Commuting - What situation do you most fear on your commute?

What is it that causes you to go into super-alert mode when you commute? Something that you approach with sharpened senses. Something you know that can be dangerous if not properly handled.

I voted "Cars pulling out" as the thing that I have to watch out for most during my commute.

I think we all have to deal with each item in one form or another during a commute, but the one that stands out for me is "Cars pulling out". This, in terms of likelihood of occurence and severity of situation if not avoided (or, at least, the risk is not managed).

All too often I find myself on the defensive end of someone backing out of their driveway and not seeing me. Usually this involves a quick sprint and a drift into the leftmost lane.

The hook is another good one, but I haven't had it too bad as of recently. Once I was able to get a good hit on the guys trunk with my fist to show him I was there after i was cut off. But now I really watch for the blinkers and other tell-tale signs that I'm about to get screwed by the drivers.

I had to vote for car pulling out on me that is my biggest concern that was on the list. But I think you missed one and it is the one that I fear the most, the unknown somebody taking me out from the rear. I ride on a very busy major highway for most of the trip I have a good wide shoulder but there is one really dicey spot where there is a side street that merges on to the highway about 200 ft before there is an exit on to another highway and an entrance from same highway I have to ride in the center lane because of the exits and the speed limit is 50 it is downhill so I am going pretty quick when I do this but there is the thought of that driver who is behind me that may have just spent the last hour or so in traffic from Seattle trying to get home and just seeing a bike makes them see red. This is a off comment but I have noticed that more often than not when I am in the way of a car, it is not because I am but they either perceive that I am ( On side streets there are times I am doing the speed limit but they still have to pass me) and that they choose for me to be in there way (on a multiple lane road and they get in the lane behind me and stay there until I get out of their way even though they can change lanes and safely pass me)

Peace David

I gotta say the car pull out or people stepping out. I also get a little on edge when I'm riding along a row of parked cars. I have a fear of being doored.

I've been hooked before and it wasn't too bad. Now am extra careful about it. I don't mind slamming on the breaks to avoid it. Pisses me off, but at least I'm not getting tossed up on their hood. :)

PBW

I chose narrow lanes because where I ride, there is a lot of my route where the "bike lanes" are nothing more than about 1 foot of shoulder. The cars don't seem to care that I'm there either because to me it feels as though they move even closer to the shoulder as they pass me rather than moving over toward the center a little. Go figure!

An army officer, whose name I don't remember, was standing
unflinching in the midst of a hellacious artillery barrage upon him and his men (as the story goes.) A junior officer asked him why he wasn't afraid, with all the deafening explosions nearby.

"It's the one you don't hear that gets you," came the reply.

I'm most concerned about the one I don't see. Second after that, perhaps, is the one I think can't happen to me.

I try to be alert to all these possibilities. I think being an experienced driver and cyclist helps me predict danger spots, such as the ones listed by Andy.

Be alert.

A car pulling suddenly out in front of me is what left me unconscious for an hour and in the hospital for 24 hours.

I've had the other situations, and the car turning in front of me also caused me an accident and a trip to the hospital. That's the second time for this kind of accident, but I had time to react in each of these (not much, but enough).

John

John Ratliff,

If we're talking about near misses, I'd say "car turning in front of me" is the most common.

Therefore I take measures to alert motorists who might attempt to pull out in front of me, such as bright headlights, front blinkie, close visual attention to their movements and a whistle for audio effect.

Just this week, a driver who was unable to judge my speed startred pulling out of a driveway into my path (I was travelling about 25 mph.) I blew my whistle hard and he stopped suddenly. He was blocking half the lane, but he was stationary, so I still had room to go around him.

I believe the more weapons one has in one's arsenal, the safer one is.

All the vehicle related items are everyday concerns, you always have to have your wits about you and be prepared fo rthe unexpected. The road conditions i.e narrow lanes and busy intersections can be prepared for or avoided.

But give me a dark fall morning with sub-freezing temps and wet leaves or moisture on the street and hooo boy, look out, other than the Crispy Creme donut shop, it's my worst enemy ;)

I always keep in mind that drivers don`t see you, just like they teach new motorists; cars don`t intend to notice you.

