Originally Posted by Bob Gabele

Before I rode, I worked on, and owned boats...all kinds. Most of my experience was offshore, which means I have spent much time "sharing" tight harbor experiences with large vessels. I learned a lesson that I use in my riding tactics today. I'm sure however, that many of you will criticize me for what I am about to say:

Whenever we would enter a harbor or a tight area, instead of hugging the side of the channel, we would take our space...all the while watching the behemoth approaching us from behind. In other words, we basically would get a bit towards the front of them as they approached (watching them all the way), preserving our "harbor room". As they got closer, we would move over. The theory here is that we would give ourselves more room to move. It worked...had we been hugging "the rocks" and should the ship pass too close, we would have no choice but to bail out into the cheap seats (read: rocks or aground)...not a pretty sight.

Frame forward...now I ride:

Number one rule: I always ride with a rear-view mirror.

Number two rule: Always sit out at the outside edge of the bike path (if no path, the imaginary one). As the vehicles approach, my experience has been that they tend to give me that "harbor room". If it becomes evident that they are not (remember, I'm watching them in the mirror), than I have that a few feet to work with between them and the curb...better feet than inches.

Sounds risky, I know. I ride in Fort Lauderdale, a legendary "party town". I only ride early in the AM...too many drunks on the road later in the day. Other caveats apply as well...

For what it's worth...meya culpa Buffalo Springfield.