Todzilla

This should be a new twist on an old saga.


I was riding in yesterday morning. Two lane state highway, 55MPH, minimal shoulder. In NC it's against the law for motorists to pass a bicycle on a two lane road when there's a vehicle in the other lane. Of course, I'm the only one in the state who knows this apparently, as I get passed constantly. One motorist came very close when passing. Not life-flashing-before-my-eyes close, but certainly within 2 feet at high speed. I met them at the stoplight. They were apparently going straight, me left, so I pulled up right next to the driver's window. Of course, they were madly texting on their smartphone. They finally saw me. I usually let this stuff slide, but gave her the "too close" gesture of thumb and forefinger two inches apart. Here's where it veered from the standard script:

She rolled her window down. I said, calmly, "You passed me really closely back there, you know."

Her response: a look of sincere shock and "Thank you for pointing that out! I was busy texting and not paying attention, but now you've given me an important reminder to be more careful."

I was taken aback, but muttered "Thanks for being so understanding. Have a great day."

Her response was so gracious it lit up my whole day.

Maybe that will happen again in, like 50 years.

bikemig 

You realize she was just messing with your head. . . .

Great story; thanks for sharing.

mgw4jc

"To help you remember, may I put a crack in the screen of your cell phone?"

New_IA_Rider

Here's hoping the incident really was that woman's wake-up-call, and she'll put the phone away. Better it come from an uncomfortably close pass, than an injury or death.

rumrunn6

dude you were on a roll, shudda asked her out

PatrickGSR94

OP what is your lane position like on that road? My commute is 2-lane no-shoulder roads for 2/3 of it. I found that I would get passed closely FAR more often when I rode about 2 feet inside the white edge line. I now stay centered in the lane except for any lateral movement to avoid road imperfections, and now a close pass is extremely rare, as in, maybe 1 instance per month or less.

enigmaT120

Are those chip and seal roads? Most roads in my area are very smooth in the tire track areas and very rough in the very center of the land. Yeah I know I have 2" tires on my Fargo, but I still ride in the right tire track. And get almost no close passes anyway, but I was mostly curious about road surface. Even on my motorcycle I generally ride in one of the tire tracks.

PatrickGSR94

Nah not chip and seal roads, but plenty of cracks and patches that I have to deal with.

I've been told that motorcyclists are taught to ride in the left tire track to discourage in-lane passing. Most places save for a few, where I ride, have no discernible difference in smoothness of road surface between lane center and either tire track.

the sci guy 

based on her reply to you, she JDGAF.

cyclokitty 

Jeez, an error filled apology. She got too close while texting and driving, frightful.

AlmostTrick

Good job.

Todzilla

Good question. As you inferred, I was right of the rightmost white line, so cars DO feel a right to pass.

We're a bike friendly area, but at 7:30a.m., I won't get much love taking the whole lane of a 55mph two lane road.