Found this in today's SJ Mercury News. Unfortunately, it's germane to this topic.


MAJOR INJURY ACCIDENT A bicyclist collided with a 10-wheel truck Thursday morning on First Street near Interstate 280. The bicyclist was found at fault. After four hours of surgery, the bicyclist was listed in critical condition at an area hospital.
This is along the path I take on my summertime commute and sometimes during winter. It's a congested spot with narrow lanes (no bike lane) and a fairly difficult merge situation. It's one area where the hair on my neck is standing at attention when I go through.

I have to assume the bicyclist is a commuter passing through or a local who may not have a driver's license, of which there are many in this area. This is not a place for a recreational cyclist.

I sure hope he'll (I've never seen a woman in this area) get better. Sounds terrible.

The thing I find the most frightening and brings me to the height of my attention is high crosswinds. I've got a step downhill section ride which just so happens to be very (and suddenly) exposed to the wind. There has been more than a few occasions where I have nearly lost it especially in gusting winds.

I have had many car stop quickly when I am behind them after a green light. I have worn down many a brake pad.

I had to go for the "other" because those are mostly just daily routines. You should have mentioned "vehicle," rather than car. There are buses here that "hook." And they don't just hook, they delay with a vengance.
One of the others you might have mentioned is the "psycholist" riding the wrong way in the bike lane, without the benefit of lights, or blinkies. I swear one of these is going to nail me, or I'm going to hear a crunch when they met with the steel driving at 35-45 miles along my narrow 4 foot lane(I think I'm being generous).

The last leg of my morning commute consists of a 1/4 mile pre-dawn ride over Interstate 80. This is a 4 lane bridge with no shoulder and with cars traveling at highway speeds. It takes me no more than 2 minutes to clear this area, but with such clear danger I can only wonder what may happen.

Right now I'd have to say slippery surfaces, i.e. oil on the road. This would not normally be the case but with no substantial rain for almost two years, the oil deposits have been building up, meaning that during the light rain we have had, the oil has sat on the top and made the road extremely slippery in places. Note that this is strictly a one-off situation prompted by the worst drought we've ever had (it's approaching twice as bad as the second-worst). This will change if we get the extreme monsoon conditions we have been promised this year.

Under normal circumstances, it's the "hook" and the cars suddenly pulling out (i.e. options 1 and 2).

the real reason of paying attention to everything around you while riding your bike is, that it will keep you alive, like cars ssuddenly stopping ahead of you, if your not paying attention you will end up colliding the car that stop, or if you swerved you might get sidesweeped by another oncomming vehicle that is right behind you.

On a recumbent the biggest problem is being attacked by idiots.
It always seems to attract the wrong type.

My biggest fear is of roads that have multiple parking lot entrances on them, where cars are coming from all over, and are impatient to get out of the parking lot. This contributed to my accident last year, and I am completely staying away from that stretch of highway, bicycle lanes and all, as I feel it is one of the most dangerous places I have ever ridden.

John

I am wary at all intersections - my worst moments have come as a result of people cutting me off as they turn through an intersection I am trying to go straight through - what scares me is that these people clearly see me - and decide to try and beat me to the spot.

I will have to say narrow lanes. Some of the roads on my commute have six inches of pavement between white line and dirt.
Also factor in potholes that force you into the middle of the lane and you get it from the rear.
At least half of my route is no a bike trail.

Ride safe

Pat

the scariest thing that ever happened to me was when a school bus driver decided to make a 2 lane road a 4 lane. squeezed me between him and a row of parked cars there was absolutly no where to go and it felt like the bus was inches away and the cars the same. in reality it was about a foot on each side. I called the local school distric with the bus number and got the response we will talk to him. shortly thereafter my shift changed so i never met that particular bus again. arrgh how can some be so calous as to intentionally endanger another person's life?

