Well, cars sometimes broadside other cars. It's an unfortunate byproduct of operating vehicles on the road.
Here's your statement to which I replied:
I mean, would it kill them to ride behind us at 20 mph for that last 100 yards?
So, would it kill you to slow down inside that last 100 yards to allow the cars to go ahead of you? </rhetorical>
If one of the reasons for cycling is *exercise*, then it should make little difference how fast or slow you ride or if you have to slow down and then speed up.
>>So, would it kill you to slow down inside that last 100 yards to allow the cars to go ahead of you? </rhetorical>
OK, even though it is rhetorical, I need to respond. I do that all the time. the three times it happened to me were:
1. going 45 mph down a steep hill, a teenager passes me and almost immediately slams on the brakes and makes a right at the bottom. As she passed me I suspected it was possible that it was what she was doing and started braking. If I had not been defensive and waited until the brake lights came on I would have broadsided her and endoed instead of riding her around the corner.
2 and 3. Frustrated drivers in stopped traffic, at the last second and without signalling, dart in front of me to make hard right. And even in those cases I was watching for such action, which is why the only damage done was to the cars, and I didn’t even go down.
On a bike, defensive driving is the rule of the day. I am watching the angle of the tires and stance on the suspension of every car that goes by me where there may be a point up the road where they may be offered choices. I have come to an almost complete stop as cars turn right in front of me. As a driver, I like to give the cars the same respect I would want from bicyclists when I am driving. It is just common courtesy.
But also as a driver, when I see a bicyclist blow through a stop sign (or even red light) where he is not impacting any other drivers I say more power to him. It does not offend me in the least, nor do I consider it dangerous.