Stay the course and hold the line
May 13, 2008 · 08:20 AM · permalink
It’s that time of year when more bikes start coming out. Cyclists are riding to work and lots of them are prepping for a tour with some big miles. Even if you’ll never kit up, pin a race number on, or turn a pedal in anger, some racer skills will help protect you and other cyclists. Flying around a blind corner, turning abruptly and other sketchy moves that’d take down a pack in a race can have the same effect at Seattle to Portland, on your commute, or an event in your area.
Last week, a woman was roaring down the Swing Bridge nearly right into me as I was coming up onto it (possibly setting a personal best on her commute). Later a commuter swung wide into a blind corner nearly clipping me and another came just whizzing out across the yellow line. I don’t know if it’s rusty skills, maybe they have no skills, or don’t care, but staying the course and holding your line is a good thing to do even if all you ever ride is a tourist bike path.
The yellow-line violator reminded me of a group we rode up onto once and the women went into a near panic because I was behind her. First it was nervous glances, then a “hey don’t ride so close” mixed with the insistence that she had a 3-ft quiet zone around her. “Cool with me,” I said and rolled on by. I also thought, maybe she should reconsider her sport of choice or not ride on roads where other cyclists ride.
Sure, sure, people can ride how they ride, but I think cyclists sometimes we forget how dangerous our sport is and at the very least, situational awareness applies. Example: we’ve got draw bridges in Seattle with metal grate decking that’s slick, hard to ride on, and has led to very serious bike crashes.
I cringe every time I see a cyclist riding that deck. Saw one just last week.
What’s the sketchiest thing you’ve seen on a ride?
Photo uploaded by pelleb
It’s the same damn thing every year.
Yes it is. And more I think cause of bike to work and that’s good. Along with the how to ride in traffic tutorials, cyclists should learn, “how to not ride sketchy.” Or not take out your fellow commuter.
The “sketchiest thing” I think I’ve seen was in Davis, CA. A woman on a mountain bike traveling around 12 mph, after dark, with no lights, not wearing a helmet, ipod in her ears blew threw a red light cutting off traffic and continued on through two stop signs with the same results. My buddy and I after following the traffic laws still had her in sight when we saw her blow through a third stop sign only to get tagged by a parked car opening its door. She hit hard but she didn’t appear broken in any way…its terrible to say but, she totally deserved it.
Out of all the things that could have happened that was one of the best to teach the cyclist and the motorist the hazards of bikes. She could have been killed in any one of those single indiscretions.
Now that the B-G is open through Fremont again, I am reliving all the blind spots, tight crossings and general silliness between Fremont and the U-District. My pet peeve is that as I ride to work daily, I cross the Fremont bridge southbound to Dexter and every single guy has to pass me going up the hill without signalling—often with only a few inches of breathing room, so I could easily take us both down by swerving if I hit a rock or need to miss some other road hazard. I don’t mind being passed (much, okay, I’m mostly over it) and often pass others going up Dexter north-bound (more excited to get home, I guess). It’s the refusal to signal that boggles my mind.
But my all-time favorite would have to be last summer, I think, when my partner and I rode out toward/past U-Village on the B-G on a sunny day around 5 or 6 p.m. It was literally rush hour on the trail, and at the intersection of the trail with 15th at the bottom of the hill, there were suited up bike jerks passing other cyclists and pedalling hard into the blind corners around the shrubbery.
So what I’m saying is, sometimes it’s the newbies, but often it’s the arrogant “experienced” dudes (and a few women) who take unnecessary risks that negatively affect others.
There are many obstacles out there for commuters. We have all seen some bizarre situations and not just other bike riders. I come across the Saturday morning pack of runners who string across the whole trail, the unleashed dog walker, rollerbladers, the music loving walker oblivious to the surrounding and making a 360 right into the path of oncoming trail traffic.
This is sort of like motorists for cyclists. As many people as I come across there a few I would rather not see again but most people try to do things the right way. Its that one person that does something wrong that sticks in our minds. Unfortunatly its also that one person that can take you down.
Bike safe
whenever i see someone riding like they own the road on a bike, they are kitted up. it’s usually the spandex/carbon fiber crowd who blow through red lights, stop signs, crosswalks and who are RUDE to other cyclists. at least, in my experience. sorry to generalize, but i didn’t start it. what’s up with all the commuter hating?
Let’s not start a roadie v. commuter battle royale here. That’s not the point of my post or what I said. I’m just talking about basic bike handling skills to prevent crashes and accidents. That applies to all cyclists: in lycra or levis. It does go to path safety as well, like the most dangerous obstacle near Hugga HQ is skateboarders on the trail flipping their boards. Or 3-abreast joggers or wide-stance rollerbladders.
“Let’s not start a roadie v. commuter battle royale here.”
Good call:) We’re all riding, and that’s what matters, no? I’d rather run into a fair-weather cyclist than a car.
(I sound like an afterschool special, LOL.)
That would make a very good afterschool special, but ABC would have to text it to this generation.
Too true! :)
ok, I forgot to add the dangers of clipless pedals above! Lady came careening into me at a bike station during bike-to-work. There’s a 3 fall rule with clipless pedals. I guess that gets reset if you don’t ride except once a year.
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