got clipped by passenger side mirror

[Sgritn]

deleted double post

[Sgritn]

arrr, scary

Some drivers seem to have no idea that cyclists are balanced on just 2 wheels protected by nothing but their wits. The faster and straighter you ride the more likely you are to be treated like another car.

My first thought was that you might want to keep a little extra leeway on your right, so you have somewhere to fall. If I'm a fan of both actively helping traffic pass AND purposely blocking the lane until it's safe to pass. But even when letting cars pass I try to keep a little extra space on my right. And I admit to introducing an unnecessary wobble to my steering if I have the feeling someone is really pushing me...

Thanks for your confirmation of my "INTENTIONAL WOBBLE" method. I'm a new rider of 2 months and I do use that wobble to hopefully protect myself a bit more. Drivers do give me a wider berth, a light horn toot or a slow down when I do it, particularly when approaching a green light with a driver coming up on my left...I am sending the signal.."I may fall in your path..slow down, don't turn right until I pass..." I know this is no guarantee of greater safety but it's been working.

[sundial]

....I felt the mirror hit my left shoulder.

Oh Barb, I'm so glad you weren't hurt! I think drivers are more distracted these days. Have you noticed how many people are on their cell phones while they drive?

[Flur]

Around here I've found that around here if someone passes too close it's not because they don't see me, it's because either they're peeved that I'm there or they think they've given me enough room when they haven't. Sometimes it's hard to tell which, and sometimes it's pretty obvious!

I've also found that in the same way that most dogs seem to think they are medium-sized, most drivers seem to think they are in medium-sized vehicles. The drivers of big trucks seem to forget how wide they are and tend to pass a lot closer than smaller cars.

[RolliePollie]

Wow...I've sort of felt the breeze of a mirror really close but I've not been actually hit by one yet. I have a helmet mirror and a few times I've just decided not to look because I knew the car passing me was way too close. I'm so glad you're ok!

I think that no matter what tactic you take...riding close to the road edge, taking the lane, etc....you can never anticipate what a car is going to do. Today I moved out into the lane to prevent a big pickup from passing me on a blind curve. I was going about 25 and the speed limit is 35, so to me it seems safer to move out into the lane than to stay way to the right and invite someone to pass me when there's no room (no shoulder or white line on this particular road...just a nice little dropoff where the pavement ends). But this guy was intent on passing me anyway and moved completely into the oncoming lane. Thank heavens there wasn't any oncoming traffic or someone (probably me) would be dead right now.

[HillSlugger]

I'm glad that you are ok!

On one of my commutes I had someone pass by so close that they sheared off my bar-end mirror. It happened so fast that I didn't have time to get scared or upset.