If you’re veering around cyclists, you’re not passing safely. Pull out in good time, pass them leaving plenty of space, and make sure you’re fully past before you pull back in, (unlike most drivers round here seem to do, who seem to think you’ve magically disappeared from the road once they’re level with you).
Oh, yes I recognise that pulling in early one. Either they think I have disappeared or that I was only going 2 mph. Even better when they do it to you when you are descending a hill at the speed limit.
Don’t they have a similar system in Germany?
Okay, it isn’t as big as that but I remember the bike I rode over there in around 1991 did have a flag on a light pole. I can’t remember the details but mainly I think it was a red disc?
At the time I thought that while it is a good idea, if the driver can see that, then they should have seen the bike/rider?
The driver probably can (and does) see you, but a lot of people are clueless as to their position on the road, and especially their position with regard to something on the far side of their vehicle. What they perceive as sufficient clearance from their vantage point is usually far different than reality. Which is why I don’t get warped out of shape if someone moves even part-way across the center line to make sure they are allowing me enough room.
@Bicycle Bill: Good observation! I’m persuaded by many years of observing cars on the streets and roads of the U.S. that most drivers have to see the wheels of a bicycle touching the ground in order to convince themselves that they are not going to hit a cyclist. Spatial extrapolation is non-existent. This “see-it-to-miss-it” approach helps to explain the wide berth that many drivers give cyclists.
Yeah, in Germany they are called “Abstandshalter” (‘distance keeper’), and those things were very common here in the 1980s: http://www.jung-volke.de/html/fahrradlexikon/Suchergebnis.asp?suchbegriff=Abstandhalter . You could still buy these thingies for about 4 Euros, but they are no longer considered as ‘safe’ because they don’t stretch out very far, at least not the 1,5 to 2 m of distance a motorist is obliged to stay away from a bicyclist by law. Of course, you rarely see a motorist leaving that much space when overtaking a bicyclist …
Only if you’re in the UK or other places where vehicles use the lh-side of the road. However, the Kickstand Cyclery, Yehuda, Joe, the Shakers, and the rest of the gang is generally considered to be located in Cleveland (Ohio) in the USA, where we drive (and if we’re following the rules, pedal) on the right-hand side.
That’s why I have mirrors on both sides of my helmet. Sometimes the through lane is on the left side of the road next to the median. with a right turn only lane to the right. Sme drivers don’t pay any attention to the right turn only aspect of the lane and just get angry that I’m in the road in front of them and not “where I belong”
In that situation I ride directly on the white stripe separating the through lane from the right-turn-only lane, or very slightly to the left of the stripe, and drivers pass me on both sides without complaints.
I’m sure I heard some time ago about an Irish guy who habitually rode his bike with a broom attached transversly to the rack. When motorists complained after they had hit it, he would say “I’m sorry you didn’t see me….”
I’ve heard of instances where cyclists taped yardsticks to their handlebars. I’ve considered doing this at times (Yehuda’s stick) but find it easier just to take the lane for miles and miles.
Needs a flourescent garden digger tool on the end of it to make them fear for their paint job. Also needs to be a little higher. I have often fantasized about a springloaded arm that would thrash the paint job on any moron not smart enough to give me three feet.
Trust me, Zorba, not only will they claim they didn’t see you — in a pinch, motorists will also claim that they didn’t see a cabover Peterbilt pulling a 53-foot reefer trailer if it’s to their advantage. Best to watch your ass regardless.
And am I seeing things, or is that an ADT Home Security sign stuck in front of a mobile home in your picture? What sort of neightborhood are you cycling in?
I don’t have too much trouble with this but I’m a long haired blond woman on a spectacular pink cruiser bike that looks like a hollywood movie star’s bike. They look, they see, they pass with care.
not sure I’d want have to veer arond THAT when passing him!
If you’re veering around cyclists, you’re not passing safely. Pull out in good time, pass them leaving plenty of space, and make sure you’re fully past before you pull back in, (unlike most drivers round here seem to do, who seem to think you’ve magically disappeared from the road once they’re level with you).
Oh, yes I recognise that pulling in early one. Either they think I have disappeared or that I was only going 2 mph. Even better when they do it to you when you are descending a hill at the speed limit.
Don’t they have a similar system in Germany?
Okay, it isn’t as big as that but I remember the bike I rode over there in around 1991 did have a flag on a light pole. I can’t remember the details but mainly I think it was a red disc?
At the time I thought that while it is a good idea, if the driver can see that, then they should have seen the bike/rider?
The driver probably can (and does) see you, but a lot of people are clueless as to their position on the road, and especially their position with regard to something on the far side of their vehicle. What they perceive as sufficient clearance from their vantage point is usually far different than reality. Which is why I don’t get warped out of shape if someone moves even part-way across the center line to make sure they are allowing me enough room.
