when I honestly did not see a guy and his friend on a motorcycle and pulled out in front of them. Luckily he was on his toes and maneuvered around me and as soon as he straighten up he turned his head to look me staight in the eyes and shot me the finger. I deserved it and would have apologized to him and his passenger if he'd stopped but he didn't. Now when I drive I look both ways twice, hell, three times even with that incident, that very well could have been tragic, square in my consciousness. It taught me a lesson I hope to never forget. Thinking about it I still can see the horror in their eyes as the man avoided hitting me saving their lives and surely mine too as I'd never have gotten over it if it had turned out as it seemed it was going to there for a second or two.
Please everyone watch out for the cyclist. I say this because I can, not because I feel I have to, even though I do feel I have too. I almost lost my life that day too

A bicycle or motorcycle doesn't register sometimes when we come across them unexpectedly, this is particularly true when it's in a place there just aren't very many two wheeled vehicles at all.

we didn't need your fancy twitter boxes. just a gorilla suit, a video camera, and a couple of basketballs and we were good to go.

Tho recently I have noticed some folks wearing blaze orange, it really does show up better....

I wasn't looking for a motorcycle. You can bet your tail that I'm looking now.

I watched this test you have here a few years back and I was amazed that I missed the part they used to get the point across of how we see what we want to see.

-- on major thoroughfares.

It is OK if there is no alternative although even then it is very dangerous.

But in my area there are perfectly good alternatives. The bicyclists don't want to use them however. We are facing a small number of bicyclists trying to place their personal agendas on car drivers and limiting the rights of car drivers to use the public space to the best advantage for everyone.

If the number of bicyclists grows in the US, let's say we have 20 times the number of bicycles on the road that we have now, then bicyclists will be OK. They will be just another distraction that drivers look for. But at this time, the quantity of bikes on the road has not reached a point at which their presence is expected.

Bicyclists are not safe on our roads, and there probably is not much anyone can do about it unless we start building separate bike roads that parallel our auto roads. Not bike lanes. Separate roads. And in most cities, you would have to tear down the buildings on the main streets to do it. Probably not going to happen.

People on bikes need to deal with this reality. No one is out to get you, but you are not safe on the roads. YOU have to watch out. Car drivers already have enough to watch for.

And don't hog the streets. Don't ride in the middle of a car lane. You may think you have the right to do it. It may look cute, but don't. It isn't safe. You just distract drivers and make them tense and nervous. Think how you feel after a close scrape with a car. The driver of the car feels the same way. Tense, nervous, angry. Is that what you want?

Should skate-boarders have a special lane? How about people in wheel chairs? How about kids on skates? Why should bikes which are inherently dangerous in that the rider has to balance on two wheels rather than three or four, be allowed on streets at all?

That doesn't make much sense.

No one is safe on our roads in case you hadn't noticed.

And indeed there are drivers "out to get" bicyclists, if you looked at my link you would have seen I was targeted by someone just a few days ago.

For me it's nine miles round trip to the closest grocery store, I don't have a car, there is no public transportation at all and I can't afford a taxi a couple of times a week. What should I do, starve?

Bicycles should be allowed on the road because that is the law in every state. Bicycles were on the road before there ever were cars.

"The bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world." -Susan B Anthony

Think practically. You have to ride your bike. Drivers don't deal with your presence well. You either get off the road or you learn to deal with the bad driving.

Moral indignation is a waste of time and could endanger your life.

Bikes are great. So were the street cars. I prefer public transportation any day, but it doesn't exist right now.

It really is difficult for cars to cope with all the distractions on the streets. On country roads, people have to deal with the occasional animal crossing in front of them, unexpected curves and stop signs, poor visibility. You on your bike are one more distraction. No one has anything personal against you. It's just the way things work.

Sorry you feel as you do, but the first concern is to ride safely if you must ride. Forget about what is right. Ride smart.

