MinnMan

Sure, I keep a look out for cyclists and I gaze at the shoulder, wishing I was riding instead of driving. I also eye the grade and think about how I would feel cresting the hills.

But today I found myself tailgating a giant SUV, thinking that I was going easy on my engine and getting great gas mileage. That's going too far, no?

unterhausen

I noticed that motorists cut people off, speed, and take crazy risks to pass me on my bike and it gets them nowhere. I realized that I could slow down a little when I'm in my car and do things to make other people's drive easier.

ericm979

Going too far would be yelling "on your left" to cars you're passing on the freeway.

DnvrFox

Walking and looking to my left to check my mirror to see who is behind me. Of course, no mirror, although I have considered one

MinnMan

There was a guy I knew some years ago - the father of one of my daughter's elementary school classmates - who wore a bike helmet all the time. I guessed he was recovering from a head injury.

teachme

I teach/own a drivers ed school and I tell my students to enter intersections as if they were riding a bike.

nutmegTN

I know I notice hills and overpasses the way I never did before...

bradtx

Only if you're only two inches off the bumper!

bruce19

"On your left" is my favorite shout-out in spinning class. It's about the only place I don't get dropped.

bjorke

You mean, look both ways, slow a little, then kick through before any cars come along?

willb1046

I agree, I look at the roads differently now that I'm riding a bike again.
I never took notice of the hills, shoulders and debris on the side of the road like I do now.
Lots of times I do wonder how I would do riding a bike on the road I'm driving on.

It's so cool how cycling has changed my life and perspective.

Made me laugh!

OldsCOOL

We were driving down a section of road that I often ride and at one point I told my wife, "I'm doing 22mph right here". When driving down a long, flat straightaway you begin to see false-flats. You just begin looking at the road in an entirely different light.

Jim from Boston

Same here. Even when walking down the hall, I'm alert for people to turn in front of me, or exit suddenly from doorways.

Barrettscv 

My fuel economy has improved since I began cycling. I'm easier on the gas and brakes and control my speed so that I'm timing the green lights.

DnvrFox

And having those pedals and cranks inside the car also saves on the gas - sort of like a kid's pedal car. Maybe I should patent the idea?

OldsCOOL

What grouppo does your car have?

KD5NRH

Eyes closed and iPod cranked up to max?

OldsCOOL

Hey now, I keep my eyes open when wearing earbuds in traffic.

Sculptor7

How about starting to unclip when stopping at an intersection? Other than that I think it has improved my alertness to my environment.

cyclezealot

Sounds like your hooked.

Barrettscv 

SAAB at one time included a freewheel on the 96 model. The car spent most of the time coasting in city traffic.

cobrabyte

Drafting is common practice on the highway with tucks, how well it works is up to speculation. Were you going too far? Well, I would think it is as impolite to tailgate a strangers car as it is to suck a strangers wheel on a bike.

LAriverRat

As a hypermiler i can tell you that drafting does gain you 2 mpg or more depending on the speed you drive. Also the benefit is double the length of the truck. If it is a big rig of say 80 feet its good out to 160 feet. So you don't have to be 2 inches behind the truck. If you have real time mpg read out on your car you can see it in real time. I have been getting 54 mpg in my 1995 Mazda Protege 5 speed. I was doing this before I started cycling.

LAriverRat

I don't unclip however i do open the door and put my left foot down on the pavement.

Smogsteve

Does anyone else drive in the bike lane with their car to clear out gravel, broken paving, thorns, and such or am I just a freak.