My son kind of has the worst ride to middle school possible here in Los Angeles. On a main commute artery, over a Freeway, up one steep hill, down the other side, starting and stopping shoulder lanes... all during rush hour traffic with no alternate routes. It's fun, but less than ideal, and far from idyllic. We are honked at in the street every so often, and wave back as though they are saying hello. These are kids folks!
People's impatience and entitlement are vast and unfortunate, but what are you going to do? Try and be safe and respectful while sharing the road I guess. I've never been hit or had a serious altercation with a car, but I haven't ridden a proper road bike on proper "road bike" roads in decades because of the horror stories. I used to go on long rides around the city at night when traffic would die down to a fraction of its daytime density. That was really fun and much less stressful in spite of the visibility wrinkle of it being dark out. Glad most of these stories have ended "safely." k. On Monday, October 10, 2022 at 10:11:51 AM UTC-7 J J wrote: > Thanks for starting this thread, Eric. > > As far as biking vs. motorists go, I’ve weirdly come to feel nostalgic > about the first few months of pandemic lockdowns, which showed how pleasant > urban biking life could be with cities devoid of motor traffic. It was calm > and easy; bikers and pedestrians basically owned the streets. It’s > horrible that it took an extraordinary global pandemic to show us how > cities can be if they are not dominated by car traffic, but I’m afraid we > haven’t absorbed the lessons. > > As life has inched back to “normalcy”, riding on DC streets feels more > treacherous than ever. Traffic and aggressive drivers have returned with a > vengeance. Just yesterday I was talking to folks in my little riding group > about how the 10 mins of negotiating unruly street traffic to reach any > number of great trails in DC is the most exhausting part of an all-day > ride. > > I try to communicate with drivers as much as possible, making eye contact, > signaling, pointing, gesticulating, thanking them verbally and with a nod > and a wave. Most want to be good road citizens. > > But there are plenty of bad apples who are either just obnoxious, > distracted, in too much of a hurry, oblivious, or intoxicated. It’s common > around these parts to smell weed wafting out of cars. > > A couple of weeks ago I was riding solo toward Rock Creek Park, going down > a big hill on a road with a bike lane that ends abruptly. I claimed the > middle of the road lane, and I saw a car in the mirror approaching way too > fast. The driver hit the horn, startled the bejesus out of me, and a > passenger stuck her head out of the window shouting, “Get out of our way!! > Move your ass to the sidewalk!” > > At the next block we stopped at a red light and the car pulled beside me. > The passengers were mouthing off at me. I said matter of factly, “FYI DC > law allows bikes to use full lanes. And in this part of DC it is illegal > for adults to ride on sidewalks.” Perhaps it was stupid of me to even > engage. > > The woman said, “Of course you can ride the sidewalk, you are not in a > motor vehicle!! You’re blocking traffic, mother fxxker!” > > The light turned green, I said “Whatever”, pedaled on my way, and veered > off the main road. The car turned around and followed me, drove within two > feet of my side, and another passenger made like he was going to punch me > while shouting obscenities at me. The charming woman in the back seat spit > at me. At this point adrenaline took over and I turned again onto a side > street and made it up a steep incline faster than I ever would have thought > possible. I had to get away. It felt like lunacy. > > Not long before that I was riding on a painted bike lane (physical > barriers are not common in DC) and a woman drove into my lane, clipping me. > My left brake lever scraped the length of her car. Somehow I maintained > control of the bike with my right hand and pounded on the car with my left > as I shouted at her. It happened so quickly, I was only reacting, not > thinking. I managed to stop without crashing, I felt my heart pounding out > of my chest, then the driver stopped her car, got out, and began yelling at > me to watch where I’m going. She threatened to call the police because her > car got scratched. It was absurd. I’m grateful that neither I nor my riding > companion was hurt. > > So 99 percent of the time sharing the streets with motorists is fine. It’s > the 1 percent that is worrying. My anecdotal sense that aggressive and > distracted driving has increased is supported by data that shows that motor > vehicles accidents that cause injuries and fatalities have been increasing > since spring 2020, despite fewer overall miles driven, reversing years of > decline. There’s