|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
So, there I was, riding straight down the street on the right side about 2
feet from the curb, when a driver passed me and then immediately turned right! It was one of those "time-slows-down" moments, but I managed to brake just enough to avoid hitting the car's right rear tire. The teen driver didn't even notice, but the older woman waiting to pull out from that side street was astonished. It's amazing how much you can notice when time is standing still.... I got to thinking, "How could I be safer" and the only thing I can think of is to check in my mirror for overtaking drivers each and every time as I approach a cross street. Can anyone think of something else? Pat in TX |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
On Dec 13, 2:15*pm, "PatTX" wrote:
So, there I was, riding straight down the street on the right side about 2 feet from the curb, when a driver passed me and then immediately turned right! It was one of those "time-slows-down" moments, but I managed to brake just enough to avoid hitting the car's right rear tire. The teen driver didn't even notice, but the older woman waiting to pull out from that side street was astonished. It's amazing how much you can notice when time is standing still.... I got to thinking, "How could I be safer" and the only thing I can think of is to check in my mirror for overtaking drivers each and every time as I approach a cross street. Can anyone think of something else? Pat in TX there really is nothing you can do to prevent that; crossstreets, driveways, parking lots they're everywhere as are the idiots who pass and block you with their car. hell, a simple short ride got me like that ten years ago some girl driving her dads car ( who probabally only drove a few goats there before being allowed to drive a 2000kg car over here) ; front tooth, busted nose, I might have even lost an eye by the extent of the gouges left on my brikos. you can ride slower so the inertia doesn't carry you forward so much when you need to emergency stop but that is quite anethama to the joy of cycling |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
In article ,
"PatTX" writes: So, there I was, riding straight down the street on the right side about 2 feet from the curb, when a driver passed me and then immediately turned right! It was one of those "time-slows-down" moments, but I managed to brake just enough to avoid hitting the car's right rear tire. The teen driver didn't even notice, but the older woman waiting to pull out from that side street was astonished. It's amazing how much you can notice when time is standing still.... I got to thinking, "How could I be safer" and the only thing I can think of is to check in my mirror for overtaking drivers each and every time as I approach a cross street. Can anyone think of something else? Whenever I approach intersections I like to move somewhat to the left when I can safely do so. It makes it that much more difficult for upcoming drivers to pull off the ol' right hook. I realize it goes against a rider's grain when you just want to maintain a nice, straight line, but it works. Two feet from the curb sounds a little marginal to me. I like at least a yard. I find that distance is less of an invitation to overtaking drivers to pretend I'm not even there, while still allowing them to steer around me. If they want to turn right (in front of me) they'd first have to veer left to get around me. Most drivers would rather not have to go through all that effort. I guess the trick is to not make it easy for 'em, but at the same time, not making it annoyingly difficult. A balancing act. In zones which are heavily shadowed by nearby trees or buildings, I'll take even more street, to maintain my visibility. Most of the near-miss right-hookings I've seen of riders ahead of me, have happened in heavily shadowed areas while the rider was positioned more to the right than I'd be comfortable with. It's all too easy to become lost in the shadows. John Forester recommends we riders position ourselves not by distance from the curb, but around the right tire tracks of the ambient motorized traffic. That works pretty good "in general" but we still have to bear in mind other considerations, like shadows, driveways, parking lot entrances/exits, intersections, &c. There's a lot more granularity to picking a line with sufficient wriggle room & escape routes in urban traffic than Forester indicates. cheers, Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
On Dec 13, 3:54*pm, (Tom Keats) wrote:
