Bad Seattle Drivers GRRRRR

[Running Mommy]

Sounds like we need to get some jerseys made up with a big yelllow caution sign on the back that says "CYCLING IS NOT A CRIME" ... Kinda like the "skateboarding is not a crime" stickers my bro used to have back in the day...
Sigh....

[Micki Rider]

I hear that all the time, too, about "when bikers follow the rules..." In fact, someone I work with said this to me one day about bike-to-work month (he smokes, so what does he care about getting on a bike, his own health, or the life of a biker, right?).

In the Seattle area the Cascade Bicycle Club just launched a Give Cyclists 3 Feet campaign. I don't know about the rest of you aroud here, but I freaked out when I heard that. What, now cars that before gave me a wide berth are thinking it's OK to skirt me within a yard? If I don't have a bike lane and that's all the room I'm afforded them I'm taking the lane! Cascade does so many good things for the cycling community in Washington, but I think this one should have been thought through a little more. 3' means 3" to some.

[Eden]

Well - it is the law around here (WA state that is - and many other states for that matter) that cars must give at least 3 feet when passing a cyclist. I find it pretty amazing that you feel most cars give you enough space already. I would heartily support anyone's efforts to get the word out to the driving world that they need to give 3 feet as I am routinely passed with inches to spare. If I were taller.... some of those mirrors really stick out! I don't think that most motorists are aware that they are doing it and just how dangerous it is - I think they both don't know about the 3 foot law and just how wide their vehicle actually is. If spreading knowledge of the 3 foot law gets them at least thinking about leaving more space I'm all for it!

[teigyr]

I didn't know about the 3' rule. Sounds like that would be a good public service announcement or should go on billboards or something.

Some of those mirrors are downright scary. I AM tall and have no desire to be thwacked! I wondered if it was a law that the mirrors had to be closer to the vehicle if the vehicle isn't towing anything but I guess most of them don't adjust that way.

Is there any campaign to educate drivers? Beyond drivers education, that is.

[Micki Rider]

All right. So I've now heeded the warning too about mirrors from you. Especially as boating / RV-camping season arrives in my area and there's an endless supply of hazards.

I too suspect that a lot of those folks passing within inches just breeze on by wondering what we're doing riding out in front of them in their way....I think a lot of what I see is laziness. I'm still freaked about the 3 Feet campaign and haven't put those stickers on anything. Though maybe I'm pretending I have an invisible fence protecting me, too.

[teigyr]

Are there stickers? And if so, where can I get some?!

Micki Rider, are you riding in Bellvue? The closest I've come to it is off the 520 trail where the lights are. Scary stuff even in crossing the streets - drivers don't even look before making right hand turns sometimes!!! I'm still really squeamish about riding on the street unless there is a Very Wide Bikelane.

[stpbound]

Today, I saw a billboard on 15th Ave (near Interbay) that urged motorists to give cyclists 3' of room. I was surprised and glad to see that a movement has begun to educate drivers a bit more.

I also saw a bumper sticker that I really like...it said, "Start seeing bicycles."

[mimitabby]

I have some Teigyr. Get me your DH's interoffice mail address and i will mail you a couple

[Starfish]

I wonder what would happen if we all used our cell phones to report (with license plates) any driver breaking these laws (the 3 foot law, the road rage/aggressive driving laws)? Just call 911, give a location, a description, and a plate number?

In a related type of thing, I put the WA State Litter hotline on speed/voice dial on my cell phone. When I'm following anyone throwing cigarettes or anything out their window, I call the hotline. The hotline mails a notice to the registered owner of the vehicle. I don't know if it does any good, but I must say that making the call helps me calm down. I feel proactive...like I've done something. Wouldn't it be amazing if Cascade or other clubs could partner with law enforcement for some sort of hotline?

[teigyr]

I like the idea of calling in drivers who ignore the rule. I wonder if anyone will do anything though? I guess I have had THE worst experiences ever with the police up here. Apathy, would be the word. I know they crack down on carpool lane offenders and litterers but those offences have their own reporting numbers.

[Eden]

You can call about agressive driving and road rage (there is information here http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/roadrage.htm ) There is also an online form for areas that you've observed multiple acts of road rage or agressive driving. I wonder if I should report the area in front of Redhook over in Redmond. It rarely fails that when I am riding over there I am passed in the turn lane - while I am signaling that I will be making a left - by a car who does not wish to wait until I move over. I had some idiot do that just this Wednesday. I came around the corner and stayed in the lane, as I would be moving over to the left turn lane in about a block, as soon as I signaled left the jerk revs it up and speeds around me on my left then slams on the brakes, turns sharply- squealing tires - the wholen nine yards - into the brewery and comes to a stop in the entrance. I think he may have been thinking about getting out of the car, but it turned out there was another cyclist behind us who saw it all.... I don't know what he was playing at, but if he had just been patient for about 10 seconds I would have moved into the left turn lane and turned left onto the trail. That's the second place where people do this to me, on my way home I get passed by dumb@sses doing the same thing. I come out of a light and have to go 1/2 a block before turning left - it rarely fails that someone comes around me on my left as I am signaling my left hand turn...... they would never try this if I was in a car.

[Micki Rider]

Hey - Sorry - I'm back on this topic now.

The Give 3 Feet sickers are available through Cascade Bicycle Club. They've created a website for the campaign, too. It's www.give3feet.org

They'll hook you up with stickers if Mimi hasn't already sent them to you.

Go figure - I had so many new and freaky things happen in traffic on my 5th commute to work (Bellevue to Tukwila) yesterday that on National Bike To Work Day, I drove. What a drag. To top that off, freeway traffic was so bad this morning that I realized I'd rather be spending any harried time on my bike than driving in a line where I'm more likely to get rear-ended. Bad decision to drive today. I should have bucked up, but I'll calm down and start bike commuting again next week.

[teigyr]

Thank you for all the links! I really didn't know all the WA bicycle rules and found it all very interesting. It seems like the laws are very much in favor of the cyclist despite the fact that drivers ignore some of them. I didn't realize we had the choice to ride on the sidewalk, I always thought we weren't allowed to. Not that I'd want to, of course, but sometimes it's the only safe option.

I have saved all the info and will start acting on it. I think dangerous intersections or areas should be reported as should dangerous drivers.

Thanks again and Eden, Be Safe! (same goes for everyone else, of course)

[Starfish]

Yes, thank you very much, Eden, for the info. And, I definitely think you should report what you have been describing to us.

[KnottedYet]

Nobody likes them. They look dorky. Geek alert.

But honestly, when I did a big organized ride and had a honkin' orange flag on my bike (required by the ride) cars gave me wide berth. If only so they wouldn't scratch their car on the flagpole. I kept using that flag for a while on my bike commute. It was amazing.

If I get into commuting on the busier streets or if I start hauling a trailer, you can bet I'll be putting a flag on my bike again.

I don't mind looking stupid if it helps drivers see me.