Daytrip

One of those things you notice as you ride along, and then wonder why there's always gravel at intersections.

I'm guessing it's because every rock of piece of gravel on the road eventually gets pushed or plowed or brushed off to the shoulder, and eventually into the ditch. At an intersection, there's no place for it to go, other than into the center of the merging road.

I always try to avoid running over road gravel because I don't want to chew up my tires, but sometimes I think it's more dangerous to swing out into the road if there's traffic than grit my teeth and ride through.

Any thoughts on that?

Oh, and while I'm on the topic--those skinny 100 psi tires seem to shoot little rocks and pieces of gravel pretty far and pretty fast. Are they moving with enough force to hurt someone and/or damage a car? Assuming they could prove it was you (doubtful), do motorists and pedestrians have any legal recourse against cyclists?

hollow

I've not given much thought to the origins of gravel at intersections, I just try to avoid it or slow down if turning and point it out to those following me so they can do whatever they are wont to do. And I would think that a rock flying from below my tires could put a scratch on a car, but I'm sure it's about the same as a rock coming up from another car on the road, and I doubt if there's really any liablity from that particular situation.

semaj

I would be more afraid of sliding out mid-turn with the potential of gravel in the middle of intersections!

Allegheny Jet

I always thought that gravel on intersections is from hillbilly drywaller's who cut the corner short while reaching for the Busch Light thats' rolling around on the pickup's passenger side floor.

merlinextraligh

2 years ago in the Jacksonville Crit 45+ race, guy shoots a piece of gravel off his tire into a plate glass storefront window. Happened just behind me, and it sounded like an explosion, I thought there had been a huge pileup.


As for liability, they'd have to establish negligence. If you're just riding in your proper lane, minding your own business and throw up a rock, you have no liability, and it goes in the SH*t happens category. This is why you have comprehensive insurance on your car for road hazards.

sharkey00

+1 the above post

Scorer75

I had a piece gravel shoot out form under my tire and hit a car. It was pretty loud. I just shrugged it off, don't think the driver noticed and at least he didn't notice where it came from.

I did have a piece of gravel hit me in the glasses when I rode by a guy using a weed wacker. That scared me. Now whenever I ride by those guys, I use one hand to cover the side of my face.

Regarding the gravel in intersections, it builds up there because nobody drives in the traingular groove to remove the rocks.

ted ward

The pebbles will dent the paper-thin sheet metal in late-model cars.