Cyclists to drivers: Share the street

I guess so. I just don't understand where all of the animosity comes from. I think that's what I find really scary - it's like some people are out there targeting cyclists because "they shouldn't be on the road anyway."

when she was hit from behind by a pickup while riding a bicycle in east Wichita

<sarcasm font> Shocking! A pickup!  Who would have guessed! <sarcasm font>

So sad...

I have to hide these posts from my wife - who worries enough....

I don't own a car for the moment so I hardly ever have to deal with driving in traffic, long commutes etc. I do have to ride my bike like 40-50 min out of the city to be able ride on less transit road and the two things I always notice about drivers is their lack of patience and how little attention they pay to their surroundings (btw for a driver to not been paying real attention when driving goes beyond my understanding!) Anyway, these drivers are always in a rush to get “somewhere” real fast, blowing off traffic lights, stops signs, right turns etc. Then you have those who are having what I assume are “life or death conversations” on their cell phones, text messaging, chatting with their passengers or ALL.

Last weekend I borrowed my friend’s car to ride up to a race. While riding around the town in which the race took place there were a few athletes testing their bikes near the race site the day before. For my horror an SUV flew passing by almost hitting one of the bikers after ignoring a stop sign. I kept driving towards the race site and the SUV pulls into the same parking lot: IT WAS AN ATHLETE, WTF! Of course I couldn’t kept my mouth shut and I told him that next time he might be the one riding a bike and a knuckle head “IN A RUSH” might hit him. He just ignored me…

I know we all have stuff going one on our lives but really; is that difficult to be a LITTLE more patient? Same thing goes for those daredevil cyclists who ignore traffic signs or who ride 20+ mph on busy bike paths full with kids, runners, dogs, etc…

Reminder to self:  Order a ROAD ID !!!

So far I feel blessed with my road rides in that those that pass me from behind give a wide berth, those that pass coming at me stay in their lane, everyone has kept object inside their cars, and drivers at intersections have stayed put at the appropriate times.

I'm still keeping the eyes up and mind alert.

HAVE BLESSED RIDES EVERYONE!!!

that's smart denise.  actually, my parents told me something similar when i was younger, one time a crosswalk turned green so i just went without looking, and almost walked into a car turning.  they told me to ALWAYS look, and i, being a kid, protested and said, "but it was green!"  and they said, "is that what you'd tell the driver when you're in the hospital?  what good is it to be right when you're hit?"

ah, so wise...so, every time i get mad at a stupid driver and want to do something like, "um NO it's MY turn" i think - well...being right does me no good if they hit me.

amiine, that driver you tlaked about at the race -- that's effed!  when i see a cyclist i always feel like, "oh, i ride too!" and want to wave or something.  definitely feel kinship, NOT jackassdom as that guy did!