Pointing at Drivers?

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Originally Posted by Grog

And I HATE it when some honk as a way of expressing their support/cheering.

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I had a guy tap his horn then wave out his window at me as he drove by. At first I was expecting the ol' bird, but it was a wave for about 5 seconds. I was drinking some water at the time and was like WTF is he waving at me for? I guess I'm too cynical also :)

I hear stories of people getting stuff thrown at them on the road all the time, but I've (knock on wood) never had that happen. I've been yelled at a few times. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU OWN THE ROAD?! Um, yeah I do actually. Or my personal favorite. GET ON THE F**KING SIDEWALK! Ok but there is no sidewalk. Not that I'd ever ride on a sidewalk. But nothing thrown. Everyone I've heard this from is a guy. Any of you girls had this happen?

My son has had a full coke can, a handful of large bolts and various other sundry items thrown at him by what I refer to as "the bubba factor" (Not my fault they all happened to be driving beat up old pick up trucks!) Now mind you - this was early in the morning on VERY low traffic roads where there was NOONE else on the road. These were just incidents of pure aggression for no good reason.

I know some people honk to be friendly but I sure wish they wouldnt it! I just about pee my shorts everytime!

In Texas, if there are two lanes or more in each direction, you are better off riding two abreast and having the cars move into the 2nd lane to pass you if traffic is light. If you try to ride real close to the curb, they will try to skate by you, giving you as little room as possible. If Im riding alone in the street, I take up the right lane for the most part. If the road is heavy with traffic, I hang at the curb at the light and let most of the traffic go by before I cross the intersection. Basically, if you want to be treated like traffic, you have to act like traffic and that includes following the laws, being courteous to vehicles, and using your turn signals and brake lights as it were. Sharing the road goes both ways.

I like the idea of smiling and waving at drivers - I will definitely have to try that. But when someone does cut you off and you have to yell to avoid an accident, what do you say? I know it's silly, but I'd be the one there going "crap, what do I say?" and having the accident anyway... :o

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Originally Posted by bcipam

Is that a legal right ot ride two abreast out into the traffic lane?

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I thought it was legal if cyclists needed to take the whole lane for safety reasons. Like if two are riding along and come up on a really curvy section of road, they could ride two abreast to increase visibility. If I'm mistaken, please let me know!

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Originally Posted by Grog

And I HATE it when some honk as a way of expressing their support/cheering.

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My hubby does this just as a way to say hi to other cyclists.

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Originally Posted by tatormc

My hubby does this just as a way to say hi to other cyclists.

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I am sure it is well intended but just warn him that it can frighten or surprise some of us enough to fall off the bike. Especially if I am climbing and very concentrated on my front wheel, I don't pay much attention to the noises around me and a loud honk can really be brutal at that moment...

I guess this is true when coming from behind. When coming in the opposite direction, I probably would not mind as much and wave hello in return...

Rant time...

I had an incident happen just this morning that fits right into the discussion here. I was riding down the road and noticed ahead of me a car wanted to turn left out of an apartment complex. I slowed down because the driver was looking away from me. I like to make eye contact so that I'm sure the driver sees me. The driver looked my way, we made eye contact, I held my hand out in a way to indicate hold on I'm coming by and he pulled out in front of me anyways. Luckily, since I had been slowing down in case he didn't see me, I was able to brake hard and not run into him. He had his window down so I yelled at him that I had the right of way.

Why, oh why, are drivers in such a rush and time is so important to them that they can't wait for 10 seconds for you to pass by them? I know this guy saw me. I really think that he just didn't want to wait for me so he figured he could pull out before I got there. Well, it worked out okay this time because I was paying attention. What if I hadn't been?

I'm not defending the driver ski - by no means. He was in the wrong but........I think most drivers have not a clue just how fast a bike can go. Most people who don't ride have not a clue that a bike can travel between 15-20 mph with a single rider.....now factor in a Woman rider for crying out loud. I mean no Way can a Woman rider go much faster than 2-5 mph! As for the hand gesture, since you are a slow woman rider how nice was that to wave him on through! What a nice lady!! :rolleyes: ;)
I treat every vehicle on the road for exactly what it is - a ton of screaming hot metal that could rip holes in my little tiny body and spit me out like a pit. I tend to ride either just to the left of the white line or just slightly to the right of the line if I have a bike lane just to be sure the cars behind me know I'm there. I also signal even when I'm just letting them know I'm NOT taking the right turn only lane. I do tend to go up front at stoplights - ONLY if there's room - coz for reasons known only to them, ABQ fades out the bike lanes at most intersections so I WANT those cars to know I'm there and that I'm gonna cross that street AND that I need a little room until I can get my bike lane back. I feel very fortunate that in my city - so far - I've encountered only nice drivers, few honkers and only 1 squeezer (a Black SUV). To answer Tar-Cats question, the one and only time I "yelled" at a car was when someone rushed an exit driveway to make a right hand turn just as I was approaching. I yelled (what did someone call it? south philly?) "YO" really loud and sat up as high as I could while guarding the brake levers. Poor guy looked scared to death - had not a clue I was there. I thanked him as I passed in front of him and he waved back.
My vent is the really sweet driver the stops all the traffic behind him - After I've stopped and After I'm unclipped and have my foot down - to let me cross the street. Of course that driver has not a clue whats coming in the other lanes either next to him or oncoming and has not a clue that he's/she's just tee'd off some other driver behind him that one of these days will come Roaring around to pass this very nice driver coz maniac didn't see the biker there. The very nice driver also just assumes - I'm guessing - that I'm kinda like a Whizzer and all I have to do is push down on the pedal and the bike will go Reallly Fasssst. I try not to get annoyed with them but com'n drivers - use some common sense with your courtesy! vent done tyvm

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Originally Posted by bcipam

Is that a legal right ot ride two abreast out into the traffic lane?

