Advocacy & Safety - Cyclist yeild to cars..not the othe other way around

..lets try this again..

I ride facing the traffic 99.9% of the time and this allows me the greatest possible safety margin for myself.. i watch head on the approaching traffic and move aside when they seem unwilling to move even an inch ..some actually move a little towards me in protest but i simply move well aside spoiling their attempt to "teach me a lesson". Most of the time i'll simply switch over to the other side of the road giving them the widest possible margin. So i am in complete control and drivers couldn't hit me even if they tried...i'm dodging all the crazy drivers..not all the crazy drivers dodging me..and as a result the world is my oyster..i listen to Mozart to drown out road noise but i normally take the routes where I don't see much traffic...when i do encounter oncoming cars and trucks i ride facing them..when it looks like they're not going to move over even a tiny courteous amount i go onto the shoulder and let them tear by.

Anyone who rides with their back to the traffic is playing Russian roulette. When i ride facing the traffic i am the one that makes adjustments and i am the one that gets out of everyone's way. By everyone I mean cyclists, cars, trucks, motorcycles, joggers, skateboarders, roller bladders, pedestrians and what ever is coming at me. I go unnoticed on the roads because no one has to brake or maneuver around me.
Whenever traffic passes, I simply give them the widest possible berth. I ride very slow or walk in very dangerous situations. My bikes big wide tires allow me to go almost anywhere. The big motorcycle mirror mounted on the right side (yes right) really enhances my way of seeing all.

This way of riding, facing the traffic, was not my idea but my fathers. He was a very smart man when it came to safety. Our entire house was wired with fire detectors 57 years ago. All our boats were enhanced with flotation to prevent them sinking. He must have been the first to get those studded winter tires 50 years ago. He invented safety mirrors for cars that were slightly convex. His most significant accomplishment was redesigning the safety shoe for electrical workers to prevent electrocution. If you have a white tag on your safety shoe with an orange Greek "omega" symbol, that's his shoe. It only took 15 years to convince people it was a smart idea.

The traffic laws work fairly well for the masses and not too many cyclists are being killed or injured but I prefer feeling entirely safe. I will never rely on others to see me. I will always want to see them and I will continue my civil disobedience and cycling.

This past spring in Ontario 7 cyclist were killed in 19 days http://www.therecord.com/links/links_070623125435.html


Cycling facing the traffic is slowly been implemented in different parts of the world. See this link........... http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co..../14/69179.html
and this one...http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/faci...contraflow.htm







---Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

??

^^^
Stir, stir, stir the pot...

Fourth time the charm? (http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=4393781)

I think he posts here everytime his little "practice" results in a ticket or crash.

I sorry. I shouldn't feed the troll.

Whatever floats your boat. :rolleyes:

I almost ran into a cyclist riding the wrong way. That would've hurt. We started doing the chicken dance. :eek:

Fortunately, we came to an agreement in time: him in the traffic lane (going the wrong way, I might add) and me hugging the curb.

I ride with traffic mainly because I have a terrific ass and want the greatest amount of ppl to see it.

^^^
Well, I ride with traffic just so I can see your ass. :D

I yell at people who ride against traffic... very nicely of course... but yelling none the less

I've found my encounters with wrong way cyclists have been reduced tremendously once I started carrying my lance.

..lets try this again..

I ride facing the traffic 99.9% of the time and this allows me the greatest possible safety margin for myself.. i watch head on the approaching traffic and move aside when they seem unwilling to move even an inch ..some actually move a little towards me in protest but i simply move well aside spoiling their attempt to "teach me a lesson". Most of the time i'll simply switch over to the other side of the road giving them the widest possible margin. So i am in complete control and drivers couldn't hit me even if they tried...i'm dodging all the crazy drivers..not all the crazy drivers dodging me..and as a result the world is my oyster..i listen to Mozart to drown out road noise but i normally take the routes where I don't see much traffic...when i do encounter oncoming cars and trucks i ride facing them..when it looks like they're not going to move over even a tiny courteous amount i go onto the shoulder and let them tear by.

Anyone who rides with their back to the traffic is playing Russian roulette. When i ride facing the traffic i am the one that makes adjustments and i am the one that gets out of everyone's way. By everyone I mean cyclists, cars, trucks, motorcycles, joggers, skateboarders, roller bladders, pedestrians and what ever is coming at me. I go unnoticed on the roads because no one has to brake or maneuver around me.
Whenever traffic passes, I simply give them the widest possible berth. I ride very slow or walk in very dangerous situations. My bikes big wide tires allow me to go almost anywhere. The big motorcycle mirror mounted on the right side (yes right) really enhances my way of seeing all.