I know a number of people who fell off bikes, lost teeth, suffered other injuries. The mother of one of my friends fell off her bike, went home, seemed normal and died a few hours later. My friend grew up without her mother. Bikes are dangerous. They just are. Be careful out there. Be careful. Forget being angry. Watch out for yourself.

Why not? And segues? I'm not sure I spelled it right. How about horse and buggy combos? How about horses?

What do you consider appropriate for streets? How do you decide?

We used to drive around parts of Eastern Europe behind carts driven by horses and other animals. They were the norm. We were the intruders. We were patient and waited behind them. You have to have a cooperative attitude on the road. If a driver is kind, acknowledge it. But don't expect drivers to even notice you. Many of them won't. They aren't ignoring you. You just aren't all that visible. And you are very quiet.

Should we get more bikes on the streets, you will be noticed more.

I should add that I am terrified when I see a bike rider. Bike riders are unpredictable. Some are pretty careful, but far too many of them are not paying any attention to anything but their bike.

The other day, my husband and I were driving down a side street in our area that leads to our house. In front of us was a bike rider clearly oblivious, clearly unaware that a car was behind him. He got in the middle of our lane and just started weaving from one side to the other. Probably was a lot of fun, but . . . . . horrors! We couldn't guess what he would do next. Try to weave around without his hands on the bars? And he was an adult. This is the sort of stuff we drivers have to contend with. Absolute fools on bikes.

The worst is you never know whether you are around a good bike rider or a horrible one. By the time you find out, it could be too late.

As for the weaving bike rider, suddenly, after maybe 20 -30 feet, he realized we were there following him very slowly, jerked his head around to look at us and scooted over to the side. I suppose he would complain that we were following him, but we were trying to be very careful of him.

If you are a careful driver, you have to pay for all the bad drivers. If you are a careful bike rider, you have to pay for the bad bike riders and watch out for the bad drivers.

Back in the day, we were taught to "drive defensively." Bike riders need to ride defensively. It's just common sense. Transportation is not a battle. If you get too angry dealing with it, catch a ride with a friend. Everyone has to go shopping. Catch a ride.

I just don't have a car now, I have barely enough income to pay my bills and buy food and the occasional small indulgence. I have enough saved to buy a cheap used car but then gas, tires, oil, insurance, tags and other expenses for it will overwhelm my budget.

As in many places that aren't strictly urban in America we don't even have sidewalks in my area so walking is almost as hazardous as riding a bike, takes far longer, is more strenuous and you can't carry as much so you have to make even more frequent trips which increases the overall risk.

I have an extremely bright and attention getting semi random flasher on the back of my bike and try to wear brightly colored clothing, I rarely ride in the dark but when I do happen to ride in the dark I have a powerful LED headlight that's nearly as bright as car headlights. My bike has the best tires and brakes I can fit on it and two rear view mirrors. I do everything I can to ride in a defensive manner, it's something that I have spent a lot of time thinking about.

As for catching a ride, people get tired of hauling your ass around rather quickly, I try to save asking for rides for when I have a longer distance to go, say over twenty miles one way in order that I don't wear out my welcome. I average about fifteen miles a day on neighborhood streets that aren't busy for my conditioning rides but I have to get out on busier roads to actually go anywhere for practical purposes. In the summer I try to make my trips early in the morning before rush hour and the heat of the day, in winter I ride midday to avoid rush hour traffic and to ensure good light, it's also warmer then too.

Cars are more and more becoming an item that many lower income people cannot afford and I see more people on bikes even in the last couple of years.

I have an extremely bright and attention getting semi random flasher on the back of my bike and try to wear brightly colored clothing, I rarely ride in the dark but when I do happen to ride in the dark I have a powerful LED headlight that's nearly as bright as car headlights. My bike has the best tires and brakes I can fit on it and two rear view mirrors. I do everything I can to ride in a defensive manner, it's something that I have spent a lot of time thinking about.

You should be better off than other bike riders. If what you say is true, if an increasing number of people cannot afford cars, the mass of bike riders should increase. Car drivers will become used to seeing and dealing with bikes and that will make bike riding safer.

Until then, just be careful. Very careful.

You are correct in saying that being right makes no difference if you are dead. But the attitude with which you say it leaves something to be desired.

A bicyclist is not a distraction. A bicyclist has every right to the road that a motor vehicle driver has. That includes occupying the entire lane, in conditions where is is not safe for a vehicle to be passing. "Drivers don't deal with your presence well" is a piss poor reason for arrogance. It's the equivalent of saying "Bullies will be bullies and you just better learn to deal with it."

In areas where the road is not wide enough for vehicle to safely pass, with no rideable shoulder, riding safely is to move to the center of the lane and then move to the edge as appropriate to let vehicles pass after they have slowed to your speed.

That is what a tractor is supposed to do. That is what slow vehicles are supposed to do.

First chance you get, pull over and let the car or truck pass you. Think of your own safety first.

It isn't a matter of whether I am arrogant. It is a matter of the reality that cars are large and powerful and cannot stop on a dime.

Bicycles are small, hard to see and confusing to many drivers.

Think of your own safety first.

where one is more visible. Pull over where possible to allow drivers to pass. Do not ride side by side when or other riders need to pass.

what an anti environmental post.

what ill informed thinking about the rules of the road, rules that allow and include bicycles, people and cars.

the worst part? you seem to be most confident in the statements about which you are completely ignorant about.

which means the chances of you learning your error or correcting your mistake are next to none.

The way to do that is to give specific streets to bike riders, imposing a speed limit on the cars that use those streets in order to discourage cars from driving on them.

If you make bike riding really safe by giving it its own safe streets, more people will ride bikes.

Encouraging bike riding on main thoroughfares in very busy cities is not going to make more people want to ride bikes.

If you live on a country road, your best bet is to ride where you have to but be very careful of cars. Cars and bikes have a different rhythm, a different way. For the moment, when possible, bikes should stay off the busy thoroughfares in cities.

It's inherently dangerous to have them share the road with big rigs.


Bicycles belong on the road. That's the law. Drivers need to be as aware of cyclists as they are of other cars and trucks.

while the other lanes are for the cars. We also have 'fast lanes' on some of our freeways.

It is inherently dangerous to share the road with big rigs. They are supposed to stay to the right and drive more slowly than the cars.

There used to be a (mostly) two-lane freeway between Indianapolis and Richmond, Indiana. The right lane was for slow traffic, mostly big semis and the left was used by cars. Even the speed limits for cars and trucks were different.

But if I am in a car, I can easily see a big rig. And the big rig has all kinds of fancy mirrors and gizmos so that it can see me. The big rig is enormous. Can't miss it. Your bike is tiny. Hard to see. Sometimes almost impossible to see at night. Big rigs on the other hand have enormous lights. Not only that, but they make a lot of noise usually. Bikes make almost no noise.

As for me, when I am driving around big rigs, I watch out. If I am going too slow for a big rig, I pull over and let it pass or I move into the lane next to it.

Bikes do not belong in the middle of a lane on a busy street. When you do that, you are cutting off the cars. If you are in a car, you do not try to cut off big rigs. You are taking your own life in your hands.

I try to watch out for bikes, but it can be very difficult.

You can see the big rig, but can the driver see you? If the driver can use mirrors and gizmos to see you, why can't you use your mirrors to see cyclists?

Bikes aren't tiny. A typical upright bicycle with rider is TALLER than most cars. Where there is the greatest risk of not being noticed is exactly where the law requires that bike ride -- to the right of the cars. Cyclists in the middle of the lane may annoy you but the one thing they are not is invisible and more often than not there's a valid safety reason for them to travel in the middle of the lane, even if it's not obvious to you.

As for slowing traffic, cyclists are far from the only obstacle to cars traveling at top speed. Cars turning in and out of driveways slow down traffic. Those pesky pedestrians calling for the walk signal, ditto. It's not easy to watch for all of these road conditions. That's why smart drivers minimize distractions in the car and focus on the road.

What does that say about me?

Use the mirror on the handlebar ends, wave (with all fingers) as they approach you from the rear.

