Commuting - Requests to motorists

What are your biggest pet peeves as bike commuters, and if you could request motorists to do anything to make bike commuting safer, what would it be (realistically)?

I would probably ask them to use their turn signals more often. My commute goes across a couple of exit lanes that lead to highways, and from my vantage point it's sometimes hard to tell if the approaching cars are exiting (and thereby crossing my path) or not, and whether I can just start crossing the street. So it would make my life a lot easier (and my commute faster) if those drivers exiting onto the highway would just hang up their bloody cell phones and turn on their blinkers once in a while.

Any other thoughts?

I ride on many roads that have no shoulders- so I must ride in the lane of traffic. My ONE request- give me more room and treat me like a vehicle when you pass me. And when you do pass me, I am riding faster than you think--- please clear me and give me some room before cutting me off.

And when I am coming down a descent at +70 kph-- and I am taking the lane- and the posted speed is 70kph- let me take the lane and don't tailgate me.

One more- when I have the right of way, don't try to pull out right in front of me to make a right turn (or left, for that matter)-- I am riding faster than you think.

Signaling more would be great. At intersections, if the car behind me is signaling, I can move my lane position to better allow them to turn, go straight, whatever they're doing. If they're not signaling, I have to assume that they're getting ready to do anything, take the lane and be in the way regardless of what they're doing.

Don't pass too close but conversely don't put yourself at risk by flying way into the opposing lane in non appropriate locations.
Slow down! Do you really need to arrive at your destination 5 minutes faster?
Grab that lever on the left side of your stearing column and use it.
Honking scares the crap out of me. Please make it a short polite honk, if any.
There simply is no need to gun your engine, fly around me, and quickly cut back into your lane to show your annoyance that a cyclist dare ride in the street and slow you down for 2 seconds. Did your mother teach you any manners?

Just don't run into me again. That's all. Simple.
You need details? OK: Hang up the phone, put down the Starbucks, stop messing with the CD player, stay in your own lane, stop throwing things and yelling.

If I could, I'd make people who violate my rules have to use a mitia with the top down for a while. I think drivers forget they are on the road in a multi ton box, and it's serious business. I want drivers aware of what they're doing, and connected to their enviorment.

???? I drive a miata with the top down. It's cold, so the top is up right now.

I think drivers forget they are on the road in a multi ton box, and it's serious business.
The 140 000 people who die in car accidents each year support that point. Drive responsibly is all i have to say.

Biggest annoyance:

I'm approaching a light that is red. A driver passes me, then moves WAY right to block me from passing them back on the right side.

This happens to me maybe once a week. The only thing worse has been the guy that passed me, then brake-checked me. He was an extreme exception though.

. . .
This happens to me maybe once a week. The only thing worse has been the guy that passed me, then brake-checked me. He was an extreme exception though.
The stupid thing is, when they block you on the right, they open up the left.

Often, I time lights. I hate it when a car passes me, but then has to stop because the drier was too stupid to time the light. This happens a lot. Drivers claim that cyclists slow down drivers, but drivers slow me down all the time.

Actually if I could just get people to realize that driving a car is NO DIFFERENT than walking around with a loaded gun, I'd be happy. Just as I don't want people waiving a loaded gun around while talking on the phone, reading a map, juggling a hot coffee, etc, I don't want them driving while doing those things either.

Killing someone with a car is avoidable in almost all situations. The excuses people use are mostly all cop-outs. If you didn't see him, then you weren't paying good enough attention, 99% of the time. If they were acting oddly, well then, that's your signal to back off, stop, give more room, whatever's needed to be safe.

I don't think most people on the road these days have even HEARD of the 3-second gap rule.

Look at more that the thirty feet ahead of you. How many buzz-n-passes, tailgatings, etc., would be avoided if drivers looked up and saw that the next light was red, or that the next intersection is a 4-way stop? On my Brooklyn commute, there's one part that's paticularly bad for this, from Atlantic Ave. to Dean St. to 5th Ave. and the worst part is, the same cars are passing me five and six times, not realizing that w/all the stops signs and red lights, I'm keeping pace with (or outpacing) them.

Ride a bicycle.

hang-up the cellular telephone while driving (this includes reading/writing text messages)
faithful use of turn signals
careful placement in lane (e.g. don't pull practically onto shoulder at red light)
easy on the horn...a gentle "shave-and-a-haircut-two-bits" tune a quarter-mile back is great

Look at more that the thirty feet ahead of you. How many buzz-n-passes, tailagtings, etc., would be avoided if drivers looked up and saw that the next igt was red, or that the next intersection is a 4-way stop? On my Brooklyn commute, there's one part that's paticularlu bad for this, from atlantic ave to dean to 5th ave. and the worst part is, the same cars are passing me five and six times, not realizing that w/all the stops signs and red lights, I'm keeping pace with (or outpacing) them. +1. Just learn it, for God's sake: in city traffic, I'm AS FAST or FASTER than you! So what's the point of this idiotic passing game? You know, that may be one of the big reasons cyclists filter. If they were just allowed their place in line (when their average speed is the same as that of other traffic), they'd be more likely to stick with it and be happy... But they keep getting passed by these morons and pushed further and further back into the line for no good reason at all, so filtering's only fair.

The above request mostly applies for slower roads. For faster arterials/country roads my request is: give me some breathing room when passing, dammit. And don't tell me to go on the sidewalk, you useless (#$@@!ing @#(&*) .

Pay attention.
Think about what you're doing.
Be rational.


A short list, I think.

