Fire truck

[ny biker]

Did an organized ride yesterday in a somewhat rural area. It started and ended on a flat road with one lane in each direction, no shoulder and a 50 mph speed limit. This was in Maryland where there is a 3-foot passing law.

As I neared the finish I was in the big chain ring, decided to shift to the small ring (don't remember why) and could tell by the rattling sound of the chain that the shift wasn't complete. I could hear a big truck behind me waiting for a chance to pass. I was worried that the chain would fall off if I tried shifting back up to the big ring to try to fix the problem.

Usually when a vehicle is moving slowly behind me, it means the driver is waiting for a safe opportunity to cross the yellow line to pass, and sometimes I will move closer to edge of the road to make it easier for them. Since I had a chain problem to deal with, I wanted the truck to no longer be behind me. So I moved to the right. And the truck driver sped up and passed me -- without crossing the yellow line, very close to me, with maybe a foot clearance at the most.

I freaked out and started screaming, not that the driver could hear me. Looked up and saw that it was a fire truck. A g*d d*mn fire truck!!!

I'm still completely stunned by this. Aside from the total disregard for the 3-foot law, that driver was one of the people who respond when someone gets run over by a truck. One of the people who sees the damage first hand.

Anyway I had already decided I won't be doing that ride again. Too many high speed roads.

[Crankin]

I guess stupidity doesn't take a break from those who are in life saving professions. A paramedic/EMT/fire dept. SUV from the town of Acton turned left in front of me and Hirakukibou while we were riding Friday. It wasn't super close, but I could see him hesitating and then decide to go for it... I actually braked a little.
He was turning into a cemetery, and really have no idea why the paramedics would be going there. Probably for his lunch break.

[bmccasland]

He was turning into a cemetery, and really have no idea why the paramedics would be going there. Probably for his lunch break.

1) Or to pay respects to a fallen camrade or family member.

2) because live people also visit cemetaries and then have medical problems.

[Crankin]

He wasn't attending to a medical emergency. His siren wasn't on, no flashing lights. I would have, of course, stopped if it had been an emergency. He was just driving down the road and turned left, like any other regular driver. While he may have been going there to pay respects, I really doubt it. It was lunch time and it's a popular place to picnic and walk. I think what bothered me the most was that I could tell by the way he hesitated and then gunned it, that he did "think" about it and he made a bad decision. Like many other drivers, he didn't realize how fast we we can go, which is why I braked.

[shootingstar]

Not all firefighters are such virtuous people, they use their huge fire trucks to go somewhere for their lunch breaks. Saw it all the time in Toronto (for their peameal bacon sandwiches at the market) and Vancouver. They were on their break.....and it's timed for unionized paid career firefigher staff. Make no mistake, their buddies on shift back at the fire station to cover for real emergencies.

It's still a macho world with the few women still trying to break into that world.

Anyway, that firefighter should have never driven so close to you ny rider.

[lovelygamer]

I am sorry this happened to you. I am in Maryland too and two Fridays ago almost got pushed off my bike by a van who didn't give me clearance. I was approaching a railroad track and he actually went around me then came back right in my space. Oh, I had nowhere to go because there was a stop sign on my right.

I often want a huge pop up billboard that say "THREE FEET, NOT THREE INCHES!" I think this is the most inconsiderate driving trait. You don't even have to know the law, just give other humans basic respect and room. It really is frightening.

[PamNY]

Not all firefighters are such virtuous people, they use their huge fire trucks to go somewhere for their lunch breaks. Saw it all the time in Toronto (for their peameal bacon sandwiches at the market) and Vancouver. They were on their break.....and it's timed for unionized paid career firefigher staff. Make no mistake, their buddies on shift back at the fire station to cover for real emergencies.

Shootingstar, are you sure they took the truck to go on break, leaving their buddies back at the house? When I see firefighters at the grocery store with the truck, it means the whole company is there; they bring the truck in case they get a call. They are required to do it that way. I've seen them abandon their groceries and race out the door many times.

Nybiker, that sounds scary. I wonder sometimes if drivers of emergency vehicles get in the habit of taking chances.