I ride regularly on two lane rural roads, and every time someone passes me from the rear they pull over into the opposite lane. Often I get a wave in return, sometimes a short toot on the horn.

I like to give a "come on around" arm movement. I believe that act establishes an instant rapport with the driver. Not receiving a wave in return is rare.

I'm very cautious around cyclists because I know and love so many of them, so I will not try to pass a cyclist on a narrow road if I don't have complete visibility on on-coming traffic. I don't mind sitting patiently some yards behind a cyclist for a while until the road straightens out and I can see what's coming.

When I used to ride on the road, a hand signal from me to a driver approaching from the rear would usually mean that I can see the road ahead and it's clear for the car to pass me. I'm not sure I would understand what a cyclist was trying to convey to me by the signal you are describing (the wave with all fingers). Are you simply conveying that you know the car is there, and hello? Is there some convention about this hand signal that I don't know?

Thanks.

to.

I always use the left hand. When I think the vehicle approaching from the rear is close enough to see all the fingers, I wave, letting them know I see them. I switch from an 'all fingers' wave to a thumbs up if the road is clear, then immediately to a 'come on' type movement.

When on a section of the road where visibility is limited, I hold on and hope for the best. I am hoping the approaching driver can see that there is a curve, a crest, or what-have-you.

When I am the motorcycle or car approaching a bicyclist from the rear I do not pass when the road ahead is obscured by those curves, crests, etc. I can only hope others do the same. So far I've been fortunate.

I don't ride in groups. It's always just me.

A stop sign means stop, not slow down and roll through the intersection.

I am ready to let one of the asswipes hit me and my bike so I can sue the hell out of them. I am serious. And this occurs in front of an elementary school...every freaking day.

Not to mention the coffee cup and cell phone in their hands.....

It's infuriating!!!

Glad that you are okay. Sorry about the rant.

We follow the rules of the road.

BUT, does it make it right for a car to NOT stop at a stop sign cause a bicyclist doesn't?

I don't follow your logic...

The person in the car won't get hurt if he hits your bike, but you could die.

Don't think about what's fair. Protect yourself. Stop and wait for cars. I see many, many bicyclists doing crazy things: riding in the middle of the lanes in front of cars. That's teasing cars. It's stupid. You don't make drivers more courteous and thoughtful by doing mean things to them.

I see many, many bicyclists running stop signs and even lights. It's shocking.

Remember, drivers in cars have enough to do just watching for other cars. You are adding a distraction. You on your bicycle are a distraction.

You are small. You cannot be easily seen. You don't make much noise. And you can't see behind yourself very well. Very few bicycles have rear view mirrors.

Put yourself in the shoes of the person driving the car. This is a matter of life and death.

You may be right to complain about cars and drivers, but don't be dead right.

Let it go.

A bicyclist is NOT a distraction. They have every right to occupy the road, same as a motor vehicle. It is common courtesy for a slower vehicle to allow faster moving traffic to pass, but it is not a requirement. There are no minimum speed limits on non-limited access roads.

Running stop lights and signs is wrong for any wheeled vehicle, regardless of the number of wheels.

There is a breathtaking amount of ignorance, elitism on this thread regarding the rights of bicycles.

In many instances it is the only safe way to ride. I always ride at least 3' from the edge of the pavement. Rarely that puts me to the right of the white line; much more frequently it puts me at least 2' into the lane. The reason is inconsiderate drivers like the one who buzzed the cyclist in the OP. If I get buzzed (or worse), I need solid pavement to the right of me to be able to move to without losing control over my bike - because if you have just buzzed me and I lose control, I'm under your wheels and dead.

It isn't teasing cars, it is driving defensively because there are far too many cars who either deliberately, or because they are not paying attention, hit (or come within a few inches of hitting) me - no matter where I ride. And if it is going to happen anyway, I need to be sure that I can safely ride out of it.

