'Hit' by a car today (rant alert)

[Badot]

I know what you mean toystory, and although I'm guilty of some of those things, I don't do them in 'stupid' ways, per se... I usually won't stop (or even slow down) at stop signs where I have a clear view of all the roads, and there are no cars around, but if there's ANYONE there I'll usually pull off the side of the road and wait for everyone else to go... if it's busy enough that it's not an option, and the roads off to the sides have ample room to ride a bike on the shoulder, I'll go right (or left if that's the side of the road I'm on), go down the road a bit, wait until I have a clearing and cross, go back to the intersection, and repeat. Basically I just try to stay out of the way of cars as much as possible... I can't accelerate fast, I can't go fast, so I don't get in the way of cars that are liable to do that whether I'm there or not, unless I'm already up to the speed of traffic or there's a large opening with plenty of room to get up to speed.

At the same time, on those long, straight, narrow country roads, I like to ride down the left side of the left lane (except when approaching blind corners/intersections) -- that way the only thing you have to pay close attention to is the road in front of you, and since there's no ways on or off, you can see any car coming from a long ways away. If you see one, you can look behind you, and if there's no car coming behind you, you can get in the right lane until that car passes and move back over, otherwise I'll typically move to the left 'shoulder'... and although I realize how horribly technically 'wrong' this all is, around here drivers tend to not even move over in their own lane as they blast by bikers at full speed... add that to maybe a 1' wide shoulder, and the people in hummers and trucks that do 90 in a 50 (mph mind you) and I'm much more comfortable being able to look forward, able to keep right on the edge of the road and watch the person coming at me simultaneously in case I need to go off the road, as opposed to just riding along staying on the edge of the lane praying that someone doesn't hit me from behind. Although most drivers are fine, I don't feel like taking the chance.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's not so much what they're doing, but how stupidly they do it.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I agree. In fact, when I was younger and using pedal powered transportation on a regular basis, I used to do the same thing- Nighttime, unlit back road, I'd be in the "oncoming" shoulder. I figured I wasn't going to be seen until way later than I'd like, so that way, I'd see what was coming well ahead of time.

There is a distinct difference between strategic night riding in unlit back country, and daytime chaos in major metropolitan areas- THOSE are the problem...

 

[karl]

Im not an eco- hippe. Im saying you dont need your car to get down your driveway or go to your neibors house. I am saying riding a bike on a nice day dosent hurt. If there is a store a 1/4 mile away is it to much to ride a bike? My go karts are gas powered, but I dont rely on it for a sorce of transportation. And running a 3hp briggs takes alot less gas than running a 200hp car everywhere. Im just saying alittle exersize dosent hurt, especially if you are 300 lbs

By cutting off gas supply I meant to not cut it, but import less and make people conserve it more.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

skip to 1:13.

huge rocks also endanger bicyclists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm5VvJ7IlUM&feature=fvwrel

 

[Rustydog2010]

I agree with most of you guys on here. Its got to be a team effort, both the cyclist and motorist have to work together.

Cyclists need to realise that they don't own the road, just as motorists don't. There needs to be compromise, motorists need to learn just to slow and respect the cyclist. The cyclist needs to realise that if there is 10 cars backed up behind them, as there isn't anywhere safe to pass, they should just pull over and allow them past.

But then again, life is a b**** and people are c****. That will never change.
Its all about compromise.

Jeremy.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I meant to not cut it, but import less and make people conserve it more.

That simply will not work.

I saw a guy going up the highway in an International CXT the other day (Google a pic if you need to). That's the kind of guy who's buying the fuel regardless of cost or availability. That's the guy you want to pick on. Now suppose fuel is "imported less". Do you really believe he's gonna say "oh, ok- I guess I won't tank up the truck and go for a sunday drive."? No- He's going to fill 'er up, and I am gonna get stiffed at the pump. Me- The guy that drives a larger vehicle because I have to. Tightening the supply will not work. It will run prices thru the roof, and screw up the economy even worse. Look at Hurricane Katrina- did that "help"? It shortened supply! What happened? Think about it. All it did was drive pricing up- Fat cats still tanked up their Hummers. Why? They don't care... So- Will a fuel embargo help? No.

...And sounds kinda communist...

Try not to take this the wrong way, but how old are you? A little life experience goes a long way.

Speaking of import- here's another can o' worms- Why the he// are we importing the stuff anyway? (By "we" I mean North America). "We" have quite a supply available to us...

 

[karl]

They had a "gas shortage" awile ago, and it ended the muscle car era. Cars became smaller and more fuel efficent. People still drive them, but not everyday. There was a gain, even if people dident like it. We need to find a better way to transport goods than semi trucks that hog diesel. But for now we haft to drill more oil and import less.

Another thing- I thing trade with China should be limited, everything is made there!