@Bicycle Bill: Good observation! I’m persuaded by many years of observing cars on the streets and roads of the U.S. that most drivers have to see the wheels of a bicycle touching the ground in order to convince themselves that they are not going to hit a cyclist. Spatial extrapolation is non-existent. This “see-it-to-miss-it” approach helps to explain the wide berth that many drivers give cyclists.
Yeah, in Germany they are called “Abstandshalter” (‘distance keeper’), and those things were very common here in the 1980s: http://www.jung-volke.de/html/fahrradlexikon/Suchergebnis.asp?suchbegriff=Abstandhalter . You could still buy these thingies for about 4 Euros, but they are no longer considered as ‘safe’ because they don’t stretch out very far, at least not the 1,5 to 2 m of distance a motorist is obliged to stay away from a bicyclist by law. Of course, you rarely see a motorist leaving that much space when overtaking a bicyclist …
Link photo reminds me of a dunking booth target… Ready – Aim – Hit
http://www.flashback.ca/flashflags.html
U. S. and Canada sales. Spring mounted stick with reflective triangle flag.
I have seen those in the UK too (on other side of bike of course)
Yeah, I have a couple of those. Great for putting on a rear child seat or tag-a-long tandem bike.
you don’t see those on the roads anymore.
Yehuda’s idea is far to passive. I came up with a rather more active version a couple of years ago: http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2010/05/30/i-too-have-a-sting-in-my-tail/
Not quite so active (or potentially damaging), but also gets the point across:
a talking yardstick, in both polite —
http://www.bikehacks.com/.a/6a0120a7ed5f9d970b01675ea0fabe970b-pi
and direct —
http://www.bikehacks.com/.a/6a0120a7ed5f9d970b01675ea0fc29970b-pi
versions.
………from bikehacks.com
Good idea but while pleasing us, is the second one too radical?
I freaking love that!
Yehuda has put it on the wrong side!
Only if you’re in the UK or other places where vehicles use the lh-side of the road. However, the Kickstand Cyclery, Yehuda, Joe, the Shakers, and the rest of the gang is generally considered to be located in Cleveland (Ohio) in the USA, where we drive (and if we’re following the rules, pedal) on the right-hand side.
Or if you are in NYC where lots of bike lanes are on the left side now so even my helmet mounted mirror is useless.
That’s why I have mirrors on both sides of my helmet. Sometimes the through lane is on the left side of the road next to the median. with a right turn only lane to the right. Sme drivers don’t pay any attention to the right turn only aspect of the lane and just get angry that I’m in the road in front of them and not “where I belong”
In that situation I ride directly on the white stripe separating the through lane from the right-turn-only lane, or very slightly to the left of the stripe, and drivers pass me on both sides without complaints.
¿En qué estás pensando…?
Oh this is quite similar to this invetion ( altought adjustable in lenght) http://blogs.ciclismoafondo.es/cascoloco/files/2010/03/Trasera-extendido_baja2.jpg
desing by http://www.dinoinvdes.com
I’m sure I heard some time ago about an Irish guy who habitually rode his bike with a broom attached transversly to the rack. When motorists complained after they had hit it, he would say “I’m sorry you didn’t see me….”
Yehuda could also use it as a snorkel at the beach.
Did anyone happen to catch today’s XKCD comic? It’s fairly pertinent to today’s strip. I’ll just leave this right here.
http://xkcd.com/1075/
Wow, another Yehuda and xkcd addict!
Wow, another Yehuda and xkcd addict!
I’ve heard of instances where cyclists taped yardsticks to their handlebars. I’ve considered doing this at times (Yehuda’s stick) but find it easier just to take the lane for miles and miles.
Rick, it looks like you need to add a “to” to the two parts of Yehuda’s sentence in the third frame. As in “attach it to”.
I still have a version of that flag.
had a side flag some years back… http://ow.ly/bUC4D bounced on a spring, did make for more room… more… http://ow.ly/bUCQV
Needs a flourescent garden digger tool on the end of it to make them fear for their paint job. Also needs to be a little higher. I have often fantasized about a springloaded arm that would thrash the paint job on any moron not smart enough to give me three feet.
I have to put my bike on bus racks. I just make do with a light bar I put on my rear rack, about a foot each way with bright blinkers on the ends.
Motorists give me a very wide berth:
http://www.doubleveil.net/share/zorba-bike.jpg
They can’t claim they didn’t see me!
Trust me, Zorba, not only will they claim they didn’t see you — in a pinch, motorists will also claim that they didn’t see a cabover Peterbilt pulling a 53-foot reefer trailer if it’s to their advantage. Best to watch your ass regardless.
And am I seeing things, or is that an ADT Home Security sign stuck in front of a mobile home in your picture? What sort of neightborhood are you cycling in?
I don’t have too much trouble with this but I’m a long haired blond woman on a spectacular pink cruiser bike that looks like a hollywood movie star’s bike. They look, they see, they pass with care.
Wait… that gives me an idea…
http://bikeyface.com/2011/09/21/men-in-skirts/
Wait… that gives me an idea…
http://imgur.com/8wVhw