Advocacy & Safety - Old man could have caused me a lot of injury.

I was riding home from my brothers house down a steep hill. I take a right turn at the very bottom whilst going pretty fast. In this instance I was on my single speed so I was taking it a little easy. There was a line of cars next to me also going down the hill. I was going just as fast as they were at the time. There was a old white car next to me, and just my luck it turns it blinker on to go right. Now I hadnt signaled that I was going to turn, I watch the old guy in the car turn around, twice, and look into his mirror. He CLEARLY see's me, no doubt. But he STILL CHOOSES TO TURN RIGHT INTO MY PATH WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR ME. I was so F'ing pissed off. If I would have been going straight my front tire would have hit is back door, turned right, and tossed me off the bike going about 30mph. Really what did he expect, that I would just cater to him since he was in car and just stop in 7 feet of road. What a dumbass. I still had to hammer on my brake to slow down.


Old people should not drive, end of story.

Old people should not drive, end of story.

Whilst it is certainly true that some old people should not drive, the behaviour you described is not limited to old people only.

In fact, I would venture to suggest that a lot more younger drivers are guilty of cutting cyclists off while turning (amongst other unsafe driving behaviours).

I'm glad your reflexes were good enough to keep you out of trouble.

you saw him looking at you....
Old man....big car...

Your byline reads "Road Rage Expert"..........
:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

In fact, I would venture to suggest that a lot more younger drivers are guilty of cutting cyclists off while turning (amongst other unsafe driving behaviours). +1. If I had to pick between a road full of 60-year-olds or 20-year-olds, I'd pick the former...

Granted, a lot of elderly folks should not be driving. Vision and depth perception, reaction, and physical alertness all deteriorate with age, there is just no way around it. However, I still think the most deadly drivers are rednecks, arrogant yuppies in BMW's (or Saab's, Acura's, or that Mercedes model that boasts all the horsepower in the world. I can't remember the model, as I'm just not up on my yuppie toys.), and of course, cell phone yakking suburban queens in their SUV's.

For interested persons: The MA legislature just dropped a bill that would have raised the minimum age for a driver's license to 17 1/2. The bill was fought vigorously by wealthy suburban parents, many of whom already had little muffy's first car all picked out.

How did this nation manage to survive before the automobile?

Why were you passing cars on the right when approaching an intersection? Why were you passing a car with its right turn signal on? Please examine your own cycling habits before complaining about bad drivers. (Yes, there are lots of them, but we can reduce our odds of being their victims.)

Oh my, I really didn't carefully read the description of the near-accident, or certainly would've commented on passing a right-turning car on the right! You are just BEGGING to be right-hooked with that sort of behaviour. If you're moving with the speed of the rest of the traffic, why aren't you taking the lane? If you're approaching an intersection, why are you on the extreme right if you aren't turning right?..

Pacing traffic seems to be a bad idea. I had almost the exact same thing happen years ago.

There I was, pacing traffic after coming out of a redlight. Car right beside me knew I was there, she looked at me several times, then right hooked me to get into a parking lot. I swerved around the rear of her car and slammed my fist down on her trunk lid as I went by. Nice dent, felt the sheet metal buckle.

The rule I follow now is: Either pass or be passed, but don't pace unless it's a multiple laned road and you have the entire right lane.

Edit-Oh yeah, I don't think the age of the driver in the OP had anything to do with the incident. The one that almost got me was a young woman, ~mid-late-twenties with two young kids in the car.

The rule I follow now is: Either pass or be passed, but don't pace unless it's a multiple laned road and you have the entire right lane.


Riding a motorcycle has me trained.
The only rule needed to survive is NEVER, NEVER , EVER TRUST A CAR !
If you are near one, you have to assume it is going to cut you off or try to
hit you. Ride as if you have a target on your back. There is no such thing
as right-of-way.

Are you finding yourself cut off too often?

Then you need the new Bikespear5000! Guaranteed to satisfy your need to trade paint with that yuppie's E 320...

http://www.jaysmarine.com/Bike_traffic_solution.jpg

Adjustable mounting fits all bicycles including those with front suspension. Only $99.99 from www.cyclistsgeteven.com.

:p

-Kurt

Ride as if you have a target on your back. Well, actually the primary targets are on the front and the sides.

you saw him looking at you....
Old man....big car...

Your byline reads "Road Rage Expert"..........
:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

many older people have a narrower range of vision. They may not see anything unless it is directly in front of them. Current California DMV tests do not check for this. Reflexes are often slower in the elderly and driving is often done by habit because their minds can not keep up with the world around them. A lawyer once asked my opinion of an elderly lady I was helping care for. I said, "I want to know when she is on the road so I can pull way off the road until she stops driving." My mom once called home and asked, "I am at *****, why am I here?" We pulled her drivers liceinse. Dad voluntarily gave up his when his reactions got too slow. I support enhanced testing for older people. Sorry AARP.

drivers liceinse. Dad voluntarily gave up his when his reactions got too slow. I support enhanced testing for older people. Sorry AARP.

