my way past her.

What was she so impatient to get to? Sea World! The day after Christmas. She was waiting in line to go to Sea World and ran a red light to get there!

I'm telling you... they give driver's licenses to just about anybody!

damn, i NEVER hit cars cept for the occasional hand-tap on the hood/quarterpanel to let them know of their @sshat behavior.

in philthy i would imagine you'd get shot sooner or later if you made contact with peoples cars on a regular basis. i wouldn't mess with someones pride and joy....

do these people regularly SCREAM at you? i would! i mean, i love you fellow bikers, but i still don't want you scuffin up my ride.... :eek:

My thoughts exactly.