s0ckeyeus
Big Ring
Posts:183
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| 06/12/2008 8:56 AM |
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I commute to work on my bike, and way too many people (not every day or week, but still too many) are passing me when I signal for a left turn. Does anyone have any good tips for not getting hit? I signal the left turn early, then move into the center of the lane (signal here too), and finally make the turn. I always look back to make sure it's safe.
Today I was just about to start turning, when a pick-up decided he wanted to get through. Scared the crap out of me. Good thing I looked.
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OCguy
Big Ring
Posts:235
Registered Users
Oldham
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| 06/12/2008 1:00 PM |
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| Make sure they can see your gun tucked in your shorts... |
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Tonybob
Big Ring
Posts:329
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| 06/12/2008 1:30 PM |
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not 100% clear on where they are passing you, on your left? if so, i move all the way into the lane (not the center) taking my place just like if i was a car or motorcycle. also a good sprint helps. ;)
on a commuting note; big pile-up on 65 last night = big back up on 2nd street bridge. could just feel the eyes burning a hole through me as i shot down the center line (yeah yeah i know) past all of em. suckers. |
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s0ckeyeus
Big Ring
Posts:183
Registered Users
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| 06/12/2008 2:13 PM |
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Posted By Tonybob on 06/12/2008 1:30 PM
not 100% clear on where they are passing you, on your left? if so, i move all the way into the lane (not the center) taking my place just like if i was a car or motorcycle. also a good sprint helps. ;)
Yeah, on the left. When I move over there's really no getting around me, other than the opposite lane. Maybe I need to make the jump a little sooner.
While we are on the subject of commuting, it's interesting to see how people react to bikes on the road. Some people get nervous, some people are extra-cautious, some people get aggressive, and some people just act like they didn't see you there in the first place (Huh? Bike...what?).
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wilheldp
Granny Gear
Posts:23
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| 06/12/2008 3:28 PM |
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| From your description, it sounds like the drivers might be getting confused. If you signal the turn, then get in the left part of the lane, drivers that are ignorant of bike signals might think that is as far as you are going. I know you said you signal again before starting the actual turn, but that doesn't mean that drivers are paying attention...their only goal is to get around you. But if you are on the far left side of the lane, I don't see any reason why they couldn't pass you on the right...hell, I do that with cars all the time. |
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chuck_clark
Big Ring
Posts:343
Registered Users
Louisville
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| 06/12/2008 10:20 PM |
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I've always found it best when approaching intersections, to command the lane as others have said and let them honk, vent or whatever. As long as they see me and don't have a road rage moment, it's all good.
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MEK
Big Ring
Posts:389
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| 06/13/2008 7:06 AM |
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On another note.
I ride my Road Bike as much as my MTB. I get the whole pace line thingy and am comfortable hammering RR at 27+ MPH. What I don't get and don't agree with is those cyclist who insist on holding there lane 2 abreast in normal traffic. It annoys the hell out of me why a cyclist knowing there are cars behind them waiting to pass don't drop to a single file to allow vehicles to pass. I think this is just common courtesy and common sense. It only adds to the whole elitist thing and puts a bad taste in drivers mouths.
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chuck_clark
Big Ring
Posts:343
Registered Users
Louisville
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| 06/13/2008 9:56 AM |
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| I normally slow or speed up to make a single file paceline, but two abreast is the law. |
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nick
Little Ring
Posts:70
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| 06/18/2008 10:13 AM |
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officially they are supposed to get all the way in the other lane anyway to pass aren't they??? kind of like they where passing a car. now i'm sure if the paceline is huge, like it is in louisville, this would be hard to overtake a group like this with oncoming traffic. I think i read that tn had a 3 foot law or something like that when overtaking a bike. you have to be atleast 3 foot away from a cyclist when passing or its a crime you can be charged with. 3 foot away and you would have to be in the other lane anyway.
One of the local racer type just sent out an email to our club with the same concerns about filing into a single file line for cars when you can. Some times i would agree with this and sometimes i wouldn't. If you and your buddies are out and its only like 4-6 of you its pretty easy to do this. but when you are out with a group of like 20 or more its a little more unsafe to have folks slowing down and speeding up to get the paceline down to 1 line.
We travel faster than a horse and buggy and they are still on the roads taking up the whole lane of traffic. Bikes have every right to stay as far into the lane as safetly possible to avoid holes or glass or what ever is in the road next to the curbs/shoulder. we all drive cars and we all ride bikes here so i think everyone could see both sides of this one. |
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RIC0
Big Ring
Posts:319
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sumwaresin, KY
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| 06/18/2008 12:28 PM |
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| Being a new roadie and all I'm starting to learn the feeling of the guys I've always cussed at in the past. Like sitting at a light in the middle of the road with cars behind me, I actually feel the burning in my back.. LOL I do try to stay off of main roads though and only do parks or the Tour de hood. |
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jhamner
Granny Gear
Posts:25
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| 06/18/2008 1:34 PM |
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| I usually take up the whole lane on Main Street in the mornings. People get way too close if I'm hugging the parked cars so I give my self room to get out of their way when they don't actually switch lanes to pass me. I can feel the stares too at the stop lights. You get used to it after a while Rico. Go out there and own the road. LOL. |
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Tonybob
Big Ring
Posts:329
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| 06/18/2008 5:46 PM |
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| all reasons i rarely commute in team kit. the shinier your clothes seem to be, the more people seem to want to kill you, or "inform" you of traffic laws. baggies and a sleeveless shirt (or old plain jerzee that just looks like a t), you tend to get a pass on, er, disregarding, or lets say, obeying only the traffic laws that seem prudent to obey at that moment. |
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OCguy
Big Ring
Posts:235
Registered Users
Oldham
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| 06/18/2008 8:46 PM |
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I had something interesting happen to me several weeks ago on the road.
