General Cycling Discussion - Slow Moving Vehicle

I'll admit I am new to this, and a little naive, but why do people (in cars) get so worked up over bikes. I have been heckled by teenage girls. :eek: Ordered off the road by a dutiful redneck in a pick up, and had the intentional drifting into assure me there just ain't enough room on the road for all of us. I am working real hard at not being intimidated even being forceful when needed and taking my lane. Always use hand signals. And try to avoid the busiest areas of town. My city has a population of 30k, so some of you out there will think there cannot be a busy area. I could not imagine riding in a city. So I am thinking about a custom jersey with my team logo the slow moving vehicle triagle on the back.:D heres a quote from the DMV "The orange and red triangle is a signal to all drivers to slow down and be cautious. When you see it, reduce your speed and stay well back. Only pass when it is safe to do so." anyway I got in thirty miles (farthest yet) in with only minimal interferance. Loving this Spring weather. See you on the roads.

In a previous post, someone suggested wearing the American flag on their back--I think that's a great idea. Who would want to mess with someone who is so patriotic? :D

http://i1.tinypic.com/se0i0j.jpg


This is my commuter and gear. Note the slow moving vehicle triangle on my backpack. I've had cops and cagers both pull up to me at lights along my commute and tell me that is a really good idea. I have people all the time giving me room too when I am out on commute, especially compared to what it's like when I ride the same routes on my road bike and without the backpack.

So I'm guessing that the triangle actually helps.

I have seen pictures of, and in person, cyclists with that triangle on the back of the bike. It's a good idea, so is a Daylight visible tailight.

Drivers go nuts over all slow moving vehicles, tractors, trucks, backhoes, etc. But the cyclist looks powerless to retaliate. Most drivers who are not cyclists do not know any laws pertaining to cyclists on the road either. They may think you need to move over. Just as they want the tractor to move over.

If you yell at a guy in a noisy tractor or truck with closed windows, he can't hear you. And he can block your car intentionally. So take it out on the cyclist. :rolleyes:

the triangle is good. won't get points on club rides. i use one on all my tours, not so much in the city. i see several commuters with the triangle riding in Seattle.

Maybe a French flag - after all, many people feel that the French drivers are more considerate...;)

In a previous post, someone suggested wearing the American flag on their back--I think that's a great idea. Who would want to mess with someone who is so patriotic? :D



Especially great for touring Aphghanistan....

There was a post, a while back with a link to a news story about a guy who experimented with different phrases on his shirt. He wanted to see if drivers treated him differently, depending on what his shirt said on it. The most successful phrase he found was...

"My ex-wife got the car"

Pretty funny.

Maybe a French flag - after all, many people feel that the French drivers are more considerate...;)

Pardon my French, but I think that would look more like a target to the rednecks in my area. The American flag would make them think a bit before running me off the road. I might just go through with my original Idea of the triangle (at first I was kidding but I'm glad to see people use it and it works.) Some of this is my own fault, when I was a reckless teen in a hurry to go nowhere, I could not stand the idea of waiting for Bikes, school buses, pedestrians and so on to get out of my way. what goes around comes around.:o

I know, Shnebs, I was just teasing! Really, it'd be a red rag to a bull in a lot of places!

In a previous post, someone suggested wearing the American flag on their back--I think that's a great idea. Who would want to mess with someone who is so patriotic? :D


Maybe you can have a picture of Calvin pissing on a Chevy/Ford/etc., along with some 3 and 8 stickers?

So I'm guessing that the triangle actually helps.

I've been using a triangle since starting commuting by bike this past winter. Definitely helped me in the darkness. With DST dunno if it's as beneficial, but I'm still using it...

Maybe you can have a picture of Calvin pissing on a Chevy/Ford/etc., along with some 3 and 8 stickers?

How about Calvin pissing on a 3 that would combine all into one?:D

I know, Shnebs, I was just teasing! Really, it'd be a red rag to a bull in a lot of places!

I told you I was naive in the begining. thanks for the fun.

where to get the triangle and how to attach it to my camelback blowfish?

where to get the triangle and how to attach it to my camelback blowfish?

Farm and Garden stores, accent on the Farm. tracktor dealers. good luck

While a "slow moving vehicle" triangle works fine adding a
LIME GREEN SAFETY VEST works even better. :D :D

I have a jersey that says

I support my local
POLICE
bicycle patrol.

on a white background. Drivers slow waaaaaaaaaaaay down and get aaaaalllllllllllll the way over in the other lane when they see it. Makes 'em real polite;)

I have a jersey that says

I support my local
POLICE
bicycle patrol.

on a white background. Drivers slow waaaaaaaaaaaay down and get aaaaalllllllllllll the way over in the other lane when they see it. Makes 'em real polite;)

