CAR TOUCHING TO ROAD RAGE

[megale3]

I have been lucky enough to get in a couple of hundred miles since March 1st and already the road (even in a pro cycling city as Portland) is showing its ugly auto side. I have been "cornered" on curbs as I waited at lights and passed by so close I could reach out and touch the door handle of the vehicle as it passed. :shock: So now its time to get back into the defensive mind set again listening for every parked car door like a shot gun being cocked as it is opened and considering the time of day to ride as being safest. When in your city is the safest time of day to ride?
Portland is 5 to 7 oclock otherwise stay to the side roads.
M3

[Patrick]

Morning and evening rush hours seem toughest to me. Everyone seems late for work in AM or in a hurry to get home in the PM.

[megale3]

Where are you mostly on rural, side street or busier streets? These rides where on the smaller town routes -those yocals are crazy man :twisted:
M3

[Patrick]

On weekends I often drive to more rural areas. Most of my riding is on busy, but relatively wide, 2 or 4 lane suburban and urban streets.

[raptor]

I'd have to say it's the "shoulder hours." Just before or after rush hour works for me. I'm thinking of commuter style riding, mixing it up with mobile cages weighing a ton or more.

Trail riding is any time whatsoever. :)

Lynn

[madcyclist]

I'm assuming you mean during the week. If so I will have to say in the evenings around 6:00P. Around here we have a series of bikes rides that go on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We pull out at 6:00P and traffic doesn't seem to be bad (rush hour is just about over). We ride in through neighborhoods on Tuesdays and on open roads on Thursdays. Both seem to be fine.

When I was onan extend vacation (out of work), I use to venture out in the morning about 10:00A and make sure I am back before 2:00P. Around here in the burbs in the morning, the roads are full of hectic moms driving minivans not giving a hoot about cyclists, let alone other vehicles - it's ALL about them and what they have to do. So I use to give the "moms" a chance to get done their chores before I ventured out.

But for the most part, here in Northern VA in certain areas, people are used to seeing cyclists on the roads and they are ok with it. If anything drivers look on amazement (or even with envy) at us sometimes.
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[AC]

In NJ, it's not even safe to be IN the car.

[megale3]

http://bicyclesafe.com/ cool site
M3

[OrrvilleBill]

I commute to/from work on 2 lane state highways located in and around a small town in Ohio. I find that everyone, trucks included, give me the most clearance after dark. I'm not sure why this is? There are no street lights until I'm inside the city limits. Maybe they can't see exactly how much space I take up so they don't cut so close?

Bill.

[raptor]

Not that you're complaining, I assume.

We all have reduced vision at night, with reduced reaction time. And the roads are usually quieter, affording more room to maneuver. It only mades sense to provide everyone involved with a larger pad in case something comes up.

That's my off-the-cuff theory.

Lynn

[Patrick]

Part of the greater distance at night is, I think, due to the fact that the drivers are not really sure what you are initially. Your lights may be lights from a barricade marking a car eating pothole or a disabled vehicle. Once they recognize you as a cyclist, they figure that anyone riding a bike on a road at night may not be able to ride a straight line