In the past few days I have witnessed what can only be described as criminal negligence by drivers, one in a monstrous SUV, not that I don't like SUVs or their drivers, but if you are hit by an SUV versus a Ford Escort.....
There is a busy state highway that runs through my area. It has very wide lanes for bicycles, approximately 15 feet wide. As I was proceeding north on a very flat stretch where it is easy to cruise along at 25mph, a car swept out of the traffic just in front of me, swerved into the bike lane, accelerated to about 80mph just to get around a truck and gain, perhaps, 25 feet in a long line of traffic. Had I been riding in front of that truck, the driver of the car never would have seen me and would have run over me.
The following day, I was riding along a main road where two lanes converge into one. The speed limit is 40mph, but the average speed is around 50mph, and there is no bike lane along the two lane part. As soon as it converges into one lane, there is a very wide bike lane.
A school bus up ahead was preparing to stop and let out school children right at the convergence into one lane. This idiot in an SUV didn't want to stop, so he pulled out into the right lane, sped up to over 80mph, swerving into the bike lane, and then having to stomp the brakes to keep from hitting several cars going 50mph.
Had I been able to get the plate numbers of either vehicle, I would have called the police and swore out a citizens complaint. Probably have done no good, but I would have tried.
Nightshade
05-29-04, 10:45 AM
A school bus up ahead was preparing to stop and let out school children right at the convergence into one lane. This idiot in an SUV didn't want to stop, so he pulled out into the right lane, sped up to over 80mph, swerving into the bike lane, and then having to stomp the brakes to keep from hitting several cars going 50mph.
Had I been able to get the plate numbers of either vehicle, I would have called the police and swore out a citizens complaint. Probably have done no good, but I would have tried.
Yes, sad to say there are a great many vehicle"Drivers" and
to damn few vehicle"Pilots". Yes, "Pilots" that are actually
qualifed to be behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.
Most "Drivers" should be limited to Kiddie cars because they
are for the most part brain dead.
ngateguy
05-29-04, 11:03 AM
I had an incident the other day on my commute home that was similar. One of the roads I ride into Seattle on is a 4 lane 35 mph street. Most drivers seem to think it is a freeway and drive 50 to 60mph down it. The traffic is never very heavy so there is plenty of room for me and cars to happily commute together, or you would think. Even though there are 2 lanes that travel in my direction I grew tired of people speeding by to close to pass me in my lane so I started to ride in the left portion of the right lane to force the drivers to pass me in the second lane. One day I got a car behind me that tail gated me and honked his horn even though the left lane was totally clear. I even pointed to the left lane to signal he needed to use that to pass me. We got to the next intersection the clown stepped on the gas and passed me going about 70mph, on my right!!!! almost clipped a car waiting at the light and had a near miss with a car in the parking strip. I was so shocked by the maneuver I didn't notice his license number but that clown needs to be taken off the road. And sorry to disappoint you anti SUV people it was a coupe, which is the style of car I have the most problem with. I am a firm believer it is not the car that is the problem it is the driver.
Trek Rider
05-29-04, 02:11 PM
Where I live we don't have bike lanes per se, but we do have wide paved shoulders. I saw this one dimwit wanting to make a right turn, and he/she drove on the paved shoulder for 1/2 mile passing cars before they actually turned. This road is designated a bike route and has heavy bicycle traffic on it.
Last year I had a car start to pass me and when he got even with me, he decided to turn right. I saw him pulling over and his wife was looking at me thru the open window from the passenger seat. I yelled at them, "don't you even think of turning, you don't have enough insurance for that". They did turn, but they went behind me.
On a club ride last year we were riding in a lane that ended at an intersection a couple hundred feet ahead. This dumb blonde teenage girl (no offense to the blonds here), went around the group I was in, pulled in front of us going about 45 mph trying to get ahead of another car and she had to slam on her brakes locking up her tires to avoid running down the 2 cyclists ahead of me.
Everybody is in so much of a hurry these days that they don't think of the consequences of their actions.
TrekRider
05-29-04, 02:42 PM
Everybody is in so much of a hurry these days that they don't think of the consequences of their actions.
You hit the nail on the head, they don't think. They might pass me and one car and be 12 feet further along and about 5 seconds closer to their destination.
I used to drive like that sometimes, impatient and wanting to get "there," wherever "there" was. Now, I figure that if I am late, I am late, and so what? If I am late to work, I tell the boss traffic was murder and I make up the time at the end of the day. If it is a doctor's appointment, oh, well, I can reschedule.
The alternative is, often times, the emergency room.
