whats the scariest part of your ride????
10-19-11 | 02:47 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Sherman Oaks, CA
Bikes: Specialized Crossroads Elite, Specialized Trcross Comp
The corner of Jefferson St. and McClintock near the USC, (University of Southern California), campus. Its one of those four way stop, diagonal crosswalks where you have about 50 students, on foot, bike, skateboard, or roller blades simultaneously crossing while texting, reading e-mail, or otherwise not watching where they're going. Makes downtown traffic and buses look like a piece of cake!!
10-19-11 | 02:55 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,846
Likes: 0
From: Los Alamos, NM
Bikes: Fuji Cross Comp, BMC SR02, Surly Krampas
Mine is a spot I never would have suspected before I started riding the route. It's where Crowley Road intersects Risinger Road at the south edge of Fort Worth. I approach that intersection on Crowley Road from the south at dark-thirty every morning, and go straight through the intersection. Crowley Road is a 55 mph speed limit there. I ride the shoulder, but approaching Risinger Road, the shoulder becomes the right turn lane, and something like 80 percent of the northbound Crowley Road traffic turns right onto Risinger Road.
There's no good way for me to behave there. Drivers just don't seem to know what to do. I finally gave up on moving out of the right turn lane into the first lane that goes straight (unless the right turner behind me is the only other vehicle around). Vehicles trying to go straight would run up close behind me at speed, and I even had a couple of drivers move into the left lane, then try to right hook me, making their turn onto Risinger Road. These days, I usually just stay in the turn lane and watch for drivers trying to right hook me.
There's no good way for me to behave there. Drivers just don't seem to know what to do. I finally gave up on moving out of the right turn lane into the first lane that goes straight (unless the right turner behind me is the only other vehicle around). Vehicles trying to go straight would run up close behind me at speed, and I even had a couple of drivers move into the left lane, then try to right hook me, making their turn onto Risinger Road. These days, I usually just stay in the turn lane and watch for drivers trying to right hook me.
10-19-11 | 03:27 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
This stretch. The gutter is about a 3" drop and the traffic is relentless and impatient.
Lately though I can avoid the traffic completely so I guess it's not all that scary.
Lately though I can avoid the traffic completely so I guess it's not all that scary.
10-19-11 | 03:40 PM
#30
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 2,506
From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
I live in the suburbs, where every major arterial road is scary and dangerous. I feel safer riding in traffic congested downtown areas or rural areas. Suburbs are the worst of them all.
10-19-11 | 03:54 PM
#31
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
I would agree with you, except that I found out I can do much of my route on neighborhood streets and not the busy arterials.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
10-19-11 | 05:43 PM
#32
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
My hat's off to you and anyone that manages to commute in the Ft. Worth area. We lived there for two years, 87-89, on the south side of things, and that was where I quit cycling. Had moved there and was an avid rider, as was my wife, but roads and drivers broke me of it. Didn't ride much again till April this year. Makes me shudder to think about it...
Bud's spot is kinda bad, made worse by the fact that he's on a recumbent. I think it might be a little easier to navigate that intersection on a diamond frame.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
10-19-11 | 07:49 PM
#33
Commander, UFO Bike
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 23
From: Subject to change
Bikes: Giant, Trek
Any downhill section with driveways or intersections. I got hit on 99W in Tigard (20-25mph) when a driver stuck in stop and go traffic decided at the last moment that he wanted a taco. He got a taco alright... my $230.00 hand-built front wheel, my frame, my forks... I have been told that there was $11K in damages to the front (passenger side) fender. This doesn't include my bike, or my injuries. I'm almost done with the Chiropractor, then it's settlement or court.
10-19-11 | 08:53 PM
#36
TortoiseNotHare
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: NYC
Bikes: Giant Escape 2 Hybrid
the moment my tire touches manhattan real estate, i feel the danger multiplies.
google maps shows i only ride 2 miles in manhattan, sometimes it feels like 4....
"The rise in traffic deaths last year was largely driven by a spike in crashes that killed motorcyclists, from 29 in 2009 to 39. The number of cyclist deaths also increased from 12 to 18. (In 2008, 26 cyclists were killed in traffic.)
More pedestrians lost their lives in traffic than any other category of victim: 151 pedestrians were killed by traffic in 2010, five fewer than the year before."
https://www.streetsblog.org/2011/02/0...hes-last-year/
google maps shows i only ride 2 miles in manhattan, sometimes it feels like 4....
"The rise in traffic deaths last year was largely driven by a spike in crashes that killed motorcyclists, from 29 in 2009 to 39. The number of cyclist deaths also increased from 12 to 18. (In 2008, 26 cyclists were killed in traffic.)
More pedestrians lost their lives in traffic than any other category of victim: 151 pedestrians were killed by traffic in 2010, five fewer than the year before."
https://www.streetsblog.org/2011/02/0...hes-last-year/
10-20-11 | 07:06 AM
#38
"Per Ardua ad Surly"
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener, Ontario
Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima, Mongoose Hilltopper ATB, Surly Cross-Check, Norco City Glide
The part that sucks the most for me is where the MUP ends on the left side of the road and I have to cross and mix it up with traffic trying to jockey for position when the left lane suddenly becomes one for left turns only. There are a couple of factories about and transport trucks (generally they are far better than the car jockeys) add to the joy.
The meat packing plant on my route, which accounts for a fair bit of the traffic, is going to close costing 1200 jobs. I think I'd rather have my commute a little more difficult than all those people losing their job.
The meat packing plant on my route, which accounts for a fair bit of the traffic, is going to close costing 1200 jobs. I think I'd rather have my commute a little more difficult than all those people losing their job.
10-20-11 | 07:14 AM
#39
Saving gas on my commute
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 511
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
My scariest part is not riding in front of the school itself, but riding past a bus stop full of high school students. There are about 20 students at the stop. It is still dark when I commute, and there have been instances when one or two of the boys lunge out at me from the crowd. Fortunately, I have timed my commute so that they have been picked up by the bus before I get there. Unfortunately, the bus sometimes runs late so the group is still there.
10-20-11 | 07:48 AM
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, KY
That reminds me that the school bus drivers here are jerks. They're always passing without moving over at all. I'm compiling a list of bus numbers and dates to turn in to the school district.
10-20-11 | 11:03 AM
#42
Wheezing Geezer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 0
From: Crowley, Tx
Bikes: Bacchetta Corsa, RANS Stratus XP
Ah... it's not too bad in Fort Worth... mostly. The video I posted above is also in Fort Worth, from the westside to the southside. Bud and I have met while commuting once or twice.
Bud's spot is kinda bad, made worse by the fact that he's on a recumbent. I think it might be a little easier to navigate that intersection on a diamond frame.
Bud's spot is kinda bad, made worse by the fact that he's on a recumbent. I think it might be a little easier to navigate that intersection on a diamond frame.
Crowley is actually a really nice place to ride. Even my wife, who's extremely afraid of traffic, enjoys the roads around Crowley. The old part of Fort Worth, where you ride, and where I work, isn't bad either. It's the suburbs in between that are tough.
10-20-11 | 11:37 AM
#43
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Amen.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
10-20-11 | 01:50 PM
#44
Still spinnin'.....
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: Whitestown, IN
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
Making the left turn at the round-about at the end of my street. The "engineers" who designed it built up the center section about 8-10 high, and cars entering cannot see a bike until they are right on top of it, and the drivers insist on traveling through at 20-25 mph.
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