I-Like-To-Bike

"Leading edge" of what? Spike Bike Fantasizing?

Chris516

There is one problem with your 'seemingly gracious' thinking. Basically, Despite the law, you have no problem with motorists doing whatever they want when the pass you.

While motorists are no problem to me IF, they are in front of me and, want to go fast. The key element is, when they are behind me, that I have contention with.

If I am on a two-lane blacktop, in the State of Maryland, I will not let them pass me unless, they want to go into oncoming traffic. In the Maryland Drivers Handbook, on pg.57, it says that motorists should not pass unless there is room to do so and, it suggests(but does not mandate) passing the cyclist no closer than 3ft.. But it also says, that cyclists should ride as close to the right hand side of the road, as is practical. Well, It is not practical to 'hug the curb' when drivers continually pass at closer than 3ft., as close as a couple inches. By 'taking the lane', I am forcing them to risk their life passing me, because of having to go into the opposing lane to pass me. I am also guaranteeing that, they won't take their sweet time passing me. That is what happen last year and, I still have the woman's entire identification on the piece of paper, as a reminder of that hellish experience, when I 'hugged the curb'.

cc_rider

*%##$@& Maryland drivers.
Nothing personal.

I ride both states and the colony of DC and I have more problems with MD drivers than anyone else. I've ridden in DC a lot this year and 8 out of 10 times I have any problem with a car, they have Maryland tags.

Widsith

Well, that's true. I'm responsible for my own behavior, but not the behavior of others on the road, so I follow the traffic laws myself and and leave it up to other people to control their own vehicles.

About 40 years ago I was taught to ride inside a two-foot strip on the right side of the road whenever possible, and that's what I still do (unless broken pavement, debris, parked cars or other obstacles require me to move farther to the left). Most (in fact, nearly all) drivers give me plenty of clearance, but I'm not bothered by the very few who don't.

Ed Holland

I have the broken pavement problem on part of my ride to work.

Usually there's no problem. I check behind me, signal and move towards the centre of the road all in good time when there's a healthy gap in traffic. This seems to be well tolerated by most drivers, helped I'm sure by the fact that I'm doing near 25 mph in this usually slow section. This morning I do the same, the first car behind me decides to overtake, and gives plenty of room despite a narrow road and oncoming traffic. I notice that the driver is holding a 'phone... which I begin to contemplate, then I hear the second car honk - I'm almost past the dodgy section, and preparing move to the outside again when the second car passes no more than a foot away (on purpose I'm sure) and the driver shouts at me to pull over. Sadly, I just missed catching them at the lights for a "counselling" session, which was a shame...

Luddite

fixed for correctness.

DX Rider

I almost ate it this morning due to not taking the lane.

A pickup truck passed me when I was commuting in to work, I was moving along at about 16mph at the time, he was doing at least 40mph which is the posted speed limit. After he passed me, he suddenly realized that the construction site he was looking for was right there forty feet in front of him. He slammed on his brakes and hit the turn signal. If it wasn't for anti-lock brakes he wouldn't have stopped in time.

He then starts to turn right, into my path, but immediately stops. I think because he saw me, but no, it turns out that there is another construction truck in the other lane also turning into that same site, so he was actually stopping to let his buddy go first.

If it wasn't for that truck turning left, the first truck would have turned directly into my path. Luckily, I had enough time to just stop before I got to where the other truck was completing the left into the entrance.

They haven't even worked that site in at least 4 months, the project lost it's funding. Apparently they're going back to work.

I definitely had to check my undies after that one, because that was a close call. I will definitely always take the lane on that stretch of road from now on, Mr. Quick Stop-Blinker Flip didn't even see me, too distracted by looking for the site.

Chris516

You are very lucky. Yesterday, As I was riding home, a guy honked for me to get out of his way. This time I told to "SHUT UP!!!!!" and, loud enough that he could hear me. I kept going as I said it.

Where you live, must be Nirvana(not the band) for cyclists. Because in the DC-Metro region there is a pervasive 'ME FIRST' attitude from motorists. The possibility of commuting by bike, never once enters their mind.

Chris516

Ok, I will cross you off my 'list' of, the cyclists that really give a hoot and, put you on my 'list' of cyclists that I shake my head at, just like the cyclists that don't wear helmets.

Chris516

I tried using a bike lane once and, when a car passed me, it scared me to death. Never again, after that. Because, In the state drivers' manual(here in Maryland), the 'suggestion' is made, for drivers to give cyclists at least 3ft. of clearance, when passing. But it is not law. Therefore, Drivers do not have to abide by it. Just like you said, it is up to others, to control their own vehicles.

Chris516

I am glad you were not hurt, by their stupidity.

