BiknBen
Well-Known Member
I generally just point in the direction I'm planning to turn. Some states have revised their turn signal regs to include this. A Right signal can be a bent left arm or a pointed right arm.
Roadie Tips To Stay Alive...
- Thread starter BiknBen
- Start date
I generally just point in the direction I'm planning to turn. Some states have revised their turn signal regs to include this. A Right signal can be a bent left arm or a pointed right arm.
Ditto. Often times I make eye contact and point to where I'm going, as if I'm in charge and the cars should follow what I tell them to do. I also agree with those who give the wave after someone doesn't kill you. I think people appreciate it and it makes us seem less like Bike Borgs.
Dean S
Active Member
www.bicyclesafe.com is awesome. It has informed my road riding ALOT.
Advantage Roadie
Riding through town today I saw all the typical:
The cars that honk, the ones that lurk, the ones that stop so you can make a left in front of them, the cell phone eared SUV driver that nearly ran thru the stop sign and into our path... till I yelled at her.
I've adopted a stupid sounding, but very effective and loud signal "HUP!!!". It hasn't failed to get noticed yet, even through closed windows and radios, so I'll keep using it.
Then, the sight beyond all sights! The guy in the SUV that does a modified Jersey Roll at the stop sign, sees us approaching his corner and steps on it to be sure to get ahead of us. He wins the first round. But, he doesn't stay ahead too long. The patrol car that saw his slick move flew past us lights going and pulled that speedy SUV's butt over.
As I passed the officer flipping over his ticket book to write the guy up, I say, "Thanks for looking out for us."
Woo Hoo!! Vindication is mine!!
And all is right in the world.
Riding through town today I saw all the typical:
The cars that honk, the ones that lurk, the ones that stop so you can make a left in front of them, the cell phone eared SUV driver that nearly ran thru the stop sign and into our path... till I yelled at her.
I've adopted a stupid sounding, but very effective and loud signal "HUP!!!". It hasn't failed to get noticed yet, even through closed windows and radios, so I'll keep using it.
Then, the sight beyond all sights! The guy in the SUV that does a modified Jersey Roll at the stop sign, sees us approaching his corner and steps on it to be sure to get ahead of us. He wins the first round. But, he doesn't stay ahead too long. The patrol car that saw his slick move flew past us lights going and pulled that speedy SUV's butt over.
As I passed the officer flipping over his ticket book to write the guy up, I say, "Thanks for looking out for us."
Woo Hoo!! Vindication is mine!!
And all is right in the world.
NJMX835
New Member
Oh man, that's great!
How many times have you seem some moron pull a move like that & think 'where's a cop, when you need one?', lol
rockmonster
Eternal Beginner
This thread should be STICKY!
BiknBen
Well-Known Member
RNG1
Well-Known Member
That is great. I had 2 women on tuesday pull the " yes I see you and we are having eye contact but you are just a bicycle and mean nothing as you can not cause bodily damage on me so I am pulling out in front of you anyway" move. Thankfully you get a inner sense after a while and you instincts tell you to slow down just a touch so you can save your own ass when it happens.
I always put up my hand even if I have the complete right of way and always give a thumbs up to say thanks for not smashing me. It's kind of like animal training.
I always put up my hand even if I have the complete right of way and always give a thumbs up to say thanks for not smashing me. It's kind of like animal training.
Droptopchevy
Member
I hate to bump an old thread but...
What do you do in a situation where a driver intentionally tries to run you off of the road (besides remember their licence plate)? This happened to two guys I work with this past weekend and they were in an area where no other cars were even around.
What do you do in a situation where a driver intentionally tries to run you off of the road (besides remember their licence plate)? This happened to two guys I work with this past weekend and they were in an area where no other cars were even around.
BiknBen
Well-Known Member
You gather yourself and get all the info you can about the vehicle. Then call the police in that jurisdiction.
I'd like to read what this driver actually did. Many people say, "Some car tried to run me off the road." In reality, the car speeds up and swerves towards the right after going by the cyclist. While it is unsettling, it really is not dangerous to the cyclist at all.
