TRaffic Jammer

Posturing, they're all ****in' cowards.

^^^It is an offense to open without looking^^^
I always look for the heads in the car. Cabs stopped with passengers *shutter* I HATE those wheel ads, it messes with my watching the wheels for movement mojo.

STEEKER

well said ,the survival adrenaline rush rules

jeremywhitehorn

i don't think that's true. i mean most people have a concience, and would feel awful if they hurt or killed someone, but they just become oblivious to their surroundingings with the windows rolled up and the stereo on. how many of these people have ridden a bike in the city, how could they understand?

STEEKER

I drove for a living too and almost every driver will say that it's a shame the bike driver was killed but it's thier fault for being on the road bikes should not be allowed on the road Edit.. I have heard on two occasions the driver taking the side of the bike rider?

somnambulant

Hey now.. I'm a nice driver! don't get too crazy! It'd be just your luck that the first time you used it you'd ride past some poor old guy with a pacemaker.

for sure. I think a lot of people would feel a lot different if they spent a few days or a week riding around downtown.

Everybody forgets sometimes.. you just hope you don't forget at a time that matters. *shudder* One of my friends is from Austria, and she said that when you're getting your driver's license there if you don't open your door with your right hand (as a driver) it's an AUTOMATIC FAIL. It's because opening with your right hand forces you to twist so you can shoulder check before opening. Pretty cool.

jeremywhitehorn

or tried to scratch your nuts.

STEEKER

there is no excuse for opening the car door without mirror check over the shoulder check you are supposed to open door slightly and look too that used to be in day when driving tests were hard

STEEKER

is there going to be a ride tonight where a bunch of peeps are going ? I don't want to cancel a small road trip again just to be stood up.

TRaffic Jammer

Ok...ok...the pacemaker thing is true, wasn't thinking.. I'll need a trigger of some sort then. Now how to control/focus the pulse? I've been guilty of the dooring as a passenger jumping out at the Metro, did I ever feel guilty, never again though. Now I crack the door so the rider can see, wait, look then open.

Wes where's that Edison linkie pls? Found it!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qulJ...ison%2C%20bike
Today is payday .... downtown lunch hookup?

_K.

Hmm I came across this forum recently, a lot of good perspective on riding in the city here. I have been commuting for a number of years myself including one-speed for the past three, but none of my friends or associates at work commutes on a bike, so no one to commiserate with.... guess I'm finding some consolation on this forum. This morning some idiot parked in the bike lane was inching left as if to pull back into traffic, so, I went to the curb to get by him. As his space in traffic appeared, he instead suddenly swerved back to the curb with the passenger door already swinging open (presumably to discharge his passenger who hadn't wanted to get out when he was just parked there 30 seconds previously!). I was cleanly faked by it, though fortunately had time and space to react.

With respect to the comment above, I think I've noticed the same thing about watching the wheels ... not something I could describe to a non-cyclist so it's cool to see it here!

TRaffic Jammer

Glad you made it. Welcome to the forum.

Shiznaz

Spiderman must have the sweetest freaking commute to the daily bugle...

TRaffic Jammer

I agree 1000%. I seen a driver turn white and feel ill (visibly shaken) after it's been explained to them that they came within inches of causing GBH or death. The one ton shield is a mixed blessing. I only wish that drivers could experience what I can see and hear when I ride my bike. It's such a superior sensory experience as to not compare. How can I blow that residential stop sign? I can hear the car a block away, yes that one around the corner behind that hedge over there. *waits 5 seconds* see....that one.

Shiznaz

Well, its pretty clear that bikes are an afterthought to our road infrastructure. Its the best when there are stop lights or signs at the bottom and top of hills despite there being an intersection or not. They really had bikes in mind when they decided that was a good idea. Sometimes they even have lights in the middle of the hill. Bottom line is most road rules do not make sense for bikes and are not ideal or safe. If bikes are supposed to ride in the curb, what do you do every time someone turns right? Hasn't anybody figured out that this a problem yet?

