Susan Otcenas
>>...When a vehicle comes up blind from behind...
>>...there was no traffic at the time. All of the sudden there is an
older brown Chevy...
I won't pass judgement on Lynne's reaction to the motorist. While I
think it doesn't usually help, I know that I've certainly been in the
situation where I've been frightened or pissed off at someone's behavior
and have had the same immediate reaction she did, rightly or wrongly.
Instead, what I'd like to address is this idea that cars come out of
nowhere. They don't just materialize out of thin air, folks. As
cyclists, we expect, even demand, that motorists PAY ATTENTION DAMMIT,
and be aware of us, regardless of time of day, lighting conditions, etc.
However, it's been my experience that cyclists often do not pay the same
kind of attention to their own surroundings. How many of you are riding
with an eyeglass mirror so that you can see what's coming up behind you?
You might think it's dorky, but as for me, I won't ride without one,
neither will most of the safety-conscious cyclists I know. The wind in
your ears, the conversation of your team mate, the click of your
freewheel... All those things mask the sound of an approaching vehicle.
An eyeglass mirror gives you full visibility, and alerts you to the
quiet Prius coming up behind you. It also let's you know if that
roaring truck approaching is giving you 2 feet or 10. It can save your
bacon. We don't drive our cars without rear view mirrors. Why would we
ride a bicycle that way?
I enjoy riding side by side with friends, and seeking the smooth spots
on the road as much as anyone. But, if I see an approaching vehicle in
my mirror, I shout out "car back", move to single file, and ride as
close to the right as is safe (note that we are required to ride as far
to the right as is practical, but the ORS also gives *us* the right to
determine how far to the right is safe. So, no need to hug the fog
line.) Motorists see riders single up, and believe me, most of them
(us) appreciate it.
Being always aware of your surroundings is a big part of sharing the
road. And to my mind, if we ALL (motorists & cyclists alike) paid a
little more attention to our surroundings, we'd have fewer incidences of
road rage.
Susan
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Susan Otcenas
TEAM ESTROGEN, INC.
http://www.TeamEstrogen.com
1-877-310-4592
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Cycling Apparel and Accessories for Women
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