JAMs and one lane bridges
 

Anyone else have to cross a one lane bridge on their commute? Twice this week, I've been 3/4 across the bridge when someone tried to cross. The first time was a rice rocket that broke traction trying to stop and avoid hitting me. It was full of some teenagers that were cursing at me. I just walked off the bridge the way I came and tried not to kick a headlight out.

Yesterday a redneck in a huge truck tried to do the same and yelled "get off the @#$%ing bridge!" I managed to squeeze around him with about two inches between us. I bit my tongue that time as well.

The MUP goes right to the bridge and it's shared by cars, peds, and bikes. There's nowhere to go but into the drink whenever crossing it if you fall off. Most cars just zip across it like it's some kind of launch ramp.

How do you deal with situations like this? I stop, look ahead, make sure nobody is coming, and then go. I've never had problems until recently and I hope it's not going to be a frequent occurrence. It seems to be getting really dangerous and finding an alternate route may be my only option.

Sounds like a nice dangerous situation. If the MUP does indeed run right up to it, and the bridge is intended to be used by peds, bikes, and cars, then I'd write to your city council/regional DOT to see about getting signs put up that say "Yield to Bikes and Pedestrians" or something.

Not a bad call. I work down in City Hall and I've asked the planners about it. They said it is, indeed, part of the MUP, so we'll probably end up looking into more signs.

Nails, more nails on the road. Cagers can't see them.

I've got many 1 lane bridges in my area (Erie canal is covered with them) and never had a problem. They're usually busy enough though that I can just jump in the line of cars that are crossing the bridge. Most of the ones around here are difficult to take at high speed in a car, there are almost always railroad crossings and steep approaches so that tends to keep the speeds down.

I have a couple on my regular rides...if I'm on the bridge first, and a car is approaching from in front, I take the middle of the lane, forcing the car to stop. As I roll by on the driver's side, I tell them they should have stopped first...if they give any lip, their rear view mirror gets "bumped". If they're coming up from behind, I don't worry about them.

Do like my relatives in Springfield, MO (and I might), PACK
or you could get a spanner wrench and grow a big ol beard, when they go by punch the wrench through the skin on the quarter panel (........I was trying to keep from falling over and the wrench I use for work slipped and punched clean through, I ride 'cause of this DUI/triple homicide thing....) my father in law (both actually) is/are iron workers...

or use an air horn and blast it whenever a car starts across the bridge, the Air Zound will make a lot of noise for quite some time...

It's a full moon, my friend. People are stupid during this cycle...

I don't know what to do about the bridge, though. Sorry.

What are the dimensions of the bridge? Is it very long (e.g. greater than 20 yards) leading to lane standoffs?