My Evening Commute

[Arlingtonrider]

Wow. Both you and the dog could have been badly hurt. My take is that her thank you was an acknowledgement of responsibility, and I’m pretty certain she learned her lesson. I’m glad you’re ok.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@worktheweb 100804 wrote:

Hopefully that dog owner will realize the the leash law requires not just a leash on the dog, but a human holding the other end of it …

You’ll have to give citations for such a statement. There are always lawyers and pedants, and pedantic lawyers, on the Forum.

[americancyclo]

Last night on the WOD I ended up behind two cyclists just past east falls church. There was a lot of oncoming traffic so I rode a bit slower than I would have liked and opted not to pass, following two to three bike lengths behind. About two blocks later the rider in front of me brake checked me. It was clearly aggressive and he yelled something along the lines of “I said back off!” Which surprised me because brake checking is dangerous but also because the rider hadn’t said anything before brake checking me. I safely passed a few blocks later but am still surprised by the road rage from a fellow cyclist.

[Crickey7]

@americancyclo 100817 wrote:

It was clearly aggressive and he yelled something along the lines of “I said back off!” Which surprised me because brake checking is dangerous but also because the rider hadn’t said anything before brake checking me.

That’s happened to me on the CCT, also where I wasn’t actually trying to follow the rider but trail conditions did not allow safe passing. I totally agree people should have the right to elect not to be drafted, but first of all, they need to make it crystal clear, and second of all, they need to understand that, as you experienced, conditions may not allow passing for a while.

[bobco85]

@americancyclo 100817 wrote:

Last night on the WOD I ended up behind two cyclists just past east falls church. There was a lot of oncoming traffic so I rode a bit slower than I would have liked and opted not to pass, following two to three bike lengths behind. About two blocks later the rider in front of me brake checked me. It was clearly aggressive and he yelled something along the lines of “I said back off!” Which surprised me because brake checking is dangerous but also because the rider hadn’t said anything before brake checking me. I safely passed a few blocks later but am still surprised by the road rage from a fellow cyclist.

The brake-checking and anger is uncalled for, but I will take a guess as to the situation from his side.

If the following is true, I can understand that the cyclist found it annoying if your light was much brighter than his. Your light would then be casting a shadow of his body on the trail in front of him; in his view, he could see everything on the sides but nothing directly in front of him. It’s a weird idea that someone can be blinded from behind, but due to the contrast of the lighting it can happen.

Now, how one deals with this situation is important. When I have someone with a much brighter light following me whose light is causing the aforementioned situation, I will slow or pull to the side and allow them to pass (the smart thing to do if you can’t see where you’re going). No anger. No brake-checking. No muttering something that cannot be heard because the other person is opposite of the direction you’re speaking and then getting mad that they didn’t hear you. Channel your inner Dirt.

Hopefully this (if my assumption is true) helps to provide a better understanding.

[jabberwocky]

I hated people drafting off me when I used to commute on the W&OD (especially after being rear ended a few times), but I didn’t brake check. I’d just stop pedaling until they passed and then resume. It was only really annoying when they would pass and then slow down to below what I was riding before they started drafting me, forcing me to repass, after which they immediately latched back on to my wheel… In those cases I’d become somewhat erratic (rapid acceleration/brake/etc) to try and convince them to get away from me.

[americancyclo]

@bobco85 100823 wrote:

The brake-checking and anger is uncalled for, but I will take a guess as to the situation from his side.

If the following is true, I can understand that the cyclist found it annoying if your light was much brighter than his. Your light would then be casting a shadow of his body on the trail in front of him; in his view, he could see everything on the sides but nothing directly in front of him. It’s a weird idea that someone can be blinded from behind, but due to the contrast of the lighting it can happen.

Now, how one deals with this situation is important. When I have someone with a much brighter light following me whose light is causing the aforementioned situation, I will slow or pull to the side and allow them to pass (the smart thing to do if you can’t see where you’re going). No anger. No brake-checking. No muttering something that cannot be heard because the other person is opposite of the direction you’re speaking and then getting mad that they didn’t hear you. Channel your inner Dirt.

Hopefully this (if my assumption is true) helps to provide a better understanding.

I’ve seen this happen before, but this was about 445pm yesterday, before sunset and not quite dark enough for the lights to really be a factor, in my opinion. I could only see evidence of my light on signs and reflectors at that point.

I can understand that the rider may have felt uncomfortable, even when I thought I was a safe distance away. I would only ask that they signal and pull safely over to the side of the trail if they feel uncomfortable instead of slamming on the brakes and endangering themselves and others. We are lucky being cyclists that we have many more ways to convey our feelings as opposed to those trapped in metal boxes with only a horn.

I hope that person is having a much better day today, and enjoying the snow!

As Dirt would say, ILARAM.

[Crickey7]

Brake checking is always uncalled for. I have told a few egregious red light runners on Connecticut Ave. that they could not draft me, after they tried to. I’m not going to expend the extra energy of stopping and starting, and then make life easier for those who can’t be bothered to be responsible riders on a busy street like that.

[Geoff]

@americancyclo 100826 wrote:

As Dirt would say, ILARAM.

Which would mean…?

[americancyclo]

@Geoff 100828 wrote:

Which would mean…?

I love and respect all mankind
@Dirt 31649 wrote:

I love and respect all mankind.

Dirt.

[worktheweb]

@ShawnoftheDread 100808 wrote:

You’ll have to give citations for such a statement. There are always lawyers and pedants, and pedantic lawyers, on the Forum.

Alexandria Municipal Code

Relevant Sections:

Sec. 5-7-32 – Running at large prohibited.
No dog or exotic or poisonous animal shall run at large within the city at any time. (Ord. No. 4520, 2/23/08, Sec. 1)

Sec. 5-7-35 – Keeping dogs under physical restraint.
(a)
Except as provided below, it shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit the dog to be off the premises of its owner unless it is under the control of its owner or a responsible person capable of physically restraining the dog and kept secured by a leash, lead or other means of physical restraint, which leash, lead or other means of physical restraint is not harmful or injurious to the dog. An electronic collar or other similar electronic device does not qualify as a leash, lead or other means of physical restraint.

I think that 5-7-32 covers the fact that it was loose, and 5-7-35, in defining the leash or lead as a “means of physical restraint” would indicate that the leash would need to be held, since without being held, it would not restrain the animal.

[scoot]

@bobco85 100823 wrote:

If the following is true, I can understand that the cyclist found it annoying if your light was much brighter than his. Your light would then be casting a shadow of his body on the trail in front of him; in his view, he could see everything on the sides but nothing directly in front of him. It’s a weird idea that someone can be blinded from behind, but due to the contrast of the lighting it can happen.

I’ve noticed this effect also when driving dark country roads. Tailing drivers who forget to turn off their high-beams (or anyone with those HIDeous xenon lamps) can cast enough light for me to see a significant darkening in the center of my FOV due to my own shadow. As this somewhat compromises my visibility, I slow down a bit. If you want me to drive faster, don’t blind me!

[jrenaut]

I guess picking the kids up from school counts as “evening commute” since I don’t expect to go out again unless it’s beer-related. Wet but not too rainy. The kids were all bundled up in their rain gear, which conveniently fits over their winter coats. I’m not sure they even noticed the bit of sleet at the end of the ride.

[Steve O]

I generally don’t mind people drafting me, depending. When I do, though, I find waving them by generally works. A little wave, stop pedaling, and it all sorts out without much difficulty.
Or if I know a hill is coming, then I just drop them like a ninja sword through microwaved butter.

[cyclingfool]

@Steve O 100836 wrote:

I generally don’t mind people drafting me, depending. When I do, though, I find waving them by generally works. A little wave, stop pedaling, and it all sorts out without much difficulty.
Or if I know a hill is coming, then I just drop them like a ninja sword through microwaved butter.

Agreed, except in my case it should read, “Or if I know a hill is coming, then I wait to be dropped like a ninja sword through microwaved butter.” :p

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