 

[fowler]

some where like america but more like australia will never find a replacement for the semi trailor and the road train

"without trucks australia stops"

and im sure u guys have the same problem just not so great

thje shear size of these countrys and the isolation of people mean we cant put everything on trains as a trainline (trains are the only real option) is not feasable for 200 people

one point karl did make with i do like is the use of these f250s and other big utes (pickups)

ok tradies might need one but i bet a landcruiser with a trailer would be better

but most of the big utes u see are owned by city boggons (rednecks) that use it to drive to work each day and that is stupid as there are loads of options that will do the same for less

 

[The Mechtician]

I won't comment on the ongoing oil & energy use debate (I work in the alternative energy field, hydrogen pays my bills!), but I can comment on Badot's experience, since I'm a bike commuter myself.

Sounds to me like Badot was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Statistically, if you ride a bike on the street you will have an encounter with a car at some point. There's simply more of them on the road. Sucks that it taco'd your rim and hurt your leg Badot, but consider yourself lucky that it wasn't more serious! Count your blessings

A good friend of mine who rides everywhere has been hit by cars no less than 7 times. In every instance, the driver of the car didn't see him. Personally, when I ride on the street I ride with the assumption that I am invisible to drivers. 90% of the time this assumption is correct and can be seen in the decisions that drivers make (eg; turning right in front of me, etc). I also try to minimize my exposure on the street by using the local bike path. I don't know if this is possible for you Badot, but perhaps you can find some interesting shortcuts on your way to campus that will minimize your time spent riding in traffic? If all else fails, simply ride on the sidewalk if you're feeling exposed. Yes it's technically illegal, but unless you're riding like a total butthead or a grumpy cop catches you there's little possiblity of a ticket & fine.

 

[Badot]

some where like america but more like australia will never find a replacement for the semi trailor and the road train

I had to google road train... that's definitely something that should be done here, only most of the other drivers would get pissed and the idea would be scrapped costing our government billions of dollars in 'research'.

 

[devino246]

I had to google road train...

So did I. That doesnt look all that safe. Maybe the lanes in Aus are wider? The most trailers we can have hooked up here is 2, and thats only in some states.

 

[devino246]

They had a "gas shortage" awile ago, and it ended the muscle car era. Cars became smaller and more fuel efficent. People still drive them, but not everyday. There was a gain, even if people dident like it. We need to find a better way to transport goods than semi trucks that hog diesel. But for now we haft to drill more oil and import less.

Another thing- I thing trade with China should be limited, everything is made there!

Its hard to have an intelligent conversation when the person cant differentiate between "thing" and "think".

In case you didnt know, semi's are actually fairly good on fuel, considering they're pulling 50,000lbs. Of course trains are be best way to go but they can only go so far.

And actually, the gas crisis had little to do with the end of the beloved muscle cars. Insurance surcharges, increased emissions standards, new safety concerns, and the lowering of octane ratings lead to their demise. RIP

I agree that we should stop buying crap from China. But how do we do this? You insist on buying American products. If the demand for American products increases, American companies flourish and imports begin to trickle. Where do you buy your tools? I go to sears and buy the things that say "made in usa".

 

[karl]

I have craftsman tools, and I made one error. It is not the end of the world if I accidentally typed in a g instead of k. The gas crisis was part of the demise of muscle cars, alot of things contribute.

 

[Badot]

Where do you buy your tools? I go to sears and buy the things that say "made in usa".

Sadly, most of the things that are 'made in USA' are made entirely of imported parts and materials, especially when it comes to vehicles. Was it the toyota tundra which had more parts of it made in America than any other truck? And I think with wrenches in particular, they typically make them in China, throw the chrome coating on it here, and tag it as 'made in the USA'

 

[karl]

Yea the world is so messed up. Its scary to think what the world will be like when I am older.

 

[devino246]

Sadly, most of the things that are 'made in USA' are made entirely of imported parts and materials, especially when it comes to vehicles. Was it the toyota tundra which had more parts of it made in America than any other truck? And I think with wrenches in particular, they typically make them in China, throw the chrome coating on it here, and tag it as 'made in the USA'

I know vehicles are horrible about it. Even if it is only chromed here, its better than nothing.

ABC World News had an interesting segment on made in USA

 

[redsox985]

Im not an eco- hippe. Im saying you dont need your car to get down your driveway or go to your neibors house. I am saying riding a bike on a nice day dosent hurt. If there is a store a 1/4 mile away is it to much to ride a bike? My go karts are gas powered, but I dont rely on it for a sorce of transportation. And running a 3hp briggs takes alot less gas than running a 200hp car everywhere. Im just saying alittle exersize dosent hurt, especially if you are 300 lbs

By cutting off gas supply I meant to not cut it, but import less and make people conserve it more.

Quite possibly the worst idea since MacFarlane's "Flamin' Plank".

 

[karl]

Quite possibly the worst idea since MacFarlane's "Flamin' Plank".

Yea I dident think that gas thing over long enough.

 

[devino246]

We're you here for the flamin' plank?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Thanks for the laffs, Redsox- I knew I could count on you!!!
...Do I get credit for naming that thing? Just askin'.