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 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net