Chris516

This reminded me of one 'counseling session' I had the two days ago. I was on a 40MPH four-lane(plus right-turn lane) road and, a business pickup truck passed me. The driver suggested I get on the sidewalk, as he passed me. I caught up to him, at the intersection and told him, I have just as much right to be on the road as he does. Mind you I didn't say it in an angry tone. Then he mentioned the danger of riding in the road in a kind tone. I felt guilty later, for not thanking him for caring.

Chris516

Leading edge of cycling advocacy.

Chris516

I wholeheartedly agree.

I have ridden from northern Montgomery County in Maryland, to northern Fairfax County in Virginia, on a number of occasions recently. The drivers in Virginia seem to have less of negative attitude toward cyclists.

I have done several days where I would ride from Montgomery County(Gaithersburg) down to Fairfax County(Fairfax) and, I would find Virginia drivers, nicer than Maryland drivers, every time.

Chris516

At first, Good point. Since I was intending to get the mail anyway, I would have had to go into the parking lot. Since the parking lot, is in front of the post office.

Kevrob

When a jerk drives a company vehicle in an unsafe manner I have been known to email the company to complain about it. Unless the proprietor was operating the vehicle, a chewing out from his supervisor about liability is more effective than any face-to-face rant I could come up with, even if I could catch the miscreant.

I was descending a two-lane road this morning that I frequently take to avoid the greater and faster traffic on the state highway. I was passed on the curved downhill by some sort of heavy equipment vehicle. I was in the process of taking the lane, as the road's edge — no shoulders — was obstructed by a fallen tree branch. Joe Bigtruck had to cross the double-yellow to get past me, and there was a small sedan approaching in the other direction. You'd think that taking his foot off the gas, braking, and letting the compact get around him before he passed me might make some sense, especially to a professional driver. No, he had to beat me to the 4-way stop on the other side of the next hill.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch the company name. It was "Allied" something or other, but not the moving van folks.

No way I wasn't seen, either. I was wearing an orange and yellow reflective vest, and had a blinking taillight on my seatpost rack.

Kevin

qmsdc15

Leading the education of drivers about the fact that cyclists are allowed to ride on the roads and are doing so. My goal is that bikes on the road become as common as double parked cars and provoke the same level of outrage. The idea of squeezing by a bicycle should be like trying to get past that parked car, understand? I am lucky to have a job that allows me, in fact requires me to further that cause. Many drivers support what I'm doing and let me know. More let me know they don't, but that's OK.

qmsdc15

Thankfully he saw you and passed around you instead of through you. Expecting the driver of a pick-up truck to remember something he noticed 10 seconds ago is asking too much. You are like a gnat he swatted away from his face. How much does he cares about what happens to that gnat after it is no longer in his face? Not a bit, but would prefer it gets splat and never bothers him again, if he thought about it.

Chris516

That is why I 'take the lane', so, the only way for them to 'squeeze by', is to put their life in jeopardy, by going into the on-coming lane.

Yes, I probably provoke anger and, consternation, on the part of the motorist. But, I 'take the lane' since it is both my right and, it keeps me from becoming roadkill.

qmsdc15

Haha, I'm sure most of us, myself included, were wondering why you stopped at the Post Office.

galyons

Quite honestly, I think your attitude and the behavior that you claim to exhibit are diametrically opposed to your goals. Simply put, you do not represent my cycling because your claimed riding style is selfish and dangerous.

Share the road is exactly that. If I'm driving my car, I expect the basic courtesy of "slower traffic to the right". Same said for farm equipment, construction equipment, etc. Yes, this includes cyclists. Doesn't matter what the speed limit is, nor how close to the limit you may be able to pedal, if you are slower move safely to the right and let faster traffic pass. Common courtesy is a simple concept, easily exhibited.

IMHO, your attitude and behavior, perhaps, brings about the very issues that you seem to have with motorists. It appears that you expect them to share the road, but it appears that, to you, the concept of sharing is that others must give you preference and deference.

I do not understand your analogy of "cycling = double parking". Double parking is generally considered discourteous, lazy behavior and in many jurisdictions, illegal. Again, the behavior of a person that puts their convenience above others.

IMO, your behavior is hurting the image of cyclists and contributing to the very issues against which you claim to crusade.

Perhaps taping a piece of paper to your handlebars that clearly reads "Do unto others..." would make your cycling time, and the experience of those around you, safer, saner and far more pleasant.

Cheers,
Geary

qmsdc15

Sharing the road does not mean sharing the lane. You are endangering yourself and encouraging illegal driving.

qmsdc15

Drivers do not get bent out of shape over a double parked car which is illegal and stationary, but a bicycle legally riding at 20mph is a huge problem. That is my point.

Digital_Cowboy

One can ask the driver of the car the same question. Would it REALLY have hurt the driver to slow down for a short while? What makes the driver of the car's destination more important then the rider of a bicycle?

apricissimus 

What do you do when the only sensible place to ride is in the middle of the lane? (Yes, it happens sometimes.) Do you pull over simply because the car behind you is faster? What if it's difficult or dangerous to do so?