Bikeanoid

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Permalink Reply by Holly on December 12, 2012 at 5:22pm

More often than not lately, I feel lucky I'm still alive when I get home and more often than not, that has very little to with the way I'm riding my bike. 

Here's a new one for me. I'm starting to feel increasingly freaked-out by drivers who are turning left when I'm going straight --especially if there's not a car that's to the left of me who's also going straight. (At least the left turner sees an oncoming car as an obstacle.) I've nearly been t-boned a few times in the last two weeks because the person turning left doesn't seem to see me as oncoming traffic. Look--I'm in no way hugging the gutter, I am moving fairly briskly on a green light, wearing a yellow reflective jacket and I have a blinking headlight. Apparently, I am supposed to treat this green light as a yield sign if someone turning left might, per chance, see the gap as their option to "gun" it. It's not just me who should be concerned, either. Pedestrians who are crossing and have a walk sign are also supposed to be prepared to yield to cars. (That's f'd up. When I learned to drive (at an off-brand driving school) it was stressed that your goal is to drive defensively and never, ever hit anything much less a person!)

I don't know if I'm more sensitive to what is going on, but I feel like the way people are driving around this city is out of control. Within the past week, two of my friends were hit by people driving cars. They were both obeying the law and doing things the way they're supposed to be doing them. 

I'm still enjoying riding, but I can't say that it's not getting a little stressy and tense because there are way to many people who will not and cannot seem to slow down for anything or anyone. 

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Permalink Reply by Cameron 7.5 mi on December 12, 2012 at 5:22pm

If you're going to run two lights I've heard it recommended to set one to blink and one to steady. The blink gets peoples' attention and the steady makes it easier to judge your speed and closing time.

Jenn_W said:

I have started wearing the ridiculous Hi-Viz-Vest. I have 2 each front & rear lights, always looking to upgrade.

I may not look cool and I am okay with it. (If I die my child becomes an orphan, he has already lost one parent- I want to do everything I can to prevent another grim out come.)

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Permalink Reply by Cameron 7.5 mi on December 12, 2012 at 5:26pm

Drivers always seem to get worse when the weather changes. The first bit of winter is always a struggle. I don't know if it's that drivers can't imagine being out there and therefor assume that no one is out there or what.

Holly said:

More often than not lately, I feel lucky I'm still alive when I get home and more often than not, that has very little to with the way I'm riding my bike. 

Here's a new one for me. I'm starting to feel increasingly freaked-out by drivers who are turning left when I'm going straight --especially if there's not a car that's to the left of me who's also going straight. (At least the left turner sees an oncoming car as an obstacle.) I've nearly been t-boned a few times in the last two weeks because the person turning left doesn't seem to see me as oncoming traffic. Look--I'm in no way hugging the gutter, I am moving fairly briskly on a green light, wearing a yellow reflective jacket and I have a blinking headlight. Apparently, I am supposed to treat this green light as a yield sign if someone turning left might, per chance, see the gap as their option to "gun" it. It's not just me who should be concerned, either. Pedestrians who are crossing and have a walk sign are also supposed to be prepared to yield to cars. (That's f'd up. When I learned to drive (at an off-brand driving school) it was stressed that your goal is to drive defensively and never, ever hit anything much less a person!)

I don't know if I'm more sensitive to what is going on, but I feel like the way people are driving around this city is out of control. Within the past week, two of my friends were hit by people driving cars. They were both obeying the law and doing things the way they're supposed to be doing them. 

I'm still enjoying riding, but I can't say that it's not getting a little stressy and tense because there are way to many people who will not and cannot seem to slow down for anything or anyone. 

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Permalink Reply by Holly on December 12, 2012 at 6:13pm

This is only my 3rd season riding in the winter. I'm not fully aware of these seasonal shifts, but I believe that you're right. Drivers don't necessarily expect to see bikes. On the other hand, some jackwad hit me with his van on one of those 98 degree days last summer. He had a stop sign. I didn't. I was going straight. He was turning right and didn't bother to look before he hit my rear wheel. At the time, I was going super slowly because I was boiling hot. Why didn't he see the front of my bike pass the intersection?  Gee...was he, perhaps, looking down at something in his hand, like, say, a telephone?  I cannot believe how many people find this to be an acceptable way to drive a car. I want some kind of car slapping stick that I can use to reach into the lane next to me and wake them out of their texting reverie. 

Cameron Puetz said:

Drivers always seem to get worse when the weather changes. The first bit of winter is always a struggle. I don't know if it's that drivers can't imagine being out there and therefor assume that no one is out there or what.

Holly said:

More often than not lately, I feel lucky I'm still alive when I get home and more often than not, that has very little to with the way I'm riding my bike. 

Here's a new one for me. I'm starting to feel increasingly freaked-out by drivers who are turning left when I'm going straight --especially if there's not a car that's to the left of me who's also going straight. (At least the left turner sees an oncoming car as an obstacle.) I've nearly been t-boned a few times in the last two weeks because the person turning left doesn't seem to see me as oncoming traffic. Look--I'm in no way hugging the gutter, I am moving fairly briskly on a green light, wearing a yellow reflective jacket and I have a blinking headlight. Apparently, I am supposed to treat this green light as a yield sign if someone turning left might, per chance, see the gap as their option to "gun" it. It's not just me who should be concerned, either. Pedestrians who are crossing and have a walk sign are also supposed to be prepared to yield to cars. (That's f'd up. When I learned to drive (at an off-brand driving school) it was stressed that your goal is to drive defensively and never, ever hit anything much less a person!)

