The “Wrong of Way”

It was a sunny day yesterday, a bit cool, but bright.  Near perfect conditions for a nice ride.  I had to go out at lunch and run a couple of work related errands, unfortunately in my truck.  I chose a more quiet and residential route back to the shop.

Ahead of me was a cyclist.  He was kitted out well, new and shiny tights, a bright wind jacket, and a high-end helmet were all I could see from behind.  He was on a road bike, and was riding along at a good clip.  He presented a good picture, a lean, fit rider, moving smoothly and steadily, along the right hand side of the roadway.  I had to smile.  I like seeing other riders out there, enjoying it and doing it well.

There was some light oncoming traffic, so I wasn’t in a position to force a pass.  I stayed well back, riding behind the cyclist, treating him as I would wish to be treated.  Yes, he was slowing me down a bit, but there really isn’t that much difference between 18 and 25 mph.

The opposing traffic would clear soon enough, and there was a longish straight coming up.  I planned to pass him just as soon as we both cleared the upcoming stop sign.  I began to brake for the stop a bit early, intending to give the rider plenty of room.

Oops.

The guy blew through the stop sign.  Not a hint of intention to slow down.  The motorist in the cross had to brake sharply to avoid clipping the guy, and now the intersection was fouled up.

I didn’t catch up to the rider until the end of the straight stretch.  A downhill curve was ahead.  He tucked and there was no reason to pass, and several not to.  Then he did it again.  Another stop sign, and he ran it full bore.

Long time readers will know that I’m not a happy motorist at this point.  I want to see my brother cyclists behaving and exercising good citizenship. 

I had almost caught up to the guy when he did it again.  Third stop sign in a row, and third time of total lack of regard for it.

There were a lot of yard contractors out, their trucks parked at the curbs.  That made passing more difficult.  I could have powered up and jumped, hoping that the way ahead would stay clear, but I did not have good sightlines, and I did not want to put either of us at risk, so I stayed behind the guy, well back, and just simmered.

I had my opportunity.  A clear, unimpeded road.  I pulled out and made a good clean pass.  But there was another problem coming up.  Yet another stop sign.  I was well ahead of the cyclist by this point, but he was in sight in my rearview.  I signaled my intended right turn and braked for the sign.  That was when it happened.

The guy didn’t slow down as I was making my stop.  Instead, he shot between my truck and the curb, on the right hand side!  Then he blasted through the intersection.

Folks, I ask you.  What would have happened if I hadn’t been attentive?  What if I’d been texting?  (I never do when driving, but others do.)  What if I’d been a harried and distracted mom, with kids making a ruckus in the back?  I’d signaled a turn.  I’d already completed my stop and was initiating the turn; my truck was in motion when he made this “suicide pass.”  How would this rider have fared, him doing an estimated 20mph, if I’d continued turning rather than making a hard brake stop?  Would he have survived the impact?  Would he have ended up under my wheel?  (Remember, many drivers “freeze” at an impact, feet staying on the controls, or even worse, accelerating.)

I suspect that, right about now, he’d be a minor news item, either dead or seriously injured, and all his friends would be shouting about the evil motorists who wantonly strike down riders.

“Share the Road,” only works if it works in both directions.  And reckless riding is as bad (if not worse) than reckless driving.

Thursday Thoughts ~~ Why they don’t stop!

Why is it that so many bicycle riders blast through stop signs and traffic lights?  On the surface, it would appear to be simple, self-centered lack of respect.  But let’s examine just what it takes to execute an intersection crossing in a group.

Here comes a group of cyclists.  There is traffic present, so they are riding in single file, along the right hand side of the road.  As the group approaches the intersection, the last two riders are checking to their rear.  They make a very good judgment decision.  When the group is closing on the intersection, and when there is sufficient gap in the overtaking traffic, this last pair moves out to “take” the travel lane.  They report their action to the riders ahead, and the entire group forms into pairs.  Now the whole group is making their final, brisk approach to the intersection, two by two.

The lead pair come to a complete stop, stepping to the ground with one foot, and waiting their turn in the rotation.  The moment it is their turn to cross, they push off, re-mounting and accelerating, clearing the intersection rapidly.  The moment they are completely across, they resume their single file formation.  Once they are about a hundred yards past the intersection, and still remaining in single file, they slow down sharply, waiting for the rest of the group to rejoin.

Meanwhile, back at the intersection, the second pair, and each pair in turn, repeats the actions.  Each pair pulls crisply up to the stop line, executes a definite stop, waits, and then clears the intersection with deliberate haste.  No one jumps out of turn, or disturbs the “rotation” of vehicles through the intersection.

After the entire group has cleared, they are likely to be separated by both distance, and a few intervening cars.  Because the leaders are moving slowly, in file, but are stable in their motions and course, the cars that are interspersed are able to pass and go on their way.  Also, the trailing members of the group are able to catch up and re-join.  When the last pair is re-connected, they shout this news forward, to have it echoed “All in!”  The report is repeated by middle position riders, until the lead pair hears it.  At that point, the leaders make a deliberate acceleration, returning to the ride pace.

Two things are required to make all this work.  Skill and trust.