Now there is an awesome idea. I like that alot. I need to talk with my local PD

I'll admit I am new to this, and a little naive, but why do people (in cars) get so worked up over bikes. I have been heckled by teenage girls. :eek: Ordered off the road by a dutiful redneck in a pick up, and had the intentional drifting into assure me there just ain't enough room on the road for all of us. I am working real hard at not being intimidated even being forceful when needed and taking my lane. Always use hand signals. And try to avoid the busiest areas of town. My city has a population of 30k, so some of you out there will think there cannot be a busy area. I could not imagine riding in a city. So I am thinking about a custom jersey with my team logo the slow moving vehicle triagle on the back.:D heres a quote from the DMV "The orange and red triangle is a signal to all drivers to slow down and be cautious. When you see it, reduce your speed and stay well back. Only pass when it is safe to do so." anyway I got in thirty miles (farthest yet) in with only minimal interferance. Loving this Spring weather. See you on the roads.
Yeah, when people get behind a vehicle their IQ drops by few points. Unfortenatly for some it drops in to negative range, thus you get things you described.

http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/browseproducts/Andy-Warhol-Caution-Vegan-Messenger.HTML

I got that bag and it helped me the moment I wore it outside of the store. Drivers gave me 20 feet of space and they actually slow down!

I have a jersey that says

I support my local
POLICE
bicycle patrol.

on a white background. Drivers slow waaaaaaaaaaaay down and get aaaaalllllllllllll the way over in the other lane when they see it. Makes 'em real polite;)

Winnnnnner! This is the 'Idea of the month'!

Here's your cookie :D Now I have to get me one of those.

Maybe you can have a picture of Calvin pissing on a Chevy/Ford/etc., along with some 3 and 8 stickers?


:roflmao:

Too funny !
You noticed that too !
It is 99% of the time the bigfoot truck with the kid pissing/ford/chevy/## stickers !
Ha Ha...My theory is now quantifiable fact :roflmao:

Im going to try the triangle thing on the backpack/rack because I beleive it is a
show of contriteness, not that we should have to but the average angry and violence
crazed car driver responds better to that than what they percieve as arrogance when
they come upon 3 fully kitted roadies riding 3 abreast and militantly holding up traffic.
The triangle sez "I am a lowly turtle on my way to toil so please feel my plight as I
suffer the elements whilst on my way to be held down by The Man...."

:roflmao:

I have a jersey that says

I support my local
POLICE
bicycle patrol.

on a white background. Drivers slow waaaaaaaaaaaay down and get aaaaalllllllllllll the way over in the other lane when they see it. Makes 'em real polite;)


I gotta say it too. Excellent Idea, I love it !!

Have the police ever had anything to say about it?

Winnnnnner! This is the 'Idea of the month'!

Here's your cookie :D Now I have to get me one of those.

Take a plain jersey to a good mall. Many T-shirt stores can iron on whatever words and logos you want.

:Im going to try the triangle thing on the backpack/rack because I beleive it is a
show of contriteness, not that we should have to but the average angry and violence
crazed car driver responds better to that than what they percieve as arrogance when
they come upon 3 fully kitted roadies riding 3 abreast and militantly holding up traffic.
The triangle sez "I am a lowly turtle on my way to toil so please feel my plight as I
suffer the elements whilst on my way to be held down by The Man...."


I think you hit the nail on the head except for the," 3 fully kitted roadies riding 3 abreast and militantly holding up traffic" Posers are our brothers too:) (and someday I may be one)

But all kidding aside We need to all live together Live is the key word. I'm doing this to get healthy and enjoy life. it is amazing the diffent philosophies out there on all sides of the issue.

"Live free and Ride"

I have a jersey that says

I support my local
POLICE
bicycle patrol.

on a white background. Drivers slow waaaaaaaaaaaay down and get aaaaalllllllllllll the way over in the other lane when they see it. Makes 'em real polite;)

Great idea! Need to do it on a yellow jersey here in New jersey.

Actually you'd be surprised, riding in busy areas gets you less hassle... because the cars are moving slower. Cars moving in 20mph traffic really don't care too much about a 20mph bicycle in front of them.

Same has been true for me too. When I am holding 20-25 I get a whole lot less issues on the city end of my commute. It is pretty easy just to blend in like any other vehicle.


FYI...

http://a1072.g.akamai.net/f/1072/2062/1d/gallery.rei.com/media/220205.jpg

bought this from REI for $8, cut off the belt and used adhesive backed velcro strips to attach it to my backpack.

Make sure you put in on the correct spot of the backpack. I saw a dude on the road with his patch centered on his pack. Only problem he was hunkered down to beat the wind and you couldn't see the symbol from a car. It needed to be on
the bottom of the pack and straight not all twisted up.

A company called Mt. Borah makes a jersey with a slow moving vehicle symbol on the back. http://mtborah.com/index.asp?CompID=44&action=ViewProduct&ProductID=329&CategoryID=62

They also sell large size jerseys, but not in this style. I've never tried their products, but this jersey looks useful.