Sorry...mini vent

[Eden]

People do not like to admit they just did something very dangerous...

I've noticed that a lot of people (especially those yakking on phones) who pull out in front of you, nearly run you over in the crosswalk etc tend to just give you this goofy grin as an "apology" for nearly running you down.... either that or they try to blame it on you....

I was crossing the street (on foot) just the other night. There was a large parked vehicle that I was coming out from behind, but it was nearly dark and I should have been able to see the lights from any approaching cars..... I still looked both ways mind you, but as I started to cross, you can imagine my surprise that there was a car there I with no lights on that I hadn't seen. He wasn't so close that either of us had to do anything rash (I didn't have to jump and he didn't have to slam on the brakes) but he sure did startle me. He had the nerve to roll down his window to say something to me. Shut him right up to tell him he didn't have his headlights on.....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yesterday I just narrowly avoided getting "doored" by a woman as she opened her door into my lane-I try to ride at a safe distance from cars parked at the side but I had just been passed by a car and had moved over to the right when it happened. Thankfully, there was not another vehicle behind me as I swerved to miss hitting her door.

Hi,
That sounds very scary, I'm sorry.
But if you are having frequent close calls with cars, you might want to reexamine your traffic riding methods.

yes, it's always 'wrong' for people in parked cars to fling their doors open without looking carefully....but they do it (especially old folks who can't turn their necks well- to my horror, my elderly mother used to do that as a passenger when I was taking her somewhere) and people will keep doing as long as there are cars in this world.
You were in danger only because you were at that moment riding in "the Door Zone". Doesn't really matter why you were riding there, but if you are, then expect someone to fling their door open unexpectedly. The question is, why did you move over into the door zone to let a car pass you? I'm sure you were trying to be safe or courteous in some way, but I would never move into riding in the door zone even for a minute, regardless of any car passing me or trying to pass me. You mustn't put your life in danger so that some car can pass you. Did you know that cyclists regularly get KILLED when impacting with flung open doors and flying off their bikes over the door and then landing in the path of another moving car? Don't let a car wanting to pass intimidate you into a dangerous place:
http://www.riinsrants.info/bikes/doorzone.htm
http://bicyclesafe.com/doorprize.html
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/...or-zone-video/
In the end, it doesn't really matter what your reasons were for moving into the door zone for a moment....when you do move into the door zone you are doing something that will risk your life. In situations like that I take the lane. If that causes a bunch of cars to accumulate behind me, I pull over for a sec once in a while as a matter of courtesy to let them pass.

As for the busy 4 lane street intersection crosswalk on the bike trail, I know for sure that I would get off my bike in a situation like that and walk it across the intersection as a pedestrian. It only takes a sec. Believe it or not, that makes you much safer when crossing. I read somewhere that the majority of bike/car accidents occur at bike path/street intersection/crosswalks. A 4-lane one is especially hazardous.
At extra dangerous intersections I routinely hop off my bike and become a big ol' in-yer-face PEDESTRIAN for a moment.

Just because you have right of way in certain traffic situations never means someone is going to give it to you. When I started riding in traffic I did a lot of things to try to stay out of cars' ways, thinking that would make me safer, like hugging the curb and creeping along the right side of a line of moving cars instead of riding right in the lane along with them. I now realize I was putting myself into dangerous situations, into drivers' blind spots, and leaving myself no escape route.
Always always assume a car is going to do the wrong thing.
And always assume the driver does not see you.
Here's a great webpage that briefly gives some very good defensive biking safety tips:
http://bicyclesafe.com/

Ride safe, i really hope you don't have more of these frightening close calls.

[Dogmama]

I ride like I'm invisible. Heck - they drive like I'm invisible so I might as well play the part!

[Medianox]

BleekerSt_Girl:
The only reason I think I was in the "zone" in the door incident was that I unconsciously moved over a bit to the right when I heard the vehicle behind me, and stayed in that area of the lane after he passed. I don't believe I was trying to be any safer or more courteous than usual. The sound of a truck coming up behind me can still make me nervous and I moved over slightly-an act of inexperiance, and now I know first hand, a dangerous one at that.
Please let me state that, yes, I am pretty new to riding in traffic (only having been on the road on my bike for 6 months now) but I am cautious and alert. I ride an average of at least 4 days a week 8-20 miles each time so I am out there on the road. I am an ICU RN and have seen the effects of bike vs car accidents many times and have no desire to become a statistic. In my town (Manteca,pop. 60,000 near Modesto, CA.-good size but not particularly bike friendly) drivers are not used to people riding bikes in the street-they would much prefer to have them on the sidewalk-so it is a matter of education for everyone. I use hand signals, wear a helmet and gloves and have lights on my bike and helmet. Dismounting and walking through intersections-I do that too, though not this specific time. Why? Not sure, but the signal is short there and I wanted to get all the way across since there was more traffic than usual there and I didnt want to be partway across when it changed. I try to be visible at all times wear bright clothing and I *do* expect cars to do the wrong thing...I just didn't expect to have close calls two days in a row.
Thanks for the links and the words of wisdom. There is always something to be learned from situations like this, by being alert, avoiding accidents and educating others one small part of the world can become a safer place for everyone.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Medianox,
I'm glad you are alert to such safety issues.
Here's to us all getting better and better at keeping ourselves safe!
Even if you knew the defensive biking techniques already, hopefully someone else who doesn't yet might learn something from reading this thread too.
Thanks for letting me put it out here.

[salsabike]

BleekerSt_Girl:
The only reason I think I was in the "zone" in the door incident was that I unconsciously moved over a bit to the right when I heard the vehicle behind me, and stayed in that area of the lane after he passed. I don't believe I was trying to be any safer or more courteous than usual. The sound of a truck coming up behind me can still make me nervous and I moved over slightly-an act of inexperiance, and now I know first hand, a dangerous one at that.
Please let me state that, yes, I am pretty new to riding in traffic (only having been on the road on my bike for 6 months now) but I am cautious and alert. I ride an average of at least 4 days a week 8-20 miles each time so I am out there on the road. I am an ICU RN and have seen the effects of bike vs car accidents many times and have no desire to become a statistic. In my town (Manteca,pop. 60,000 near Modesto, CA.-good size but not particularly bike friendly) drivers are not used to people riding bikes in the street-they would much prefer to have them on the sidewalk-so it is a matter of education for everyone. I use hand signals, wear a helmet and gloves and have lights on my bike and helmet. Dismounting and walking through intersections-I do that too, though not this specific time. Why? Not sure, but the signal is short there and I wanted to get all the way across since there was more traffic than usual there and I didnt want to be partway across when it changed. I try to be visible at all times wear bright clothing and I *do* expect cars to do the wrong thing...I just didn't expect to have close calls two days in a row.
Thanks for the links and the words of wisdom. There is always something to be learned from situations like this, by being alert, avoiding accidents and educating others one small part of the world can become a safer place for everyone.

What a nicely said post, Medianox.