Not surprisingly, most other cyclists I see around here are on the 
sidewalk.  The few who actually ride on the road are usually wearing 
racing jerseys and riding a Trek or Bianchi.  The department store bike 
crowd stays out of traffic.

Yesterday, about a block from my house, a car tried to pass me as we 
were approaching a stop sign.  As I needed to turn left I stuck out my 
hand and took the center of the lane, waited for the oncoming car to 
stop and then made my turn onto a narrow street with cars parked on both 
sides.  The jerk who needed to pass me so badly at the stop sign 
followed and tried to crowd me again, but I stayed right in front of 
him, not wanting to trade paint (or skin) with the parked cars.  He 
stayed behind me for about a block, too closely, tried to pass again, 
and as soon as I came to a break in the cars I pulled to the side to let 
him around.

I've only been riding a week or so around here and this isn't the first 
time I've encountered this kind of crap.  Is this sort of behavior 
common in most places?

graywolf wrote:
> You, me, and the only guy who actually did a real study on that seem to 
> be the only ones who understand that, Bob. The study, done for his 
> dissertation, showed that bike lanes were the most dangerous, and 
> pedestrian ways the next. Riding in traffic was the safest, if the rider 
> obeyed the traffic laws. Oh yes, this only concerned car/bike accidents, 
> so my take on it is that if you are extra careful at road crossings the 
> pedestrian ways are probably safe. My own way is to act like a car when 
> riding in the road, and like a pedestrian when riding on pedestrian ways 
> that way drivers know what to expect of me.
>
> -graywolf
>
>
> Bob W wrote:
>   
>>> Road riding does scare me due to the traffic
>>>       
>> I find riding on roads much more enjoyable than riding in bike lanes
>> or on canal towpaths or suchlike. At least on the road you can go
>> fast, don't have to keep stopping, and pedestrians aren't constantly
>> getting in your way. As a general rule bike lanes, especially those
>> that are segregated from traffic, are the worst idea anyone ever
>> implemented for cyclists. Bike lanes should all be removed.
>>
>> The secret of riding successfully on the road is to understand that
>> you are a vehicle with the same rights and duties as every other
>> vehicle, and to cycle as if you were driving a car - same road
>> position, same approach to left & right turns and to junctions, etc.
>>
>> Riding off-road on things like bridlepaths in the country is very
>> enjoyable too though.
>>
>> --
>>  Bob
>>  
>>
>>     

-- 
Scott Loveless
www.twosixteen.com


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