Trailers are dangerous

[Reg]

It SEEMS to be worst with the trailers that are significantly wider than their tow vehicles.
Also week-ends bring out the occasional trailer pullers.

I pull a long horse trailer that is 102 wide - with a duallie.
I also pull a small horse trailer with a Durango and SURPRISE !
That 2 horse trailer is also 102 inches wide overall, but it takes a lot more conscious effort to stay in lane with it.

{Yeah, its an excuse, but I'm stickin' to it (-: }

 

[Kaliburz]

It SEEMS to be worst with the trailers that are significantly wider than their tow vehicles.
Also week-ends bring out the occasional trailer pullers.

I pull a long horse trailer that is 102 wide - with a duallie.
I also pull a small horse trailer with a Durango and SURPRISE !
That 2 horse trailer is also 102 inches wide overall, but it takes a lot more conscious effort to stay in lane with it.

{Yeah, its an excuse, but I'm stickin' to it (-: }

Yup, if you DON'T tow a lot, you forget about "things" that your trailer does or doesn't do. Usually people w/ a big diesel tow rig going out for the weekend pulling their boat/jetskie or camper trying to break the land speed record.

 

[archerm3]

Moved here in 2006.

 

[archerm3]

Riding thru downtown bikes aren't that big of a deal. When the speed limit is only 30 bikes can pretty much keep up.

Where riders get a bad rap around here is on the rural blacktops. The speed limits are 55-60 and the bikes are doing at best 20 right in the middle of the lane. Then they give you finger when you pass them.

The speed differential is what is dangerous. TRUE, but you have the same problem with inattentive drivers not being able to handle farm equipment, deer carcasses, tire carcasses, potholes, downed wires, children, farm dogs, all manner of things on 60mph highways that create speed differentials. Point being is that unless you are on a closed circuit race course, a driver should be expecting to have to panic stop or slow down at any time, and most people don't want to believe that There probably is no good solution but several bike riders each year die around here because of the above scenario. That is enough for me to pick and choose where I ride.

What really gets me is what happens on the dirt roads. Speed limits are 50 and when you pass a biker in a big dust cloud they have been known to throw rocks at you. What do they expect when they are riding on a 50 mph dirt road? For vehicles to patiently wait behind them forever?

No, not pass them at such a rate of speed that you create that BIG DUST CLOUD. You wouldn't pass your neighbor on a horse in the same way would you? Because when you create that big dust cloud, you ARE throwing rocks off the sides of your tires at anything on the side of the road. Why wouldnt someone throw a rock back, however, that would be an AWESOME trick for someone to be able to stop cycling and pick up a rock and be able to throw the rock to CATCH UP TO a truck barreling past at 50 mph.

 

[archerm3]

I'm sorry, I didn't know we were using 2 dollar words. Narcissistic and uncooperative, nice. Was that from your first or second semester at the junior college? You have no clue who I am, yet you're attacking me for writing my opinion about bicyclists on the roadway. AND you really didn't bother to read what I wrote, you interpreted what you wanted to hear.

Was not directed squarely at you. Sorry, didn't know that I used too big of a word for you. Never went to junior college however. Might have learned them in honors english in high school however. That was many years ago.

You have no clue who reads these posts on TBN yet you attack bicyclists being on roads they have a right to be on. I read everything what you wrote, but I'm not clicking on your silly link. Most certainly not THREE TIMES. You got a point to make, make it.

Well, while we're ranting, maybe bicycles should be on the bike paths and not the roadways. Md, Va and D.C. have spent tons of money creating "safe harbors" for bicyclists to enjoy their sport/hobby........the Va. crowd that drives over to scenic So. Md. to ride bicycles on our roadways irks me quite a bit. They believe riding in packs gives them "special privileges" to control one lane of a two lane road. Ooh, I know, let's impose a bicycle tax/tag for use on roadways
http://www.commuterpage.com/biketrails.htm
http://www.commuterpage.com/biketrails.htm
http://www.commuterpage.com/biketrails.htm

In retrospect of rereading your post, narcissistic and uncooperative still fit rather well however. As I said, AFAIK bikes have every right to the full part of the traveled lane except where posted according to every state I have been to. Maybe Md is different?????

 

[archerm3]

And people like you wonder why things go bad. That was the really adult thing to do, show him that bicyclists have rights too.

Actually it was....use whatever technique it takes to get the drivers attention, otherwise the lesson will not be learned. Sometimes you gotta stoop down to the level of the person you are communicating with.

Most bullies will think twice once they realize their victims are capable of striking back. And most people behind the wheel of an automobile ARE bullies on the roads these days.

 

[tlbuser]

Was not directed squarely at you. Sorry, didn't know that I used too big of a word for you. Never went to junior college however. Might have learned them in honors english in high school however. That was many years ago.

You have no clue who reads these posts on TBN yet you attack bicyclists being on roads they have a right to be on. I read everything what you wrote, but I'm not clicking on your silly link. Most certainly not THREE TIMES. You got a point to make, make it.



In retrospect of rereading your post, narcissistic and uncooperative still fit rather well however. As I said, AFAIK bikes have every right to the full part of the traveled lane except where posted according to every state I have been to. Maybe Md is different?????

(a)Riding to right side of roadway. Each person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter at a speed less than the speed traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing on a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and safe. except when:

(1)Making or attempting to make a left turn;
(2)Operating on a one-way street;
(3)Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle;
(4)Avoiding pedestrians or road hazards;
(5)The right lane is a right turn lane

(b)Riding two abreast. Each person operating a bicycle or motor scooter on a roadway may ride two abreast only if the flow of traffic is unimpeded.
(c)Passing. Each person operating a bicycle or motor scooter on a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a vehicle.

 

[archerm3]

(a)Riding to right side of roadway. Each person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter at a speed less than the speed traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing on a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and safe. except when:

(1)Making or attempting to make a left turn;
(2)Operating on a one-way street;
(3)Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle;
(4)Avoiding pedestrians or road hazards;
(5)The right lane is a right turn lane

(b)Riding two abreast. Each person operating a bicycle or motor scooter on a roadway may ride two abreast only if the flow of traffic is unimpeded.
(c)Passing. Each person operating a bicycle or motor scooter on a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a vehicle.

My apologies. Thank you for the info.

 

[TractorRob]

...Each person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter at a speed less than the speed traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing on a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and safe...

"As near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and safe..." and anyone who has done any amount of riding can tell you that you are much safer closer to the middle of the lane than you are trying to stay to the far right of the lane.

 

[archerm3]

"As near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and safe..." and anyone who has done any amount of riding can tell you that you are much safer closer to the middle of the lane than you are trying to stay to the far right of the lane.

good point...especially in town where you have the storm grates which swallow up bike tires, and mailboxes that stick out into the road.