RNG1
Well-Known Member
Wasn't sure where to post this but I think it is worthy here. This photo I took yesterday I think is a great indication of where I believe the road itself needs to be altered. This road is Old Hook road up by me and basically links the neighboring towns like Closter, Alpine etc to Westwood and Emerson. To avoid this road is to go far out of your way as it cuts through the resoirvoirs. This particular road has fairly narrow lanes and a 45 mph limit however it is not uncommon to have people flying through here at 50 or 55. Add that to the common truck traffic, narrow lanes and as it twists is much like a turn at the Rockleigh crit in regard to having to hold your line. Notice that there is absolutely NO shoulder. I have and will NEVER take my bike on this road and when I see others riding it I cringe like crazy. I have even seen people who appear to be commuting for restaurant or landscaping work riding on this in the dark with no helmet or lights or even reflectors. I have on occasion stayed in the right lane with my hazards on in these cases and escorted the person until they reach a safe area.
The bottom line: some roads you just have to stay off of.
The bottom line: some roads you just have to stay off of.
BiknBen
Well-Known Member
It all depends on the amount of traffic and time of day. Certainly, riding there at night with no lights is simply dumb. At times of low traffic it is probably fine.
Here is what I don't like about that photo. The cyclist is riding too close to the edge of the road. No matter where he rides, there is not enough room for two vehicles to pass in the same direction at the same time. I would move to the left at least a foot. Not enough to be a dick but just enough to make it clear to motorists in the slow lane that they will have to slow down and yield.
By moving towards traffic, you make yourself more visible. A motorist will recognize that there is NOT enough room sooner and will have more time to make an adjustment as they approach.
When you ride the edge, motorists think they have room and don't slow down when they see you. Once they have gotten closer, they have less time to react. One of two things happen.
1. The motorists cuts into the left lane and risks an incident with another car. This will often lead to horns blowing from a second motorist who gets cut off.
2. The motorists hold their breathe and hopes to make the pass without incident. This results in the cyclist getting buzzed.
RNG1
Well-Known Member
True on a lot of points. I should mention this is a highly travelled congested road. I was coming back this way mid morning after morning rush. At those times it would be insane to ride here. Even with this time of day with the speeds that the cars go it would only take a woman doing her makeup or someone distracted for a second on their damn cell phone and you would be airborne from behind.
You mean like taking a pic with it?
I agree totally with Ben. In fact, when I see the road I'm on is about to lose the shoulder (ie, some roads go from 10' of shoulder to almost nothing) I immediately start riding as if the shoulder is gone. Waiting until that last second to pull into the road is a recipe for disaster.
I have been on the road a lot this year and for the most part it seems that the further we get into the summer, the more drivers seem to be accustomed to cyclists on the road.
That being said I had a not fun experience this am.
A pick up truck basically slowed to my exact speed and pinched me into the shoulder. The a-hole driver then blew the horn a few times before speeding off.
I could see that there were 3 young guys in the car laughing it up as the drove away.
It was at this moment I was both happy and disappointed that I don't carry a gun on the bike.
That being said I had a not fun experience this am.
A pick up truck basically slowed to my exact speed and pinched me into the shoulder. The a-hole driver then blew the horn a few times before speeding off.
I could see that there were 3 young guys in the car laughing it up as the drove away.
It was at this moment I was both happy and disappointed that I don't carry a gun on the bike.
Did you drink the beer?
RNG1
Well-Known Member
You mean like taking a pic with it?
.
Well at least I was watching him the whole time...
I had a truck blast his f'n airhorn at me as he went by one morning that made me jump like a freakin cricket. Lucky I didn't lose control actually.
Sadly another woman was hit over the weekend up on 9w up by exit 4 and I believe she is no longer with us but not confirmed.
MST.ESQ
New Member
I once saw a cyclist (was not me, of course) quickly rip open a GU pack (Tri-Berry flavor if I am correct) and flip it onto the windshield. As could be expected from simple human minds, the driver turned on the wipers to try and get it off.