Driving behind cyclists...

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

donner

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Oct 22, 2005
Messages
5,950
Reaction score
2,160
Location
Oxford, MS
What I don't like is some cyclists who don't ride to the right of the raod, but right down the center lane. I passes one the other day who had on a chartruse colored vest with "3 Feet Please" on the back. There was a break-down lane but no - he had to ride right down the center of the driving lane.

First, i know what you mean, but second, riding 'as far right as possible' doesn't always mean on the shoulder or breakdown lane. That is where all the glass and other debris end up and it's a good way to puncture a tire.

While i don't agree with riding right down the middle of a lane, i do sometimes try to be out into a lane far enough so any car that tries to pass me should have to get into the other lane to do so. I don't say that to be a jerk to the motorist. You'd be surprised how many cars will pass you without getting out of the same lane if you are riding the white line. Passing a cyclist should be done like passing a car. You get out of your lane, go around and return to the lane.
 

donner

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Oct 22, 2005
Messages
5,950
Reaction score
2,160
Location
Oxford, MS
Oh, and i should add that several states have a 3-foot law now. Cars are required to give a cyclist 3 feet on any side when following or passing or risk getting ticketed.
 

cta8000

Marksman
Special Hen
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
Location
OKC
I appreciate the spirit of cyclists riding on the open roads, but I see there are hazards to do so. Many of today's drivers are not paying attention and it is easy to miss the obvious sometimes ESPECIALLY with our new mobile cell technology. No body is paying attention to anything but their freakin phones. I think it should be illegal to text while driving...
 

Parks 788

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Messages
3,210
Reaction score
3,143
Location
Bristow, OK
Well, I live in Southern California and happen to be one of those that have very little patience for cyclists. Where I live in Orange County, along the coast, it is typical to see groups of 50-100 cyclist in groups riding and blocking two+ lanes of traffic for miles at a time. Sure they have a right to the road but they sure as hell don't have a right to take up multiple lanes of traffic doing 20-25mph on a 35+ mph street/road. Cyclist have little concern for cars and trucks. Seems like it's an attitude of fock the motor vehicles, I don't care. There are only two things that will change their behavior. 1) Police start targeting cyclist who are breaking the laws for driving too slow and impeding traffic or 2) Irate drivers plowing into the groups of cyclists. Have been several cases where motor drivers have been (probably rightfully so) put in prison for killing cyclists on major thorough fares stemming from disputes.
 

MaddSkillz

Sharpshooter
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
10,543
Reaction score
618
Location
Jenks
Oh, and i should add that several states have a 3-foot law now. Cars are required to give a cyclist 3 feet on any side when following or passing or risk getting ticketed.

And along those lines local law-enforcement is very aware of laws regarding cyclists in these parts. We were riding out near Sperry a few weeks back and a mini-van passed us in a no-passing zone (double yellow lines). We immediately heard the rev of an engine behind us and then saw the flashing lights as he made its way past us. It was a county Sheriff and he waved to us as he passed pulled that lady over.

Now I'm not 100% sure of the reason he pulled her over, but due to the circumstances surrounding the event, that sure seems like the most obvious reason and we all agreed that's what it was. Many a cyclist have been plowed into because someone misjudged their passing timing. And when you consider the fact that someone could have been up ahead that she could not have seen - it was a risk that could have had dire consequences for her and the riders and was completely and totally unnecessary.

I wish we could think of others as we think of ourselves or our own family. If her husband or child were riding with us, chances are she would not have pulled that dangerous maneuver. We all have family too.
 

MaddSkillz

Sharpshooter
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
10,543
Reaction score
618
Location
Jenks
I appreciate the spirit of cyclists riding on the open roads, but I see there are hazards to do so. Many of today's drivers are not paying attention and it is easy to miss the obvious sometimes ESPECIALLY with our new mobile cell technology. No body is paying attention to anything but their freakin phones. I think it should be illegal to text while driving...

Starting on November 1 a distraction law goes into effect. You can be pulled over for any number of things that warrant being distracted.

Here's a link to the law.
 

donner

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Oct 22, 2005
Messages
5,950
Reaction score
2,160
Location
Oxford, MS
Well, I live in Southern California and happen to be one of those that have very little patience for cyclists. Where I live in Orange County, along the coast, it is typical to see groups of 50-100 cyclist in groups riding and blocking two+ lanes of traffic for miles at a time. Sure they have a right to the road but they sure as hell don't have a right to take up multiple lanes of traffic doing 20-25mph on a 35+ mph street/road. Cyclist have little concern for cars and trucks. Seems like it's an attitude of fock the motor vehicles, I don't care. There are only two things that will change their behavior. 1) Police start targeting cyclist who are breaking the laws for driving too slow and impeding traffic or 2) Irate drivers plowing into the groups of cyclists. Have been several cases where motor drivers have been (probably rightfully so) put in prison for killing cyclists on major thorough fares stemming from disputes.

It's a 'chicken or the egg' problem. Bad cyclists give us all a bad name while bad drivers do the same. Who started it? who cares. I've had full coke cans thrown at me while riding when there wasn't another car for miles around. It doesn't take me doing anything wrong for some motorists to take issue with my presence on the road.

It's funny you think the cyclists need to change, though. If they aren't breaking the law then why is it a 'them' issue? I agree that cyclists need to be respectful and courteous, but in very few places is 'driving too slowly' a crime. I've seen two semis try to pass each other going up a hill and slowed traffic down as much as a good pack of cyclists, yet it is just a normal part of driving when it's another motorized vehicle... I hate it when cyclists break the law since it reflects poorly on all of us. If police want to start pulling over cyclists for breaking the law, then i am all for it, so long as they pull the motorists over as well.

I'll never understand how a car killing a bunch of riders will do anything to change the situation, though. If someone is mad enough to want to hurt another person just because they are making them slow down, then they probably shouldn't be driving in the first place. I've never bought the motorist argument about riders being too slow. A driver would never think of plowing into a tractor or other slow moving vehicle just because it wasn't going the speed limit, but a group of cyclists is a target for their rage?
 

technetium-99m

Sharpshooter
Joined
Apr 6, 2008
Messages
1,387
Reaction score
5
Location
Oklahoma City
I'd just like it if they obeyed stop signs. I almost killed a guy headed out to the gun club one afternoon. He had a stop sign and I didn't, he looked right at me and came on out into the intersection. I was able to unclench my butt just as he was riding peacefully away.

Actually, you cyclists tell me. Do the traffic laws apply to you as well or do you have right of way even with a stop sign.

Not being a turd, I'd really like to know.
 

donner

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Oct 22, 2005
Messages
5,950
Reaction score
2,160
Location
Oxford, MS
I'd just like it if they obeyed stop signs. I almost killed a guy headed out to the gun club one afternoon. He had a stop sign and I didn't, he looked right at me and came on out into the intersection. I was able to unclench my butt just as he was riding peacefully away.

Actually, you cyclists tell me. Do the traffic laws apply to you as well or do you have right of way even with a stop sign.

Not being a turd, I'd really like to know.

If you didn't have a stop sign then that guy is itching to be a hood ornament. All traffic laws apply to cyclists, as well as cars.

I admit, though, that I, as a cyclist, sometimes roll stop signs. I'm not saying i do it to break the law and I never do it unless each car at the sign has waved me through. It takes me longer to go from stop to speed and if i can keep rolling then it helps maintain the flow of traffic if i keep moving (this is amplified in group rides since you might have 10+ riders have to stop and start). Another problem is that stoplights often don't sense when a rider is stopped at it, so there are few options but to cross against the red. Neither of the instances are something that i like to do and never at full speed, but are sometimes necessary to maintain my safety and for the sheer logistics of it.

Before i got into cycling, i always heard motorcyclists say things like i said above, or about how to have to move up through traffic to make sure the person behind you doesn't jump the gun and run over you (etc). I never really understood a lot of it until now.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom