We also need a list to help people with regular life activities.
Here's a start:
1. Don't pee on the toilet seat.
2. Don't double dip in the nacho sauce
3. Wash your hands after going to the bathroom
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of T. Kenji Sugahara
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 12:57 PM
To: Gregg Magnus
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Group Rides - Observation
Here's some Do's and Don'ts to be a responsible cyclist.
1. Be courteous and share the road. Being courteous gains respect
and helps makes the roads safer for all cyclists.
2. The law allows you to ride two abreast, but it may not be the
courteous or safe option. If you hear a vehicle approaching from behind, ride single file. Don't ride three abreast.
3. If you're blocking a whole line of cars and there's a place to
safely pull off be courteous and stop.
4. Don't wander all over the road. Try to ride predictably and as
far right as safely as you can. This does not mean to ride in an area that is littered with road debris or places you at risk.
5. Do take the lane if it safe to do so if there is a blind
corner, high-risk junction or narrowing of the road.
6. Use common sense - don't pee in people's yards or hang out
across the entire road if you're waiting for a regroup.
7. Stop at stop signs and signals. By law, cyclists must obey all
traffic control devices.
8. Signal your intentions if you can safely do so. If you are
turning, point in the direction you plan on going. If you are slowing, put your hand out behind you.
9. If you wave a car around you, don't get impatient. Remember
that it is their decision to make as to whether it is safe to pass.
10. If you're in a group, take leadership, set a good example and do your best to make everyone ride courteously.
11. Pay attention! While it is the responsibility of drivers to avoid hitting you ride defensively to minimize risk!
12. Remember the 5% rule. 5% of drivers are jerks. Don't let that 5% get to you. Take a deep breath and move on.
13. Be friendly. If someone is courteous to you and does the right thing, wave and smile. Everyone likes to be acknowledged for doing the right thing.
Here's some Do's and Don'ts to be a responsible driver.
1. Be courteous and share the road. As a driver you may think the
road belongs to drivers, but nobody owns the road. By law, a bicycle is a vehicle, so treat it like one.
2. Use your turn signals and check your mirrors before making
turns. Cyclists can travel faster than you think.
3. Be patient behind a group of cyclists. If you crack your
window you may hear "car back." That is a signal that cyclists are telling other cyclists to go single file as they know you are behind them.
4. Pass with care. You can legally pass over a double yellow but
you must do so where it is safe. You should leave enough room so that if the cyclist should fall in front of you or swerve to avoid an object, you won't run over them. If there is a collision you could be held liable. Don't "buzz" or drive as close as you can to a cyclist.
It is illegal.
5. Don't drive too closely behind a cyclist as you may not be able
to stop in time if they come off of their bike or adjust to a road hazard abruptly. It would be the exact same as tailgating another driver.
6. Don't use your horn when you are close to the cyclist. This
could cause them to swerve towards your vehicle. Sustained use of the horn is illegal.
7. Exercise caution and be patient. Remember it is your
responsibility to avoid hitting the cyclist, not the responsibility of the cyclist to avoid getting hit by you.
8. Be aware that on downhill sections cyclists can often go faster
than cars through curves. Try to avoid passing on downhill sections unless you have an extended clear line of sight.
9. Remember that cyclists can legally take the entire lane. You
may think that it is a selfish action, but they may be preventing a collision. They really aren't trying to slow you down, sometimes it's just the safest way for them to traverse a section of the road, for example if there is a blind curve, an area where the road narrows or where there is oncoming traffic that you may not see.
10. Be patient. A gain of 30 seconds in your arrival time is not worth seriously injuring or killing someone. A family somewhere is appreciative that their father, son, mother or daughter returns home safely.
11. Pay attention! Don't text or use your cellphone while driving.
Distracted driving places all road users at risk.
12. Remember the 5% rule. 5% of cyclists are jerks. There's nothing you can do about them. Take a deep breath and move on.
13. Be friendly. If someone is courteous to you and does the right thing, wave and smile. Everyone likes to be acknowledged for doing the right thing.
Thanks to everyone who helped put this together. Remember- as an OBRA
racer- help set a good example for everyone!
On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 12:51 PM, Gregg Magnus wrote:
> I don't disagree with your response but I also don't think Susan was
> off the mark either.