Why cars misjudge a cyclist's speed

[Eden]

Unfortunately its also d*amned by the cars if you don't and d*amned by the cars if you do.....
How many times have you heard drivers complain about how slow cyclists tie up traffic (which if you ask me, the amount of time it takes to safely pass a cyclist is trivial - you just get to the the next red light an iota later....), then how many times have you heard an accident blamed on a cyclist, because they were going too fast.... (they should have been going slow enough to stop for that stupid driver who decided to pull out in front of them as they were going down that 11% grade.... or one of my other favorites the cyclist should not have been "passing on the right" - in other words car speeds around cyclist and makes right hand turn right into cyclist's path, hapless cyclist has no time to stop, but oh the cyclist should not have been "passing on the right")

I take an inbetween stand about bike paths - they are totally not the place for fast uncontrolled riding, especially on nice summer days when they are crowded. If you want to go race, do intervals, or ride with a fast group do it on the roads. Don't fall into the trap of complaining about walkers the way cars complain about cyclists... On the other hand - other people do need to have some common sense when using them....... stay to the right (I was hit head on by a bicycle coming around a corner on the left.... neither of us was going very fast, but I still don't like to fall off.... unfortunately this path crosses a bridge that only the freeway does so its not optional to use it) always leash pets and don't allow them to run wildly across the path - those stupid extendable leashes can be nearly invisible! If it is a no pet area that means you too - no matter how well behaved you think your poochie is. (there is a trail along my commute that for some reason people think is a great place to run their dogs off leash ) Teach your kids good trail ettiquite early, don't allow them to run wild either. If they are incapable of riding in a straight line, then maybe they need more practice before they are taken out onto crowded paths. Have enough adults to look after all the kids you take and ride behind them so that you can keep an eye on them. A kid who is getting panicked because they are being left behind can be dangerous - and its not making biking fun for the kid either. Look both ways before you cross or step out onto the trail! - amazing how many people don't use this bit of common sense.... if you are using a multiuse trail for any activity you have to expect and remember that others will be using it too, so don't act so suprised when there are bikes on the trail too. Oh and if you are going to stuff your ears with earbuds don't expect me to try to alert you to my presence, its not worth my time and energy to scream at you while you remain serenely oblivious.