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Originally Posted by Tar-Cat

I thought it was legal if cyclists needed to take the whole lane for safety reasons. ...If I'm mistaken, please let me know!

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I suggest you check the vehicle code for your state. I live in Massachusetts, and riding 2 abreast is not legal here.

From the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter 85: Section 11B Bicycles; operation and equipment; regulations; federal product safety standards, effect; races; violations; penalties

Operators of bicycles shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1) The operator shall ride single file on any way except when passing.

But what I found interesting is that I couldn't find a reference to where a bicyclist should ride relative to the road. As in, close to the right, or in the center of the lane, or... I generally stay as far to the right as I feel is safe, but far enough out in the road that drivers know that I am there and that they will need to go around me. If I feel that conditions are unsafe to ride to the side of the lane, then I move closer to the center of the lane. I'm with Corsair in that I do whatever I can do to be safe among those (powered) vehicles that are much bigger than I am.

Here's a link to bike regulations in all states: http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/statelaws.htm, and another for regulations in Canada and France & UK: http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/intl_laws.htm.

--- Denise

Here in my part of Florida we have either well built bike lanes or paths off the side of the road. I find most of my problems crossing intersections; the drivers here do not seem to pay attention to the pedestrian crossing lane even with me 1/2 way through waiting for the left turn traffic light to go red.

I enjoying riding the road though, in FL my understanding (if it has not changed) is that we get 4 inches from the white line for riding. Only time I get nervous is with the dump trucks going past me, normally on 2 lane roads they move over away from me.

I normally try to make sure the driver has seen me and is yielding before I move through their path; I have been known to yell from time to time.

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Originally Posted by Tar-Cat

I like the idea of smiling and waving at drivers - I will definitely have to try that. But when someone does cut you off and you have to yell to avoid an accident, what do you say? I know it's silly, but I'd be the one there going "crap, what do I say?" and having the accident anyway... :o

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I've practiced enough that yelling, "HEY!!" very deep and loud is second nature to me.

I recently recognized that I'm getting way too uptight about cars and drivers. I concentrated on being more flexible and congenial yesterday, and it made my ride much more pleasant. :)

(The worst was the time a car squeezed past me as his lane ended. I pulled up behind him and went into a really long tirade. His windows were up, I don't know if he heard me say "You are a Very Bad Man and should be ashamed! Are you trying to kill me? Would killing me make you happy? Isn't it great how much time you saved by trying to kill me? Oh, look, we're still both waiting at the same red light..." :o )

FYI, in Ohio the rule is that we should ride "as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable". I most frequently ride in the right wheel-rut of the lane, so that there is not quite enough room to pass me without actually thinking about it and passing partly in the other lane. Occasionally if the shoulder gives me enough room to maneuver in case of emergency, I'll ride closer to the white line.

We are also permitted to ride two abreast, except where posted in specific townships. Cops will hassle us for riding three abreast though, and they'll *really* give us a hard time where "Bicycles must ride single file" is posted.

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Originally Posted by alison_in_oh

(The worst was the time a car squeezed past me as his lane ended. I pulled up behind him and went into a really long tirade. His windows were up, I don't know if he heard me say "You are a Very Bad Man and should be ashamed! Are you trying to kill me? Would killing me make you happy? Isn't it great how much time you saved by trying to kill me? Oh, look, we're still both waiting at the same red light..." :o )

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ROFLMAO! Ok, so I'm not supposed to say this...but you go, girl!!

I've decided it's ok to curse and mutter under your breath and give them the evil eye. That way they don't try to take you out with their vehicle/rifle/fists because they don't know who placed that evil curse on them (you know, the one that makes their car suddenly need $3K in repairs :D )

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Originally Posted by Lynne

ROFLMAO! Ok, so I'm not supposed to say this...but you go, girl!!

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"You are a Very Bad _______ and you should be Ashamed" is what I am training myself to say instead of cursing. The above tirade is much more family-friendly than the one I offered to the guy who passed me on the right through an intersection, cut me off just before hitting a parked car, only to take an immediate left in front of me. His window was down and I chased him hard so I could keep letting him have it! Almost kept up with him too, I had him in sight for the next mile and a half.

So much anger isn't good for the soul though. I keep reminding myself to smile! I'm on a bike and it's a great day for a ride! :)

I was pleasantly surprised to find the state of NM allows me ride in the street with no restrictions if no bike lane is available. We can also ride 2 abreast Except in the downtown business district. I was also very surprised to find out no cars are allowed in the bike lane either to park or to use as a right hand turn lane. So Do I ride in the street with no restrictions? uhhhh no - coz the drivers here are basically nincompoops and I value my health and well-being! But when driving I will stay out of the bike lanes in the future if I'm making right hand turns.

The City of Albuquerque publishes a bike route map that they give out free which has all the state/city laws applicable to bike riders/horses/skaters. Cool idea!

Welcome to latelatebloomer's class on The South Philly "YO!"

Forget about speaking from your diaphragm. That's not deep enough. It should start at the soles of your feet and burst upward explosively.
When practiced sufficiently, it can stop every living creature within 200 yds, dent sheet metal, and even get the bartender's attention.

Now ride your bike up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum and do a little dance. :cool: