Originally Posted by
Jude
Large trucks actually tend to be good in my experience, since the drivers are professionals and have to know the rules of the road. Sure they sound scary coming up behind you, but I rarely if ever get buzzed by one.
I only worry about semis when I am driving, as I rarely encounter them in the city. And I only "worry" in the sense that I respect the mass of the vehicle and the limited visibility due to the size. As far as the drivers go, they tend to be very courteous and predictable. Much more so than the average motorist.
Originally Posted by
colleen c
Tall 4x4 pickup trucks that's has their frame lifted high in the air. Not only does a pickup truck has blind spot, but being so high in the air make us cyclist more invisible. I sometimes wonder if the top of my helmet is the only thing they see when I am beside them.
I worked as a valet in South Lake Tahoe for a couple of summers, and was appalled by the terrible visibility from almost all of the large trucks and SUVs. Hummers were the worst, super wide with narrow windows.
Add a lift kit, and you've got a driver with terrible lines of sight, an outsized sense of road ownership, and something to prove (I don't know what, nor, I think, do they). You think they can't see you on your bike? Try driving alongside one in a small car. I love the 42 mpg my Metro gets, but I feel more invisible in that car than on my bike most of the time. I really should get one of those flags that all the 'bent riders rock.