Here is a gem from the 2005 toronto cycling map "Drivers should move carefully into a gap in the bike lane traffic before turning right"

Uhhh... way to go city. How the hell does this work? I'd like to see it in action

STEEKER

bikes are not supposed to ride in the curb, two to three feet away from the curb is what your supposed to do:: EDIT also taking the lane on a narrow road is legal for bikes

SamHouston

If your friend remembered long enough to relate the story to you and felt bad about almost dooring the courier did you both a favour and got to vent anger for free, justifiably. A cyclist knowing it can happen doesn't excuse the door one bit, if it was a close call whose to say your friend would think nothing of it if the courier said nothing and went on their way? In the movies everyone throws money at the cabbie and jumps out wherever they like, looks cool but isn't.

TRaffic Jammer

The way I figure it is so that IF I fall over towards the curb, I want to splatter on the road, then scramble to the curb. NOT nail the mailbox or light pole as I fall over. So that leaves me about four feet from the curb.... a little more left then the right wheel of the car usually.

Shiznaz

easier said than done steeker... 3 feet out from the curband you may as well be taking the lane because cars will be buzzing you with no room to spare. ride closer to the curb and get caught up in road debris, bad conditions and sewer grates. Signal and politely take the lane and ride as hard as you can and people are still buzzing by you often passing into oncoming traffic. The reality of the situation is alot different from the ideal way things should work

TRaffic Jammer

It becomes a pissing match as to who thinks they are right and who knows they are right. Three guesses as to who's who. First two guesses don't count. Thai food I think, King near Church.

Shiznaz

hahahaha... Ontario Highway Traffic Act:
No person shall buy, sell, wreck or otherwise deal with any motor vehicle or bicycle or a trailer that has a gross weight exceeding 1,360 kilograms where the manufacturer’s vehicle identification number or similar identifying mark has been obliterated or defaced or is not readily recognizable. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 60 (2).


Looks like I'm in trouble for filing the serial number off my ten foot tall solid stone bicycle

STEEKER

I and trafficjammer are eldest have driven bikes longest so were right OMG I love Thai food so much

Shiznaz

Unfortunately the highway traffic act is not very concise so printing off a page from it to shove in peoples windows isn't really an option. Here are the key points I think:

“vehicle” includes a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor, road-building machine, bicycle and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of power, including muscular power, but does not include a motorized snow vehicle or a street car; (“véhicule”)

Vehicles meeting bicycles

(4) Every person in charge of a vehicle on a highway meeting a person travelling on a bicycle shall allow the cyclist sufficient room on the roadway to pass. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 148 (4).

Bicycles overtaken

(6) Every person on a bicycle or motor assisted bicycle who is overtaken by a vehicle or equestrian travelling at a greater speed shall turn out to the right and allow the vehicle or equestrian to pass and the vehicle or equestrian overtaking shall turn out to the left so far as may be necessary to avoid a collision. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 148 (6).

Approaching ridden or driven horses, etc.

167. Every person having the control or charge of a motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle on a highway, when approaching a horse or other animal that is drawing a vehicle or being driven, led or ridden, shall operate, manage and control the motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle so as to exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the frightening of the horse or other animal and to ensure the safety and protection of any person driving, leading or riding upon the horse or other animal or being in any vehicle drawn by the horse or other animal. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 167.


So these rules are really unclear and don't make sense and check it out, horses get better treatment than cyclists.

Joe Bent

I'm looking into getting a set of Deda/Bianchi pista bars. The drops seem to be a little shallower than the Nitto B123's which is good. Does anyone have a set of the Deda's? How are they? Also, they seem to only come in the one size, 42.

STEEKER

yuppers but police horse riders are not required to clean up after their animals the way the rest of us are, you ever hit a pile of horse sh*t on the street downtown . nasty stuff. we had one lady here in the beach that was ticketed for not picking up her dog poop so she collected the horse poop and dumped it at city hall doors

TRaffic Jammer

I was actually speaking more of drivers vs. riders but....
Joe, with the magic size of 42 don't mess with anything else.

I was told by bike police in the city I am allowed to take the lane. AND overtaking cars MUST give you at LEAST one half lanes berth, which makes them straddle lanes which is a moving violation. Therefore cars should on a two lane, say queen, pull into the centre lane to pass. I'm not holding my breath for this level of mutual respect. But there was a car to bike crack down recently apparently.