Damn Cars

[affreca]

Is it to much to ask for the same goddamn courtesy you give a car. My pet peeve is people who can't understand my arm signals. If I have my arm out to turn left, please do not pass me. Or, if I'm right in front of my house and signal, but I have to stop to let a car go by the other direction, my arm will momentarily be put down, because I have to balance. I will then signal, and turn. Please do not speed up and almost hit me as I'm turning. You wouldn't do that to a car, now would you. When I get out of your way, then stop to get my mail, please don't compound your idiocy to roll down your window, and lecture me about that I "shouldn't signal, then turn in front of a car." So what should I do, signal and not move. I'm not going forward, because my driveway is right there. I am the type to smile, make nice comments, then swear heavily and bitch in my LJ about you.

Comments

[frith]

Your first mistake is to expect intelligence and consideration from cars. ^_^ The best you can hope for is that they stay in their lane most of the time. I never believe turn signals on a car, I watch wheel movement and how close they are hugging the corner to wager on whether a turn is imminent. City cycling is a fun sport. Country cycling is a bit more nerve wracking -- cars and trucks whizzing by at 100 km/h, no hard shoulder or sidewalk, and innumerable wheel-bending cracks and potholes along the edge. Every so often you get some yahoo. Like the drive-by twits with the starter pistol or the moron who bawled me out for not cycling on the soft shoulder.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

Hiya.

I'm starting to think I need a rear view mirror on my helmet. I watch the guys in front pretty good, but I don't always watch the people behind me well enough. I used to laugh at lawnchair's hatred of cars, but I'm starting to understand.

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

I give you credit for having the guts to bike in a city. I haven't been able to bike anywhere but on dedicated bike paths since I was hit by a car that ran a red light back in the summer between 8th and 9th. I just can't do it. I don't trust a car as far as I can throw--and that is not far, no how. Oh, and as a driver, I try to be as courteous as possible, it's gotta suck especially in winter when cars kick up all the copious amounts of sand and salt that they use on the roads up here.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

I'm lucky to live in a town that doesn't really have winter. It might snow tomorrow, for the third time this winter. And I will ride the bus.

Oh, and I should know better. I'm the only one in the house who hasn't gone to the hospital because of a bike accident. Tom got a compound fracture in a hit and run and Jorge slide over leaves to give himself a concussion. Oh, and I'm half a orphan because of bikes. But I'm clueless. Until some asshat decides to lecture me. WTF?

[frith]

Wow! So many accidents! I've never had worse than road-rash and a cracked sternum, nothing worth going to the hospital over, and I've been a bicycle courier in downtown Montreal, never owned a car until I moved to the country, and cycled daily to work (16 to 20 km) like 7 months of the year. Came close to cracking my scull open on the Jacques Cartier bridge once.

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

Yikes to both of you. I was lucky. I got off my accident with a bruised hip and a broken wrist. I didn't even start riding again until a couple years ago - and even then, I only do it for recreation. You know, putting my bike in my car, driving to a bike trail, etc. I just can't do the road anymore. I'm too paranoid, even with a helmet.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've haven't been hurt myself beyond bruises (http://www.affreca.com/knee.jpg) when I'm not paying enough attenion to where I'm going. (http://affreca.livejournal.com/2005/05/13/) It's just everyone around me who bikes a lot managed to get injured.

The solution...

[(Anonymous)]

... to your biking problem is quite easy...

Just mark a biking lane like so (http://www.anwb.nl/published/anwbcms/content/beelden/fietsen/FietspadMeldpunt-108450_212770.jpg).

Just make sure it has an entry and exit path to/from your drive way, and then you get to lecture the car, because he failed to understand the markings on the road.

--Miguel