It likely saved my life a few years ago, although ironically for different reasons. A driver who was not paying attention backed out of his driveway into me - 4' into the roadway. Had I been riding on the far right side of the road I would have been under his back tire before he stopped.

then posts that those on bicycles should be removed from the roads --so they can all jump in their cars and make traffic worse!

brain dead thinking.

and i drive.

bikes, people and buses mean fewer cars on the roads, polluting and choking streets and parking lots, making things easier for those who still need or choose to drive.

and nevermind that those who are propelling themselves are actually reducing their carbon footprint for everyone's benefit.

but here, from a supposed liberal, they are getting crapped on worse than they'd get at Free Republic.

Last edited Mon May 13, 2013, 05:00 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm in a crosswalk in a school lane and the car driver can't see me? Cause he's on his cell or sipping his Starbucks?

Please hit me so I can sue your ass! I won't die, cause I am alert, unlike the asswipe
in the SUV on the cell phone changing the radio station.

as if a car is the only thing.

your post is completely insincere given what you posted moments before.

and cyclists do that for several good reasons. One, in order to make themselves visible to cars behind them when traveling on a winding road. Two, as part of the process for moving to a left turning lane.

It's not about "teasing cars." If that's what you think is going on, please stop driving.

If the speed limit is 30 miles an hour and you are going ten, you are in the way. If you can keep up with cars, great. Otherwise, get off your bike and walk across the street at the crosswalk or ask your city to give you completely separate streets with very low speed limits.

Bikes going less than the speed of the drivers on the rode with them are obstructing traffic. Slow drivers can be the cause of accidents just as can speeding drivers. You should not be riding your bike in the middle of the road.

A car behind the car directly behind you may not see you, take a chance and pass one or more cars that are following you very slowly and hit you or an oncoming car. Human nature is what it is. Do not ride down the middle of a lane on the street.

We all, whether in cars or other vehicles, are supposed to pull over to the right side if we are slowing down traffic. That goes for cars too. I am not a fast driver. I sometimes have to pull over to let faster cars pass. It is called courtesy. It is a sign of a safe driver on the road. Don't frustrate drivers who are behind you. It causes accidents.

than have one land on their windshields. It's a matter of safety.
Bicyclists are required to stay as far to the right hand side of the lane as practicable. That means that most of the time they're over near or in the shoulder but when there is an unsafe shoulder (or none at all) they will bike in the lane. As I noted above there are also times when the bicycle legitimately belongs in the lane.

Check the vehicle code in your state. Bikes have a right to be in the middle of the lane.

If the light is red, he will cut across two lanes of traffic from the bike lane without signaling, to get into the left turn lane. If the light is green, he will cut in front of cars turning right and cross at the crosswalk, then cross at the crosswalk again once the light changes. Never slows down, never pays heed to the other people using the road, and can't seem to decide if he wants to be a pedestrian or a vehicle. That is the behavior that bothers me as a driver.

That being said, there are numerous cyclists who use the road I drive on - because it has bike lanes. Most are courteous and aware of traffic - often times moreso than motorcyclists who tend to worm their way to the front of stopped traffic between cars.

Maybe where you are, all cyclists follow the rules of the road. But where I live, I've seen cyclists going against traffic at night on the city's busiest thoroughfare wearing dark clothes. It's scary as hell, because the last thing I want to do is to hit a cyclist! I've also seen cyclists go through red lights quite a bit, and stop signs, too.

There are some things I'd like to see happen.

1. I'd like to see rules for cyclists become part of driver's licensing tests. That way, from the first, people are more aware they share the road with cyclists. Also, cyclists who don't obey the law can get ticketed just like drivers (I've seen cops ignore obvious infractions that would have been nailed had someone been driving).

2. I'd like to see bike lanes widened. I don't think they're wide enough. I'd also like to see the bike lanes separated by a yellow instead of a white line. It's more visible and people tend to cross single yellow lines less than single white ones.

But I'd also like to see cyclists like yourself acknowledge that there are a whole lot of careless cyclists out there who present a real danger to themselves and others instead of claiming that you all obey the rules. Not all of you do.

