What are they (cars) thinking when we... - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

04-07-2004, 03:21 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:K_Lcc.47325$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.c om...
<snip>
> When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
> give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
> ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
> cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
> coming up from behind us.
>
> So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
> totally clueless and think that we're just in their way? Not that it
would
> matter, as it's the prudent thing to do, as, in my opinion, if something
we
> can do while riding makes the world just a bit better or safer place, we
> ought to do it.

As a driver I don't trust anyone at all. I've seen too many people trying
to be nice and screw things up, like the old lady driving 15mph, who pulls
over at a bad corner to let you pass instead of the huge straightaway she
just drove on for 5 miles ... or the idiot who stops in the middle of the
road to let you go when you can't go, then figures it out just in time for
an opening to show up, so you both decide to go, then you both stop ...
grrrrr. Many times someone else is trying to judge for me and gets things
totally wrong ... like some guy in a wimpy 4 banger trying to judge how much
road I need to pass without knowing I got a 454 under the hood. I mean, I
appreciate it I guess ... in the same way a cyclist appreciates a driver
beeping at them as they pass (c:

If this was Europe I would trust the hand signals, but not in the US. It
would be nice if everyone on the road could cooperate but I don't see that
happening. The mindset is too different. In the parts of Europe I've
driven in, speeding and passing are a normal thing and nobody get all up in
a tizzy if you want to drive fast, so everyone knows how to use hand signals
and everyone does use them ... around my part of the country, all the good
passing zones are being erased, and all the speed limits are being lowered
to raise revenue. Here it's "I'm own the road so screw you" instead of
"hey, I'll try to stay out of your way if you try to stay out of mine, and
it's cool if you want to go faster than me".

C.Q.C.

04-07-2004, 03:21 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:K_Lcc.47325$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.c om...
<snip>
> When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
> give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
> ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
> cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
> coming up from behind us.
>
> So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
> totally clueless and think that we're just in their way? Not that it
would
> matter, as it's the prudent thing to do, as, in my opinion, if something
we
> can do while riding makes the world just a bit better or safer place, we
> ought to do it.

As a driver I don't trust anyone at all. I've seen too many people trying
to be nice and screw things up, like the old lady driving 15mph, who pulls
over at a bad corner to let you pass instead of the huge straightaway she
just drove on for 5 miles ... or the idiot who stops in the middle of the
road to let you go when you can't go, then figures it out just in time for
an opening to show up, so you both decide to go, then you both stop ...
grrrrr. Many times someone else is trying to judge for me and gets things
totally wrong ... like some guy in a wimpy 4 banger trying to judge how much
road I need to pass without knowing I got a 454 under the hood. I mean, I
appreciate it I guess ... in the same way a cyclist appreciates a driver
beeping at them as they pass (c:

If this was Europe I would trust the hand signals, but not in the US. It
would be nice if everyone on the road could cooperate but I don't see that
happening. The mindset is too different. In the parts of Europe I've
driven in, speeding and passing are a normal thing and nobody get all up in
a tizzy if you want to drive fast, so everyone knows how to use hand signals
and everyone does use them ... around my part of the country, all the good
passing zones are being erased, and all the speed limits are being lowered
to raise revenue. Here it's "I'm own the road so screw you" instead of
"hey, I'll try to stay out of your way if you try to stay out of mine, and
it's cool if you want to go faster than me".

C.Q.C.

04-07-2004, 03:21 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:K_Lcc.47325$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.c om...
<snip>
> When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
> give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
> ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
> cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
> coming up from behind us.
>
> So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
> totally clueless and think that we're just in their way? Not that it
would
> matter, as it's the prudent thing to do, as, in my opinion, if something
we
> can do while riding makes the world just a bit better or safer place, we
> ought to do it.

