hosking@convexs.UUCP (08/24/85)
> This means that if you can't see behind a wide or high vehicle > sufficiently to ascertain whether there is someone behind them, move > to the right and be prepared to stop or take diversionary action. I'm not sure which is worse. If you move too far to the right, you encourage people behind you to try to crowd you out of your own lane. The closest calls I've had on a bike have been when someone tried to pass me with too little room. In addition, you're less likely to be CONSCIOUSLY seen by other drivers if you're too close to the edge. When you hug the shoulder, you severely limit your choices if some idiot tries to pass you too closely. You can find yourself in the uncomfortable position of being "trapped" with no room to maneuver, particularly if you're at the edge of a high curb. In some ways, I think it is safer to ride moderately far away from the curb until you are reasonably sure that the other driver(s) have seen you, then move far enough to the right to let them safely pass you IF it is safe to be passed. If it's not safe to be passed, HOLD YOUR GROUND SO THEY'RE NOT TEMPTED TO TRY IT ANYWAY. To do this effectively means that you have to make a conscious effort to keep track of what's behind you, but that's a good idea anyway. If you're alert enough, you can move out of the way before you're interfering with traffic flow, yet still increase your chances of being seen. This is probably not strictly legal in many places, but I'd rather risk getting a ticket than risk getting killed. This technique seems to be pretty effective in reducing the number of cases where cars (coming from either direction) try to crowd me off the road. Doug Hosking Convex Computer Corp. Richardson, TX {allegra, ihnp4, uiucdcs}!convex!hosking
powers@noscvax.UUCP (William J. Powers) (08/26/85)
> > > This means that if you can't see behind a wide or high vehicle > > sufficiently to ascertain whether there is someone behind them, move > > to the right and be prepared to stop or take diversionary action. > > I'm not sure which is worse. If you move too far to the right, you > encourage people behind you to try to crowd you out of your own lane. > The closest calls I've had on a bike have been when someone tried to > pass me with too little room. In addition, you're less likely to be > CONSCIOUSLY seen by other drivers if you're too close to the edge. > When you hug the shoulder, you severely limit your choices if some > idiot tries to pass you too closely. You can find yourself in the > uncomfortable position of being "trapped" with no room to maneuver, > particularly if you're at the edge of a high curb. > > In some ways, I think it is safer to ride moderately far away from > the curb until you are reasonably sure that the other driver(s) have > seen you, then move far enough to the right to let them safely pass > you IF it is safe to be passed. If it's not safe to be passed, HOLD > YOUR GROUND SO THEY'RE NOT TEMPTED TO TRY IT ANYWAY. To do this > effectively means that you have to make a conscious effort to keep > track of what's behind you, but that's a good idea anyway. If you're > alert enough, you can move out of the way before you're interfering > with traffic flow, yet still increase your chances of being seen. > > This is probably not strictly legal in many places, but I'd rather > risk getting a ticket than risk getting killed. This technique seems > to be pretty effective in reducing the number of cases where cars > (coming from either direction) try to crowd me off the road. > > Doug Hosking > Convex Computer Corp. > Richardson, TX > {allegra, ihnp4, uiucdcs}!convex!hosking I agree with these comments. However, we should be aware that there are times when it is SAFER to ride as far to the right as possible. As I pointed out a the previous article, those times are when it is not possible for a motorist to see you, even if s/he were looking for you. The reason for not riding far to the right is to increase your visibility. When not riding close to the right not only doesn't increase your visibilty but increases your chances of being hit, it is clearly not a good idea to do so. Two of those cases are just beyond the crest of a hill and when you can't see whether there is a car behind an oncoming vehicle. The first of these I was previously aware of. I was made aware of the second by the article which initiated this discussion. Bill Powers.
scroggs@uiucdcs.Uiuc.ARPA (08/27/85)
I wander if writting a letter to the editor of a local newspaper would help. What is really needed is public awareness.