Advocacy & Safety - when riding along side tractor trailers dont slap the mirrors

its dangerous to the drivers and anyone on the right or left of the truck not to mention holding up traffic while we ajust them. i dont know what he was thinking but he came up on my blind spot traffic was pretty locked up an ambulance was coming in hot behind me. so i tuck as far right without getting in the bicycle lane out of now where i hear a punching from the right side of the truck, the ahole slaps my mirror out of alignment i hope he enjoyed the 180DB horn blast i gave him, he mustve been on a ahole streak cause he seemed to be racing the ambulance and slapping cars i managed to find a cop and reported him.

People suck. :(

People suck. :(

Capitalization rules

its dangerous to the drivers and anyone on the right or left of the truck not to mention holding up traffic while we ajust them. i dont know what he was thinking but he came up on my blind spot traffic was pretty locked up an ambulance was coming in hot behind me. so i tuck as far right without getting in the bicycle lane out of now where i hear a punching from the right side of the truck, the ahole slaps my mirror out of alignment i hope he enjoyed the 180DB horn blast i gave him, he mustve been on a ahole streak cause he seemed to be racing the ambulance and slapping cars i managed to find a cop and reported him.

You probably scared the crap out of him when you moved over. He though you didn't see him and he was soon to be under the wheels of an 18 wheeler. Thats probably why he slapped your mirror. Not that he was justified, just explaining his behavior.

Capitalization rules

How do you feel about punctuation?

You probably scared the crap out of him when you moved over. He though you didn't see him and he was soon to be under the wheels of an 18 wheeler. Thats probably why he slapped your mirror. Not that he was justified, just explaining his behavior.

Apparently he was doing it to other cars, aka: just being an ahole.

I was riding the DART train the other day, and they actually had an ad playing, saying "Don't vandalize the equipment, it's not yours", etc. And wondering if some thug is going to be sitting there reading it, going, "Golly, I just never thought of it that way!" Same with slapping the mirrors; internet post won't stop it.

I've never heard of this. Does it mean he was folding them in, or just hitting them?

I've never heard of this. Does it mean he was folding them in, or just hitting them?

I've read messengers posting that they sometimes push vehicles mirrors in sometimes to make more room, so they must put a bit of force into it.
In this case, it sounds like the cyclist was still moving when he should have pulled over the the right and stopped, as the vehicle code directs us to when an emergency vehicle is coming.

Not saying that this is the bike lane type situation with the OP and cyclist; but I know of a bike lane in Honolulu, that in the same situation, slapping mirrors might be a safety measure.

Portions of Nimitz Highway have 3 narrow (10 feet wide) traffic lanes with a 3 foot bike lane which is separated from the sidewalk with a guard rail. If I was in that bike lane with heavy traffic and heard an ambulance siren while in the blind spot of the 18 wheeler, I would be extremely concerned the trucker might pancake me against the guard rail. I know the trucker and other motorist are paying attention to the ambulance and not ever thinking a cyclist might be between them and the guard rail.

So would it be safer to try and race to the next intersection slapping mirrors to get motorist to stop from squeezing you into a pancake with their vehicle and the guard rail

OR

would you try and dismount the bike with Look style clipless shoes on, lift your bike over the guardrail and then step over the guardrail before the trucker gets you. Remember, the trucker said you were in his blind spot and he had started moving right.

I recommend stopping and pulling to the side when you hear an emergency vehicle approaching with sirens blaring, let it pass,

then put the hammer down, tuck in behind it and try to take advantage of the triggered greens!

No matter what type of vehicle we're in or on, we all have a responsibility to try to stay out of other vehicle's blind spots.

Sounds like the cyclist was just being a jerk. Unfortunately, there's one in every crowd.

So would it be safer to try and race to the next intersection slapping mirrors to get motorist to stop from squeezing you into a pancake with their vehicle and the guard rail

OR

would you try and dismount the bike with Look style clipless shoes on, lift your bike over the guardrail and then step over the guardrail before the trucker gets you. Remember, the trucker said you were in his blind spot and he had started moving right.
I think the standard 18 wheeler trailer is 53'... so he could potentially smash me before I could outrace him. I'd grab the brakes hard, let whatever was right next to me pass, and then move directly behind them, and take the lane. It's an emergency vehicle, and you're supposed to stop for it, not make a race out of it. Getting around one or two cars that you can't stop for is fine, but trying to stap them and pass them in their blindspots while they're yeilding for emergency services is pretty stupid.

I think the standard 18 wheeler trailer is 53'... so he could potentially smash me before I could outrace him. I'd grab the brakes hard, let whatever was right next to me pass, and then move directly behind them, and take the lane. It's an emergency vehicle, and you're supposed to stop for it, not make a race out of it. Getting around one or two cars that you can't stop for is fine, but trying to stap them and pass them in their blindspots while they're yeilding for emergency services is pretty stupid.

