Advocacy & Safety - Any of you guys ever experience this?

Ok, so I was out on my regular route that I usually ride with my wife and her sister. The only difference was that I went alone today because I'm a stronger rider than them and it's nice to occasionally ride a bit faster. That and they decided they wanted to take a shorter route than usual.

Anyway, normally cars give us a good 3-4' on the left and we're usually taking a safe 1-2' right of the white line/non-existent shoulder. Today when I rode alone, I took my normal 1-2' left of the grassy drop-off and at one point about 3 cars right in a row passed so close to me that I could have easily reached out at touched them.

Now, granted, there was a family on the other side of the road on their bikes but in situations like this drivers normally would have waited to have a clear lane to pass in. Could it possibly be that I'm a young man that can "take care of himself" as opposed to a young man "watching out for two young ladies" that would make that kind of difference? There was nothing else different about the ride. I rode the same route through the same upper class neighborhood (this road goes right along a nice golf course) and at about the same time of day.

Keep in mind also that this is a fairly bike conscious community with fairly good laws about giving a bike enough passing room.

This happens to me on nearly every ride on certain roads. It happened today in fact. A car went past me at 45+ mph with no more than 12 inches of clearance, if that.

I have no idea why some drivers do this. If I imagine they're doing it on purpose, I get angry and defensive, which doesn't help. So I try to believe they're doing it simply because they don't see me or don't realize the width of their vehicles.

I suspect that for more than a few drivers, we're essentially invisible when riding alone. But nearly all drivers will notice a group of cyclists. I think this explains why your group hasn't been "buzzed."

Ok, so I was out on my regular route that I usually ride with my wife and her sister. The only difference was that I went alone today because I'm a stronger rider than them and it's nice to occasionally ride a bit faster. That and they decided they wanted to take a shorter route than usual.

Anyway, normally cars give us a good 3-4' on the left and we're usually taking a safe 1-2' right of the white line/non-existent shoulder. Today when I rode alone, I took my normal 1-2' left of the grassy drop-off and at one point about 3 cars right in a row passed so close to me that I could have easily reached out at touched them.

Now, granted, there was a family on the other side of the road on their bikes but in situations like this drivers normally would have waited to have a clear lane to pass in. Could it possibly be that I'm a young man that can "take care of himself" as opposed to a young man "watching out for two young ladies" that would make that kind of difference? There was nothing else different about the ride. I rode the same route through the same upper class neighborhood (this road goes right along a nice golf course) and at about the same time of day.

Keep in mind also that this is a fairly bike conscious community with fairly good laws about giving a bike enough passing room.

He is probably one of the 'bad apples' in the community because of, his apparent lack of concern about getting that close to a cyclist.

Last month on my bike tour I had motorhomes within 12 inches for sure. Scary, but hey, they didnt hit me. They are probably just bad drivers and you got an unlucky set of them. As bicycle friendly any place is, roads that cars travel on are still not really made for bicycles.

As someone on this forum says, " If you look like prey, you will get eaten ". It sounds like you are riding too close to the shoulder. Get a good eye-glass mounted mirror and occupy more of the lane.

Yup, I've noticed it, too...riding with my kids, going to W-M or school for some activity, drivers give us half the road; by myself, I'm lucky to get more consideration than half the peace sign.

Last month on my bike tour I had motorhomes within 12 inches for sure. Scary, but hey, they didnt hit me. They are probably just bad drivers and you got an unlucky set of them. As bicycle friendly any place is, roads that cars travel on are still not really made for bicycles.

Motorhomes at 65mph are a scary thing. They provide a nice, if brief, slip stream for tired touring legs though :D

I think cars pass me close enough that I could easily touch them all the time. It doesn't bother me that much. My philosophy is, if the car didn't hit me, he had enough space. Keeps me from getting angry.

Oh, and I am a young man riding alone. I could imagine if I had two other riders with me, we would get more space. It's easier to pass one cyclist than three.

The difference is that you were on your own, so there are less witnesses.

Havent seen one personally, but wasnt there once a funny device like a collapsible bar that could stick out from the bike's rear left side for mounting an offset tail light? Makes car's tend to give more room when passing at night?
I forget what they're called.

