Yes, some of us continue to commute by bicycle even as the temperature drops. We are not typical fairweather cyclists and, speaking as one of them, we are more likely to observe the laws regulating cyclists on HRM roadways. That said, even though there are fewer of us, drivers never cease to amaze me with their oblivious, life threatening habits.
Drivers, please oh please, follow the following basic rules (an abridged set of commandments for all motorists in the HRM):
1) STOP abruptly turning and changing lanes without signaling. A simple shoulder check would also be helpful in reducing the number of times I face a near death scenario.
2) TURN OFF your cell phones. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been cut off by someone talking on a cell phone and at the same time turning without signaling.
3) PROVIDE ROOM to cyclists you are attempting to overtake. If the cyclist has to take up part of the lane because of parked cars and there are other cars in the opposite lane, do not attempt to squeeze through.
4) BE PATIENT. If there is a cyclist in front of you (same context as 3 – parked cars) is coasting along during rush hour at 20-30km/hr and the car in front of them as going at about the same speed, don’t bother attempting to pass. The only thing you accomplish by doing this is to box me in between parked cars, your car, and the car driving along in front of us. (This happens daily on Agricola St.). Not very safe.
And to cyclists: use hand signals, ride in single file (except to pass if space/time permits), stop riding through lights, stop signs, riding on sidewalks (unless you are a small child or are teaching a small child), and riding through cross walks. —happy_commuter
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2011.
It is so scary biking to work and knowing people are so into their own thing that you could be mowed down at any point. Thanks for the reminders. Stay on your toes.
Excellent points from a responsible cyclist. Make like Von Richthofen, keep your head on a swivel and get home safe.
Hear hear!!!
As a fellow cyclist who rides Agricola every day I can sympathize. We all need to just get along.
or take out a huge insurance policy and ride everywhere you need to go.
In the long run, your family will be well taken care of.
done and done, and i wore two pairs of pants today
I agree up to the point where I have to wait until you pass parked cars. If I’m beside you, or close to you, it is your responsibility to stop and wait until it’s safe for you to pass. If I’m in the right lane (which I can only assume a bicycle lane is designated, as being the left lane would be stupid) in my car and there are cars taking up room in my lane, I am not allowed to cut off or force myself into the left lane of traffic, I gotta wait my turn. Why would it be different for a cyclist? Just because you view yourself as ecofrienldy doesn’t give you the right to make up your own rules and have everyone follow them like they’re the law.
I wish they’d get rid of bike lanes that are on the left of parked cars, it’s fucking more dangerous than safe.
Put them where we need them. Idiots.
Y’absolutely, OB. Sounds like you are very careful already, but of course that won’t always save you.
One school of thought on bike lights is that you should be lit so that others see you, not just so that you can see in front of you. Check out these cool lights!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT13ZcpwYtA
Wish I had a video of yesterday’s drive home. As the car in front of me was driving down Connaught, there was a cyclist up ahead (actually wearing a helmet), but riding without his hands on the handlebars. Next thing I know, cyclist loses control, swerves left, and bounces off the front-right panel of the car. The car in front laid on the horn. I honked the horn and said “Way to go asshole” as I drove by. Hopefully the cyclist learned his lesson…..hands on handlebars.
SHITD,
Could you clarify? If you’re referring to cyclists who cut toward the center of the lane to get around parked cars and then back to to the shoulder as soon as they clear the cars, then I agree. In fact I see cyclists doing this all the time and it’s really dangerous and appears unpredictable.
However cyclists are instructed specifically not to do this. They should ride in a straight line the entire time, even when there are gaps along the shoulder where there are no parked cars (within reason of course, as if there are miles between parked cars then you should ride closer to the curb). So I think if the cyclist is riding in a straight line between the center line and a parked car, and if there is a car driving in front of them but not at a significantly faster speed, then the car behind the cyclist should wait, particularly if they are unable to pass without leaving adequate space.
shoulder check, shoulder check, shoulder check…aaah feck it
That’s exactly what I’m talking about Canned. Nothing scares me more than cyclists around parked cars, there is no defined practice for this, it confuses both cars and cyclists.
There is a defined practice. Unfortunately cyclists are not aware of it – hence the weaving around parked cars and not the straight line. And motorists are also unaware of it – hence the occasional harassment I receive for not riding as close as motherfucking possible to the curb when doing so requires me to not maintain a straight line of direction.
If people would learn how to click on hyperlinks and read prior to driving or cycling, then this wouldn’t be confusing to anyone.