yikes!!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Riding farther out in the driving lane makes a certain amount of sense, but I suspect with two joggers side-by-side that you would have needed to be in the middle of the lane to get by them.

I'm a little surprised that no one mentioned another option - and that would have been to just come to a stop. That probably would have been safer than pulling in front of the car.

--- Denise

[Geonz]

It really didn't sound like she did anything like "pulling in front of the car," since the car wasn't that close behind. Rather, the car may have had to slow some to wait for the slower vehicle - the bicycle - until it was safe to pass it.
Stopping in a roadway is a hazardous choice of its own; I often have to remind myself (and other riders) that if we're going to stop, we need to move off the road. If the car had been closer (or I wasn't sure I could pull out into the lane safely), I'd have stopped, indeed - especially if I were dealing with one of those alien shuttles... you just never know waht those Martians will do...

[DeniseGoldberg]

It really didn't sound like she did anything like "pulling in front of the car," since the car wasn't that close behind.

If was this comment that made me think stopping may have been a good thing to do:

looked over my shoulder real quick, to see a car coming up behind me. i realized, hit the people, or try to miss the car...

Of course it's not possible to tell from that comment how close the car really was. And not being there, we also don't know how fast the car was moving.

You're absolutely right about not stopping in a driving lane but pulling off of the road. It did sound like this was in a residential neighborhood though, so stopping on the right side of the road prior to running into the joggers may have been reasonable.

[Grog]

I think that what stopped me from recommending stopping was the fact that she was riding at about 20mph.

Unless one is a very experienced cyclist, an emergency stop at that speed can have more dire consequences than the other suggestions...

Slowing down when riding on residential streets might be an option though... if one is riding that fast,one more reason to take the lane.

[mimitabby]

big arm signals are useful to alert the motorist too.
I ring bells, yell, and flap my arms around.

[lph]

big arm signals are useful to alert the motorist too.
I ring bells, yell, and flap my arms around.

I have this fantastic mental image now of your avatar coming down a road at high speed squawking and flapping her arms...

[Geonz]

If was this comment that made me think stopping may have been a good thing to do: Of course it's not possible to tell from that comment how close the car really was. And not being there, we also don't know how fast the car was moving.

You're absolutely right about not stopping in a driving lane but pulling off of the road. It did sound like this was in a residential neighborhood though, so stopping on the right side of the road prior to running into the joggers may have been reasonable.

And... it certainly should have been mentioned as an option. I know sometimes I get stuck in "Forward thinking," when stopping is the best move (or non-move ).

[inatree]

well...lesson learned, i will be staying more to the left of the lane now...i really dont think i couldve stopped safetly since i was going so fast. i also didnt mention why i didnt yell or say anything...i have a vocal chords issue and my voice doesnt get very loud, a little embarassing to bring up
if i had yelled they most likely would not have heard anything

thanks for your input! i like the "bip bip" comment. i will try to use my bell more...hopefully that will start working

its raining right now and i cant ride! damnit...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

well...lesson learned, i will be staying more to the left of the lane now...i really dont think i couldve stopped safetly since i was going so fast. i also didnt mention why i didnt yell or say anything...i have a vocal chords issue and my voice doesnt get very loud, a little embarassing to bring up
if i had yelled they most likely would not have heard anything

thanks for your input! i like the "bip bip" comment. i will try to use my bell more...hopefully that will start working

its raining right now and i cant ride! damnit...

Also do try to be aware of cars behind you at any given time- not just when your path in front is getting blocked. Consider more frequent mirror checking.