Watch out for bicycles too.

[jaxs]

if motorist would just think about cyclist differently when they approach...rather than looking at us like a stick in the road or annoying impediment that might slow you down a few seconds, think this way...hey there's a father, and/or a husband on a bike...let me slow down and give him some room. oh, and if you don't know what it's like to have a car wiz closely by at 30-40mph ask you wife to do it to you while you ride.

You are right but as long as drivers tailgate less than a car liength off the bumper of my F-250 at 65 mph,there's little hope they treat bikers with respect. A week rarly go's by when a fire engine or police car isn't plowed into while lite up by bright flashing lights and vehicles rear ended at traffic signals happens several times per day. What about all the fist and single finger waving between motoriest? Besides politicians,the way people drive is the #1 complaint people have. That being the case,riding bikes on public roads is laughable at best.

 

[Jstpssng]

I read an article, I don’t know if I buy it, saying the flashing lights on the back of a bike aren’t safer. The talked about the “moth affect” that might actually make people drive towards it.

I can understand that, just as many people will stare at an oncoming vehicles headlights, then complain about being blinded. Yet you can only do so much to protect yourself, and I'm one motorist who appreciates when pedestrians and cyclists do what they can to make themselves more visible.

 

[beenthere]

I drive rural paved roads all the time, and cringe when I don't see a cyclist on the roadway until the last second or minute. Attention is watching the roads for cars, trucks and farm equipment, or just watching country as driving. Not on a phone (don't have one).
But all too often come upon a cyclist in dark clothes that blends in or crest a hill and suddenly there is a cyclist.
Have the fear of hitting one someday and it being my fault. Would be on my conscience forever. Am glad when winter arrives and the cyclists are not on the roads. Rainy days are good too.

Couple weeks ago came on a cyclist with blaze orange coat and hat, and bright (LED) blinking light. Was glad to see a safety minded cyclist for a change.

They may be legal and within their rights, but dead-right is not good.

 

[Code54]

Never understood not wearing bright colors and such if possible. I personally have 2 rear red LED strobes on the back of my road bike, 1 white LED flashing light on the front and a florescent shirt or jacket depending on the weather. Sure hope I dont get hit bit If I get hit it certainly isn't because I didn't try to be as noticeable as possible.
I would love to ride on a bike trail all the time but we just dont have much around. The good trail is about an hour and a half away so it is really not a daily option....

 

[Jstpssng]

Never understood not wearing bright colors and such if possible. I personally have 2 rear red LED strobes on the back of my road bike, 1 white LED flashing light on the front and a florescent shirt or jacket depending on the weather. Sure hope I dont get hit bit If I get hit it certainly isn't because I didn't try to be as noticeable as possible.
I would love to ride on a bike trail all the time but we just dont have much around. The good trail is about an hour and a half away so it is really not a daily option....

Again, as a motorist I thank you for trying to make yourself visible. At the end of the day all that any of us want is a good experience and to get home safely.

 

[ArlyA]

Most cyclist are also moterist. I'd guess 99% of them.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I gave up the motorcycles 25 years ago due to too many close calls. 8 years ago, I gave up on-road bicycling for the same reason. Even though I live in a rural area, I haul my bikes to the nearest bike trail to ride.

I disagree with those who say riding bike trails is less safe than road riding. I've logged 3000 miles on trails in the last 3 years without incident. Near misses were almost a daily occurrence when riding the rural roads where I live.

 

[lman]

I gave up the motorcycles 25 years ago due to too many close calls. 8 years ago, I gave up on-road bicycling for the same reason. Even though I live in a rural area, I haul my bikes to the nearest bike trail to ride.

I disagree with those who say riding bike trails is less safe than road riding. I've logged 3000 miles on trails in the last 3 years without incident. Near misses were almost a daily occurrence when riding the rural roads where I live.

I'm still riding my goldwing, I've had more close calls with a chainsaw than my bike. I'm still using a chainsaw too.

 

[Jstpssng]

I just had small, twin cylinder bikes but gave up my last one 30 years ago after one near-miss too many. I was on a side road in town when a woman pulled out of a parking lot in front of me. I kicked the rear out and slid around in front of her, stopping with my head just inches from the plow frame on her truck. As I tried to get my down into neutral so I could start it, she was sitting there screaming at me to get the **** out of her way.
On the southbound lane of the interstate into Bangor Maine there was a crack between the lanes, wide enough to catch a tire. If you couldn’t get into the left lane soon enough there was one spot to safely cross over. If you stayed in the right lane, traffic from the on-ramp would act like you weren’t even there.

 

[meackerman]

I worked in bicycle shops for 10 years through out high school and college....(1980s-1990s). As time went on more and more customers and even people that worked in bicycle shops (including a couple of owners) were either getting hit by cars or having close calls. This convinced a lot of them to switch from road bikes to mountain bikes. There's more cars on the road today then back then (at least around here), I can't image that its gotten safer on the road for people that ride bikes on the road. Its not right that its unsafe on a lot of roads for bicyclists, but that's the world we live in.

I'll stick with riding my mountain bike off road.