I keep at it. As I learn the traffic patterns on my route it becomes easier to navigate safely. I actually feel this when driving, walking or biking. I don't know the NJ traffic laws but in CA, if I'm approaching an intersection (or even a parking lot) where I know lots of people turn right, I'll take the lane. Otherwise, if someone passes me and puts on their right blinker, I pull out behind them in order to pass them on their left rather than chance that they are going to wait for me to pass them on their right before completing their turn. But, when I take a lane it is at full gas and I yield the lane, demonstrably, as soon as safe to do so. I consider myself an actor - I want the drivers to be able to read my actions. I want them to know I know they are there, that I might be in their way but that I am as going as hard as I can and will get out of their way as quickly as I can. Yeah, some get pissed, some try to intimidate, some try to scare but I think it very, very rare (next to never) that anyone intends to do me harm. Honestly, I experience all that when I'm in my car or on foot as well. For some people, you will always be in their way no matter what so I try (too often unsuccessfully) not to take it personally as a cyclist when someone does something that I don't like. Lots of times, someone just makes a mistake. I know I make them.
Then, at night, I'll sometimes wobble my front wheel hoping the moving headlight will be more noticeable. I have no idea if that is effective or not. I don't use a mirror but have recently used a Garmin radar detector sometimes. It can be useful but I don't find it essential and try never to rely on it. I'm a huge believer in head checks (part of the "acting" business) - it is my blinker. In traffic, I'll generally use three head checks, when I can, before I move. The first very quick check gets my left ear out of the wind and alerts traffic I'm contemplating something; sounds clear - the second gives me quick shallow look; look and ears tell me following traffic knows I'm up to something and usually slows so now I take a third, deeper check to make sure I can move - arm signal and then an appreciative wave in thanks if someone slowed for me. For me, nothing comes anywhere close to a head check in getting motorists attention and response. Maybe it is the clear indication to motorists that I am IN traffic, I am NOT some debris in the gutter? The other thing I do is try to pick my times. Sometimes as little as 10 or 15 minutes can make a big difference in volume and patterns. Of course, there are times when nothing seems to work but getting out of bed in the morning is risky yet I do it everyday. Cycling gives me so much satisfaction that I deem it worth the risk. Bill S San Diego On Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 9:20:54 PM UTC-8 Jason Fuller wrote: > Sorry to hear that Jay. I've been finding that drivers are getting worse > and worse every year - less patient, more distracted, more aggressive. > Plus, cars keep getting bigger and bigger as is safety of people outside > the vehicle isn't even a consideration (what the heck, FMVSS??). I have > slid further and further into the belief that massive change to how North > Americans get around daily needs to happen, but I am not optimistic it'll > happen. It shouldn't be an extreme point of view to want a comprehensive > network of non-motorized pathways in every community. > > Anyway, the way I've been dealing with this is: > - Avoid streets that are busy or that I've had bad experiences with, even > if it means a longer route > - Take the sidewalk (and be slow and courteous around pedestrians) if I > need to, to feel safe > - If on the street, I make sure to ride 3-4 feet from the curb so that I > am more visible and cars are less able to "squeeze" past me .. this one is > a challenge as I am a conflict avoider, but it is safer to be annoying to a > driver than to be unnoticed > - Use a mirror to be able to see cars behind me, and be always on alert > and like you say, never assuming a driver sees me unless I make eye contact > and they give me a cue > > It's tragic that we have to accept these risks to get around by bicycle, > considering in doing so we're protecting those around us by not driving. > Not to mention children and all those who can't drive for one reason or > another. > > On Wednesday, 28 December 2022 at 11:58:14 UTC-8 Jay LePree wrote: > >> Hi all: >> I live in car-centric, crowded, northeastern NJ. I joined a gym two >> towns over and ride my bike to the gym, about 3.5 miles each way. I take >> the least busiest streets possible, but unfortunately, I need to ride >> through a semi-busy, though traffic-lit intersection. >> >> In my last 12 trips to the gym, I have had two near misses which could >> have been hits if I did not ride like Kent Peterson had described. "Treat >> cars like big animals with poor eyesight that can't see you. In one case, >> at night, although I have a Schmidt Edelux II, a huge reflective ankle >> bracelet on my basket, wear a reflective vest and have reflective ankle >> bands, I had a car nearly make a left turn into me while I was crossing the >> intersection. The car was going straight through, and without signalling, >> decided to turn left at the last minute. I stopped in time to prevent "the >> left cross". Not less than 5 days later, in clear, bright daylight, I had >> a car pass me on the right and then proceed to turn right in front of me. >> (I think this is called the right hook?). Again, applying Kent's approach >> to riding, I was able to stop in time. >> >> I am thankful my skills were sufficent to prevent contact, but now I am >> skittish. Given the legalized weed and the propensity for peope to drink >> around this time of year, I am finding excuses not to ride to the gym, even >> in daylight. I think it is the back-to-back nature of these incidents that >> has me most unnerved. >> >> How have all of you got your groove back on? >> >> Kind regards, >> Jay LePree >> Demarest, NJ >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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