In article , * * * * writes: On Dec 13, 2:15*pm, "PatTX" wrote: So, there I was, riding straight down the street on the right side about 2 feet from the curb, when a driver passed me and then immediately turned right! It was one of those "time-slows-down" moments, but I managed to brake just enough to avoid hitting the car's right rear tire. The teen driver didn't even notice, but the older woman waiting to pull out from that side street was astonished. It's amazing how much you can notice when time is standing still.... I got to thinking, "How could I be safer" and the only thing I can think of is to check in my mirror for overtaking drivers each and every time as I approach a cross street. Can anyone think of something else? Pat in TX there really is nothing you can do to prevent that; crossstreets, driveways, parking lots they're everywhere as are the idiots who pass and block you with their car. There is /much/ a rider can do, and it begins with one's attitude. hell, a simple short ride got me like that ten years ago some girl driving her dads car ( who probabally only drove a few goats there before being allowed to drive a 2000kg car over here) ; front tooth, busted nose, I might have even lost an eye by the extent of the gouges left on my brikos. you can ride slower so the inertia doesn't carry you forward so much when you need to emergency stop but that is quite anethama to the joy of cycling I recommend a perusal of the book: The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons From the Street, by Robert Hurst. *It'll verify & articulate a bunch of stuff you've already subconciously figured out, and provide you with some more insights that just might come in handy. cheers, * * * * Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - no, she was just plain old stupid, she went into the other lane to pass me then braked making a sharp turn right in front of me; I was doing about 35kph when this happened; there was no reason she had to pass me |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
On Dec 13, 1:15*pm, "PatTX" wrote:
So, there I was, riding straight down the street on the right side about 2 feet from the curb, when a driver passed me and then immediately turned right! It was one of those "time-slows-down" moments, but I managed to brake just enough to avoid hitting the car's right rear tire. The teen driver didn't even notice, but the older woman waiting to pull out from that side street was astonished. It's amazing how much you can notice when time is standing still.... I got to thinking, "How could I be safer" and the only thing I can think of is to check in my mirror for overtaking drivers each and every time as I approach a cross street. Can anyone think of something else? Pat in TX No matter how much attention you pay you can't avoid the completely oblivious. Before my accident I had two close calls. One was a guy making a left turn on green when I was going staight. The other was a guy who was goign away to fast in a turn lane and almost rear ended me. So now I am going to avoid the faster/busier route. I also go all the way to the edge on the turn lane to minimize the risk of being hit. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
PatTX wrote:
So, there I was, riding straight down the street on the right side about 2 feet from the curb, when a driver passed me and then immediately turned right! It was one of those "time-slows-down" moments, but I managed to brake just enough to avoid hitting the car's right rear tire. The teen driver didn't even notice, but the older woman waiting to pull out from that side street was astonished. It's amazing how much you can notice when time is standing still.... I got to thinking, "How could I be safer" and the only thing I can think of is to check in my mirror for overtaking drivers each and every time as I approach a cross street. Can anyone think of something else? Pat in TX I like to ride a bit further out from the curb as I find it makes me more noticeable (if a bit more annoying) to the powered traffic. To those who complain that I should be riding as close to the curb as practicable, my response is that I ride as close as I can while still be noticed by other traffic. If other road users do not notice me, my position is impractical. tongueincheek The other option is a good handgun. Won't prevent the immediate incident, but it will prevent future incidents from that particular driver. /tongueincheek Sadly, walking is no safer. Thursday past, walking from the bus stop to my office (4 blocks), I had TWO incidents in which I was almost hit while legally crossing the road. If it wasn't for the ice on the roads, I'd ride my bike - safer than walking from the bus stop. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Nearly got into an accident
"PatTX" .net... I got to thinking, "How could I be safer" and the only thing I can think of is to check in my mirror for overtaking drivers each and every time as I approach a cross street. Can anyone think of something else? Glad you're ok, Pat. I think you should definitely look for overtaking driving each and every time you pass a cross street. I thought everyone did this. Also, you should also consider moving to the left [to center of lane] a bit if the traffic allows. I think being too close to the right edge of the road can result in drivers on the cross street not seeing you. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Just another accident. | Tony Raven[_2_] | UK | 16 | November 20th 07 10:46 PM |
accident | Adam Lea | UK | 16 | August 3rd 07 01:39 PM |
Almost an accident | dannyfrankszzz | UK | 21 | August 25th 06 07:34 PM |
DD accident | Jo | UK | 41 | July 14th 06 03:16 PM |
Car Accident | MN | Australia | 184 | September 19th 03 04:19 AM |