Absolutely right. As a trucker in urban settings, the degree of stupidity or arrogance I see among cyclists is astonishing. Some of them are truly suicidal. It's just a matter of time. Everyone here will draw there own conclusions about mirror-slapping, but education concerning very large vehicles is almost completely missing.

Just let me share some friendly advice:
1) Never assume that a truck driver sees you. The mirrors have a very narrow viewing area, and the visual picture from the cab is limited, even in the best of conditions. This is especially true on the right side. Be aware that even a slight turn when going straight will aim one of the mirrors at the trailer - not the area next to the trailer.

2) Wear the brightest neon you can stand, and get with the program on lighting.

3) Watch for turn signals under the tractor rear, and along the sides of the trailer. The vast majority of truckers are terrified of killing someone, a feeling that is not even a blip on the radar of cagers. Not to mention that many are in a strange neighborhood for the first time, and are trying to find an address. When you see a right turn signal, stay well back of the corner - at least 15 feet. Be aware that the trailer turn radius offsets to the inside of the turn, and can roll over you if you are at the very corner. Remember, the driver can't see the inside of the turn at all, till he gets the cab around far enough to look back out the window.

4) Never allow yourself to be next to a semi for any length of time. A bike will pop in and out of view almost like a phantom image. One second you are in the mirror, the next, you're out.

Q: Why do truckers drag the trailer wheels up over the curb, sometimes over the sidewalk, when making right turns?

A: Usually because of someone in a car has creeped up past their white stop line, to the trucker's right, thus forcing the trucker to cut the turn in order to not hit the car. Or, because the the address is on a street that is not suitable for large trucks, the corner being designed too sharply or the set back stop line is too far forward.

I think the standard 18 wheeler trailer is 53'... so he could potentially smash me before I could outrace him. I'd grab the brakes hard, let whatever was right next to me pass, and then move directly behind them, and take the lane. It's an emergency vehicle, and you're supposed to stop for it, not make a race out of it. Getting around one or two cars that you can't stop for is fine, but trying to stap them and pass them in their blindspots while they're yeilding for emergency services is pretty stupid.
So even if your front wheel is at the cab, you would stop and hope the trucker did not squash you into the guardrail by the time his entire trailer had to move past you? I doubt you would survive the experience.

I do agree with moving into the lane as soon as you get the gap. Might be a little more difficult in the bumer to bumper traffic discribed in the OP.

Actually, I would prefer not having the bike lane in the first place. In which case this situation would not occur.

its dangerous to the drivers and anyone on the right or left of the truck not to mention holding up traffic while we ajust them. i dont know what he was thinking but he came up on my blind spot traffic was pretty locked up an ambulance was coming in hot behind me. so i tuck as far right without getting in the bicycle lane out of now where i hear a punching from the right side of the truck, the ahole slaps my mirror out of alignment i hope he enjoyed the 180DB horn blast i gave him, he mustve been on a ahole streak cause he seemed to be racing the ambulance and slapping cars i managed to find a cop and reported him.


Although I seriously tried to read and understand what you were trying to say, it was difficult because of the lack of punctuation. I am not giving you a hard time, that is not my intent, I am trying to let you know that readers will stick with your thoughts more if the sentences are easier to comprehend. It was very hard to figure out what was transpiring before you gave him 180 db of air horn.
:)

So even if your front wheel is at the cab, you would stop and hope the trucker did not squash you into the guardrail by the time his entire trailer had to move past you? I doubt you would survive the experience.

I do agree with moving into the lane as soon as you get the gap. Might be a little more difficult in the bumer to bumper traffic discribed in the OP.

Actually, I would prefer not having the bike lane in the first place. In which case this situation would not occur.

If I was right by the cab, there'd be no problem passing it if it was going slow, and if it was going fast, it should pass me easily if I full-on panic stop. I've had to do it before, and I'm still very much alive.

If I was right by the cab, there'd be no problem passing it if it was going slow, and if it was going fast, it should pass me easily if I full-on panic stop. I've had to do it before, and I'm still very much alive.

Just remember that the area right next to the cab is a Death Zone. Truck drivers are almost completely blind to anything just outside the passenger side door. It helps to have that fish-eye mirror on the far fender, but still, that area is the most common spot to get into trouble.

It sounds like you ride strategically. That's good. Learning to pick your fights wisely will keep you alive, that is, knowing when to be aggressive and when to lay back. I've seen many cyclists (not you) who simply seem to ride in a manner that says, "I have a right to be here, so screw you." You can be dead right thinking like this. The math is transcendant: Bicycle vs. 4,000lbs or greater vehicle (80,000lbs in the case of a semi).

I call Bull-waste!

