Can't wait for self-driving​ cars. Takes away the human-factor (and therefore, the road rage and impatience) behind the wheel because they'll be programmed to obey traffic laws.

How long after computer controlled ignition and such did the first hacks come out?

Actions of deliberately ramming a cyclist are completely uncalled for. The driver of the van should not only be fired, but also he should be charged with attempted murder. At least hit & run.


Exactly.

If fatalities from self-driving cars are equal or exceeding 90 per day, then the entire self-driving car concept will be worth reconsidering.

If the fatalities results in a reduction, then the problems we anticipate should be carefully addressed as the industry already is.

"Cowards die many times before their deaths." Shakespeare

So, you mean not at all.

DRM cracking costs publishers a fortune, and it's still relatively simple and open source.
Lots of manufacturers would love to see it become impossible to rechip their vehicles except through them.


Plus, the things would have to insanely near perfect for any insurer to touch a fully self-drive system. Not just better than a human, but for all intents infallible. That's not going to happen in any reasonable price range for decades.

The laws in Australia are pretty close to ours. coominya is more motorist believing cyclist should just get the hell out of his way, than he is a cyclist. We in the USA have our share of coominya types in BFs as well.

At least we have very few mandatory helmet laws.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulBarnard

...My experience has shown me there are times to be out in the lane.If I am out in the lane and someone is behind me I am looking for ways to help them around me.I hope nothing I typed indicated that I am a lane hog or advocate it.

If I am on a lightly traveled narrow rural roadway, I will very likely take a center lane position. When a vehicle is approaching from the rear and while they are still well back I may do an in lane weave. Nothing drastic. Just enough to make me more conspicuous. My belief is that this is a better way to be seen than crowding the fog line.

Then I look over my shoulder to let them know I know they are there. When I am as confident as I am going to get that they see me, I start easing my way over to the right wheel track. This is normally about the time theystart moving left to come around. All those who pass courteously get a friendly wave. While there really is no value to them in my moving right, I think it does give them the impression I am being cooperative. It also gives me a little more room…

Several days ago I posted:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

"First crash (run off the road into the curb!)”…My sympathetic dittoes to the above, and thanks for this post. I’m usually pretty flexible to accommodate the drivers, but your post and canklecat’s reply have made me rethink my “position.” I may become more assertive, without being obnoxious to stay further in the right tire track, as suggested.

However in my experience, I use left and right hand rearview mirrors, so I feel I am more aware of my surroundings, to accommodate more readily

And two days ago:So this morning I employed the above-described strategy again with excellent results. My routes are particularly amenable since passing cars are sporadic, not continuous; and if any drivers are to be impatient, they likely would be morning commuters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coominya

I agree, it's a good strategy, and I also always make eye contact if I can, and wave,especially at roundabouts when drivers slow to allow me through. Of course this is impractical if you ride alongside a thousand cars on a busy road, something I would never consider doing. Being in a position of weakness, as all cyclists are in the face oftraffic, it just makes sense to engender as much positive attitude from drivers as we can.

One further notable advantage I recognized this morning was that it is still a bit unsettling to take the lane though my rearview mirrors keep me aware, and I now scan them more frequently, a good thing, because,

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlmostTrick

As a cyclist I consider it my job to be aware of all the traffic around me…

Being surprised by a close pass that I never saw coming, or having no space to glide into when it's about to happen, means I F'd up…

I soon determined that at about 30 yards behind me, the driver probably has noticed me, but is not yet impatient. So at that point I veer rightward to acknowledege the car’s presence and show my cooperative “share the road” attitude,

I did notice that I became so focused on what was happening in front and behind, I had on a couple of occasions to remind myself to watch out for side drives and street intersections.

I understand why cyclists get angry when cars get too close but screaming abuse at them or bashing mirrors solves nothing and only adds to the problem. Occasionally a motorist might be cowered by these tactics but more likely they will be infuriated and have even less respect in the future.

A classic example of this is the thread here in the advocacy safety sub-forum where the agro cyclist attacks a woman's car and she proceeds to run over him. To me that's like going up to a Grizzly bear and bashing it with a stick because it happened to wander onto the trail I was riding.

I feel strongly about all this because it effects me personally. I have to ride the same roads as these cockheads who go around aggravating drivers and turning their attitudes negative to ALL cyclists. The next time a car nearly pushes you off the road just take the license plate and make a statement to the police. The cops will have to act on it and the average driver's behavior in the future will a lot more bike aware once they know the police are watching them.

More blame other cyclist BS for motorist bad behavior. Get a clue, the motorist already had bad behavior and they did not change just because it was you and your halo on the road.

Yeah, many cops will take serious action, like filing your report in the circular file.

Honestly, the only time that would ever happen around here is if you got killed, or if you had a lot of friends in the police department.