But sometimes, wouldn't you love to have a bazooka and blow one of them idiots off the road?
TrekRider
05-29-04, 02:46 PM
Pessimist by policy, optimist by temperament.
Hummmmmm, perhaps you see the glass as half empty and your spirits are lifted?
John E
05-29-04, 06:04 PM
... There is a busy state highway that runs through my area. It has very wide lanes for bicycles, approximately 15 feet wide. As I was proceeding north on a very flat stretch where it is easy to cruise along at 25mph, a car swept out of the traffic just in front of me, swerved into the bike lane, accelerated to about 80mph just to get around a truck and gain, perhaps, 25 feet in a long line of traffic. Had I been riding in front of that truck, the driver of the car never would have seen me and would have run over me. ...
This is one reason many traffic engineering experts prefer 6-foot (1.8m) wide bicycle lanes over wider ones. I find the California minimum standard of 1.5m a bit tight, particularly if the outside travel lane is relatively narrow, 2m seems to work well. Wider bike lanes do encourage motorist invasion, such as reported above.
cyclezealot
05-29-04, 06:54 PM
Respecting bike lanes...Just watch motorists violate bike lanes no matter what the width...To me it looks like they are drunk.
shokhead
05-29-04, 08:18 PM
Bikelane? You mean that extra carlane is for us?
khuon
05-29-04, 08:23 PM
Everybody is in so much of a hurry these days that they don't think of the consequences of their actions.
In the aviation world, this is called "getthereitis." It is also the most common root-cause of fatal as well as non-fatal accidents.
Mikeesq4
05-29-04, 08:44 PM
people are stupid these days. expecially these kids with their suped up cars.
I saw a kid doing 220 KMH in a 60 KMH
this is in a place where people biek regularly
LittleBigMan
05-30-04, 01:49 PM
...a car swept out of the traffic just in front of me, swerved into the bike lane, accelerated to about 80mph just to get around a truck...
A school bus up ahead was preparing to stop and let out school children right at the convergence into one lane. This idiot in an SUV didn't want to stop, so he pulled out into the right lane, sped up to over 80mph...
Had I been able to get the plate numbers of either vehicle, I would have called the police and swore out a citizens complaint. Probably have done no good, but I would have tried.
Good for you. We need more people like you.
Pete
DieselDan
05-30-04, 03:10 PM
I've sat and blocked my bike lane when some moron tried to make a right on red in it. I dared him to hit me. These people ***** about bikes on the road, then block the lane when one gets built. Makes you wonder if a driver's liscense should be much harder to get.
Chris L
05-30-04, 09:08 PM
I've sat and blocked my bike lane when some moron tried to make a right on red in it. I dared him to hit me. These people ***** about bikes on the road, then block the lane when one gets built. Makes you wonder if a driver's liscense should be much harder to get.
It should be much harder for the general population to get, and impossible for anyone under the age of 25 to get.
seacycle
05-30-04, 09:10 PM
This is one reason many traffic engineering experts prefer 6-foot (1.8m) wide bicycle lanes over wider ones. I find the California minimum standard of 1.5m a bit tight, particularly if the outside travel lane is relatively narrow, 2m seems to work well. Wider bike lanes do encourage motorist invasion, such as reported above.
Way too many motorists around here try to to use the wide shoulders designated as "bike lanes" as travel lanes, whether there are cyclists on it or not. With the narrow lanes, they just try to fit as much of their vehicle into the space as they can. There's nothing like looking into your rearview mirror and seeing some idiot bearing down on you from behind with two wheels in the bike lane.
brokenrobot
05-31-04, 10:16 AM
Hummmmmm, perhaps you see the glass as half empty and your spirits are lifted?
Or perhaps he's half-emptied his glass of spirits... :p
Makoa
06-01-04, 11:59 AM
uh... trekrider.. why did you quote yourself on post #6?
There's two of them... Trek Rider and TrekRider.
Makoa
06-01-04, 12:00 PM
There's two of them... Trek Rider and TrekRider.
And besides, quoting oneself would be stupid.
Trek Rider
06-01-04, 12:20 PM
uh... trekrider.. why did you quote yourself on post #6?
I was here first!
khuon
06-01-04, 12:33 PM
And besides, quoting oneself would be stupid.
So would dancing with yourself but Billy Idol suggests it... err... wait... nevermind. :D
OmahaRider
06-02-04, 09:09 AM
Not on my bike---as I only stay on trails(paved and dirt)----but some of stupid things I've seen lately while driving.
1. I'm on the motorcycle on a 45mph 2+2 lane road----gal in a Navigator is just riding my arse----I was the first one at the light-- so I just jump it up to 70 just to get some distance---then go back to the speed limit----next thing I know----she's right on me again---there are 2 lanes to work with---but NOooo----she has to be right on me instead of going in the other lane and passing-----then we get to a construction zone(35mph---double fines)---so I'm doing the limit---then she goes into the other lane and passes me---finally-----then immediately switches lanes right in front of me---real close----she just "had" to pass me----nevermind the traffic in front of you that is doing the limit in a heavily patrolled construction zone----where is she gonna go??---all it did was take up my safe zone to the car in front on me.
2. Going down the interstate(also 2+2- rural area)---there are 2 semi's taking up both lanes while one is doing a real slow pass of the other one-----look in my mirror there is this car coming REAL fast---a black BMW- out-of-state plates---so they barely slow down to all the backed up traffic-----they switch into the right lane thinking there is some advantage there------next thing I know---they are on the right shoulder passing the semi-----now I've seen everything.
3. Just yesterday---on the MC again----construction zone---no left turns or U-turns allowed----sure enough---a guy almost clips me doing an illegal U-turn----and almost impossible to do because of the contruction----aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggg. Had I had my gun on me---I might have taken a shot---just to wake up the dummy----just kidding.
HereNT
06-02-04, 10:03 AM
3. Just yesterday---on the MC again----construction zone---no left turns or U-turns allowed----sure enough---a guy almost clips me doing an illegal U-turn----and almost impossible to do because of the contruction----aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggg. Had I had my gun on me---I might have taken a shot---just to wake up the dummy----just kidding.
Are you sure you wouldn't want just a tire?
madpogue
06-02-04, 11:24 AM
Aw, c'mon, Mert, don't beat around the bush so much; tell us how you REALLY feel.
Seanholio
06-02-04, 01:18 PM
What makes me crazy is this guy, in a white SUV, decides that he must pass me, on a road that is 70m long, with a double-yellow (don't pass) line, which ends in a T intersection controlled by a stop sign. Of course I end up right behind him at the stop sign, when I realize there is a Lincoln Navigator behind me that almost did the same thing, but there wasn't enough room left. She was sitting there with half of her vehicle over the line, and no easy way to maneuver back over until the queue started moving.
I don't understand what the appeal is when there is no advantage to passing me. OOooOo you get to the stop sign one position ahead of me in the queue.
It reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld, when he talks about people creeping up at a stop light. "Well, we were going to be late, but now I'm nine inches closer; we can stop for a doughnut!"
madpogue
06-02-04, 04:44 PM
What makes me crazy is this guy, in a white SUV, decides that he must pass me, on a road that is 70m long, with a double-yellow (don't pass) line, which ends in a T intersection controlled by a stop sign. Of course I end up right behind him at the stop sign, when I realize there is a Lincoln Navigator behind me that almost did the same thing, but there wasn't enough room left. She was sitting there with half of her vehicle over the line, and no easy way to maneuver back over until the queue started moving.
I don't understand what the appeal is when there is no advantage to passing me. OOooOo you get to the stop sign one position ahead of me in the queue.
It reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld, when he talks about people creeping up at a stop light. "Well, we were going to be late, but now I'm nine inches closer; we can stop for a doughnut!" With a mirror, you can do a little mental experiment. When you're in the middle of a block, going, say, 18 MPH in a 25 zone, look for a car coming off the previous stop sign. So you have 1/2 block to the next intersection, and they have a full block to go. So there's no way they're gonna catch up to you in time. But no, they see a bike up ahead, so they HAVE to pass you! Do the math real quick. In order for them to reach you within that half-block, they'd have to average twice your speed, or 36 MPH. Idunno how many times I've seen people think they can pass me under those circumstances, only to have to stand on their brakes at the next stop. Well, it's been said elsewhere here, people are just lousy judges of relative speed when it comes to passing bicycles; they just don't expect you to be going close to their speed. Maybe when they find out they can't pass you so easily, they'll start judging such situations better.
Seanholio
06-02-04, 07:39 PM
With a mirror, you can do a little mental experiment. When you're in the middle of a block, going, say, 18 MPH in a 25 zone, look for a car coming off the previous stop sign. So you have 1/2 block to the next intersection, and they have a full block to go. So there's no way they're gonna catch up to you in time. But no, they see a bike up ahead, so they HAVE to pass you! Do the math real quick. In order for them to reach you within that half-block, they'd have to average twice your speed, or 36 MPH. Idunno how many times I've seen people think they can pass me under those circumstances, only to have to stand on their brakes at the next stop. Well, it's been said elsewhere here, people are just lousy judges of relative speed when it comes to passing bicycles; they just don't expect you to be going close to their speed. Maybe when they find out they can't pass you so easily, they'll start judging such situations better.
This happens all the time on this little stretch of road. It's like "Pass the Bike" is their number one goal in life. I can't wait for the cops to see it... there's a double yellow line, and the speed limit if 25. They have to jump over and gun it.
hollow
06-03-04, 12:12 AM
A school bus up ahead was preparing to stop and let out school children right at the convergence into one lane. This idiot in an SUV didn't want to stop, so he pulled out into the right lane, sped up to over 80mph, swerving into the bike lane, and then having to stomp the brakes to keep from hitting several cars going 50mph.
Had I been able to get the plate numbers of either vehicle, I would have called the police and swore out a citizens complaint. Probably have done no good, but I would have tried.
Not on my bike, but this definitely affected my ability to ride it: last August I was stopped for a bus when I was rear ended by a bigger truck than my Ford Ranger. He never touched his brakes and hit me at about 50mph. I went partially through the back window of my extended cab. The bike related part of the story is that I couldn't ride it for about 6 months. My back and kidneys took awhile to heal. The scary part is that I go down this road about once a week on my bike. Every time I pass the accident site while riding I get chills thinking of what could happen if the same thing happens when I'm on the bike. The good news is that I got his license plate number. It was imprinted on the back of my truck. :rolleyes:
stevetone
06-03-04, 07:55 AM
...A school bus up ahead was preparing to stop and let out school children right at the convergence into one lane. This idiot in an SUV didn't want to stop, so he pulled out into the right lane, sped up to over 80mph, swerving into the bike lane, and then having to stomp the brakes to keep from hitting several cars going 50mph.
Had I been able to get the plate numbers of either vehicle, I would have called the police and swore out a citizens complaint. Probably have done no good, but I would have tried.
Slightly off topic, but here in Wisconsin (and other states, I presume) a School Bus Driver has the ability to get a citation issued based solely on his/her report of a "stop arm violation" (i.e., when the red lights are flashing and the "stop arm" is out). This is one of the few, or maybe the only, case where a non-law enforcement "citizen" can cite another, unlawful, citizen. Hopefully, the School Bus Driver got the plate of this "idiot".
I write out these reports several times each year, as unsafe driving around school buses is, unfortunately, all too common.
Even more off topic, but I was pleased yesterday, when a cyclist actually stopped behind my bus when I was stopped with red lights flashing, dropping off kids -- excellent!
madpogue
06-03-04, 10:30 AM
Slightly off topic, but here in Wisconsin (and other states, I presume) a School Bus Driver has the ability to get a citation issued based solely on his/her report of a "stop arm violation" Actually, that's not at all off-topic. That was the most remarkable thing in my mind about the original post. Yeah, we talk a lot on these forums about dangerous things drivers (bike and car) do on the road. And yeah, it's become so commonplace that it's usually whistling in the wind trying to get law enforcement to do anything about it. But I think they make an exception for school busses dropping off or picking up kids. This really does warrant some level of investigation. Maybe there's a way for the local constabulary to determine what bus it was, and interview the driver about what s/he saw.
Much of what we see on the road is, as the forums here prove, matter for (often spirited) debate. But a stopping school bus is another matter.
Going a little off-topic myself, I wonder if incidents like the one TrekRider saw are happening as a result of fewer school busses on the road. I'm just speculating, but perhaps in decades past (and I mean pretty recent decades, into the '80s anyway), when fewer kids were being driven to school (ironically, creating the very traffic hazards their parents are worried about), and more were being bussed, people were more aware of the "stop arm" law. Or at least they were more ready to expect school busses dropping off / picking up. Obviously not a justification, but perhaps an explanation.
atbman
06-03-04, 04:29 PM
And talking of licences - just seen a programme on would-be British emigrants to Florida. The husband was taking a driving test, not on the highway, but on a minute closed road circuit, apparently at about 10mph!
Perhaps that explains the frequent reports of cars hitting cyclists in that state
TrekRider
06-03-04, 06:51 PM
uh... trekrider.. why did you quote yourself on post #6?
uh, no, I didn't. Notice the space between Trek and Rider on the other post and the lack of a space in mine.
Trek Rider
06-03-04, 06:56 PM
uh, no, I didn't. Notice the space between Trek and Rider on the other post and the lack of a space in mine.