Travelover
Elite Member
:laughing::laughing::laughing::thumbsup:
Trailers are dangerous
- Thread starter czechsonofagun
- Start date
- Views: 17699
:laughing::laughing::laughing::thumbsup:
buck12
Veteran Member
Best post in this thread.
Kaliburz
Gold Member
Yup... I was considering mentioning that if things go bad in this thread, it's libel to be locked by the powers that be..... seen it happen on some other forums I visit.
To the original statement - the title of this thread.
I disagree that trailers per se are dangerous.
It just takes more care and skill to drive safely with one, "safely" for all road users.
As a bicyclist I just "know" what is approaching me from behind.
Some good old analog computing goes on between an experienced cyclist's ears;
received sound, perceived speed and distance, sense of size and weight, likely width, etc., sense of driver holding back (or NOT) and preparing to pass, change in engine note according to thinning of the oncoming traffic.
We just "know" when a good driver is back there - and those who are less so.
We "know" when we will get proper clearance. We are rarely wrong about the good drivers.
When a bad driver gives us clearance, gee sometimes the whole vehicle is on the left side of the double yellow line.
DUDE !! I may be out of shape this year, but I'm not THAT wide (-:
or they just about brush your elbow )-:
I disagree that trailers per se are dangerous.
It just takes more care and skill to drive safely with one, "safely" for all road users.
As a bicyclist I just "know" what is approaching me from behind.
Some good old analog computing goes on between an experienced cyclist's ears;
received sound, perceived speed and distance, sense of size and weight, likely width, etc., sense of driver holding back (or NOT) and preparing to pass, change in engine note according to thinning of the oncoming traffic.
We just "know" when a good driver is back there - and those who are less so.
We "know" when we will get proper clearance. We are rarely wrong about the good drivers.
When a bad driver gives us clearance, gee sometimes the whole vehicle is on the left side of the double yellow line.
DUDE !! I may be out of shape this year, but I'm not THAT wide (-:
or they just about brush your elbow )-:
FlaDon
Platinum Member
Same reason a motorcycle needs it. To cover any damage the operator may cause due to their faulty operation of the bicycle. And to prevent the tax payers from having to foot the bills for medical care if it is the bike operators fault if they cause injury. To themselves or others. If a motor vehicle operator injures the bike rider, then the vehicle owner has to pay. Tractors are limited in their speeds compared to a bike.
NuBota
Gold Member
If the driver takes the far left, I would not take that as an affront or consider them a bad driver - I would consider the driver taking the most cautious position possible, respecting your safety. The driver has no clue as to your skill as a rider and there is no way all riders have the same level of awareness and skill as you mentioned. I give as much room as possible once I consider it safe to pass. Only takes a patch of gravel, a pothole, a squirrel, or simply distracted biker for their "course" to change. Same is true when passing farm equipment - big Ag rigs tend to bounce and swerve a little going down the road, especially when they try to "hug" the shoulder
I am all for sharing the road - the only time I get irritated with the cyclists is when there are packs of them stretched out for several hundred feet making it practically impossible to pass safely. If you can finally pass, a little further up the road, there is another pack. In my area it is 8-10 miles of curvy, hilly, rural roads to the nearest 2 lane road, so this can get very tedious. Not sure what a good solution is - I respect that they want to ride, but it does have a significant impact on traffic.
Brad_Blazer
Veteran Member
Good and bad drivers of all types.
My bicycle peeve was described earlier in the "size 12" story. Traffic is backed up as everyone gives room to a bike rider. At the next light the bike rider splits traffic to the front of the line and the process repeats. Same cars, same bike. Pretty soon 5 million dollars in capital is traveling at the pace of a bicycle. How many of the drivers are upset with the bike?
My bicycle peeve was described earlier in the "size 12" story. Traffic is backed up as everyone gives room to a bike rider. At the next light the bike rider splits traffic to the front of the line and the process repeats. Same cars, same bike. Pretty soon 5 million dollars in capital is traveling at the pace of a bicycle. How many of the drivers are upset with the bike?
That $5M of (rapidly rusting and depreciating) "capital" has brought itSELF to a standstill.
The occupants can be as upset as they decide they want to be, at least the guy on the bike is getting his 2 workouts a day - in the time he would otherwise be seething in traffic.
If 20% of 'em were on 2 wheels the gridlock wouldn't be an issue to deal with.
OP
czechsonofagun
Elite Member
That's how I pass a bicycle, it does not hurt me to turn the wheel and he is safe even if he goes down.
I take the "wide berth" as a sure sign that the driver a)doesn't know the width of their vehicle and b) can't tell a straight and steady cyclist from a wobbler.
Either way, a BAD driver in my book.
No, it does NOT "take a patch of gravel", that is a good example of where to NOT change course.
Same with pot holes, a competent rider will NOT swerve and wobble around them at the last split second - if things get tight they will most likely bunny hop over them.
Drivers who can't tell at a glance a steady rider from a "just got this at WallyWorld" case are incompetent, or at least inexperienced.