I was almost clipped from the rear by a passing wide mirror on an SUV on a 1.5 lane road (no lines). So naturally (it is natural, right?), I gave the driver a courtesy salute after they got about 50 yards ahead of me. Another 50 yards and the vehicle hits the brakes. As I make my LEGAL pass on the left, the driver yells "You got a problem buddy?" I say "Other than you almost killing me by knocking me off of the road, no, but thanks for asking" and continued on my way.
The vehicle then passes me, goes another 50 yards ahead, and turns on the interior RED and BLUE lights and proceeds to tell me to pull over. After a brief discussion, the driver shows me his Sheriff's hat and tells me I should ride closer to the edge of the road. I show him that I had a flashing light on my bicycle and I was carrying my driver's license and told him that it is too dangerous to hug the edge and risk not being seen or encountering the normal unsafe edge road conditions.
He then apologized and moved on...my guess is he realized I just might know the law better than him. |
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Aweful Knawful
Big Ring
Posts:102
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| 06/19/2008 4:58 AM |
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| good job calling him out |
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s0ckeyeus
Big Ring
Posts:183
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| 06/19/2008 9:01 AM |
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Ha! Good story.
I used to think blinkies were lame, until I started commuting by bike full-time. It doesn't take long to discover how cranky and distracted people are at rush hour. I had some dude almost hit me near a stop sign because he was trying to peel back the wrapper of his breakfast burrito. Now even distracted soccer moms can see me from a mile out and have no excuse if they decide to plow me over.
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OCguy
Big Ring
Posts:235
Registered Users
Oldham
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| 06/19/2008 11:59 AM |
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Prolly the most fearful time for me is approaching a stop sign or light. Amazing how many people are willing to risk their life (and yours) to get ahead of you in the queue. Hearing some fool tearing it up coming around you and then slamming on the brakes as they squeeze in is becoming too familiar a sound.
My scariest moment so far (laid it down) was an encounter with an older driver in a pickup going the opposite direction on a lightly traveled rural road. He must have been sitting still for about 30-40 seconds waiting to turn left so I assumed he saw me--until he gunned it right as I was coming through the intersection. He was actually staring down another vehicle coming out of the road he wanted to turn down that WAS waiting for me and he never saw me. I guess his patience wore off at the wrong time. |
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Big Tommy C
Little Ring
Posts:63
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| 06/19/2008 9:14 PM |
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| Single file cyclists take twice as long to pass because they take up twice as long a section of the road. And they still need most of the lane. |
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WebGuy
Big Ring
Posts:364
Administrators
Louisville, KY
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| 06/19/2008 10:10 PM |
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I tend to be pretty aware of cars wanting to pass. If I'm in a small group we'll single up and let them by. In larger groups this is much harder. Its does seem like if you're singled up cars will take greater risks to pass you. I've seen so many cars try to pass a line of cyclists on RR but stay within the lane with the line. It seems like once a month I see an SUV dart up the left only to just barely miss an oncoming car. Not sure if theyt don't realize we're going 25+ mph or that there are lot of us...but it seems to argue for 2 up riding.
At the same time, I've been on plenty of rides where things get turned up and guys think we're on a closed road course. There is a balance here somewhere between safe and courteous.
On stops I'll absolutely "take the lane" by signalling and moving out into the lane. This seems to prevent people from going around me and keeps things a little more controlled. |
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Steven Webster
Web Guy, BikeClicks.com |
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s0ckeyeus
Big Ring
Posts:183
Registered Users
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| 06/20/2008 9:18 AM |
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Ah yes, the pregnant pause. I had a pick-up stop at an intersection, look right at me, then pull out, and nearly come to a full stop in the intersection while turning left (blocking 3/4 of the road). Fortunately it wasn't that close of a call since I was on a slight uphill and my brakes were in excellent working condition. I've since had more serious scares (like a good view of a commercial van's grill as it tried to make a speedy exit from a parking lot, while I was directly in front of it), but it definitely caused me to not to assume drivers will do anything.
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top fuel
Posts:5
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| 06/23/2008 1:14 PM |
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Been doing a bit of communting myself lately. Funny what you learn about folks the more you ride.
My Uncle who rides motorcycles everywhere told me one thing that really works for traffic pulling out from parking lots, intersections, and drive-ways. Is to make good eye contact and never assume they see you before traveling past. If no eye contact, slow or stop until get it.
Hey blinkies and mirrors are cool (fireflies are best)..
Take the lane. People tend to look ahead and not really to the side.. |
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