Watch out for bicycles too.

[Jstpssng]

Well said.

Conversely, cyclists and pedestrians need to understand that a motor vehicle can’t turn or stop on a dime; and when they make sudden moves when somebody is overtaking them, they are going to come out on the short end; right or wrong, that’s just the way it is. I have stated here and in other threads that a motorist is required to give 3 feet while overtaking a cyclist; I have also stated that at 50 mph, that isn’t far enough... and that goes double for cyclists playing chicken with 100,000 lb log trucks. (I have seen that!) I can think of at least 4 people who are lucky that I don’t follow that rule, preferring to err on the side of caution. Two of them I cited earlier in this thread. There are many laws out there which we are required to follow. At the end of the day however, there is one law which trumps them all; that of physics, which states that two solid objects can’t occupy the same space at the same time. Before you swerve to avoid that object, or suddenly dart to the other lane, check to ensure that you aren’t about to cut off an auto which is about to pass you. 3 feet really isn’t that far.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's not his fault you were driving too fast for the road conditions.

That’s one way of looking at it... I disagree with your viewpoint but brought it up to get a sample of opinions. In that much snow, steering isn’t an exact science; I chose the snowbank to err on the side of caution. Had he been a motorist, he would have moved over into his lane and we could have safely passed each other.
I don’t understand the logic of playing “chicken” running down the middle of a snow covered road. Yet I’ve encountered the same thing in town with people on cross country skis in the middle of a blinding snowstorm.

 

[Jstpssng]

Consider that a cyclist who appears to "suddenly take the lane" may be swerving around a road surface hazard, which drivers either don't notice, or don't consider a hazard. I find that most cyclists try to share the road as best they can. I will stay within a foot of the edge of the road as much as I can. But occasionally, I see a pot hole or wrongly placed sewer grate, and have to move more into the lane to get around it. it's just the way it is, not everything can be perfect for everyone, including car drivers. By maintaining my driver's license, following the rules of the road, and paying my taxes, I feel that I have the right to use the road, with the responsibility to share it as best I can. I don't feel that I have to surrender the road to a motorist, just because they are impatient. On very rare occasions, where traffic is heavy, and a lane narrows in construction zones with an unsafe shoulder, I have for a hundred feet or so ridden in the middle of the lane, to purposefully assure myself safe passage for a short distance, sorry if I delay a few motorists a few seconds, it just happens every now and then. Historically, I have delayed motorists, and "taken the lane" more on my tractor, than on my bicycle!

Motorists need to remind themselves, that occasionally, the lane/road is simply not available for their convenient use - sorry! I have retired from 28 years as a rural volunteer firefighter. During that time, I have closed a lot of roads entirely, sometimes for hours (once for four days - train derailment), and sometimes, just with my car, as our red trucks were busy doing something more important than just sitting across a road. I would feel really badly looking a driver in the eye, as I signaled, then stopped across the road, knowing that I'm about to take an our or so out of their day. But I know that up the road, their are hydro poles and wire down on the road, or a car accident, and they cannot safely get through. I got yelled at a lot, but would explain that the road was legally closed, and it was not my fault that there was no detour route. If there was, we were not permitted to give directions anyway, as one of our FF's did one day, the motorist ended up in the ditch on the detour, sued the township and won. So, after that, we just closed the whole road. A stopped motorist may get angry, but they won't end up lost or in the ditch. Despite life's best plans, we cannot always have what we want, the moment we want it, we have to understand, be patient, and share...

Just remember; a motorist by law is only required to give you 3 feet. 9 times out of 9 in an accident between a cyclist and a motorist; the former gets the short end of that stick. Right or wrong doesn’t matter in that case.

 

[Fixastuff]

That’s one way of looking at it... I disagree with your viewpoint but brought it up to get a sample of opinions. In that much snow, steering isn’t an exact science; I chose the snowbank to err on the side of caution. Had he been a motorist, he would have moved over into his lane and we could have safely passed each other.
I don’t understand the logic of playing “chicken” running down the middle of a snow covered road. Yet I’ve encountered the same thing in town with people on cross country skis in the middle of a blinding snowstorm.

I agree with not playing chicken with vehicles and as I said about riding bike I ride a MTB on the road for the very purpose of being able to get all the way into the grass shoulder on the backroads I ride on, but it's your fault you were going to fast and went in the ditch not his.

 

[CalG]

Well, If the social politic around the world keeps going the way it's been, none of us will be driving cars in the roads.
Fuel prices and green initiatives will put a stop to that. And there is no thinking that coal fueled electric vehicles are gonna be the answer.

Ahh but this gets into politics, ....say no more. ;-)

 

[SuperiorLakeEffect]

Well, If the social politic around the world keeps going the way it's been, none of us will be driving cars in the roads.
Fuel prices and green initiatives will put a stop to that.

Even with cheap gas, I find it absolutely insane how people can grind tens of thousands of dollars in automotive assets into the ground just moving bodies around. My tractor is literally paid for with all the money I save not hauling my carcass back and forth to work in a car every day.

 

[civilian]

To the post above about the runner in the middle of the road. In my past training for a half ironman, I had to learn to run. One thing I noticed was the crown of some roads. And gravel shoulders. I stayed away from gravel as one rock could be larger than another and end up twisting an ankle. Paved roads were more predictable but if the crown is severe enough I would feel it in my ankles. Center of the road was better because it was flatter. I had to choose where to run based on conditions and vehicle traffic. Don't run now, don't care to. Jon

 

[dodge man]

If the speed limit isn’t posted in Illinois, it considered to be 55 mph. On a lot of the rural roads near my house they are not posted but 55 mph is to fast, 45 mph is probably a good speed, but of course some will be doing 60 mph.

 

[Jstpssng]

To the post above about the runner in the middle of the road. In my past training for a half ironman, I had to learn to run. One thing I noticed was the crown of some roads. And gravel shoulders. I stayed away from gravel as one rock could be larger than another and end up twisting an ankle. Paved roads were more predictable but if the crown is severe enough I would feel it in my ankles. Center of the road was better because it was flatter. I had to choose where to run based on conditions and vehicle traffic. Don't run now, don't care to. Jon

This is why it's good to compare notes. That was my tale; but you left out the fact that there was 8 inches of snow in the road and motorists had been sharing the center wheel track; pulling out if they met somebody coming from the other direction.
He was running up that center track. If you've ever driven in that kind of snow you know that sometimes things don't go as planned. By law I am required to give him 3 feet; I chose to exceed that and leave the road.

Whatever the circumstances, I can't rationalise that a runner deserves an entire 2 lane road, any more than a motorist does.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I'm sorry to hear you've had a cyclist cut in front of you.

It wasn't me.

I'm strictly referring to what I have read on this thread here, from what I assume are "avid" bicycle riders.

The ones on this thread that have talked about the why's and whatfor's of when THEY "take the lane".

All I was trying to point out was that was almost certain suicide to make such an unexpected move that most sane people (and most drivers) wouldn't be expecting them to make.

I'll repeat it again, I would rather have them ride right down the center of the lane, than to suddenly with no warning or intelligence, swerve over and "take the lane" as I approach. If you're riding down the right side of the lane, and I see you doing so, I'm (as will anyone) going to assume that is where you are going to continue to ride. I will factor that into my judgement on how to proceed, and how and where to pass you.

Suddenly spazzing out and swerving into the center of the lane is not something I'm going to expect you to do.

That can lead to some very serious consequences (laws of physics being what they are and all).

Hope that makes sense.