I am told, I take the "No Fear" motto too seriously.. When opening this thread, I had in mind problems such as tacoed wheels delaying you from getting to work.
NO, we musn't take the 'no fear' thing too far.. My work commute has mostly wide bike lanes , so I should not be too over-confident about the wacko motorist.
I often fear more about the motorists when I am out there with them in a car- where the competition is greater, for that bit of asphalt..
Biggest fear- the couple of bad intersections, where I have to merge with busy traffic to change lanes to get under freeway viaducts.. Cars really change lanes erratically..
And we should not be too confident, as some think I am.. I expect under state law, I have equal access to the road. Most motorists do not think that way..
I really suspect wearing a mirror helps me to feel more confident. Constantly, knowing what is going on behind me makes me feel more prepared.?

My worst fear is the approaching sign of the LBS. :D

This is one situation that caught me totally off guard when I first encountered it: A two-way separated bike lane runs along a major street. I ride my bike, the street is to my right. In an intersection, a cager approaches from my left, from a minor street, hoping to turn right to the major street. The only thing he is interested in is the traffic on the major street, which flows from his left to right. Consequently, he never looks to his right to see me, but keeps his eyes to his left to spot vacant slots in the traffic flow. When he sees one, he'll make a quick dart for it, and after that it's "officer, I don't know where that cyclist came from."

When this first happened to me, I could not believe my eyes. The guy kept inching (centimetering?) forward as I approached. I mean I had the right of way and all. Famous last words. I hit the brakes way too late and stopped partly in front of him :). A "friendly" slap on the hood finally got his attention before he had the chance to accelerate. He looked at me as if I had just been beamed down there by Scotty. I did make a mental note of stopping before the intersection next time.

--J

My biggest concern on my ride is the occasional wacko driver. Something about seeing a cyclist on the road brings out the best and worst in people. Most people are very good about being attentive and giving me room. Friday night, I was serenated as I passed a convenience store(I suspect a small amount of alchohol was involved). My biggest concern is the guy who is in too much of a hurry to drive safely. Or the carload of kids that think it is fun to mess with the lone cyclist and are surprised when they actually do some damage. None of this will stop me from riding,though.

Although I voted for "car pulling out in my lane" I fear vehicles in general when commuting. I think the only reason I have had only one significant accident in 4 years town riding is that my motto is:

ALL DRIVERS OF VEHICLES ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO KILL ME. ALL PEDESTRIANS WILL STEP OUT IN FRONT OF ME.

That way I don't try to guess if they see me or not or are going to wait for me. I just assume they are trying to kill me in any situation and so I go evasive.

However this overly cautious approach led to a fall. Two kids darted accross the road way in front of me and I braked too much fearing they would slow their dash once in my lane. It was wet and oily and I went down way before them looking like a fool. (I wonder if they planned their crossing where there was an oil slick?)

Commute with paranoia
Erik

nothing frightens me. i am fearless. wary, yes, but not fearful. if it were otherwise i wouldn't commute.

Originally posted by Garlic
My biggest concern on my ride is the occasional wacko driver. Something about seeing a cyclist on the road brings out the best and worst in people. Most people are very good about being attentive and giving me room. Friday night, I was serenated as I passed a convenience store(I suspect a small amount of alchohol was involved). My biggest concern is the guy who is in too much of a hurry to drive safely. Or the carload of kids that think it is fun to mess with the lone cyclist and are surprised when they actually do some damage. None of this will stop me from riding,though.

I go out on friday and sat and usually cycle to the bar movie or whatever activity I have planned. I have run into the same issue as this people seem to think its cool to come up beside you an yell all manner of things from insults to lewd proposals LOL.

Red light and/or stop sign runners! My kingdom for a frame-mounted RPG...:rolleyes:

Flat tire in the dark in zero degree temps with high winds. I have this to face each day on my commutes the last week.

Coming home at 11pm, it when the drunks get thrown out of the pubs. Most of the week it's no problem but friday night is a nightmare.

Gangs of youngsters tanked up on 3 pints and a shandy who think it's big to mess about with a cyclist whose only concern is to get home.

I choose cars pulling out in front of me because something like that almost caused an accident for me one time. A car came out of a driveway and I was SO ready to take an over-the-handlebars tumble across her trunk. It so happened that I was able to swerve enough to avoid the car, but only by a foot or so.