I am against age discrimination. I don't support this or raising the minimum age for a driver's license. I do believe that ALL drivers should be closely monitored for competence and responsibility and that we should not be so reluctant to suspend or revoke their licenses. In particular, if a driver is found at fault for injuring someone with their car, their license should be revoked. The irresponsible use of a dangerous machine should be treated seriously.

Old people should not drive, end of story.

And those that "know" this shouldn't whine when they fail to anticipate the problem that their grand wisdom should have helped them predict.

I love the "I saw it coming but I let it happen (or almost happen) anyway" threads.

For a while now Iowa has had what is called a Graduated Drivers Liscense or GDL for teens when they pass the test & get their liscense. If they break the rules & are issued a citation for anything or get into an accident they lose their liscense & the ability to legally drive until they are 20 I believe.

The GDL starts out as the learners permit then "graduates" from there to an operators liscense. It is no longer a GDL if the kid behave like they are supposed to while driving & if they make it to the age of 18 it is then an adult operator liscense. Also while the kid has the GDL they do not have the same privilges as adult drivers do. There is a strict driving curfew that is enforced. Employers have to follow certain rules too to make sure their teenage employees get home in time or so they are not driving & violating the driving curfew.

A lot of parents *****ed & still ***** about this because if they lose their liscense the parents then they have to be more responsible for their kids & take them every where they need to go & because of the curfew they sometimes have to give their kids a ride or provide for some other type of transportation other then allowing them to drive. My take on this is "awwww too bad", you should be more responsible for your kids, no matter if they drive or not. I don't know why parents think when their brats start driving they need to slacken up on the amount of responsibility they have for them. I see it all too often.

I think the GDL is a great idea. There are a lot less hot headed, arrogant because they have their liscense, egostistical teens feeling like they are 10 feet tall & bullet proof when behind the wheel of a car.

How did this nation manage to survive before the automobile?
Good public transit systems, which GM bought and tore up, and horses which are expensive and unsanitary (and handle bikes even worse than cars)
As I side note, I nearly got run off the road by a giant RV. Damn, they need better training before they let people drive these boats. Didn't see the driver by 9/10 I'll bet it applies to the op.

........I support enhanced testing for older people. Sorry AARP.

Retesting for all drivers, across the board, written and driving test, every three years, would be a good thing. Also taking into account the driver's record since they last tested, crashes, tickets, etc. Included in the written test should be questions covering legal bicycling and pedestrian actions.

Who's going to pay for this? The people that want, or that want to keep, a DL.

If you're going the same speed as traffic, then take the lane, or you're going to get right hooked regardless of the age of the drivers around you.

New Road cyclist here with question: What if your in a designated bike lane and they cut you off? While riding for the first time in the wine country. A Masseratti sped around me only to cut in front to turn into a parking lot. then stopped in the bike lane cause the lot was full. I so wanted to crash into that car :>, and if I'd been riding my old MTB, I would have removed some paint for sure. How much is a paint job on a Masseratti?.....

It's too bad that old people vote much more often than younger people.

Granted, a lot of elderly folks should not be driving. Vision and depth perception, reaction, and physical alertness all deteriorate with age, there is just no way around it. However, I still think the most deadly drivers are rednecks, arrogant yuppies in BMW's (or Saab's, Acura's, or that Mercedes model that boasts all the horsepower in the world. I can't remember the model, as I'm just not up on my yuppie toys.), and of course, cell phone yakking suburban queens in their SUV's.

For interested persons: The MA legislature just dropped a bill that would have raised the minimum age for a driver's license to 17 1/2. The bill was fought vigorously by wealthy suburban parents, many of whom already had little muffy's first car all picked out.

How did this nation manage to survive before the automobile?


Bikes, buggies, street cars and trains.

If you're next to someone and you get the feeling they're going to turn into you, I see no reason not to bang on their car .... "*BANG BANG* I'M OVER HERE!" . If they yell at you ... so what ... at least you're alive.

jw

Uh, don't pass right turning traffic on the right is always a good rule. Even if you think all retirees and "cagers" are less than human, like most in this forum do, you still win a Darwin award when someone takes you out for cycling in an unsafe manner.

In addition to my response about GDL for kids I need to add this:

There should be the same thing for senior citizens. Because of their slower reflexes & vision problems associated with old age Iowa should develope a GDL for seniors. Have it start as a regular unrestricted adult operators liscense then "graduate" down to what ever restrictions are appropriate based on how the individual tests when it comes to reflexes, hand eye coordination & vision. One of the best & safe ways to test for this is in a simulator. Depending on how the individual does with that then administer an on the road driving test. Compare the 2 test results together using an appropriate grading system & determine what type of liscense the individual should have & what if any type of restrictions they need.

How much is a paint job on a Masseratti?.....

Over 10 times what the paint job is worth.

-Kurt

If you're next to someone and you get the feeling they're going to turn into you, I see no reason not to bang on their car .... "*BANG BANG* I'M OVER HERE!" . If they yell at you ... so what ... at least you're alive.

jw

Until the day you do that to someone who decides to run you over "accidently on purpose". A pregnant woman pedestrian in Manhattan banged on someones car and the driver stopped her car, got out and beat up the pedestrian. The driver was arrested, the pregnant woman ended up in the hospital.