1. I was on my normal commute on a 2-lane country road this afternoon (speed limit 45-50 mph), riding far right in the shoulder, going uphill round a bend. A huge rock/gravel moving truck came up behind me suddenly and seemed very surprised, and swerved way out into the oncoming traffic lane. If a car had been there, they would have been killed! I have no idea why he did that - I was well off onto the shoulder and he had plenty of room to get by me while staying in the lane.
2. As I was approaching home, I was passing a small residential road that turned off to the right with no light or stop sign. A lady in a small white car wanted to turn right onto the street and seemed shocked to see me on the shoulder, and to avoid me she zoomed passed me and turned right into the exit lane and almost hit a pickup truck! Again, I was over on the shoulder, traffic was moving about 35-40 mph, it was broad daylight and everyone should have been able to see me quite well. We were on a slight uphill with no bend in the road. All she had to do was slow down the slightest bit to turn behind me as I passed the road. I never saw her until she zipped right in front of me.
I'm seriously re-thinking riding on these busy streets. Both of them are just packed full of traffic speeding to get home at that time of day - maybe I'm just being naive to think that they will pay attention while they're driving and not do something stupid? Both drivers nearly hurt someone with their dumb moves, which were completely unnecessary. I appreciate them going out of their way to avoid me, but it wasn't necessary in either case.
I normally ride with a mirror on the end of the left handlebar but I didn't strap it on today. I should have - I probably would have stopped as a courtesy to the lady in the white car to allow her to turn right. But even so - I shouldn't have to stop in the middle of the road to let someone around me just because they are paying zero attention to their own driving.
If I'm doing something wrong, please feel free to critique me. I would rather suffer the slings and arrows of harsh words from fellow commuters than see a motorist get killed or injured just because I'm on the roadway.
Sincerely,
Anxious Andy in Austin