It actually takes a lot of skill to execute an intersection stop and re-start.  A lot of things have to happen, in the correct order, and at a very quick pace.  Riders have to position their bikes, retain situational awareness, and downshift prior to the stop, while waiting until close to the intersection to brake.  They then brake with deliberate force, unclip from pedals, execute a complete stop, re-mount quickly, and accelerate, maintaining correct road position.  Properly executed, this can look like choreographed dance, or precision drill.

The other factor is trust.  Each rider has to be able to trust the riders in front and behind.  Leaders must be trusted not to blast away, taking advantage of the situation to leave others behind.  Following riders must be trustworthy also.  They must be depended upon to hold their positions, report situations, and to execute their duties correctly.

Could it be that most group riders lack the requisite skills necessary to accomplish this evolution correctly?  Could it also be that riders in the group don’t trust the leaders to wait for them?  Perhaps there is reason for both of these conditions?

Believe it.  This bears thinking about.

Friday Follies ~~ Cleaning the Shop

The word “shop” can be interpreted a lot of different ways.  (English is such an incredible language!)  I maintain and operate a considerable repair, maintenance, and fabrication shop at my home.

Over time, projects tend to happen.  Sometimes a very necessary overhaul will occur at the same time that a prolonged “build” is taking place, and then several repairs interrupt both of these.  New projects are often conceived and start execution here.  Tools are selected for remote projects or events, and parts and supplies tend to pile up, in between jobs.  The “fleet” is stored here, mostly hanging, but some at ground level.

In short, it can get a bit messy.

From time to time, it becomes necessary to clean things up, to restore order, to add organization.  At times like this, “cleaning the shop” becomes a shop project in itself.

Questions arise, such as,  “Just where will I store that?”  Or, “Should I finally throw these old center-pull brakes out?”  Or,  “What on Earth am I going to do with all those old 27” wheels?”  And,  “Where in the wide world am I ever going to find a place to store all these tires?”

Frames lurk under stacks of boxes.  Parts cover the benches and tables.  Tools are beginning to pile up on the main bench.

When it gets hard to get to the big vise, or difficult to work at the truing stand, it is time to clean up!

One of the problems with cleaning the shop, aside from the time it takes, is that there is a tendency for the clean up project to spawn other projects.  Sometimes these are so compelling that they divert attention from the original purpose.

I’ve been known to embark on a general cleanup and organization, stop part way through, because I found a part or two that would be just perfect as part of a new concept.  Before I know it, there are two bicycles partially disassembled, and three on the way to becoming.  The mess is worse, but there will be three “new” bikes at the end.

I’m sort of in the middle of one of those times now.  That’s odd.  Usually large shop projects take place in the Winter, when time doesn’t press so heavily, and it’s a bit easier to decide not to ride.

But yes, I am in the midst of cleaning the shop.  So don’t bother to come near it.  Tiptoe past.  Please don’t give me any excuse to stop the work.  I find enough of those without any outside distractions.

NOTE:  See this coming Monday’s post for full details on the upcoming MidSummer’s Eve Night Ride.

Thursday Thoughts ~~ Citizenship

This whole “Share the Road” thing works two ways.

The Numbers:

Cyclists (however they are defined) make up a bit more than 1% of the total population.

Not all cyclists ride on the road.

A road cyclist, in the view of any motorist represents 100% of the cycling population to that motorist.

It’s very simple, there are a lot more of them, than there are of us, but we are visible to them every time we go out and ride.

The Law:

In it’s broadest form, law is a contract between all of us.  It is designed to keep us safe, and to allow us to coexist peacefully.  This is an ideal.  Oddly, traffic law comes closest to this ideal.

In Georgia, as in most states, a bicycle is considered to be a vehicle.  That means we generally have the same rights, privileges, and obligations as all the other vehicles on the road.

Remember always, Law can be changed.

It is very possible that the law could be changed to exclude cyclists from using the road.  I suspect that most of us would not like that very much.

The Advocacy Effort is an ongoing fight to secure good treatment of cyclists.  There are unsung heroes, working long and hard, for little or no pay, to improve our lot.  One of the more frustrating things that these folks face is the constant argument that, “Cyclists, on the road, are a danger to themselves and others.”  Unfortunately, this is often true.

It’s our behavior that makes the argument.  When we run stop signs, show flagrant disregard for the law, or behave in a discourteous or disrespectful fashion, we weaken our own position.  Besides, such behavior is completely and totally counter-survival.  Seriously.  Would you play Russian Roulette?  Of course not.  So why on Earth would you do something as self-destructively stupid as charging blindly through an intersection?

Want specifics?

Scenario 1:  The light is red.  The cyclist goes through it, as if it didn’t exist.  What do the fifteen motorists who witness this behavior think?

Scenario 2:  Traffic is coming to a halt in front of a small group of riders, to wait for the signal.  Suddenly a number of the bicycle riders move to the right and pass the whole line of waiting cars, then cut in line in front.  Does this please the motorists?  (Remember, we are usually viewed as “slow and in the way.”)

Scenario 3:  A line of cyclists is riding along the road.  A motorist is approaching from the rear.  The motorist would like to pass the group, particularly as they are slowing to climb a hill.  Just as the motorist begins to pass, one of the group jumps out in front of them, to pass a slower rider.  The motorist has to brake sharply, and then sit and wait at very low speed.  How does this behavior affect our image?

If we wish to continue to enjoy the privileges of citizenship, we must do two things.  First we must constantly work to maintain those privileges.  Second, we must exercise them responsibly.  In short, we need to be good citizens.