This way of riding, facing the traffic, was not my idea but my fathers. He was a very smart man when it came to safety. Our entire house was wired with fire detectors 57 years ago. All our boats were enhanced with flotation to prevent them sinking. He must have been the first to get those studded winter tires 50 years ago. He invented safety mirrors for cars that were slightly convex. His most significant accomplishment was redesigning the safety shoe for electrical workers to prevent electrocution. If you have a white tag on your safety shoe with an orange Greek "omega" symbol, that's his shoe. It only took 15 years to convince people it was a smart idea.

The traffic laws work fairly well for the masses and not too many cyclists are being killed or injured but I prefer feeling entirely safe. I will never rely on others to see me. I will always want to see them and I will continue my civil disobedience and cycling.

This past spring in Ontario 7 cyclist were killed in 19 days http://www.therecord.com/links/links_070623125435.html


Cycling facing the traffic is slowly been implemented in different parts of the world. See this link........... http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co..../14/69179.html
and this one...http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/faci...contraflow.htm







---Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

:D

This is what we call a neotroll...
http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/images/troll.jpg

great way to make eye contact with drivers.

Beware! The federal government has dispatched ABVs (anti-bike vehicles). Use extreme caution.
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/croscoe/07ibexclassic3300/DSCF3306.jpg

Realize that you will never be completely safe. I believe that you are less safe riding against traffic listening to music. Darting all over the place is not advised as it triggers the motorists "wtf" sensors. Flow with the traffic, be pradictable, be safe.

I take it that your Dad became the big safety man AFTER he dropped you on your head?

Normally you post this BS in June of each year. Your 3 months late this year and you posted it twice within 4 minutes. It really creates confidence in your postition.

Did he invent the internet, too?

The big motorcycle mirror mounted on the right side (yes right) really enhances my way of seeing all.

Yeah I bet. Riding into traffic all you will ever see in your mirror is the traffic that has already passed by. :eek: That's a real safety item. :rolleyes:

Hmm lets do some collision math:

riding "against": Traffic 40mph + Bike 20mph = collision speed of 60mph
riding "with": Traffic 40mph - Bike 20mph = collision speed of 20mph

Did he invent the internet, too?
Nope, just the part that helps people avoid being electrocuted when they're online. :D

I almost ran into a cyclist riding the wrong way. That would've hurt. We started doing the chicken dance. :eek:

Fortunately, we came to an agreement in time: him in the traffic lane (going the wrong way, I might add) and me hugging the curb.

I've hit one straight on. Broke my wheel, fork, and bent (slightly) the frame. Not much room on the side of the road to miss the ba**ards.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/578296000_d26917eeca.jpg

If he's lucky, as he ages, he'll learn

Seven deaths in 19 days...excerpt.."It appears that Taylor was doing everything right when a car driven by an 85-year-old man plowed into him from behind, killing him."

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2f/Darwinaward.gif

Hmm lets do some collision math:

riding "against": Traffic 40mph + Bike 20mph = collision speed of 60mph
riding "with": Traffic 40mph - Bike 20mph = collision speed of 20mph


Traffic 40mph ???? Not where i live..more like 60mph
Bike 20 mph?? going up hill against the wind...more like 5mph


Lets do some other math

riding "against": 2 eyes cyclist plus 2 eyes driver = 4 eyes collision avoidance
riding "with": 2 eyes driver = 2 eyes driver (and hopefully not blurry or distracted or blinded by glare)

I've hit one straight on. Broke my wheel, fork, and bent (slightly) the frame. Not much room on the side of the road to miss the ba**ards.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/578296000_d26917eeca.jpg

If he's lucky, as he ages, he'll learn

If I'm reading that chart correctly, since I'm 31, I should start riding against traffic.

riding "against": 2 eyes cyclist plus 2 eyes driver = 4 eyes collision avoidance
riding "with": 2 eyes driver = 2 eyes driver (and hopefully not blurry or distracted or blinded by glare)

We should drive our cars against traffic. The same logic holds, yea?

So, where do you live that has all these nice shoulders which you can ride against traffic? Or do you ride against traffic on roads without shoulders as well? :eek:

Aren't you (the OP) the one who actually stops and walks off the road if you see a car coming on a road with no shoulder?

Thanks for pouncing on my mistaken post..how do i remove it?

Aren't you (the OP) the one who actually stops and walks off the road if you see a car coming on a road with no shoulder?

What does (the OP) mean?...some derogatory i imagine

I ride in the country..i don't ride in the city..everyone visualizes my riding style with where THEY ride and of course they freak.