The next vote would be for the famous right hook, but I can usually sense when a car is going to do one and speed up or slow down to avoid it. In anycase, no real close calls with the right hook, only with the pull-out.

Garbear coming up behind me in his Escalade the day after one of our SUV scuffles. :rolleyes:

I always try to watch the front wheels of the cars ahead of me as well as parked cars. This practice has saved me more than once. The car has gotta go where the front wheels are pointed.

Originally posted by Brian Ratliff
The next vote would be for the famous right hook, but I can usually sense when a car is going to do one and speed up or slow down to avoid it. In anycase, no real close calls with the right hook, only with the pull-out.

Here the equivalent is a left hook, and as it is happening to me so much (last two days each morning), I DON'T slow down but keep my speed to hold the car out from making the turn while giving them a stare. I sometimes shout so they realise I am there.

Dangerous, but at least I think it reinforces the view that if they are overtaking to turn left, they should allow enough room or tuck in behind.

This morning's lady in a BMW compact overtook me 20 yards from the turn with her left indicator on, and had to stop as I wouldn't give way.

I don't think it was deliberate, she just wasn't aware. She will be from now on :)

Many times I actually speed up to avoid the hook. This works best when the car is slowed to your speed just as it passes you. It gets you into the field of view of the driver, and most of the time, the car has to slow further to make the turn, so it makes it less likely you will be hit.

Originally posted by chewa


Here the equivalent is a left hook, and as it is happening to me so much (last two days each morning), I DON'T slow down but keep my speed to hold the car out from making the turn while giving them a stare. I sometimes shout so they realise I am there.

Dangerous, but at least I think it reinforces the view that if they are overtaking to turn left, they should allow enough room or tuck in behind.



I'm with you chewa on this one. provided I think I can force the issue without injuring myself I'll also make the car wait. Though I have to say I've been lucky lately and it hasn't happened.

I want to change my original reply. Hooks etc can be avoided, but I'm now worried about all this smoke from all the fires over the last 12 months and just how much damage it's done to my lungs.

Originally posted by Chris L
... but I'm now worried about all this smoke from all the fires over the last 12 months and just how much damage it's done to my lungs.

I'd be less worried about woodsmoke than car exhaust. Fires eventually go out. Cars are ubiquitous, and much, much closer.

re the poll: I decline to vote. I don't recall ever experiencing fear whilst riding. Anger, yes. Fear, no.

Originally posted by Allister
I'd be less worried about woodsmoke than car exhaust. Fires eventually go out. Cars are ubiquitous, and much, much closer.


Point taken, but did you get caught in that dust storm a few months ago? :eek: :cry:

Originally posted by Chris L


Point taken, but did you get caught in that dust storm a few months ago? :eek: :cry:

Yeah. It wasn't so bad. I think it was pretty much spent by the time it hit the coast. All I recall was an unusually reddish sky and only minimal dust in the air at ground level.

Originally posted by trmcgeehan
I always try to watch the front wheels of the cars ahead of me as well as parked cars. This practice has saved me more than once. The car has gotta go where the front wheels are pointed.
:eek: Good advice. I'll take it. :)

Mzungu basically said it: ALL DRIVERS OF VEHICLES ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO KILL ME. ALL PEDESTRIANS WILL STEP OUT IN FRONT OF ME.

My commute/ride routes cover many types of roads, save for bike paths (they are damm rare around here). I act as if every car is going to pull out in front of me, or does not see me. That way, I am seldom suprised. But the hook worries me the most. Or a squeeze from a long passing vehicle/trailer combocoming back over after passing.

Many (most?) of us ride faster than many cagers expect us to, hence we are not where their feeble internal models predict us to be. Always look at the driver, not the car. Try to read their intents by where/how they are looking. Ask yourself, 'what is the most stupid thing this idiot can do & how can I counter/survive it?'

Ride smart, take the lane when it's too narrow to share, and enjoy the ride.

Originally posted by Allister

Yeah. It wasn't so bad. I think it was pretty much spent by the time it hit the coast. All I recall was an unusually reddish sky and only minimal dust in the air at ground level.

It was bad enough for me to wish it was hailing instead. :eek: