Originally Posted by
richkarr
Two of my unofficial rules follow:
1) Stay away from school buses. Don't ever pass them on the right or left. I've found a significant number drive erratic and have very little concern for bicyclists.
2) Be extra cautious when passing the Home Improvement Store. I pass a Home Depot on my commute. Not only is traffic dicey near the store drive entrances, but most of my flat tires have occurred within a mile after passing that store
#2 is a good point but I would expand it to include any hospital. I actually commute past our community hospital, the only hospital for about 40 miles in any direction. I'm VERY careful as I pass it, as the VERY LAST THING a car headed for the hospital is thinking about is a guy on a bike. Especially the long and fairly low bike like my long wheel base recumbent. I have been cut off, close passed, and nearly hit more in front of that hospital than any other place on my commute. And no, there is no easy way to commute somewhere else to stay away from the place, it's right down the street from my office. On the positive side, if I get hit in front of the hospital, I can probably drag myself across the parking lot to the Emergency Room entrance...
Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL