Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
Please explain the rationale and/or requirement for one vehicle to slow down when passing another assuming proper clearance is maintained? Specifically, in your opinion, (or in a law if one exists) how slow is a motorist supposed to be when passing a bicyclist?
No requirement, just a rationale, IMO, since the cyclist is unshielded from the noise and mass of an upcoming car:
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
... While they didn't "buzz" me, the sound of an apparently obliviously driven car is still unnerving. It seems to be just a lack of common courtesy and compassion. I was pretty liberal in dispensing my bicyclist curses this morning after reading that article.
Here in Massachusetts, and I don't have the details, I recall hearing that there is a proposed law to make it mandatory to slow down and give a wide berth to vehicles stopped on the side of the road, with particular reference to police vehicles....
I must admit though in my experience, truck and bus drivers in general are more courteous than auto drivers. I haven't made up my mind if there is any correlation between automobile size and courtesy.
As I mentioned, some drivers do slow down and give me extra clearance, for which I am liberal in bestowing bicycling blessings. Actually, on a heavily traveled road, I don't really expect any special courtesy from drivers, and I just watch out for myself with my rearview mirror. I guess I expect on a heavily traveled road, the drivers may be more alert since the have to be more careful for their own safety besides that of a cyclist (or a stopped police vehicle.) Furthermore, on a heavily traveled road, drivers are forewarned of my presence by the preceding cars and are probably better maintained in their position by the flow of trafffic. When a single car passes, my safety depends more on the alertness, skill and depth perception of that single driver.