Advocacy & Safety - Watch those tractors!

Ooh, I just heard on the news that an 8 year old boy was killed when he turned into the path of a backhoe. His younger sister was hit too, but is in fair condition. I've seen those things go by on the road at 25mph. (I know because I was going downhill on my bike and one behind me stayed disconcertingly on my tail the entire time and was actually closing on me before I turned.) It scared me because they sit so high that there is nothing to hit before it goes over you. Just big tires. You could kill an SUV in one of those things.

Clay

What can I say? Tailgating is for b*stards, especially on a bike.
Stay out of their way.

He probably hates driving a slow-moving monstrosity on the road and this is his way of transferring his shame upon a smaller species.

(EDIT: after rereading my post, I realize I was reacting emotionally. This is what happens to me when I'm tailgated, so I understand why I felt that way!)

Tractors have to deal with impatient cagers too so they should be on our side.I've had good and bad experiences with tractors, as with cars and trucks.I believe theres a few farmers on here or at least some who love tractors.

Most of the newer tractors can do around 25MPH. My farm tractor (1940s era Allis Chalmers 30HP) however is limited to a little under 15MPH.

Since I grew up on the farm, I understand how tough these tractors are. They are built for the fields and to be able to withstand years of torture. Yes, if a SUV was to take on a new tractor, most likely, the SUV will lose; however, if the SUV took on my tractor, my tractor would lose.

Farm tractors are limited to 25 mph, most wont do 21. That orange triangle is only legal for machines under 25mph exced that and have an accident and yer in trouble. Yes a JCB Fast trac will do 40 mph but they are rare. Keep in mind ag tractors weren't designed to steer well at road speed and most only have brakes on the rear axel ie poor stopping distances. I am unfamilare with how fast construction equipment travels. The big harvesting equipment is slower and even more clumbersom to drive. I know most of this because I am 42 year old Iowa farmer whose been passed more driving tractor than while cycling, must mean I need more bike miles!!
Rural Roadie aka kev@ia aka farmer kev aka Uni-man

Originally posted by Rural Roadie
Farm tractors are limited to 25 mph, most wont do 21. That orange triangle is only legal for machines under 25mph exced that and have an accident and yer in trouble. Yes a JCB Fast trac will do 40 mph but they are rare. Keep in mind ag tractors weren't designed to steer well at road speed and most only have brakes on the rear axel ie poor stopping distances. I am unfamilare with how fast construction equipment travels. The big harvesting equipment is slower and even more clumbersom to drive.

Tractors are limited to 25? I honestly thought that many could go faster than 25. Thanks for correcting my previous statement. I have edited my previous post to reflect this change in knowledge.

I have reflective orange triangles on my bike. If I go over 25 and wreck am I in trouble? --or does that only count with motorized vehicles?

I should clarfiy, a tractor must display a SMV (slow moving vehicle) sign and amber flashers to travel on public roads, if a tractor has no SMV and flashers and is rearended by a car some and maybe all the blame is shifted to the tractor operator. Improper use of a SMV is a ticketable offense, wish they would ticket bozos who mount them on gates and mailboxes! The chances of getting a ticket while biking with a SMV are durn slim, go ahead and use it. Those traveling ofver 25 need lighting and such like a car or truck. When passing a farm tractor look for field driveways, many old tractors do not have turn signals, those that do dont get used, most are just the amber flashers but they flash just on the turn side and the other one stays lit, have not seen self canceling turn signals on a tractor yet so many times you will see a tractor driving down the road indicating a turn and the operator does not even notice.
rant over
kev@ia