But suppose you used one of those during the day? and gave the cars incentive to not get too close to it, like a barbedwire whisker on the end? Saves the trouble of keying the car at the next light if they do buzz you...

When you're used to driving a Miata and you have a rental Tahoe, things can get pretty out of hand. About that "not realising the width" thing, its true. It takes months to completely get used to a new car. Rental SUV, cousin smashed it into a sign. He is a good driver, but just used to driving smaller cars.

Don't jump to conclusions.

But if the same dude buzzes you more than twice...

I've read some posts describing a study, perhaps in the UK, indicating that helmeted males get passed the closest. This matches my experience.

As someone on this forum says, " If you look like prey, you will get eaten ". It sounds like you are riding too close to the shoulder. Get a good eye-glass mounted mirror and occupy more of the lane.

This has been my experience exactly! Most of my riding is on roads with little to no shoulder, but not a whole lot of traffic. Instead of riding close to the edge of the road, I ride more towards the center of the lane. If vehicles see you in the middle of their lane, they slow down. I then pull farther to the right edge of the road when I see they are giving me room. When I ride to the extreme right, they don't slow and often don't give much room when they pass.
Another thing I've noticed. If you see several cars coming from behind and the first one doesn't give you much room, most those behind won't either.
I did ride a road this week with about 2' of shoulder to the right of the white line. Was busy, so I rode to the far right. I felt the breeze off more than one vehicle as they passed.

Havent seen one personally, but wasnt there once a funny device like a collapsible bar that could stick out from the bike's rear left side for mounting an offset tail light? Makes car's tend to give more room when passing at night?
I forget what they're called.

But suppose you used one of those during the day? and gave the cars incentive to not get too close to it, like a barbedwire whisker on the end? Saves the trouble of keying the car at the next light if they do buzz you...

Does such a device actually exist??? I've thought about something like this for sometime. Our state, Arkansas, has the 3' law (motorists are required to give you 3' of space), but I doubt most know about it. I've often wondered about fixing something that sticks out 3' like you say, maybe with a flag on it, have something at the end that would scratch a vehicle if they got too close. Just need to make sure it was flexible, and would break away if it somehow got snagged on the vehicle.
Let me know if you find such a device!

I know a guy who used to bike to school on a horrific route for a few miles. He bought a baby seat for his bike and carried his backpack/books in it. From the back you could not tell what was in the thing.

He claimed it increased the respect from motorists tenfold. He was single with no kids. Great idea! Even grocery shopping.

Anyway, it illustrates the point you were trying to make. That and the fact that more than one cyclist is viewed as more of an "event" to motorists that a bicycle subconsciously. And there would be witnesses to their idiocy if they hit one of you. I am not sure, but I think at times females get cut more slack in a group than men.

Havent seen one personally, but wasnt there once a funny device like a collapsible bar that could stick out from the bike's rear left side for mounting an offset tail light? Makes car's tend to give more room when passing at night?
I forget what they're called.

But suppose you used one of those during the day? and gave the cars incentive to not get too close to it, like a barbedwire whisker on the end? Saves the trouble of keying the car at the next light if they do buzz you...

So if the cyclist cuts it closer than 3 feet, or moves left as a motorist is safely clearing the wire, the car still gets scratched? No thanks.

I know a guy who used to bike to school on a horrific route for a few miles. He bought a baby seat for his bike and carried his backpack/books in it. From the back you could not tell what was in the thing.

He claimed it increased the respect from motorists tenfold. He was single with no kids. Great idea! Even grocery shopping.


That's a great idea.

The collapsible bar is intended to mount lights/reflectors, you don't have to attach some sort of car-scratching device to it. I mean even sticking a tennis ball or something on the end would probably make a bit of a thump and make people consider their lane position

If I'm reading the OP's post correctly, he's asking if you are treated different based on sex or in groups of riders .... I'd be curious if there are other situations when bike-riding that make it better/worse. For instance -- do road bikes get passed closer than hybrid-style bikes? Does what you wear influence how a car passes you? I wear the same colors and have the same color bike as the local bicycle cops. I know it has caused some second glances from passing motorists, probably "just to make sure" .....

If you want more passing room, ditch the helmet and wear a wig (http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/archive/overtaking110906.html).