Because it takes a lot of ENERGY to get a fucking bike moving again after you come to a complete stop....


It's easier to look ahead, look around, think it's clear and just keep on pedaling

We stop. All the time.

Bottom line ......from my own experience....too many cars don't completely stop at stop signs and one of these days I'm gonna get hit and sue the crap out of the driver.

There's a few intersections here where cars love doing that rolling stop thing to try to force pedestrians out of the crosswalk, or where they'll actually start to accelerate when you're directly in front of them. There is no way they can't see people in the crosswalks at those points either, unless they're actively not watching the road.

(That's before getting into the road-ragey assholes who lean on the horn or gun the engine if they see someone crossing with a walk signal and the works. I get about one of those a week.)

Cyclists are just as responsible for traffic laws as a motorist, and your response here would probably have your case thrown out in a court of law by claiming you were intentionally looking to get hit.

Just as I cannot intentionally allow my car to be hit, you cannot intentionally allow yourself to be hit, just to "prove a point..."

Your rant does not do well for cyclist/motorist relations...

I drive for a living.

I see WAY more traffic violations by cyclists than you are admitting cyclists ignore.

YOU may follow the traffic laws, however there are MANY who simply do NOT.

When you are willing to admit this is when you will be able to have an honest discussion about this topic.

Time after time, a vehicle will go by us without giving us any spare room... and they've got Repub bumper stickers.

The ones that go into the oncoming lane usually have Dem-type bumperstickers.

Anyone riding a bike on a narrow unmarked country road is flirting with serious injury for themselves or drivers trying to avoid them by going into the other lane. I'm all for cycling when it can be done safely, but this isn't the case. Do us all a favor and get off the road.

Thanks!!!

It's very dangerous.

Darn uppity bicyclists have the nerve to think they have some sort of right to the road. How dare they use our space! They need to learn their place.

Don't try and lay the blame for this on peacebird. It was the yahoo in the truck that was to blame. It there was not enough room to pass because of on coming traffic, then the car is suppose to slow down until it is safe to pass. The same if the driver came upon a farm tractor on one of these narrow country roads.

And if you don't have the proper equipment and obey all traffic laws, including minimum speed, it isn't legal.

And pedestrians as well as non motorized vehicles are prohibited on interstates.

Bicycles are legal to ride on the road everywhere else unless otherwise marked.

We are safe cyclists who obey all rules of the road.

Size and power of a vehicle is not the determining factor, nor is its being street legal. Common sense is the factor for the driver coming upon any vehicle in the road before they arrive. It also has the legal ROW no matter what it is.

A person who would disrespect a bike, would not disrespect a slow, unlicensed, unlighted but very large construction or farm vehicle in their path. Because their vehicle would be damaged by it, but not a bike.

A person's health and life are worth more than property or convenience. Showing respect for people and not judging their rights by the size of their property is the right thing to do.

a little space in case the car needs to avoid something on the road.

Sorry, but our roads were not built to accommodate both bikes and cars.

That's the way it is.

In LA, the streets were planned with street cars in mind (in the older areas). Lots of stairs go from the hills down the sides to streets where there were street cars.

It's hard to get around when you can't drive. Bikes are not a safe answer.

No matter how careful drivers are, there will be times when they don't see you. You are very small, very quiet and unpredictable. Sorry, but that is reality.

It isn't hostility. It is just reality.

Look for the safest routes if you have to ride. Pull over to the side if a car seems to be oblivious to you or is annoying you. Think of your safety first. Learn to use hand signals.

It's a historical fact.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_bicycle#1880s_and_1890s

During the nineteenth century, compact earth remained the most common roadway surface in Georgia. Improving the quality of dirt roads meant finding the best combinations of soil for strength and drainage. More solid materials that were used for road surfaces included stone, gravel, and macadam. In coastal areas, crushed shell would sometimes be used for surfacing. Heavy machinery that was in use by the end of the 1800s included graders with movable scraping blades that were pulled by draft animals or tractors. Also in use were rollers for compacting and smoothing road surfaces. These could be powered with the use of animals or steam engines.