I don't know if I'm more sensitive to what is going on, but I feel like the way people are driving around this city is out of control. Within the past week, two of my friends were hit by people driving cars. They were both obeying the law and doing things the way they're supposed to be doing them. 

I'm still enjoying riding, but I can't say that it's not getting a little stressy and tense because there are way to many people who will not and cannot seem to slow down for anything or anyone. 

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Permalink Reply by Martin Hazard on December 12, 2012 at 7:18pm

I dont think drivers behavior or skills are getting worse. I think there are a lot more cyclists out there these days. That gives drivers more to pay attention to, wich they are not used to.

So they just don't.

Why should they? They have been driving for years on these same streets. There has been no change in law worthy of note to them. In fact the recent increase in coverage of cyclist fatalities due to driver negligence only reinforces this. The worst case is-they get a ticket, even if they kill a person. 

I believe that until we see legal motivation (prosecution) of drivers, we will see no improvement in their, behavior. The fatalities will mount with the increase in cyclists.

Myself, having ridden in the city for close to 20 years, I have not detected any reason for increased vigilance on the part of cyclists using common sense, and basic safety equipment.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi on December 12, 2012 at 7:31pm

Maybe it is not bikeanoid but seasonal affective disorder.  We will be cured when sunset is once again after 7:00 p.m.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 12, 2012 at 7:39pm

I've been doing this for a while and found it effective.  The steady light is on my handlebars and the blinker is helmet mounted, so I can point it at drivers who seem distracted if I'm not sure that they see me.  That's been effective about 99% of the times I've used it.

I agree that many drivers seem to more surprised to see us in winter, although it seems to be getting a bit better each year as there are more of us out there.  I've noticed that improvement much more in neighborhoods with a lot more bike traffic.

Cameron Puetz said:

If you're going to run two lights I've heard it recommended to set one to blink and one to steady. The blink gets peoples' attention and the steady makes it easier to judge your speed and closing time.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi on December 12, 2012 at 7:48pm

I have been doing the opposite, but this makes sense.  I think I will switch.  The left turning drivers when I am going straight seem to be the worst, as Holly mentioned.

What about rear?  I have been running blinking on bike and helmet, but they blink differently.

Anne Alt said:

I've been doing this for a while and found it effective.  The steady light is on my handlebars and the blinker is helmet mounted, so I can point it at drivers who seem distracted if I'm not sure that they see me.  That's been effective about 99% of the times I've used it.

 

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 12, 2012 at 9:40pm

I also do the dual treatment for red rear blinkies - both flashing.

Lisa Curcio said:

I have been doing the opposite, but this makes sense.  I think I will switch.  The left turning drivers when I am going straight seem to be the worst, as Holly mentioned.

What about rear?  I have been running blinking on bike and helmet, but they blink differently.

Anne Alt said:

I've been doing this for a while and found it effective.  The steady light is on my handlebars and the blinker is helmet mounted, so I can point it at drivers who seem distracted if I'm not sure that they see me.  That's been effective about 99% of the times I've used it.

 

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on December 12, 2012 at 10:49pm

I think it's a combination of factors, none of them good: not expecting to see cyclists in the cold. Not being able to judge cyclists' speed. Not yielding. Pro-motor-vehicle culture. Smartphones. 

I really hate to be a Debbie Downer, but Chicago drivers are the worst I've encountered. We need education, enforcement and a culture shift. When my supervisor, who works with me and another "life experienced" bike commuter, expresses an opinion that the cyclist who died after a dooring "was probably biking crazy,"  I see a huge need for culture shift and attitude before things improve.

p.s. I no longer own a car, but do drive occasionally.... 

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Schneider on December 12, 2012 at 11:21pm

The number one violation of traffic rules is the failure of drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.  Even with the signs put up this year (which I love), drivers still rarely stop unless we brazenly jump in front of them.  Not everyone is fearless enough to do that.

When I'm biking, I always yield to pedestrians, and take the lane so that all the drivers behind me have to stop and obey the law, too.  That really pisses them off.

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Permalink Reply by AM 9.5 on December 13, 2012 at 10:15am

In my view, this is one of the three most common asshole and life-threatening moves by drivers, the other two being passing and turning right in front of you and failing to yield to oncoming traffic and peds in the xwalk when turning left.  What makes them so much more dangerous is that there is often little you can do to protect yourself, no matter how carefully you ride.  Every commute I see at least 3 or 4 drivers passing on the right on one-lane streets or going straight in right turn lanes.

And I was myself t-boned just before Thanksgiving on Madison and Leavitt, despite having a steady and a blinking front light and reflective clothing (driver stopped briefly and then left the scene--got his plate though and CPD is treating as a hit-and-run).

Cameron Puetz said:

There are many places (even some cities) where that must go around all obstacles kind of driving is uncommon. I've never driven anywhere where passing on the right at intersections is accepted like it is here.

Tony Adams said:

That URL isn't working for me. I think it was supposed to be: http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/2012/12/hit-and-run/

That kind of must-go-around-all-obstacles kind of driving is not uncommon and gets me seething with rage despite all my decades of zen practice. If there was a hell there would be a special place in hell for people who drive like that.

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