Missed connection

[creadinger]

LOL to the tween kid who, on a rough section of trail put his feet out instead of standing up… I can’t imagine that must have felt too good on the tush!

[consularrider]

@creadinger 178984 wrote:

LOL to the tween kid who, on a rough section of trail put his feet out instead of standing up… I can’t imagine that must have felt too good on the tush!

Was he wearing one of these?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18039[/ATTACH]

[creadinger]

Something like this came up recently with Bobco, so I wanted to get it on here as a PSA as well.

Last week on the W&OD heading eastbound at Sunrise Valley Rd in Reston. I came up to the intersection and stopped as a city bus pulled up to a bus stop right before the W&OD intersection. Since it’s 2 lanes each way, I was paying attention to traffic on the inner lane which wasn’t exactly easy because the bus was mostly blocking my view. I caught a glimpse of 2 cars coming fast over the hill. Then I catch the bus driver’s eye and he starts waving me across the intersection. What the actual hell dude! I know you didn’t check your mirrors. I know you don’t know about the 2 drivers that are coming to kill me if I actually listened to you. In that situation I could easily imagine a tired, less experienced cyclist just assume this bus driver knows what he’s doing and “proceed as directed” and get killed by the 2 cars they can’t see. That guy was a dumbass, and I gestured as such after he finally checked his mirrors when he saw I wasn’t moving.

The PSA part – When you come across a Helpy McHelperton who’s happy to wave you through an intersection, don’t ever assume they know what’s going on. It is YOUR body on the line, not theirs. And even if you hold them up a few extra seconds by being cautious don’t ever cross any road where you haven’t made sure yourself that it’s clear. Especially at 2-lane crossings – GW Parkway for example, and in this case Sunrise Valley Rd. Thanks.

[streetsmarts]

Yes, great advice!!

[Brett L.]

creadinger;179487 wrote:

something like this came up recently with bobco, so i wanted to get it on here as a psa as well.

Last week on the w&od heading eastbound at sunrise valley rd in reston. I came up to the intersection and stopped as a city bus pulled up to a bus stop right before the w&od intersection. Since it’s 2 lanes each way, i was paying attention to traffic on the inner lane which wasn’t exactly easy because the bus was mostly blocking my view. I caught a glimpse of 2 cars coming fast over the hill. Then i catch the bus driver’s eye and he starts waving me across the intersection. What the actual hell dude! I know you didn’t check your mirrors. I know you don’t know about the 2 drivers that are coming to kill me if i actually listened to you. In that situation i could easily imagine a tired, less experienced cyclist just assume this bus driver knows what he’s doing and “proceed as directed” and get killed by the 2 cars they can’t see. That guy was a dumbass, and i gestured as such after he finally checked his mirrors when he saw i wasn’t moving.

The psa part – when you come across a helpy mchelperton who’s happy to wave you through an intersection, don’t ever assume they know what’s going on. It is your body on the line, not theirs. And even if you hold them up a few extra seconds by being cautious don’t ever cross any road where you haven’t made sure yourself that it’s clear. Especially at 2-lane crossings – gw parkway for example, and in this case sunrise valley rd. Thanks.

elite

[mstone]

just go half way across, then look around the bus to see whether anyone’s coming. you don’t actually have to dart across the whole road at once.

[baiskeli]

@mstone 179508 wrote:

just go half way across, then look around the bus to see whether anyone’s coming. you don’t actually have to dart across the whole road at once.

Maybe. But that may not be a comfortable place.

[bobco85]

@creadinger 179487 wrote:

Something like this came up recently with Bobco, so I wanted to get it on here as a PSA as well.

I had posted it originally on Facebook/Twitter/Strava, but I wrote a more detailed story of what happened on this thread: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?p=179516#post179516

[Steve O]

When someone does this to me, I move directly in front of them, stop, and then make a very deliberate neck stretching look around their car before proceeding. I do this even if no one is coming as an educational service to the driver.

[mstone]

@baiskeli 179511 wrote:

Maybe. But that may not be a comfortable place.

well, there is that “perceived comfort” thing that people need to work to get over. I’d argue that there aren’t many safer places than directly in front of a person who has clearly indicated that they know you are there.

[VA2DC]

@mstone 179553 wrote:

well, there is that “perceived comfort” thing that people need to work to get over. I’d argue that there aren’t many safer places than directly in front of a person who has clearly indicated that they know you are there.

As always, depends on the conditions. If there are several cars backed up, I feel comfortable pulling in front of the lead vehicle if the driver has acknowledged me, and then peek around to check on the 2nd lane. But if a lone vehicle in the near lane stops while there is sporadic traffic moving in both lanes, I get nervous about someone not paying attention and slamming into the back of the “good Samaritan.” In that case, if I can’t clear both lanes, I’ll wave on the Helpy McHelperson and wait for another opportunity to cross.

[KWL]

I’m beginning to doubt the safety of protected bike lanes at intersections. I’m sure if I had been taking the travel lane here the van driver would have seen me and waited to make the turn. I doubt they expected to find someone moving toward them at 18mph from the curb area. I was “both feet in” and locked the wheels. The driver had a surprised look.

[dasgeh]

Ah, the left hook. This has almost happened to me plenty of times while taking the lane on Lee. Drivers suck at seeing bikes. It has nothing to do with whether there is a bike lane or not. Best thing we can do is get more people biking, so there are enough bikes that drivers get used to looking for us. For that we need PBLs. And ebikes.

[buschwacker]

Curious if you all use lights to advertise your presence. During the day in traffic, I have mine set to strobe along with a steady running light. It seems to work well but results vary I’m sure.

I also make sure to dim the light on trails to maintain the sight of my fellow cyclists

[bentbike33]

@buschwacker 179600 wrote:

Curious if you all use lights to advertise your presence. During the day in traffic, I have mine set to strobe along with a steady running light. It seems to work well but results vary I’m sure.

I also make sure to dim the light on trails to maintain the sight of my fellow cyclists

I have a German-made dynamo-powered headlight with an automatic daytime running light mode that I just leave on all the time. It was insufficient to prevent a near left-hook on Eads St. yesterday on what seemed to me to be a very quiet Sunday morning.

[Author]

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