I'm not entirely sure why, but on my ride home through Passaic, Essex and Union counties (North NJ), motorists have been courteous and patient. Twice on Main St in West Orange, a gentlemen in a pickup truck waited patiently behind me, didn't honk, and yelled nothing at me when he was able to pass. Moments later, the driver of a small box truck did the same on the same road. In South Orange, on a narrow one lane street, I felt the presence of a vehicle behind me (actually a line of cars). No one honked and when I was able to move briefly onto the sidewalk to let them pass, I even got a wave! (Ok, the lady in the small SUV did have a bike rack strapped to her car, but still.)

Maybe we can all get along?

You sure this is joisy we're talkin' about?

Richardson, Tx, is proving to be good too.
Nearly every motorist gives me lots of room and most are patient enough to wait pass, etc.
That being said, there are a few streets that I will only take when I have to.

Yes! That's the amazing thing! At first, I thought I had been transported into some magical realm. But it was Jersey. I didn't dream it.

Glad to hear it. Can't complain about the motorists here too much either. Seem to be quite understanding and accomodating when sharing the road.

A little further away from DC is a different story though.

See another of today's threads: https://www.bikeforums.net//showthread.php?t=550737

Check out the linked article and read through some of the very anti-cyclist cager comments. Wouldn't want to be near some of them when on my bike!!!

I wish I had it so good.You should feel lucky.

I read that. Pretty rough, but some of the comments made sense. If cyclists are going to choose to break laws, they have to pay the consequences. I don't stop at every stop sign and I even go through some red lights. If a cop decides to give me a ticket, I'm not going complain. Mea culpa.

Yea I was thinking I noticed a shift in attitude during the day time with drivers and I have been noticing more and more bikes on the road. I live in the middle of the city and I think people are driving here to ride and explore the city on bikes. I have had store ownners that see me locking up tell me "we are trying to get a bike rack"! The owner of a deli I go to walked outside to tell me that!!! I think he just wanted to get my respons, I gave him a good one

+1.

As bad of a rep that Dallas has, I encounter almost exclusively friendly drivers. On one intersection I have to assertively take the lane (Northbound Keller Springs making an eastbound right on Davenport), but that's about it.

I rode Keller Springs from Davenport to Quorum (searching for a commuting route for my wife) and it looks like it could be pretty stressful (no place to bail out if needed). Do you ride that stretch?

I lived most of my life in NJ until 6 months ago and I'd have to say most drivers are very nice.

Seems weird since it is so densely populated compared to areas where I have had problems like in rural parts of MD and PA.

I've noticed that cars here are far nicer to me when I'm riding the bike, with or without the train of kids accessories on the back than they have been in the past. And they're certainly nicer than they are when I'm in my car. I live on a fairly well traveled north-south route through town, but it's a 25 mph zone. Everyone does 50, but it's full of blind turns and hills. I go 25, every time, and I call the cops to get extra enforcement out. I get lots of honking behind me when I'm driving, but nothin' on the bike. It's quite nice.

don't come to Atlanta. Home of the crazy drivers. was driving my usual commute this AM. driver approaches stop sign. I am in the intersection moving along normally.

mind you I have front light on handlebar, front head light and rear flashers on helmet, seat post, bike rack, am wearing fluorescent light up the night vest with flasher on the back, reflectors on handlebar and both wheels.

She hardly looks where she is going and proceeds into the intersection right into me. Luckily I saw her coming and veered out of her way. I yelled as she pulled into the spot where I was going to be if I hadn't moved and then she noticed me, did a double take like what are you doing there? needless to say I let her know I was not happy about being almost run down like that. She drove off. Caught up at the next light a half mile up the road. She was still not awake. so no I don't think drivers have changed suddenly here in Atlanta.

stay awake out there. ride safe.

Maybe it's the densely populated nature of the area that keeps drivers from going nuts if they have to slow down for a cyclist. Compared to a more rural area where people are used to flying down roads and not encountering any obstacles to their momentum. That's one theory anyway.

here's to wishful thinking. Be careful not to get complacent. The cagers on my route are, for the most part, terrific, however, this morning I almost got clipped by a flatbed carrying a mail truck. He had another 18" on his left where he could have been instead of 10" from my shoulder at 30 mph. I even moved over cuz I heard him coming. jerk still didn't return the courtesy. Who knows, maybe he was TEXTing ...