As a driver I don't trust anyone at all. I've seen too many people trying
to be nice and screw things up, like the old lady driving 15mph, who pulls
over at a bad corner to let you pass instead of the huge straightaway she
just drove on for 5 miles ... or the idiot who stops in the middle of the
road to let you go when you can't go, then figures it out just in time for
an opening to show up, so you both decide to go, then you both stop ...
grrrrr. Many times someone else is trying to judge for me and gets things
totally wrong ... like some guy in a wimpy 4 banger trying to judge how much
road I need to pass without knowing I got a 454 under the hood. I mean, I
appreciate it I guess ... in the same way a cyclist appreciates a driver
beeping at them as they pass (c:

If this was Europe I would trust the hand signals, but not in the US. It
would be nice if everyone on the road could cooperate but I don't see that
happening. The mindset is too different. In the parts of Europe I've
driven in, speeding and passing are a normal thing and nobody get all up in
a tizzy if you want to drive fast, so everyone knows how to use hand signals
and everyone does use them ... around my part of the country, all the good
passing zones are being erased, and all the speed limits are being lowered
to raise revenue. Here it's "I'm own the road so screw you" instead of
"hey, I'll try to stay out of your way if you try to stay out of mine, and
it's cool if you want to go faster than me".

C.Q.C.

04-07-2004, 05:42 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:K_Lcc.47325$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.c om...
> So on this morning's regular King's Mtn road ride, we're heading fast down
> Skyline towards Sky L'onda, with one of our guys in front of a rather
large
> tank truck of some kind. I guess he (the cyclist) wasn't feeling
super-fast
> this morning, so he decided to ride towards the edge of the road to allow
> the guy to pass him.
>
> Well, of course the tank truck passes him... on a blind corner, going well
> into the other lane! What an idiot. About five seconds later and it
would
> have been blammo, as a car came by.
>
> In my opinion, the cyclist on our ride should have taken the lane, to keep
> the guy from passing in a dangerous area. Which brings me to this-
>
> When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
> give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
> ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
> cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
> coming up from behind us.
>
> So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
> totally clueless and think that we're just in their way? Not that it
would
> matter, as it's the prudent thing to do, as, in my opinion, if something
we
> can do while riding makes the world just a bit better or safer place, we
> ought to do it.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>

I ride mostly on rolling, semi-rural roads and use those same hand signal
with cars that you describe. It seems to me that most cars are appreciative
(at least, the ones that pay attention). This is especially true with
elderly drivers who otherwise seem uncertain as to when they should pass me.

The rider going downhill should definitely have taken the lane. Hugging the
right shoulder in that scenario is dangerous for all involved. It invites a
bad pass by the car/truck, and if anything goes wrong the cyclist has no
room to maneuver. Plus, hugging the right on a fast descent can also get
you into trouble due to gravel, potholes, cracks, and the generally bad
pavement at the edge of the road.

Just my $.02.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

04-07-2004, 05:42 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:K_Lcc.47325$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.c om...
> So on this morning's regular King's Mtn road ride, we're heading fast down
> Skyline towards Sky L'onda, with one of our guys in front of a rather
large
> tank truck of some kind. I guess he (the cyclist) wasn't feeling
super-fast
> this morning, so he decided to ride towards the edge of the road to allow
> the guy to pass him.
>
> Well, of course the tank truck passes him... on a blind corner, going well
> into the other lane! What an idiot. About five seconds later and it
would
> have been blammo, as a car came by.
>
> In my opinion, the cyclist on our ride should have taken the lane, to keep
> the guy from passing in a dangerous area. Which brings me to this-
>
> When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
> give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
> ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
> cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
> coming up from behind us.
>
> So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
> totally clueless and think that we're just in their way? Not that it
would
> matter, as it's the prudent thing to do, as, in my opinion, if something
we
> can do while riding makes the world just a bit better or safer place, we
> ought to do it.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>

I ride mostly on rolling, semi-rural roads and use those same hand signal
with cars that you describe. It seems to me that most cars are appreciative
(at least, the ones that pay attention). This is especially true with
elderly drivers who otherwise seem uncertain as to when they should pass me.

The rider going downhill should definitely have taken the lane. Hugging the
right shoulder in that scenario is dangerous for all involved. It invites a
bad pass by the car/truck, and if anything goes wrong the cyclist has no
room to maneuver. Plus, hugging the right on a fast descent can also get
you into trouble due to gravel, potholes, cracks, and the generally bad
pavement at the edge of the road.

