North Coast Joe

Kudos and thanks to a motorist!!

I was coming home from yesterday's ride when a female driver traveling in the opposite direction stopped, flashed her lights repeatedly, rolled down her window and waved her arms in an effort to stop me.

She said: "I don't know if you want to keep going this way; there's a loose Rottweiler just up the road that's chasing every car that goes by!"

Curiosity got the better of me and I continued a little further to view a large black dog in the distance, in hot pursuit of a truck. Yikes!! Though it added about five miles to the ride, I decided it prudent to turn around and use an alternate route home.

Thanks, thanks, thanks, Lady!!! Didn't have the time or money for an ER visit today!

OldTryGuy

Good Samaritan or maybe biker gal, whichever....that was nice!

OldsCOOL

Wow. She just might have been a cyclist.

Bikey Mikey

...or at least a cyclist in a former incarnation.

Dan Burkhart 

While riding in Northern Ontario, off the beaten track, I have twice had drivers coming the other way stop to tell me there were bears ahead.
I have passed bears while riding and they never paid me any attention, but if I know I'm coming up on one, I will avoid it.

OldsCOOL

Killed by a redneck trucker blowing diesel chunks on her.

Rick@OCRR

I agree. I've been close to bears on road rides three times and in all cases they just wanted to run away from me. Dogs are more dangerous to cyclists in my experience.

Rick / OCRR

John E

Reminds me of the scene in American Flyers, when one guy invites another to go out for a training ride with Petey (if I recall the name correctly), who turns out to be a viscious and fast dog.

BobbyG

The world needs more like her...

DiabloScott

Eddy.

Biker395 

I've had a number of good experiences with motorists. Give us a thumbs up on a particularly tough climb ... Offering rides or help when the weather is bad or when there is a mechanical failure. All kinds of stuff.

jon c. 

We've yet to see the bear, but apparently there's one that hangs near a road we travel often and we've been warned a number of times. Also not uncommon for drivers to warn of water moccasins in the road.

(Which ties into all the waving threads. This is why we wave at passing cars and bikes - it helps sustain a neighborly vibe.)

Doug64

Actually, My wife wife and I have sent thank you notes to trucking companies on several occasions thanking their drivers for being courteous or going the little extra way to ensure our safety.

Our most recent "good truck experience" was with a Gulick Trucking Company Semi on Highway 58 crossing over the Oregon Cascades on the second day of a long tour. There is a tunnel a few miles from the summit that is a challenge for east bound cyclists pedaling uphill. We were in the tunnel when the truck came up behind us, and instead of trying to pass us he slowed down to our speed, 6 mph, and escorted us the rest of the way through the tunnel. On exiting the tunnel he pulled around us, gave us a couple of encouraging toots on the horn and a thumbs up as he tried to regain some of the momentum he lost as he covered our back side through the tunnel. Now, if only the RV drivers would be so good!

bruised

Nice. Classy touch with the 'feedback' cards. Brings to mind the 'pay it forward' mentality which seems largely to have gone missing these days...

Biker395 

Hey, I've been through Sweet Home on a bike.

Zinger

A "real SOB"

GravelMN

Nick94804

That could have been the driver of the logging truck who covered my 6 rolling over the Newport bridge. Same exact experience. I was gobsmacked. I love riding in Oregon.

big john

After the "Station" fire in the local mountains the rains filled debris basins and covered sections of road with dirt and sand. There was an army of dumptrucks up there when we went up for a 7 hour ride. These guys were so cool all day, every one of them, passing only when it was safe, protecting us in the tunnels, and pulling right so we could pass them on the steep descents. Amazing day until we were buzzed by an idiot in a car, of course.

Another time 3 of us were at a cafe in the mountains getting ready to finish the last 2 hours back to our cars when some cars from a ralley started showing up, I guess using the cafe as a checkpoint. I asked one Ferrari driver how many cars were coming, "about 100" he says. A lot of these car were track racers, loud, burning rubber, etc. Since they were going the same way as we were, it was a bit unsettling.
Our fears were unfounded as the drivers were super cool, passing wide, waving and giving thumbs up, and just being totally safe.
It's nice to see people in fast cars having fun without being a danger to others.

Dan Burkhart 

The company I drive for, (may as well give them a plug, Bison Transport) published a thankyou note they received from a couple who had done a tandem bicycle tour around lake superior in our monthly newsletter. Our company's trucks are a dominant presence on the Trans Canada highway north of the lake, so the fact they had such a positive experience with our drivers gave me something to be proud of.

berner

I've had plenty of good experiences with motorists while I was cycling. In people's neighborhoods, I offer a "good morning' greeting. If someone waves me through an intersection I give them a friendly wave. If I see a family with a child on a bike, I tell the kid what a great looking bike they have and frequently get rewarded with a smile from both the child and the mom. In every possible way I try to be the opposite of anonymous.

Dan Burkhart 

I will say, however, that sometimes motorists carry the courtesy thing a bit too far. They could actually put you in danger by waving you through when another motorist is not so inclined to extend the same courtesy, or is not observant enough to see what's going on.
I prefer that drivers take the right of way when they have it, and yield it to me when it is mine. Following the rules works best for everybody.

Bikey Mikey

At least in VA, there is no such thing as right of way laws. We have yield laws. So, in this state you would be cited for failure to yield.

If I am supposed to yield, I prefer that the motorist not wave me on.

Dan Burkhart 

Exactly what I'm saying. Just now, on my ride back from my errand, I was making a left turn on a through street, and was timing things to turn after the single oncoming car passed, but he threw a monkey wrench into the whole process by deciding to stop and wave me through the turn. While I appreciated the thoughtfulness, I would have much preferred he just go.

Nightshade

Like it or not this story is an excellent reason to carry pure ammonia (in a spray bottle) or a small firearm.

An encounter with a Rottweiler (or other breed of large dog) ,unarmed, is a death wish. A sad fact of life..........