One of the most frustrating things about commuting is worrying about driver inattentiveness. I've always been a fairly carefree guy, but every time I see a motorist who is not paying attention the way they should, I'm reminded just how much trust we put in the hands of those drivers.

Today I was brushed by a car. I won't say clipped, since to me that implies I was knocked off course. The car's mirror barely brushed the end of my flat bar. I was stunned, then shouted "hey!!!" as traffic kept moving by. The most frustrating part is that I felt I was doing everything right, and still this happens.

I was on a four lane, 35mph, non-divided bridge, in the wide-outside-lane (WOL). Blinkie, "screaming yellow" Pearl Izumi jacket, holding lane positioning well, plenty of room for traffic to pass in the WOL. After he passed I could see the car was clearly right of center of the WOL.

Maybe drivers aren't used to it being dark again? Whatever it was, it reminded me that I'm still vulnerable, despite going "by the book."

Maybe "the book" ain't always right about the effects of "holding lane positioning well". Thankfully this street side lesson was not costly.

See, I can't call it a lesson, because I really didn't learn anything. It was more a reminder that however well you prepare and however well you think you ride, there's always going to be driver inattentiveness that can render all of that useless.

I'm thoroughly convinced that the guy who changed lanes into me last week did not see me before, during, or after the incident.

Drivers are already fighting the "multi-tasking fiasco" when they're driving "by the book". They should be using two or preferably three of their senses at once (sight, sound, touch) as well as steering, modulating the throttle or brake all at the same time. Each single additional task increases the brain's workload one more order of magnitude. If it's gorging on their McWhatever, chugging their coffee or smoothie, doing makeup, yakking on the phone, or just changing radio stations without even looking at the radio, it's still SOMETHING ELSE that's diluting their attention.

Thank goodness you're okay.

What makes you think it was unintentional?

Az

I hate it when drivers pass when trying to keep to the right of the lane divider lines. It's especially irksome when the entire left lane is wide open. Makes me want some sort of bike porcupine quills [tear off] that extend a foot to the left.

I've been brushed by a taxi and a bus. Definitely freaks you out b/c you didn't expect it. Some drivers are inattentive and some are careless. Remember, these are the same people that cut you off when you're in your car too.

I've noticed people being a little goofy the last two mornings, perhaps being in the dark again does have an effect. I almost got tagged this morning while waiting at a stop light - coming from my right and turning onto the street I was on saw me OK, but the car right behind him figured he could short-cut and pass the bus on the turn and almost plowed into me. If I hadn't started walking the bike right, knowing that buses tend to underestimate their rear-ends, probably would have got tagged.

Yep, I've noticed it too. And on the way home yesterday, I almost got brushed by a oncoming-left-turner, who slammed on the gas to beat me through the intersection...

When you saw this vehicle approaching with no driver response to your presence, why did you not first give a slow signal and if still no response move right (or far right) just before they were to pass you?

Al

I think you hit on something big here. This is what scares me the most - the second or third car in a line. Often around here, they are following so closely, they could not see anything even if they were trying to look.

My incident this morning involved a guy driving a truck coming off a side street without stopping for the sign until he nearly plowed into me as I rode in the bike lane. Normal stuff right?
Except then he decided to follow and harass me, at least if pacing me and yelling "pansy" out the window a few times counts. He then pulled in front and swerved into the bike lane before slowing for traffic at the next light and speeding away. Gotta love the sense of entitlement given by 5000lbs of steel cage. At least now I know that riding a bike in the city makes me a pansy, I was so concerned about that...

The vehicle was the third or fourth in a line of cars in the right lane. The left lane was occupied with cars as well, all accelerating from the light at the base of the bridge. I could not move any further right, or I'd be in the storm drains, which on the bridge are 5 inch diameter holes in the pavement, draining into the river and RR tracks below. If I hit one of the drains, it'd be very bad as well.

I've been toying with the idea of getting a bento box on my top tube to carry an egg or maybe a small water balloon. The question is how good my aim would be while pedaling.