a lot of speculation as to why the trend has shifted. > > I’m trying to be even more defensive and communicative as I ride. Some > things are out of our control though. > > On Monday, October 10, 2022 at 10:04:59 AM UTC-4 Joel S wrote: > >> I think the current worst I have had is when a car or truck buzzes too >> close for comfort. I am not always looking in my rear glasses mounted >> mirror. Instinct sometimes move me too far right and that has sometimes >> been a problem, I only take the lane when on a small narrow lane or when I >> need to turn left. This year I have been buzzed too many times and I >> always leave plenty of room for cars and trucks, trucks have been the worst >> offenders this year. A few years ago I was forced off of the road and >> luckily it was a dirt shoulder and I did hit it hard and the car just sped >> off. >> >> This year the worst is trying to get on a road from a shopping center >> driveway without lights. Cars with nowhere to go seen to be oblivious to >> give a bike the right of way, but some drivers are overly courteous, jut >> make sure the guy coming the other way is also. >> >> >> >> On Monday, October 10, 2022 at 8:05:44 AM UTC-4 Doug H. wrote: >> >>> Robert, >>> This is a serious topic but the loogie story made my chuckle. I have to >>> say that was a good shot by the kid!! Loogie launching must be practiced so >>> that wasn't his first shot. >>> >>> I've had a few close calls but thankfully no hits as of yet. One thing I >>> try to avoid is riding directly into a sunset as it blinds me and drivers >>> as well. A local lady was killed a few years ago (RIP Karen Tinsely) and a >>> contributing factor was the sun in the driver's eyes. In that case I don't >>> think there was any bad intention although still inexcusable. If I'm on a >>> road heading towards a sunset I try to find an alternate route. Be safe >>> fellow cyclists! >>> Doug >>> Athens, Ga >>> >>> On Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 8:18:24 PM UTC-4 Robert Tilley wrote: >>> >>>> I’ve been riding “seriously” since I was 18 and I’m turning 56 this >>>> month. It’s surprising how few issues I can come up with when thinking >>>> back. 99% of the people here do a pretty good job sharing the road with >>>> cyclists and we have a decent bike infrastructure. People are used to >>>> bikes >>>> on the road. Typically people are too accommodating and want to give me >>>> the >>>> right of way when it isn’t mine. >>>> >>>> I got hit once. I was descending a decently steep road and there was a >>>> driveway with a car coming out of a Burger King parking lot. I watched the >>>> driver look left up the hill, then right, then left again and as soon as I >>>> neared the driveway he pulled out. So I hit the front fender doing about >>>> 30 >>>> mph and flew over the hood. I was surprisingly in ok shape. Nothing broken >>>> but I had some bruising, some road rash and twisted ankles due to my Time >>>> pedals not releasing. >>>> >>>> I was climbing one of the steeper roads here and some kids drove by and >>>> one hocked a loogie at me. It hit me square in the back and I wasn’t >>>> wearing a shirt at the time. They are likely still high-fiving each other >>>> over that one. >>>> >>>> I was commuting to work on what is basically a highway. It is the old >>>> I15 that runs next to Miramar air base. There is an exit onto a highway >>>> from that road and I almost got nailed by a driver that tried to sneak >>>> over >>>> at the last minute. I caught him in my rear view mirror after I heard >>>> tires >>>> skidding. My instinct would have been to move to the side but I saw him >>>> moving that way so I swerved to the traffic side and avoided being hit. >>>> >>>> Another rear view mirror save. I caught a motor home approaching and >>>> saw in my mirror that his steps were still down and coming right at me. I >>>> moved over and avoided getting clipped by them and pointed out to the >>>> driver they were not retracted. >>>> >>>> I can’t recall any deliberately aggressive assaults. I do have a lot of >>>> stupid moves done around me but I know what to look for and am always able >>>> to predict what drivers will do. I confront a lot of people but it’s >>>> almost >>>> never worthwhile. Cell phone usage/distracted driving is becoming more of >>>> an issue and that is something I watch out for. Almost nobody stops for >>>> stop signs anymore either and red light are not always obeyed these days. >>>> >>>> Robert Tilley >>>> San Diego, CA >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Oct 9, 2022, at 9:41 AM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> *First of all I'd like to note that starting this thread might not be >>>> a great idea. But perhaps it would be a way for us to share some >>>> experiences, vent or commiserate. * >>>> >>>> >>>> Well, I think a lot of us have