Beware! The federal government has dispatched ABVs (anti-bike vehicles). Use extreme caution.
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/croscoe/07ibexclassic3300/DSCF3306.jpg

Realize that you will never be completely safe. I believe that you are less safe riding against traffic listening to music. Darting all over the place is not advised as it triggers the motorists "wtf" sensors. Flow with the traffic, be pradictable, be safe.


Long before a vehicle like this (or any vehicle) approached me i'd be well over on the grass..he would not have to alter his speed or path in any way..from what i've seen, all other cyclists would just hug the edge of the road and let the vehicle somehow navigate around them.

Long before a vehicle like this (or any vehicle) approached me i'd be well over on the grass..he would not have to alter his speed or path in any way..from what i've seen, all other cyclists would just hug the edge of the road and let the vehicle somehow navigate around them.It looks like there's plenty of room for a bike on the far right of that road. That said, this is a special situation and I'd probably either ride faster (how fast could this go?) or get off the road and let it pass. Cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles are all vehicles that fit into the regular flow of traffic. This vehicle doesn't fit into that flow, you can tell because this vehicle doesn't fit in a lane at all. Riding behind this would reduce the speed and volume of passing traffic. It has a scary appearance, but it's not a scary situation.

What does (the OP) mean?...some derogatory i imagine

I ride in the country..i don't ride in the city..everyone visualizes my riding style with where THEY ride and of course they freak.
OP = Original Poster - the person who started the thread.

What does (the OP) mean?...some derogatory i imagine

I ride in the country..i don't ride in the city..everyone visualizes my riding style with where THEY ride and of course they freak.

1. OP means Original Post or Original Poster...for being a member since 2005 you'd think you'd know that.

2. What makes you think you are the only one who rides on country roads? Ride on the wrong side if you wish, not my problem, unless you get in my way when I am riding on the correct side, in which case you're gonna have a bad day.

Long before a vehicle like this (or any vehicle) approached me i'd be well over on the grass..he would not have to alter his speed or path in any way..from what i've seen, all other cyclists would just hug the edge of the road and let the vehicle somehow navigate around them.

Some other cyclists would do no such thing, since they are either riding faster than this beast, or don't give up the lane unless there is room to share or it is safe for the other vehicle to pass. I'm sure that your riding style gets you places real fast...plodding along in fear of traffic and pulling off all the time. Do you pack a lunch for a ride down the the market? :lol:

This guy again? I've seen an idiot riding the wrong way on highway seven in Ontario. He was cresting a hill against traffic. He looked like a proper daily cyclist except fo the fact he obviously failed to understand safe road practices. He was also somewhat aged, probably 50+? Perhaps it was this person. I hope you live a long safe life, but rest assured your father's folly dies with you.

If I'm reading that chart correctly, since I'm 31, I should start riding against traffic.


not really. If you did that, it would change this chart

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1384/857977241_f164fd1341.jpg

This guy again? I've seen an idiot riding the wrong way on highway seven in Ontario...

I've seen him here twice while I was riding. Once he rode off onto the unpaved shoulder to avoid me. The other time he shifted to his right, to ride in the left of the on-coming (to him) lane.

FaceThem, get a clue, or don't ride. Your dodging all over the road not only makes you unsafe, it also makes things less safe for everybody by your actions being unpredictable to motorists. Think about it, clown. With me on the right side of the road, and you on the left side of the road traveling in the same direction, it gives motorists less room to pass. Not only that, but being that close and traveling in the same direction, motorists might mistakenly think we're together. Your riding is an embarrassment, please stop.

Not to jump in on either side, But most charts are meaningless without a broader source to compare them to, both charts shown require a comparison to total bikes on the road in each age group to have real meaning.

the profile on that chart can be directly translated to life events, the steady climb towards 15, which is when kids are getting out more as they grow up using the bike to go to friends houses stores etc, the sudden drop at about the 16-17 yo range when the drivers license normally comes into play and the car is the only 'cool' way to get around, then the two peaks at 18 and 21 where most drinking laws come in resulting in suspended licenses for a lot of people who resort to bicycles again for transportation, then the steady decline starts as people move away from bicycles as sole transportation and switch over to the bike for pleasure/excersize outlook.

I'm 46 and see a great deal more people on bicycles in the age groups that show peaks then I do who correspond to the low spots, more people in that age group means a better chance of that age group being involved in an accident, and increases the liklyhood of people in that age group who were hurt doing stupid things.

Ken.

I yell at people who ride against traffic... very nicely of course... but yelling none the less
I don't yell. I just don't yield. I'm not going to give up my safe position on a road for the sake of their illegal behaviors. They're more than welcome to exercise their free will and ride into a ditch or veer out into auto traffic.

