Commuting - Am I invisible today?

Its just been one of those days...

1. Car turns quick left in front of me as I am traveling 20+ mph
2. Two cars back out of spaces as I am traveling through a parking lot/past a parking area
3. Five pedestrians step off of the curb in front of me
4. Fellow cyclist jams brakes directly in front of me
5. Two right hooks
6. And, finally, run off the road by homicidal campus bus.

:mad:

Where's that voice coming from?

.... seriously, glad you made it through. A little more assetive riding might get you through. I've also decided that blinking lights and bright colours increases homicidal tendancies of drivers. Best to become one with the tarmac. ;)

I had an idea a few days ago for the Ultimate Traffic Raffle. Here are the details:


All participants are allowed to submit a photograph or video footage of someone doing something stupid to their local police or highway patrol department. Participants must be able to capture some sort of indentification of the offending vehicle. This of course works great against cars since they have a license plate.
At the end of some time period (weekly, monthly or daily... I like daily), a drawing will occur from those submissions.
The winner of the drawing gets a dinner or lunch courtesy of the offender along with a signed apology. The law enforcement department may add additional fines for which they will receive direct payment.


I think that combined with my idea for an integrated helmet-cam (http://journals.neebu.net/khuon/archives/000202.html), this could bring about some pretty good results... or at the very least some very well fed cyclists. :)

I hit the side of the bus with my fist to get his attention, the other instances got profanity yelled at them, and the phrases/words got worse as the day went on. Just one of those days. Nice cruise back from work today though, cooler temps/less drivers/setting sun made it a nice ride back.

I hit the side of the bus with my fist to get his attention, the other instances got profanity yelled at them, and the phrases/words got worse as the day went on.

I'm not so sure that's really going to help. I have a personal policy of claiming the lane in front of buses in all situations well in advance. I haven't been run off the road by one of them in years.

I'm not so sure that's really going to help. I have a personal policy of claiming the lane in front of buses in all situations well in advance. I haven't been run off the road by one of them in years.

I'll have to try that. It was actually half attention getter, half pushing off of it.

I was run off the road once by a bus. The bus pulled up around me from behind, the driver looked over ar me, and then pulled right to stop at the bus shelter. After I retrieved my bike from a front lawn I calmly rode after the bus and at the next stop pulled up to the drivers window and lightly tapped on it to get his attention. Can I help you he said. I asked him why he ran me off the road. I didn't see you he replied. But you had to pull around me on my left to pull up to the stop, I replied. Yeah well, I didn't know you were still there. I smashed his mirrow, light and window with my kyrpto on the bungee cord. Do you know where I am now I asked and left. Maybe not the most mature ot endearing responce but now I ride like Chris L, the lane is mine and if I'm slowing you down bad, too effing bad.

Its just been one of those days...

1. Car turns quick left in front of me as I am traveling 20+ mph
2. Two cars back out of spaces as I am traveling through a parking lot/past a parking area
3. Five pedestrians step off of the curb in front of me
4. Fellow cyclist jams brakes directly in front of me
5. Two right hooks
6. And, finally, run off the road by homicidal campus bus.

:mad:

Mondays just suck. Wake up, people!!

Maybe not the most mature ot endearing responce but now I ride like Chris L, the lane is mine and if I'm slowing you down bad, too effing bad.

It is something that needs to be done with discretion. If I'm provided with a decent enough shoulder that I can avoid the kerb without clogging the lane, I'll use it. If not, I'll be in the lane.

The winner of the drawing gets a dinner or lunch courtesy of the offender ...
Actually, I'd be happy to buy lunch for the offender, provided it's via my taxes, paying for a lunch at the local jail.

I've had that happen before then at the light, they cut me off then i'll cut in front of the car real close at the light and just stand there with my ass in the air. If it's an extra long light, i'll just be in the driver's face with my butt up on the seat scratching my ass for the next 5 minutes.

Pyze-guy,
"I smashed his mirrow, light and window with my kyrpto on the bungee cord."
HA! how do you have the kyrpto bungeed to your bike? I havent been able to figure out a way to carry mine were it is accessible if i need it.

CD

It is something that needs to be done with discretion. If I'm provided with a decent enough shoulder that I can avoid the kerb without clogging the lane, I'll use it. If not, I'll be in the lane.

