How often do you almost get hit by cars?

[wackyjacky1]

Don't hug the curb, Claim Your Lane!

And like tofu, I wave to people all the time -- it's kinda like saying, "Thanks for not running me over!"

[Bluetree]

...as close to the curb as I could be with all the traffic in the road

Nope. Never. I always take the lane.

I also try to become as part of the traffic as possible, as opposed to cultivating an Us-vs-Them mentality. A good article to read: http://tinyurl.com/b36km4

[GLC1968]

I actually just rode in a 'real' city this past weekend. I was with Susan O (of all people) and I noticed that she was really good and yelling loudly when cars weren't paying attention. We were there on a weekend when there was definitely less traffic, but it wasn't nearly as nerve-wracking as I thought it would be.

That said, I've noticed a definite decline in my 'near misses' as time goes on. I used to commute in a medium sized city (some areas were definitely urban) and I almost got hit a LOT. I mean, there was one situtation where this woman came to a stop just inches from my knees (she was turning into me). I could pat her car with my hand with only barely a lean forward...that's how close it was. Ugh. Anyway, now half my commute is in a medium sized city with some urban areas. I do like LPH, and I assume they don't see me. I also am MUCH more likely to take the lane. I've always done it in slow moving traffic, but now I even do it when it's not so slow but I still feel it's in my best interest.

In fact, just last night, I was at a light, I had a bike lane, and I was going straight. The woman in the right turn lane was stopped for the red light, but she was watching for an opening. She was also talking on the phone. She didn't get her opening, so when the light turned green, she went...without looking. Both myself and the pedestrian had seen her ahead of time and neither of us moved until she was gone. She never even looked and didn't know how close she had come to manslaughter. We'd both be smooshed if we had started across the intersection as we had the right to do. The car behind her waved us both on.

Eye contact, waving, yelling...make yourself visible. If you can't (like with this chick) assume that they won't see you and do what you need to do to stay safe.

[IvonaDestroi]

Hmmm...

Well the feeling seems mutual about using the lane... I try to but it's so hard with all those cars in the way! They simply refuse to yeild! Seems like logical sound advice though... I'll give it a try and just see if I can force my way in. I don't think I've really seen many cyclists doing it that way in heavy traffic, maybe that's why I havn't really caught on to it.

I'm just paranoid because of the way people are around here. it would absolutely not surprise me if they hit someone on purpose for doing that (it's sort of the attitude around where I live, most drivers are apparently not aware of the street riding laws)... I get yelled at all the time (get off the road!), people try to run you off the road, and someone even once asked me out of their window what I was doing in the left turn lane Even though they see tons of bikes doing it they just can't seem to figure it out.

all the more reason I should maybe check out some of those books!

Thanx for the info!

[lph]

Taking the lane is harder if you're moving a lot slower than traffic (eg. uphill), and is less popular if traffic has a hard time passing you. In that case it might be good to check if you have other options, other roads you can take. If you have to ride on a narrow road, you can make it easier on everyone by moving more to the side and waving traffic past when it's safe for *you*, and signalling and taking the lane again when you need to.

If the road is wide or has several lanes - take the right-hand wheel track and stick to it. You then should have about a metre on your right that's all yours if someone passes you too closely. Watch out for the ones that will pass you as fast as possible (after all you're only a cyclist... ), and then suddenly find out that there's a red light or pile-up ahead and start braking.

I got asked that about the left-turn lane too... waiting for a green, by a seriously grumpy bus-driver, who wasn't even going that way... I answered truthfully "because I'm turning left." He harrumphed, grumbled that I should be following the pedestrian crossing, and closed his window again before I could answer

Good luck with your clueless drivers!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you have to ride on a narrow road, you can make it easier on everyone by moving more to the side and waving traffic past when it's safe for *you*, and signalling and taking the lane again when you need to.

I think in the US drivers are pretty much clueless everywhere...there is still an overwhelming sense that the streets are for cars and trucks only.
LPH's advice above about making broad signals that clarify your intentions well ahead of time really helps car drivers understand what you are about to do. Don't be afraid to boldly signal to drivers to stop, let you in, or pass you. In most cases they are glad to know your intentions since they are always unsure as to what to *do* about bicycles.
Being timid in traffic and thus riding in blind spots or gutters usually works against you, because you are riding in an imaginary 'lane' that does not actually exist, and drivers don't even think to anticipate anyone being there. Contrary to what one might initially think, there is such a thing as being assertive and being safe at the same time. Sure you'll get yelled at and cut off by jerks, but you already get yelled at and cut off now anyway...jerks are just a fact of life in traffic, so we might as well ride where they can see us better.

Make lane changes well ahead of intersections, signal boldly, but always think ahead and leave yourself room for a quick escape. And most importantly- unless a driver is looking into your eyes and signaling you face to face....always assume they do not see you, assume they are going to do the wrong thing (like turn without signaling or open their door or pull out of a parking spot without looking) and ride accordingly.

Good luck! And as others have said- sometimes there is a section of road that is so hazardous that it might be good to map out an alternate route that skirts around the worst part of it. Your life is worth the extra 5 or 10 minutes of detour. You'll also find that after you ride another year or two in traffic you will acquire better skills and intuition. I know that some intersections and situations that used to totally freak me out no longer seem particularly scary or tricky anymore.

[Tuckervill]

Happened to me, yesterday. Taking my new bike* out for a spin, since I just got it put together. Going down the old main drag of my little town (think Main Street, with shops on either side). I've got the right of way, and an SUV comes up to a stop sign on the side street, and even looking straight at me, decides to roll the stop sign as I'm crossing into the intersection. I yelled, 'HEEeeey!" and they slammed on the brakes. I made eye contact with the guy before he decided I wasn't worth pressing a few more inches on his brake pedal.

Assertiveness does work. I'm likely, in my little town, to be yelling at someone I know or am acquainted with. All the better to raise awareness, I say.

Karen
*indigoiis and I traded bikes! She hasn't got hers yet, so I was waiting to say anything. It's like we both got new bikes. I hope hers fits as well as mine does.