Just my $.02.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

04-07-2004, 05:42 AM

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:K_Lcc.47325$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.c om...
> So on this morning's regular King's Mtn road ride, we're heading fast down
> Skyline towards Sky L'onda, with one of our guys in front of a rather
large
> tank truck of some kind. I guess he (the cyclist) wasn't feeling
super-fast
> this morning, so he decided to ride towards the edge of the road to allow
> the guy to pass him.
>
> Well, of course the tank truck passes him... on a blind corner, going well
> into the other lane! What an idiot. About five seconds later and it
would
> have been blammo, as a car came by.
>
> In my opinion, the cyclist on our ride should have taken the lane, to keep
> the guy from passing in a dangerous area. Which brings me to this-
>
> When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
> give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can
see
> ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
> cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
> coming up from behind us.
>
> So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
> totally clueless and think that we're just in their way? Not that it
would
> matter, as it's the prudent thing to do, as, in my opinion, if something
we
> can do while riding makes the world just a bit better or safer place, we
> ought to do it.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>

I ride mostly on rolling, semi-rural roads and use those same hand signal
with cars that you describe. It seems to me that most cars are appreciative
(at least, the ones that pay attention). This is especially true with
elderly drivers who otherwise seem uncertain as to when they should pass me.

The rider going downhill should definitely have taken the lane. Hugging the
right shoulder in that scenario is dangerous for all involved. It invites a
bad pass by the car/truck, and if anything goes wrong the cyclist has no
room to maneuver. Plus, hugging the right on a fast descent can also get
you into trouble due to gravel, potholes, cracks, and the generally bad
pavement at the edge of the road.

Just my $.02.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

04-07-2004, 06:46 AM

I do the same thing. Some drivers will trust my signal that it's safe
to pass, others will hang back needlessly, even when they can see for
themselves that there is no traffic coming, making other cars back up
behind them. I guess they're afraid I'm suddenly going to swerve
across the road when they pass, or perhaps some people just can't
judge the distance.

I expect some car drivers appreciate a cyclist who's trying to be
considerate, but I wouldn't care to guess what percentage of drivers
this is.

MP

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 05:05:46 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
>give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can see
>ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
>cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
>coming up from behind us.
>
>So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
>totally clueless and think that we're just in their way?

04-07-2004, 06:46 AM

I do the same thing. Some drivers will trust my signal that it's safe
to pass, others will hang back needlessly, even when they can see for
themselves that there is no traffic coming, making other cars back up
behind them. I guess they're afraid I'm suddenly going to swerve
across the road when they pass, or perhaps some people just can't
judge the distance.

I expect some car drivers appreciate a cyclist who's trying to be
considerate, but I wouldn't care to guess what percentage of drivers
this is.

MP

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 05:05:46 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
>give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can see
>ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
>cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
>coming up from behind us.
>
>So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
>totally clueless and think that we're just in their way?

04-07-2004, 06:46 AM

I do the same thing. Some drivers will trust my signal that it's safe
to pass, others will hang back needlessly, even when they can see for
themselves that there is no traffic coming, making other cars back up
behind them. I guess they're afraid I'm suddenly going to swerve
across the road when they pass, or perhaps some people just can't
judge the distance.

I expect some car drivers appreciate a cyclist who's trying to be
considerate, but I wouldn't care to guess what percentage of drivers
this is.

MP

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 05:05:46 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>When we're heading up the hill, which has many blind corners, I routinely
>give hand signals to hold cars back (keep them from passing) when I can see
>ahead and there's a car heading down. Likewise I'll give hand signals to
>cars coming down the hill, telling them to slow down, when there's a car
>coming up from behind us.
>
>So I'm thinking, are the car drivers actually appreciative of this, or
>totally clueless and think that we're just in their way?

04-07-2004, 08:55 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
GaryG <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>I ride mostly on rolling, semi-rural roads and use those same hand signal
>with cars that you describe. It seems to me that most cars are appreciative
>(at least, the ones that pay attention). This is especially true with
>elderly drivers who otherwise seem uncertain as to when they should pass me.

Perhaps it is worth noting that many drivers have trouble judging the
speed of bicyclists, especially if they have been conditioned by seeing
mostly very slow child bicyclists. So when encountering a fast bicyclist,
they may mis-estimate the speed of the bicyclist (either over or under).
In a rural context, this may result in passing unsafely, or not passing
when it is safe. In other contexts, it may result in turning in front
of an approaching bicyclist who is going faster than the driver thinks
s/he is going.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy J. Lee
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