In marshy or wet areas, earthen roads were not stable and a common alternative consisted of log (or “corduroy”) roads. These consisted of logs or half logs placed across the direction of the road to create a solid surface.

Plank roads, built the same way as log roads but using sawn planks as a surface, were a more expensive method and the planks did not last long, increasing costs. Some of the turnpikes built in Georgia were surfaced with planks, but most were dirt. Plank roads seem to have been more common in the southern part of the state and developed out of efforts of Gulf Coast towns in Florida to provide outlets for south Georgia cotton growers. Gravel was often used to fill rotten sections of plank roads, leading to a wider use of gravel and stone as a surfacing material.

http://dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/FederalRoads/pages/19th.aspx

I remember traveling on gravel roads as a child. And again, traveling in Eastern Europe, especially Yugoslavia, the roads were often very old and with rough surfaces.

Paving is not an innovation designed for cars. That's just the way it always has been. Reality is not what you want it to be.

And the roads paved for streetcars had rails in them.

The roads we know today with smooth asphalt or cement or other smooth surface were built for cars.

There are roads that were paved in the 1600's in America, long before cars were dreamed of. They were paved because it made more sense than the mud that would form if they were not paved.

Just wishing for something to be true does not make it so...

There are laws that govern your driving around cyclists. If you're not able to follow those laws, you don't need to be behind a wheel.

...regarding how to drive around pedestrians, bicycles and other slow moving traffic should STFU when it comes to criticizing bicyclists.

My son was mowed down while on his bike by an asshole who nearly t-boned him as he passed through an intersection - my son had the right of way.

His left elbow was shattered, as was one of his fingers on his left hand, his face was lacerated, and his front teeth were broken out by a douchebag behind the wheel of a car, who oughta have his driver's license revoked because he can't share the road with bicyclists.

And don't give me any shit such as "your son was probably doing something wrong," because he has multiple witnesses to the incident who confirm the recklessness of the driver.

I live in the L.A. area, and I drive with bicyclists everywhere I go, and I know how to drive around them safely.

It's not that difficult, though it may delay your all-important trip by a couple of minutes, but, too bad.

Act like your civilized, even if you're not, that's my advice.

Driveways into stores or shopping areas are the worst. They just start turning & don't even notice that you are there. Last week some jerk was pulling out into traffic from a parking lot, then suddenly, he put his car in reverse & damned near hit me & the girl walking behind me. I smacked the trunk of his car with my hand & shouted, "Hey asshole, pay attention." He had no clue we were there. Didn't even look.

I'm sorry to admit this, but being a ped has made me a much more considerate driver.

since I took up motorcycles.

Well said. It's all about paying attention.

I've had several vehicles swipe by me and yell some obscenity at me while biking as far to the right as I possibly could. Some people are just that way. It's made me quite a bit more paranoid while biking.

if you dare use the left lane while in your car doing about 10 mph OVER the speed limit.

They OWN the road.

Don't remember exactly what he did, but he was annoyed by the cyclist taking up 1/4 of the lane and honked at him/her. He honestly didn't understand that he was in the wrong. I told him to put himself in the bicyclist's shoes. Hopefully I got through to him.

Still, I don't think biking on a road that doesn't have bike lanes is safe. Distracted drivers switch lanes at the last minute which wouldn't give drivers behind them (who are likely distracted as well) time to see what's happening.

I can barely get a good run in without having to yell at one or more drivers who are not paying attention.

In an area I used to live near, there are wide paved shoulders, ideal for bike riding. At least 6 feet wide in most places. Yet I would always see runners on the white line, right next to the traffic lane, running the same direction as the traffic. I don't get it. Blind to vehicles and crowded right up next to them when they have 6 feet of pavement to their right.

