Watch out for bicycles too.

[jaxs]

if motorist would just think about cyclist differently when they approach...rather than looking at us like a stick in the road or annoying impediment that might slow you down a few seconds, think this way...hey there's a father, and/or a husband on a bike...let me slow down and give him some room. oh, and if you don't know what it's like to have a car wiz closely by at 30-40mph ask you wife to do it to you while you ride.

You are right but as long as drivers tailgate less than a car liength off the bumper of my F-250 at 65 mph,there's little hope they treat bikers with respect. A week rarly go's by when a fire engine or police car isn't plowed into while lite up by bright flashing lights and vehicles rear ended at traffic signals happens several times per day. What about all the fist and single finger waving between motoriest? Besides politicians,the way people drive is the #1 complaint people have. That being the case,riding bikes on public roads is laughable at best.

 

[Jstpssng]

I read an article, I don’t know if I buy it, saying the flashing lights on the back of a bike aren’t safer. The talked about the “moth affect” that might actually make people drive towards it.

I can understand that, just as many people will stare at an oncoming vehicles headlights, then complain about being blinded. Yet you can only do so much to protect yourself, and I'm one motorist who appreciates when pedestrians and cyclists do what they can to make themselves more visible.

 

[beenthere]

I drive rural paved roads all the time, and cringe when I don't see a cyclist on the roadway until the last second or minute. Attention is watching the roads for cars, trucks and farm equipment, or just watching country as driving. Not on a phone (don't have one).
But all too often come upon a cyclist in dark clothes that blends in or crest a hill and suddenly there is a cyclist.
Have the fear of hitting one someday and it being my fault. Would be on my conscience forever. Am glad when winter arrives and the cyclists are not on the roads. Rainy days are good too.

Couple weeks ago came on a cyclist with blaze orange coat and hat, and bright (LED) blinking light. Was glad to see a safety minded cyclist for a change.

They may be legal and within their rights, but dead-right is not good.

 

[Code54]

Never understood not wearing bright colors and such if possible. I personally have 2 rear red LED strobes on the back of my road bike, 1 white LED flashing light on the front and a florescent shirt or jacket depending on the weather. Sure hope I dont get hit bit If I get hit it certainly isn't because I didn't try to be as noticeable as possible.
I would love to ride on a bike trail all the time but we just dont have much around. The good trail is about an hour and a half away so it is really not a daily option....

 

[Jstpssng]

Never understood not wearing bright colors and such if possible. I personally have 2 rear red LED strobes on the back of my road bike, 1 white LED flashing light on the front and a florescent shirt or jacket depending on the weather. Sure hope I dont get hit bit If I get hit it certainly isn't because I didn't try to be as noticeable as possible.
I would love to ride on a bike trail all the time but we just dont have much around. The good trail is about an hour and a half away so it is really not a daily option....

Again, as a motorist I thank you for trying to make yourself visible. At the end of the day all that any of us want is a good experience and to get home safely.

 

[ArlyA]

Most cyclist are also moterist. I'd guess 99% of them.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I gave up the motorcycles 25 years ago due to too many close calls. 8 years ago, I gave up on-road bicycling for the same reason. Even though I live in a rural area, I haul my bikes to the nearest bike trail to ride.

I disagree with those who say riding bike trails is less safe than road riding. I've logged 3000 miles on trails in the last 3 years without incident. Near misses were almost a daily occurrence when riding the rural roads where I live.

 

[lman]

I gave up the motorcycles 25 years ago due to too many close calls. 8 years ago, I gave up on-road bicycling for the same reason. Even though I live in a rural area, I haul my bikes to the nearest bike trail to ride.

I disagree with those who say riding bike trails is less safe than road riding. I've logged 3000 miles on trails in the last 3 years without incident. Near misses were almost a daily occurrence when riding the rural roads where I live.

I'm still riding my goldwing, I've had more close calls with a chainsaw than my bike. I'm still using a chainsaw too.

 

[Jstpssng]

I just had small, twin cylinder bikes but gave up my last one 30 years ago after one near-miss too many. I was on a side road in town when a woman pulled out of a parking lot in front of me. I kicked the rear out and slid around in front of her, stopping with my head just inches from the plow frame on her truck. As I tried to get my down into neutral so I could start it, she was sitting there screaming at me to get the **** out of her way.
On the southbound lane of the interstate into Bangor Maine there was a crack between the lanes, wide enough to catch a tire. If you couldn’t get into the left lane soon enough there was one spot to safely cross over. If you stayed in the right lane, traffic from the on-ramp would act like you weren’t even there.

 

[meackerman]

I worked in bicycle shops for 10 years through out high school and college....(1980s-1990s). As time went on more and more customers and even people that worked in bicycle shops (including a couple of owners) were either getting hit by cars or having close calls. This convinced a lot of them to switch from road bikes to mountain bikes. There's more cars on the road today then back then (at least around here), I can't image that its gotten safer on the road for people that ride bikes on the road. Its not right that its unsafe on a lot of roads for bicyclists, but that's the world we live in.

