Survey: If you bike with a trailer, does it improve your safety?

10-03-2003, 12:41 PM

Do you agree that pulling a bike trailer seems to magically cause cars
to move further away?

10-03-2003, 12:53 PM

"MeditationMan" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message

> Do you agree that pulling a bike trailer seems to magically cause cars
> to move further away?

It ain't magic - the trailer takes up more of the lane. I suppose that the
bright red and yellow may help. Perhaps it is the thought that there is a
child inside. Who knows? But they do give me a much wider berth and even let
me switch lanes without much hassle.

-Buck

10-03-2003, 01:52 PM

>Do you agree that pulling a bike trailer seems to magically cause cars
>to move further away?

yup. Except for trucks North of Sault Ste. Marie...

10-03-2003, 02:11 PM

MeditationMan wrote:
>
> Do you agree that pulling a bike trailer seems to magically cause cars
> to move further away?

I feel safer without the trailer since I'm then out of the way
of the cars even if they stay in lane.

Also a trailer restricts you in pothole avoidance, since you have
to figure three tracks not one.

And, every uphill is twice as steep, if you're pulling your own
weight more or less anyway. You'd be surprised how many unnoticed
grades there are on your regular routes.

Tanjor solved the wind resistance problem but the sheer physical
uphill hauling remains. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] happy to give them
a plug. The wind-proof enclosure makes it useable for living creatures
in arctic winds, say Dobermans for instance.
--
Ron Hardin
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

10-03-2003, 02:33 PM

Papayahed1 <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
: yup. Except for trucks North of Sault Ste. Marie...

do the trucks aim for children north of sault ste. marie?

isn't that peace-loving ontario? a province renowned for (among other
things) its near complete lack of baby-mulching machines and if i am to
believe michael moore perpetually unlocked front doors. it's the UP that
near single-handedly gave birth to american methcathinone usage. maybe
you meant south? anyway, the UP shares that nice bridge at least.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

10-03-2003, 03:34 PM

Buck wrote:
> "MeditationMan" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
>
>
>>Do you agree that pulling a bike trailer seems to magically cause cars
>>to move further away?
>
>
> It ain't magic - the trailer takes up more of the lane. I suppose that the
> bright red and yellow may help. Perhaps it is the thought that there is a
> child inside. Who knows? But they do give me a much wider berth and even let
> me switch lanes without much hassle.
>
> -Buck
>
>

I use a BOB Coz trailer which is no wider then my bike is with panniers
full and dark green and pretty obviously doesn't have a child inside.
But cars do me a wider berth. It's probably just the unusualness that
makes it more noticeable.

Lorenzo L. Love
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Americans are broad-minded people. They'll accept the fact that a
person can be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife beater, and even a
newspaperman, but if a man doesn't drive there's something wrong with him."
Art Buchwald

10-03-2003, 05:26 PM

David Reuteler [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
>do the trucks aim for children north of sault ste. marie?

No-they just try to teach Bob-trailer-towing cyclists who aren't aware of their
morning caravans up across Lake Superior that the big rigs own the road in the
early part of the day.
We learned later that local cyclists don't take to the roads until after 10AM.
Trucks whizzing by no more than 1 foot away make for a scarey ride. OK-we got
the point...

10-03-2003, 08:05 PM

Riding with my daughter in the trailer makes ME an extra safe rider. I'm
even more aware of everything that's going on around me and even better
able to spot potential hazards. I'm out there riding for the enjoyment
of being with her rather than to get my endorphines.

--
Check out my bike blog!

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

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10-04-2003, 12:23 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (MeditationMan) wrote in
news:5a603bed.0310031241.1085584d@posting.google.c om:

> Do you agree that pulling a bike trailer seems to magically cause cars
> to move further away?

Completely agree. I bought a BOB Yak to further minimize use of the car.
I'm putting it in storage next month.

I've noticed that people slow down and look at me a lot more. Some laughs,
but mostly they must think I'm crazy. Or poor.

I'd like to think that they're admiring the calf muscles I've gotten
hauling 50lb loads of groceries.

-Whit

10-04-2003, 01:00 PM

Yes, vehicles seem to give a lot more room. I have a Trek "CC Ryder"
trailer, which is 33 inches wide, which is about 10 inches more than
my shoulder width.

Ron Hardin <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> Also a trailer restricts you in pothole avoidance, since you have
> to figure three tracks not one.

I just yell "bump" to my kids in the trailer.

RFM