Havent seen one personally, but wasnt there once a funny device like a collapsible bar that could stick out from the bike's rear left side for mounting an offset tail light? Makes car's tend to give more room when passing at night?
I forget what they're called.

That sounds kind of like a Flash Flag (http://www.flashback.ca/bicycle.html).

It could just be ignorance. Before I started reading these boards, I never knew you had to give a bicyclist a 3 foot berth, I just moved away far enough to keep from killing him but keeing me in the lane. I change lanes now of course.

1' from drop off is too close. Sure we can all hold a line like that, but it shouldn't be done as standard practice unless racing or moving over after communication with passing vehicle.

It gives you essentially no wiggle room and sends the message that if 1' is fine on your right then 1' is fine on your left.

Al

Yes, it has happened to me. But, I have noticed that I don't get "buzzed" as often as I used to. Many drivers seem to be giving more clearance then they used to. Your guess as to why this is so is as good as anyone else's guess. I ride alone about 99.99 % of the time.

One of my more memorable buzzings was not from a redneck in a pickup, or a suburban mom in the SUV, or even from a jeep full of teenaged males. No, it was a man of about 70, in one of those little two-seater Porsche convertibles. He even had on one of those driving caps. (kind of flat, with a small visor) He passed me on Mass ave, with about two feet of clearance, gunning that powerful-sounding engine. He looks over at me, makes a very hateful expression, and screeches at me to "Get out of the damn way!!" I thought, "Oh great. Now, I can be suspicious of hateful old crones in over-priced cars." Really, this guy was probably someone's grandfather. He zoomed away on Mass ave, heading west toward Arlington. I was so hoping a Cambridge cop would appear, but alas, it didn't happen.

Havent seen one personally, but wasnt there once a funny device like a collapsible bar that could stick out from the bike's rear left side for mounting an offset tail light? ...

dhofmann is correct, the Flash Flag sticks out. It is on a spring so that it flexes if it hits something. The spring also allows you to store it retracted when not needed; it has a plastic hook that you hook around the seat stay or a rail on your rear rack. It is not meant for nor would the spring support a light hung on the end.

There is (was?) a similar product, the D-Tour Bicycle Safety Flag LINK (http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/18/d-tour-bicycle-safety-flag-first-%20impression/), but I've not found them for sale, unlike the Flash Flag (which I use).

In the bicycling literature these are known as "safety pennants", "lateral distance spacers", or in Swedish "stingpinne" LINK (http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingpinne) which I think translates as "stab peg" although "stinger pennant" seems a better one. The online document Measures to promote cyclist safety and mobility briefly discusses the pros and cons of them LINK (http://www.swov.nl/rapport/promising/wp2final.pdf). Unfortuantley of the two references to studies on them, one reference is in Norwegian and the other seems to have an error in the citation.

As someone on this forum says, " If you look like prey, you will get eaten ". It sounds like you are riding too close to the shoulder. Get a good eye-glass mounted mirror and occupy more of the lane.

Well, that's the thing. I was pretty far from the edge of the road (there was no shoulder) and I was only an inch or two from being in the right tire path. I was DEFINITELY making sure I was far enough out to be seen and to force people to go around me.

The difference is that you were on your own, so there are less witnesses.

Well, except for the family of 4-5 on the other side of the road ;) I don't think that splattered biker is something parents want their small children to see.

If I'm reading the OP's post correctly, he's asking if you are treated different based on sex or in groups of riders .... I'd be curious if there are other situations when bike-riding that make it better/worse. For instance -- do road bikes get passed closer than hybrid-style bikes? Does what you wear influence how a car passes you? I wear the same colors and have the same color bike as the local bicycle cops. I know it has caused some second glances from passing motorists, probably "just to make sure" .....

Well, it's kinda both. Does gender make a difference? What about groups? Does anyone notice people buzzing you more closely in a group of men vs. a mixed group?

Sorry about all these individual posts. I have a habit when reading forum posts to forget what I was going to respond to so I just post individually.

I DO like that idea of getting a child seat an putting your bag in it. I guess people don't want to splatter a munchkin. I remember my mom put me in one of those seats a few times when I was little.