Again I concur. I make sure I am safe first and foremost. If it a a battle I am going to lose, I have no problem pulling over or getting out of the way. My bus conflict taught me to always be aware and be wary of others on the road at all times.

Pyze-guy,
"I smashed his mirrow, light and window with my kyrpto on the bungee cord."
HA! how do you have the kyrpto bungeed to your bike? I havent been able to figure out a way to carry mine were it is accessible if i need it.

CD

Not that I should be condoning it or anything.... ;)

I duct taped one end of the cord to the right side strap of backback and the other end to an unused lock. I used velcro straps to secure the lock to the sholder strap as well. One good tug and off comes the velcro. I used small straps used to hold fishing rods together in transit when they are taken apart
for travel.

I just wondered how you did it. I rarely carry a U lock anyway. I try to think like a buddist when i ride. Not that it always works. ;)

CD

Do you know where I am now I asked and left.

Ha! That's excellent. (not an endorsement or anything, but that's funny)

One of the closest "real-danger" incidents I've had involved a bus... I'm riding down a busy single lane road, and a car up ahead is waiting to turn across traffic into a side-street (i.e. waiting for a gap, and it was in peak traffic, so that gap was a long-time coming). I scooted up on to the sidewalk to get around the car, and then stopped because I was actually gonna turn down that road as well. I'd been aware of a bus behind me for a bit, and I realised it was getting a bit loud when it should be stopping... I turn around and WHAT THE SINGING DOG is this idiot doing!? he's ALSO scooting up on to the sidewalk to get around the car, and coming right for me. I didn't think I'd have time to get off the bike and push out the way, or pedal quick enough, so I kinda dragged/hopped as far over as I could until I was against a property wall, and watched the bus ride over where I'd just been, and then get back on the road and continue as if that's just how it's done. There was nothing I could do but shake my head and get on with the ride. What an idiot.

Ha! That's excellent. (not an endorsement or anything, but that's funny)

One of the closest "real-danger" incidents I've had involved a bus... I'm riding down a busy single lane road, and a car up ahead is waiting to turn across traffic into a side-street (i.e. waiting for a gap, and it was in peak traffic, so that gap was a long-time coming). I scooted up on to the sidewalk to get around the car, and then stopped because I was actually gonna turn down that road as well. I'd been aware of a bus behind me for a bit, and I realised it was getting a bit loud when it should be stopping... I turn around and WHAT THE SINGING DOG is this idiot doing!? he's ALSO scooting up on to the sidewalk to get around the car, and coming right for me. I didn't think I'd have time to get off the bike and push out the way, or pedal quick enough, so I kinda dragged/hopped as far over as I could until I was against a property wall, and watched the bus ride over where I'd just been, and then get back on the road and continue as if that's just how it's done. There was nothing I could do but shake my head and get on with the ride. What an idiot.


where do you live? i don't want to go there. :eek:

oh.. south africa.... good... the only places i want to go are the nordic countries, japan and europe... maybe canada too.

where do you live? i don't want to go there. :eek:

oh.. south africa.... good... the only places i want to go are the nordic countries, japan and europe... maybe canada too.

Don't come to Canada, our beer would kill you.

Its just been one of those days...

1. Car turns quick left in front of me as I am traveling 20+ mph
2. Two cars back out of spaces as I am traveling through a parking lot/past a parking area
3. Five pedestrians step off of the curb in front of me
4. Fellow cyclist jams brakes directly in front of me
5. Two right hooks
6. And, finally, run off the road by homicidal campus bus.

:mad:

Well...gee...*I* didn't see you either!

Watch it out there, it can be dangerous...
Tom

I hit the side of the bus with my fist to get his attention, the other instances got profanity yelled at them, and the phrases/words got worse as the day went on. Just one of those days. Nice cruise back from work today though, cooler temps/less drivers/setting sun made it a nice ride back.

I can't remember how many people on this forum have had multiple conflicts with the bus. It's amazing. I guess it's because these bus drivers drive these things like minvans and could care less. A ton of them take too many chances and ride so close because they know they can. It's this attitude that gets me when it comes to bus drivers because a lot of them know their driving skill are good enough. But all it takes is one wrong move and you're done.