I was always taught to ride bikes with traffic, but if you are on foot, go against traffic. I really don't get the reason to be running on the line, in apparent disregard of safety.

not runners (runners usually run a variety of paces and distances as part of endurance and conditioning training; joggers just run slow for the health benefits). Distance runners typically are out running 4-5 times a week for 6 hours or more total for a week. Joggers 2-3 times a week at much lower milage. (generalizing here). Runners are, in my opinion, more aware of running on the road and how to be safe.

Not to say all runners are educated as to the rules of the road, but most are. Yes you are supposed to run toward traffic, so you see oncoming traffic or cars pulling out so you can be proactive and get out of their way.

I sometimes will run on the white line if I'm on a long run (8-14+ miles). It keeps me focused on my form, breathing, etc because I have an easy visual marker. That being said, I never run on the line when there is traffic or oncoming bikes in the bike lane. Edited to add that some people, myself included, try and run on the flattest part of the road, not the shoulder as it is tilted and creates an uneven running surface that can cause problems and injuries when you run long miles. I run at night and often I am in the middle of a car lane (there are no cars on the road when I do this, and if one comes I get out of the way long before it gets close. FYI I run with a reflective gear and a battery operated glowing 2" band around my road side ankle, I'd be very hard to miss).

Unfortunately there are always jerks that make us all look bad! (That and we tend not to notice people that are not in the way .

I don't understand staying there where dealing with traffic, though. I know that when I do the MS150 in a month, I will be tired at the end of rides to the point that I would be much less safe than if I wasn't in a herd. There's something to be said for not working oneself into mental fatugue as well as physical fatigue.

people. It does for those experienced too, to a lesser extent. I know when I fist started street running (as a posed to sidewalks and trails) I made a lot of mistakes do to mental fatigue and physical fatigue. Im training for distance now, which involves long slow runs (extremely slow pace, I feel like the robot man running) it really helps with the fatigue as I am not pushing the pace at all (heart rate in the 130s and 140s). Not sure if Bikers use slow rides in their distance training, might be similar.

There are a lot of cars being driven by people with the same problems. It makes for a very dangerous condition, one more reason to focus and if you can't focus walk on the sidewalk or if your driving pull over etc. I just yelled at a driver last night who was talking on their phone and overshot a 4 way stop I was crossing (in the crosswalk lane, running). I try too keep my calm, but sometimes it feels good to yell at someone who obviously needs to pay attention better, although I don't know how effective it is in helping the car drive change their bad habits.

And in Georgia, it's the law that motor vehicles have to give three feet clearance to the bike rider.

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as do many of the drivers up in these parts. It's important to give all cyclists (motor and otherwise) plenty of space, whether you're behind them or passing them. You don't know if they'll hit a bump and fall, or have to swerve because of some other driver not paying attention, so it's best to have some time to brake.

And after passing them I'll check my rear-view mirror to make sure they're a safe distance behind me

tried to see how close they could come. I caught a few too.

Are as bad as bad drivers!

It seems as though the cyclist crowd here is on a moral crusade in which, excuse my French; "their sh*t don't stink..."

It's EVERYONE'S problem, and EVERYONE is the solution.

I would hate to hit somebody on a bicycle or motorcycle or any of the other alternative means of transportation. I infuriate drivers behind me when I slow down until I can "pass." do they want me to do? Hit the bicyclist? I'm used to hearing horns because I drive safely. It seems to piss people in my area off for some odd reason.

Is that you didn't get hit. I'm glad for that.

I've driven on a lot of those types of roads, and there's no excuse for that driver. If anything, they should have been watching that much more carefully for deer. I had a deer jump out in front of me on a TN highway at night and I had zero time to react. It was awful.

it was probably intentional
it was a treat with a deadly weapon
in Texas I have had guns pointed at me
fucking asshole

But the bikers have to act in a safe manner too. The other day, we were on a real busy street here in town and a couple of bikers (motorcyclist) were darting in and out of traffic just trying to get to their destination faster I guess. In doing so, one guy nearly got hit not once, not twice, but three times. So bikers, please remember that cars and trucks are larger than bikes and use common sense when in heavy traffic.

Times a thousand.

Be safe! Share the road!