I'll stick with riding my mountain bike off road.

 

[Railroadman1]

the cyclists you are talking about are riding on country Roads, no shoulders these rds have sharp curve's hills poor visibly the light on the bikes are not great a lot of cyclists have poor riding habits ( they seem like they get in the zone) the city's have a lot of Blame these rds need to be up Graded

 

[paulfun9]

As an occasional bicyclist (on country roads), I much prefer someone doing a fast pass 3-4' away from me to practically stopping behind me (while I hug the edge of the pavement) because they don't have sight to use the entire other lane.

A quick pass is far safer than a slow pass where a sudden appearance of another car is likely to send them in my direction...

There are a few women in town who like to walk, they also dress in that high vis clothing. I have thanked each of them when I had the chance; it makes them so much easier to see.
Like many (most?) states, we are required to give cyclists and pedestrians 3 feet when passing. At 50mph that isn’t enough. I will do my best to give you a full lane, even if it means slowing until I have a clear lane. That gets rather frustrating though when there’s long lines of traffic both ways and the cyclist is too important to move over, even when he has a clear breakdown lane.

Why not?

I pass cars and trucks all day long at speeds over 50 mph with only a couple feet between.
I can see much more danger in slowing.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Never understood not wearing bright colors and such if possible. I personally have 2 rear red LED strobes on the back of my road bike, 1 white LED flashing light on the front and a florescent shirt or jacket depending on the weather. Sure hope I dont get hit bit If I get hit it certainly isn't because I didn't try to be as noticeable as possible.
I would love to ride on a bike trail all the time but we just dont have much around. The good trail is about an hour and a half away so it is really not a daily option....

Years ago I was driving a dump truck on a county road and saw a cyclist about a mile ahead of me because of his bright clothes that were clearly visible even as he rode in the shade. 200 yards behind him was another cyclist wearing dark clothing in the sunshine, I didn't see him until I was about a half mile behind him. When I started cycling a few years later I always wore something noticeable, including a neon green surveyors vest at times. I always had a flashing light on the back also and usually a flashing light on the front. I learned at construction sites, you always want to be clearly seen by the stuff that is bigger than you.

 

[big bubba]

My wife and I just bought new mountain bikes. We live in a rural area and I briefly though about riding on some of the low traffic rural roads but thought better of it. We will just haul our bikes to specific bike trails around the county each week.

smart move, it's different now from when riding a road bike on public roads back when. i use the urban trails as well now. not because of change of life stage, but for some of the reasons already mentioned in this thread. riding with a partner (or more) adds to some safety, tho i usually ride solo. cheers

 

[big bubba]

So question slightly off topic but within scope of current bike safety. Do ebikes & scooters on public highways & urban trails increase or decrease bicycle safety on public thoroughfares with their increased presence?
it is an issue since their presence has increased in semi/urban areas, etc. as a motorist, i find escooters, pose a risk, ebikes as well. as a cyclist, good to see more people on 2 wheels. from a safety standard, a lot needs to be thought out. i guess questions like this really don't matter as long as you're looking 4 ways.... regards

 

[3gunr]

When i was riding my motorcycle alot it was mostly on 2 lane curvy roads, Many times i had to swerve or lock up the brakes because cars were passing bicycles. I live on a 2 lane and in summer there are lots of bikes and some have been ignorant and riding stupid which gives them a bad rap.

 

[beenthere]

the cyclists you are talking about are riding on country Roads, no shoulders these rds have sharp curve's hills poor visibly the light on the bikes are not great a lot of cyclists have poor riding habits ( they seem like they get in the zone) the city's have a lot of Blame these rds need to be up Graded

Takes a lot of tax money to upgrade the roads for cyclists.. and the cyclists do not pay any road tax for that !!

 

[Code54]

and walkers don't pay for sidewalks but we still have/need them.....

 

[dodge man]

E bikes have three classes. Mine is a class I bike, you only get assist when pedaling and the electric assist kicks out at 20 mph. The class III bikes allow assist up to 28 mph. Class II have throttles so you don’t have to pedal but you can. I personally don’t think e bikes significantly are more dangerous but obviously can be.

When I rode my regular bike I averaged between 11 and 12 mph, on my e bike it’s between 13 and 15 mph, so about 2 mph faster. The biggest difference is I ride further. The biggest difference in speed for me is going up hills and into headwinds I probably average 6 mph faster.

The biggest problem I can see with e bikes is trying to keep up with cars in traffic.

 

[dodge man]

The cost for trails? It can be high. I road some trails in Moab that I heard cost millions. Its also one of those things that attracts people to places like Moab. I’ve paid my fair share of taxes in my day, I don’t fell to bad about it.