How's this for oblivious?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

06-07-07 | 11:22 AM

#51

JohnBrooking

Commuter

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 2,568

Likes: 0

From: Southern Maine

Bikes: 2006 Giant Cypress EX (7-speed internal hub)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBBaron

For most bicycles braking is limited by the endo factor. If you brake harder your rear wheel comes up and you crash. Cars are limited by tire adhesion, therefore cars can stop more rapidly. The only reason bikes appear to stop faster is they are usually traveling slower. However I did used to ride a bike that was not limited by an endo and had plenty of braking power, allowing me to stop as fast as nearly any other vehicle. The bike was an Optima Baron lowracer recumbent with disc brakes.

I wasn't aware of a real limitation due to endo's, if you shift your weight back correctly. Unless I'm mistaken, any endo possibility can be avoided this way. Stand up slightly and lean back so your butt is well behind the saddle. This technique is taught by most adult bike courses such as the LAB Road I course.

In regards to the original question: I agree that the motorist was 100% at fault legally, if the OP had no stop sign and she did. Besides her lame excuse that you should have yielded to her, it's also very possible she underestimated your speed and she thought she could get through before you got there, but she didn't want to say that.

However, I also like Robert Hurst's attitude in The Art of Urban Cycling that from a safety standpoint, blame is a useless concept. (As opposed to financially, which in this case is useful to you.) I agree with him and an earlier poster that you've got to expect other road users to do stupid things and and anticipate them. Did you see it coming? If not, why not? See every motorist in this situation as potentially going to do that, and try to make eye contact with them to make sure you understand each other. Yell out if there's any question, or wave your nearest hand at them in a "move back" sort of motion.

Glad you're okay, and good luck in your upcoming event.

Last edited by JohnBrooking; 06-07-07 at 11:33 AM.

06-09-07 | 06:21 PM

#52

jrn

Downhill from here

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 139

Likes: 0

From: South of the 22nd parallel

So what happened when you met her?

06-09-07 | 09:44 PM

#53

chephy

Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 4,270

Likes: 12

From: Toronto, ON

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil brown bat

As for the facts, if someone is going straight and has no stop sign, and someone else blows through a stop and hits them, sorry, that is absolutely 100% the fault of the second driver.

The one thing that I think was a bit different in this situation was, the driver blew through the stop, and the cyclist hit her -- not the other way around.

I don't see how it's any different. The cyclist hit her because he had no time to react - not humanely possible. Still 100% her fault. Who rams into whose side is pretty immaterial.