I sure hope the OP doesn't ride on Hwy 101 in SoCal. He'll end up in the ocean before he makes it a few miles down the road, if he's not plowed over by a bus or a peloton first.

there was one time I tried that because I was on a "group" ride and I did what the others were doing...
luckily we got past the car that we came up on that wanted to make a right turn without getting hit...
the driver wasn't expecting us coming on that side of the street and had they made the turn, we would have a few less cyclists...

what I guess I don't understand is assuming you are traveling with traffic, couldn't you still use a mirror to determine when to get off the road and onto the grass? I mean thats why you are advocating going against traffic right?

Not to jump in on either side, But most charts are meaningless without a broader source to compare them to, both charts shown require a comparison to total bikes on the road in each age group to have real meaning.

the profile on that chart can be directly translated to life events, the steady climb towards 15, which is when kids are getting out more as they grow up using the bike to go to friends houses stores etc, the sudden drop at about the 16-17 yo range when the drivers license normally comes into play and the car is the only 'cool' way to get around, then the two peaks at 18 and 21 where most drinking laws come in resulting in suspended licenses for a lot of people who resort to bicycles again for transportation, then the steady decline starts as people move away from bicycles as sole transportation and switch over to the bike for pleasure/excersize outlook.

I'm 46 and see a great deal more people on bicycles in the age groups that show peaks then I do who correspond to the low spots, more people in that age group means a better chance of that age group being involved in an accident, and increases the liklyhood of people in that age group who were hurt doing stupid things.

Ken.

I have reports from where the stats were taken that show commuter cycists are equally age distributed and recreational cyclists ride less past the age of 35. Milage for the older (over 30) cyclists, is much higher than for younger cyclists, so while it might be true that the 10 to 30 year old cyclists are slightly more numerous, it's safe to say those over 30 are only slightly less in number but put far more miles in.

As a personal example (not that it sheds an objective light on things) I put more miles on my bike in worse conditions and busier roads than all the kids in my 64 unit townhouse complex combined, who ride on quiet streets in good weather for the whole year.

I get in less collisions too, because I take care when I ride. I don't ride on the wrong side of the road. When people do, drivers come out of side streets and look in the direction where they are expecting traffic to come from. If you're on the wrong side of the road, those drivers will pull out right into the wrong way rider because the drivers way is clear of oncoming traffic to his left Of course, if some dummy is riding on the wrong side of the road, there's a collsion.

Why are you bothering us about this?

If you want the Highway Traffic Act changed, and it would have to be, lobby your MPP or something.

Be sure to have better arguments at the ready than what you've presented here.

I'll feed the troll.

So, you're going down the road on the wrong side. You come to an intersection. There's a car to the left about to make a right turn into your path. When people make right turns, they don't look to the right. They're looking for traffic on the left because the right doesn't matter. You're not crossing any lanes. And that my friend, is the scenario of the last moment of your life. Enjoy.

Long before a vehicle like this (or any vehicle) approached me i'd be well over on the grass..he would not have to alter his speed or path in any way..from what i've seen, all other cyclists would just hug the edge of the road and let the vehicle somehow navigate around them.
I'd be in the grass too, face down, crying and hoping it doesn't kill me.

Oh and a related question to the FORUM in general:
I almost always ride with traffic, but on the narrow 2 laned road I'm on, I switch on some of the turns to the outside wider area that have houses on them (the inside curves of the sharper corners rarely do), because it allows me to not be around a blind corner (outside gives a wider angle of view for everyone), and gives me somewhere to go IF I need to...

Is this a good idea? Or should I tough it out and stay on the right side of the road? Is taking the wrong side of the road sometimes okay for short periods for situations like this, or shoulders too dangerous to ride on (yay construction.. >_>)

What does (the OP) mean?...some derogatory i imagine

I ride in the country..i don't ride in the city..everyone visualizes my riding style with where THEY ride and of course they freak.

So do I. I still freak.

The real danger of riding against traffic is at intersections or sidewalk crossings.

Drivers tend to look left at oncoming traffic, right for peds (I know, it's a stretch!), then left again before pulling out.

In limited visibility, a cyclist at speed will be right in front of the car when it takes off into traffic.

I have to conclude that the OP's riding environment is very flat, straight and without intersections (we already know it's rural and very lightly traveled). That's the only geography where his philosophy is possibly survivable IMO.

Put any number of bends, curves and gentle hills in there (read: sightlines of a lot less than 1/4mi...more like 50-75') and substitute either curbs or 2' downslopes into drainage ditches for nice, wide shoulders and his thesis - as well as person - would be quickly squashed by about Opposing Vehicle #2 or #3.

Holy troll bait Batman!

Hey man, ride with traffic all you want. Just mark your drivers' license 'organ donor' first.

If all of your smoke and fire dectectors in your house are wired, what happens if the power goes out?