> I've only been riding a week or so around here and this isn't > the first > time I've encountered this kind of crap. Is this sort of behavior > common in most places?
it's not common in London, where the drivers are probably among the best in the world on average, and they expect bikes to be about. But it does happen. When a driver deliberately gets too close too me like that I take the view that discretion is the better part of valour, and let him (almost always) go, although I'm more than happy to curse him loudly and roundly. Recent studies have apparently found that drivers pass cyclists by the same distance as the cyclist is from the kerb, so I keep quite a distance from the kerb, providing I'm not unnecessarily getting in the way of faster traffic (if it's necessary to get in their way I take the lane). But sometimes, like this morning, a driver - and it's usually White Van Man who does it - deliberately drives exceedingly close. It happened this morning because I think I pissed him off by taking the lane on a fast downhill where I knew there were some buildouts ahead. When the road was clear and I moved to the side he passed me within inches, stupid sod. -- Bob > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Scott Loveless > Sent: 05 May 2007 17:22 > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: OT - more bike stuff > > Not surprisingly, most other cyclists I see around here are on the > sidewalk. The few who actually ride on the road are usually wearing > racing jerseys and riding a Trek or Bianchi. The department > store bike > crowd stays out of traffic. > > Yesterday, about a block from my house, a car tried to pass me as we > were approaching a stop sign. As I needed to turn left I > stuck out my > hand and took the center of the lane, waited for the oncoming car to > stop and then made my turn onto a narrow street with cars > parked on both > sides. The jerk who needed to pass me so badly at the stop sign > followed and tried to crowd me again, but I stayed right in front of > him, not wanting to trade paint (or skin) with the parked cars. He > stayed behind me for about a block, too closely, tried to pass again, > and as soon as I came to a break in the cars I pulled to the > side to let > him around. > > I've only been riding a week or so around here and this isn't > the first > time I've encountered this kind of crap. Is this sort of behavior > common in most places? > > graywolf wrote: > > You, me, and the only guy who actually did a real study on > that seem to > > be the only ones who understand that, Bob. The study, done for his > > dissertation, showed that bike lanes were the most dangerous, and > > pedestrian ways the next. Riding in traffic was the safest, > if the rider > > obeyed the traffic laws. Oh yes, this only concerned > car/bike accidents, > > so my take on it is that if you are extra careful at road > crossings the > > pedestrian ways are probably safe. My own way is to act > like a car when > > riding in the road, and like a pedestrian when riding on > pedestrian ways > > that way drivers know what to expect of me. > > > > -graywolf > > > > > > Bob W wrote: > > > >>> Road riding does scare me due to the traffic > >>> > >> I find riding on roads much more enjoyable than riding in > bike lanes > >> or on canal towpaths or suchlike. At least on the road you can go > >> fast, don't have to keep stopping, and pedestrians aren't > constantly > >> getting in your way. As a general rule bike lanes, especially those > >> that are segregated from traffic, are the worst idea anyone ever > >> implemented for cyclists. Bike lanes should all be removed. > >> > >> The secret of riding successfully on the road is to understand that > >> you are a vehicle with the same rights and duties as every other > >> vehicle, and to cycle as if you were driving a car - same road > >> position, same approach to left & right turns and to > junctions, etc. > >> > >> Riding off-road on things like bridlepaths in the country is very > >> enjoyable too though. > >> > >> -- > >> Bob > >> > >> > >> > > -- > Scott Loveless > www.twosixteen.com > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
