3 Foot Passing Video from Houston

@Tim Kelley 83250 wrote:

Don’t read the comments.

Shouldn’t have read the comments. Angry now. Must go ride to purify.

Still, I can’t say that I’m at all on-board with this guy’s confrontational approach- nothing “good” is going to come of it unless something dramatic and awful happens to him or a driver avoiding him.

As a side note he may still be alive because he’s built like a bulldog

@Tim Kelley 83250 wrote:

Don’t read the comments.

Heh – it’s like being warned about a hot plate at a restaurant. I MUST TOUCH IT.

@bobco85 83252 wrote:

but his overly aggressive and confrontational methods are sabotaging the message he’s trying to communicate.

I’m not so sure of that. I mean why is it sabotaging his message? It seems like people who watch that video understand exactly what he is saying. They might not agree with him, they may hate cyclists, or they may think he’s an idiot, but I still think they would understand what he is saying.

I really go back-and-forth on this, but sometimes I think cycling advocates are too afraid of confrontation and aggression. Do people think we got in this car-dominated transportation system by the car lobbyists being patient and kind and passive? They are bulldozers. I imagine maybe it’s because bicycle lobbying appears to be more at a grassroots level, users of it, local advocacy, and not run so business-like. I think we suffer from the bike companies not finding it in their best interest to lobby more effectively or aggressively on our behalf, the way car companies and AAA seem to.

I can’t be sure from the camera angle, but the only car in the video that hits the flag and the rider confronts is only barely within 3 feet and is edging to the left side of the right lane when there is another car in the left lane. This doesn’t seem to me as the cyclist being buzzed. I would certainly not confront a driver based on this. I would hope the cyclist has more egregious examples of being buzzed by a car and am wondering why this encounter was highlighted in the news story.

@Steve 83260 wrote:

I think we suffer from the bike companies not finding it in their best interest to lobby more effectively or aggressively on our behalf, the way car companies and AAA seem to.

That’s a really good point. With the big pockets of major manufacturers, it seems like some of their marketing money could be better spent coordinating with the American League of Cyclists, local grass roots orgs, etc. and lobbying for better infrastructure instead of putting so much money into pro races. I like watching the TdF and other races as much as the next person but they do diddly-squat for making my riding safer here in DC.

BTW: I got buzzed twice this morning on S. Joyce Street neart the Pentagon. No more nice gal. I’m fully taking the lane from now on instead of staying over to the right to give people ample room to pass. That said, drivers are few and well-behaved on the Pentagon reservation.

@KLizotte 83275 wrote:

That said, drivers are few and well-behaved on the Pentagon reservation.

I’ve noticed that too, and really makes my commute there better than it would otherwise be (IE it makes up for poor bike infra and even signage on the reservation to a considerable extent.) Yay for DoD employees!

@ShawnoftheDread 83281 wrote:

If the law requires a 3-foot passing distance, any flag sticking out 3 feet is going to get buzzed or even scraped without a violation of the law. Flags should be less than 3 feet to make the point.

Shouldn’t the 3 feet start at the edge of the user — i.e. at the edge of your handlebars or trailer or box or whatever is widest on the bike? Otherwise, it doesn’t really protect you. If so, in this guy’s case, the 3 feet should START at the flag. At the least, it would start at his shoulder, probably a foot from the the end of the flag.

I believe I’ve seen someone do this with a pool noodle on the back of the bike with a funny sign. I do Dirting is more effective than throwing dirt, or f*bombs. Or, as my mom would say, you catch more flies with honey. But I applaud him for doing something.