been there. We've had a weird, scary, >>>> too-close-for-comfort interaction with a motorist. It could be due to >>>> driver inattention or downright overt aggression. It could have been your >>>> fault or no fault of your own. Do you have a riding story involving a >>>> motorist you'd like to share? >>>> >>>> I live in Fredericksburg, VA, a small city built on a grid. We have an >>>> historic district here, many streets are narrow with one-way traffic. >>>> There >>>> are a few two-lane arteries designed to move cars. Posted speeds are 25 >>>> mph >>>> (I always drive slower and leave my truck in 2nd gear). People drive like >>>> maniacs on certain residential streets, sometimes reaching 50mph. I often >>>> wish for more traffic calming infrastructure, crosswalks, speed tables and >>>> the like. >>>> >>>> In March 2021 I was riding my bike to the bike shop, about a 1.5 mile >>>> trip. I was heading down a one-way street through a residential >>>> neighborhood with street parking on the right and long, grassy, landscaped >>>> park on the left. I was riding to the right side of the street. This >>>> section of road has one lane and it is unusually wide. There is room for >>>> someone to comfortably pass a cyclist. >>>> >>>> Someone honked their horn at me but not in the "Hi, heads up, I'm about >>>> to pass you please and thanks" sort of way but the "Get the fork off the >>>> road!" kind of way. It was startling. I responded by taking the lane, >>>> which >>>> is legal for cyclists in Virginia. I rode dead center in the middle of the >>>> lane. I hoisted a one-finger salute and carried on riding. I rode in the >>>> middle of the lane for approximately 100 feet before making a turn. >>>> >>>> Yes, this was an escalation. And it was a bad decision. I don't think >>>> I'm alone in feeling frustrated by displays of impatience and aggression >>>> from drivers and feel that I have certain rights as a human person to ride >>>> safely. It is sometimes difficult not to react in the moment. Motorists >>>> might be not only impatient but totally deranged. Road rage is real. And >>>> drivers are behind the wheel of a vehicle that is easily weaponized. With >>>> just a feather of the gas pedal or a slight turn of the wheel they can >>>> inflict irrevocable damage to a cyclist. >>>> >>>> The driver responded to my salute by getting within a few feet of my >>>> back wheel. When I made a turn to carry on to the bike shop, they >>>> followed. I could hear them revving their engine behind me and feathering >>>> the gas to get close to my back wheel but not quite hit me. I continued to >>>> ride in the middle of the road. >>>> >>>> I heard something hit the street next to me. It was an unopened >>>> aluminum can of a carbonated beverage (I didn't go back to check out >>>> whether it was soda, beer or seltzer). Acknowledging the projectile I >>>> decided I had to bail and get up on the sidewalk or somehow turn around to >>>> where the car could not get to me. >>>> >>>> As soon as I moved to the side to take a driveway apron up onto the >>>> sidewalk the car passed me, then got right in front of me and slammed on >>>> their brakes. I braked hard and managed not to do an endo onto their trunk >>>> or hit their vehicle. The straddle cable hanger came loose from the front >>>> brake cable. The driver sped off. I did not get their plates. >>>> >>>> A few days later I went around the neighborhood and knocked on every >>>> door with a doorbell camera that was along the path of my interaction with >>>> the driver. Everyone I asked checked their footage but only one came back >>>> with anything showing me or the driver. There was a clip of the driver >>>> revving their engine behind me and throwing the can. You can see the can >>>> fly through the air and hear it land in the street. I got a good profile >>>> shot of the car (2005 Acura TL, maroon with custom window trim), but no >>>> view of the tags. >>>> >>>> This is, by far, the worst interaction I've had with a motorist. I've >>>> only been riding for a few years. There are others that aren't nearly as >>>> bad but still register as scary and unnecessary. They most often occur >>>> when >>>> a vehicle is passing. I find that a lot if not *all* of the hairy >>>> situations I've experienced with motorists would not have occurred if the >>>> drivers had demonstrated just 5 to 10* seconds *of patience. >>>> >>>> [image: Screen Shot 2022-10-09 at 12.37.28 PM.png] >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a6225074-6692-4b9d-bafb-838113a89202n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a6225074-6692-4b9d-bafb-838113a89202n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>>> >>>> [image: Screen Shot 2022-10-09 at 12.37.28 PM.png] >>>> >>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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