Part of my 16 mile commute is along the 8 foot wide shoulder of a 50 mph roadway. It’s normally perfectly safe, I’m far out of traffic and catch a great draft whenever the cars come whizzing by.
So one day, I’m riding along on my road bike in the center of the shoulder three feet off the road. I’m wearing a neon yellow windbreaker, a green backpack with neon yellow fabric sewn on the back,an orange helmet and possibly even had a blinking taillight. Suddenly, I’m passed at 50 mph+ by some idiot woman in a black F150. Oh, did I mention that she was on the shoulder, 6 inches away from me and then dove back into the traffic lane. She was very surprised when I caught her at the next light. I think the dent came out of her hood after I punched it hard. Then she was stupid enough to roll the window down and tell me I should be riding on the sidewalk.
Drivers, you may also fall in to the moron category.
Another problem with bike commuting nowadays: With all the cell phone usage and text messaging, it is always 2:15 Saturday morning... :(
I’m waiting to be taken out in the bike lane by some 17 year old text messaging her friends.
One thing these “I hate cyclists” people are forgetting is how exposed we cyclists are. If a cyclists does something dumb in front of a car, he stands a good chance of being seriously hurt if not killed.
Whereas if someone driving a car does something stupid in front of a bicyclist, he has a good chance of seriously injuring a cyclist, not himself.
Wow, I can see why you’re so proud of yourself.