If the vehicle in question is a tractor trailer rig, no cyclist slapped his mirror. It is way too high.

I call Bull-waste!

If the vehicle in question is a tractor trailer rig, no cyclist slapped his mirror. It is way too high.

You took the words right out of my mouth. No way can you reach one of those mirrors.

I've seen many cyclists (not you) who simply seem to ride in a manner that says, "I have a right to be here, so screw you." You can be dead right thinking like this.

Shoot, I see a lot of them post here on BF.

its dangerous to the drivers and anyone on the right or left of the truck not to mention holding up traffic while we ajust them. i dont know what he was thinking but he came up on my blind spot traffic was pretty locked up an ambulance was coming in hot behind me. so i tuck as far right without getting in the bicycle lane out of now where i hear a punching from the right side of the truck, the ahole slaps my mirror out of alignment i hope he enjoyed the 180DB horn blast i gave him, he mustve been on a ahole streak cause he seemed to be racing the ambulance and slapping cars i managed to find a cop and reported him.

How do you hear a "punching sound" on top of the noise from your engine and an ambulance siren? How does someone race an ambulance on a bicycle while slapping people's mirrors? What did you mean you "managed to find a cop"? Did you drive around in your big rig looking for one? You know you can just call them, right?

What a dumb story.

I call Bull-waste!

If the vehicle in question is a tractor trailer rig, no cyclist slapped his mirror. It is way too high.

Depends on the height of the cab, I think I can reach most cabs it with a little effort, and I'm short.


He also could be talking about the mirrors on the nose of his vehicle...

I call Bull-waste!

If the vehicle in question is a tractor trailer rig, no cyclist slapped his mirror. It is way too high.
As long as we're going after technicalities, I want to see under the hood of this truck. Loud horns typically produce around 105dB/watt. Since 180dB is about thirty million times as powerful as 105dB, something in that cab is sending 42,000hp to the horn.

As long as we're going after technicalities, I want to see under the hood of this truck. Loud horns typically produce around 105dB/watt. Since 180dB is about thirty million times as powerful as 105dB, something in that cab is sending 42,000hp to the horn.

Yes, it's an air compressor that feeds 120lbs/2'rd at a small diaphragm in the horn. Very impressive how that works.;)

As long as we're going after technicalities, I want to see under the hood of this truck. Loud horns typically produce around 105dB/watt. Since 180dB is about thirty million times as powerful as 105dB, something in that cab is sending 42,000hp to the horn.

Truck air horns are 180 db or louder ;)

Truck air horns are 180 db or louder ;)
The loudest I'm finding is train horns in the 155dB range, and they cost two grand and come with a five-gallon 150psi tank. That's much louder than I expected, but 180dB rips eardrums.

Okay, seeing this tangent give me an excuse to post a link to one of my favorite sites evAr:

http://shiphorns.com/

And, in particular, the Media page:

http://www.shiphorns.com/media/

Don't bother playing these videos on crappy internal computer speakers. Get a good pair of headphones or play it over a home theater setup.

My favorite clip might be this one of a Cunningham Air Whistle 6B clearing its throat: http://www.shiphorns.com/media/caw12squantum.wmv

Oh, and 180 dB is listen-only-from-another-planet loud, reserved for concerts by Disaster Area. ;)

I had to do some digging to find this; apparently, the Shuttle makes about 165 dB. Look in the second paragraph in the section about HRSI tiles.

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/sts_sys.html

its dangerous to the drivers and anyone on the right or left of the truck not to mention holding up traffic while we ajust them. i dont know what he was thinking but he came up on my blind spot traffic was pretty locked up an ambulance was coming in hot behind me. so i tuck as far right without getting in the bicycle lane out of now where i hear a punching from the right side of the truck, the ahole slaps my mirror out of alignment i hope he enjoyed the 180DB horn blast i gave him, he mustve been on a ahole streak cause he seemed to be racing the ambulance and slapping cars i managed to find a cop and reported him.

So you are saying that the trucker slapped the mirror on the bike.:rolleyes:

i think the op had an encounter with an angry cyclist with very long arms it happens to me a lot

Okay, seeing this tangent give me an excuse to post a link to one of my favorite sites evAr:

http://shiphorns.com/

And, in particular, the Media page:

http://www.shiphorns.com/media/

Don't bother playing these videos on crappy internal computer speakers. Get a good pair of headphones or play it over a home theater setup.

My favorite clip might be this one of a Cunningham Air Whistle 6B clearing its throat: http://www.shiphorns.com/media/caw12squantum.wmv

Now this thread is going somewhere!

Can the owner of shiphorns website come to my street, the next time my stupid neighbour's overly sensitive car alarm goes off when the wind blows on it at 3am? We'll just back that truck up to this joker's apartment...