Follow the rules at intersections. If it's your turn to wait, then wait, but if it's your turn to go, then go. Don't try to be polite by coming to a stop when you're not supposed to, and waiting for me, or waving at me, and so on.

Follow the rules at intersections. If it's your turn to wait, then wait, but if it's your turn to go, then go. Don't try to be polite by coming to a stop when you're not supposed to, and waiting for me, or waving at me, and so on.

You took mine.

It only makes both of us take longer when you yield to me out of order. Just go.

Also, if you're driving a big truck with a flat back, please accelerate slowly so I can stay in your draft.

Thanks.

Put down the phone and drive responsibly. That is all. Heck, i wish other drivers would do that when i'm driving my car...

Obey SL
Don't tailgate
When traffic is light, move into adjacent same direction lane as soon you see me
Spray water on me if I give the thumbs up

Al

Hi Recursive-

I was running late to a group ride when an 18-wheeler slowly drove past me after a traffic signal. Got in the slipstream to ride the remaining three miles in record time and arrived early! :)

~ Blue Jays ~

Yeah, get outta my f*n lane.

Seriously, if I'm in the middle of the lane, there's a reason for it, and it's not 'cause my a-s is that wide.

You know what would be a great idea? If there was some way that a driver could signal his intention to turn or change lanes. Maybe a system of blinking lights? You could even rig up the switches so that the driver could activate the lights without having to stop and get out of the car! That would be cool.

To motorists, cyclists and peds alike - slow the f down and pay attention. Life is too short to be in such a damn hurry and the world is too beautiful to run around with your head up your okole.

Please don't scare me intentionally. It's really annoying.

You know what would be a great idea? If there was some way that a driver could signal his intention to turn or change lanes. Maybe a system of blinking lights? You could even rig up the switches so that the driver could activate the lights without having to stop and get out of the car! That would be cool.

That was great.

What I don't understand is who the heck are people calling at 7 am? If my phone rung that early I'd think that someone had died. please hang up and do your make up and shaving at home.

I wish drivers would realize that their high speed and aggresive passing does not get them there any faster. I average 14 mph and am usually just as fast as cars or faster on the two mile stretch road.

The biggest annoyance is drivers using cell phones. A part of your brain simply turns off when you're talking on one. Hands-free doesn't make a difference.

Pay attention. Understand the REAL dangers of the road are not being late from being stuck at a red light for 45 seconds, they are driving a monstrous box of metal without really paying fair attention.
Life is precious, respect that.
Life isn't a race.
Relax and enjoy your time before the stress of work comes into play.
Know at least that you're not the only ones entitled to use the roadway.
Courtesy and basic respect aren't hard work and they go a long way.

If you don't STOP at stop signs, don't expect me to. The law is the law, yes, but if you don't practice what you preach, don't be so shocked when others do the same. It really pisses me off when you see people get all uptight when a cyclist blows through a stop... a) If I do it, it's often with every bit of care that I can exact b) I regularly watch cars at various stop signs - I would guess 98% of them NEVER stop, and as far as I'm concerned even if it's at 2mph, it's still breaking the law.

And for christs sake, just think and use your common sense.

all of the above, plus a request (hope, wish, dream, prayer) for the powers that be to have all taxi, delivery, transit and other working drivers take a special, manditory course on sharing the road with cyclists and a reward/punishment/tracking system for both good AND bad behaviour. heck, make all license holders do the same.

Oh yeah and...

Spend a week biking your commute to at least gain an understanding from our perspective of what it's like to battle each time on the roads with you and your vehicles of mass destruction.

I would probably ask them to use their turn signals more often.

Turn signals? I just want not to be run down. Really that's it. I don't care if you blow your horn at me, scream at me, or even throw stuff at me - just don't run me down.

If that ONE wish could be granted to me, I would be a happy camper. Turn signals? You're asking for WAY too much bro. :)


... Brad

"...what it's like to battle each time on the roads with you and your vehicles of mass destruction..."

That's funny because I invite bicycle riders to ride in the draft created by my truck on desolate roads and let them lean against my vehicle at stoplights rather than unclipping from pedals. I give plenty of room when I pass and provide gentle toot of the horn a quarter-mile behind fellow cyclists as a warning of my presence. Am I still a purveyor of death & gloom in my vehicle of mass destruction? Sheesh.

That's funny because I invite bicycle riders to ride in the draft created by my truck on desolate roads and let them lean against my vehicle at stoplights rather than unclipping from pedals. I give plenty of room when I pass and provide gentle toot of the horn a quarter-mile behind fellow cyclists as a warning of my presence. Am I still a purveyor of death & gloom in my vehicle of mass destruction? Sheesh.
You're the exception, not the rule. :D

:)

Turn signals? You're asking for WAY too much bro. :)
Hehehe probably :D

Park your car and join me on a bike!!!

You have passed a cyclist when
Wrong:
Your front bumper is ahead of the cyclist
Better:
Your rear bumper is ahead of the cyclist
Best:
There is a two second safety margin between your car and the cyclist

Two things: don't be afraid to wait, and turn off your cursed high-beams at night. It's scary going down a two-lane road, being blinded by a car, and regaining your vision just in time to see the wrong-way cyclist / mopedist with no lights coming straight at you.

Be courteous and pay attention to what you're doing.

Oh yeah and...

Spend a week biking your commute to at least gain an understanding from our perspective of what it's like to battle each time on the roads with you and your vehicles of mass destruction.

:roflmao: Good one! Asking 95% of the population to ride a bike 1 miles would be like asking them to off someone for you.

Please don't scare me intentionally. It's really annoying.

I'll add that it makes me wish an early and painful death upon you.