Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

You Need a Thneed · 06-15-2011, 10:58 AM

I remember one time where I was pulling a gooseneck trailer up 68th Street NE, in afternoon rush hour traffic. There is a cyclist ahead, and with a wide vehicle, it is hard to get around the cyclist safely without lane changing around them. Lane changing with a long vehicle in busy traffic when most traffic is going faster than you is also difficult. I do manage to get around the cyclist, but then I have to come to a stop at 16th Ave. Of course, the cyclist cuts past traffic up to the front of the line. When the light turns green, I start going again, and right when I'm crossing 16th ave is when I have to pass they cyclist again. At the pedestrian island in the median of 16th ave, the cyclist sort of swerves around it (he gave a little bit more room when there was no curb beside him), and very nearly into my trailer. For about half a second, I thought that cyclist was going to be toast.

I always keep this in mind when I'm cycling on the road. Don't make drivers pass you twice. I simply don't think the minimal time savings are worth the extra danger of having a whole bunch of cars passing you extra times. The first time, they'll give you more room, but when they start having to pass you second and third times, they will get lazy and start not giving you as much room, it's just human nature. I'd rather stay alive then save a few minutes. My experience both as a driver, and as a cyclist being terrified having cars pass me when the road conditions were less than optimal, leads me to want to minimize interactions between drivers and cyclists.

I'd love to see a specific bike lanes added to major streets. Having a bit of a shoulder would be great in some places too. Remove the worry for drivers passing cyclists.

06-15-2011, 10:58 AM	#104
You Need a Thneed Voted for Kodos Join Date: Dec 2007 Exp:	I remember one time where I was pulling a gooseneck trailer up 68th Street NE, in afternoon rush hour traffic. There is a cyclist ahead, and with a wide vehicle, it is hard to get around the cyclist safely without lane changing around them. Lane changing with a long vehicle in busy traffic when most traffic is going faster than you is also difficult. I do manage to get around the cyclist, but then I have to come to a stop at 16th Ave. Of course, the cyclist cuts past traffic up to the front of the line. When the light turns green, I start going again, and right when I'm crossing 16th ave is when I have to pass they cyclist again. At the pedestrian island in the median of 16th ave, the cyclist sort of swerves around it (he gave a little bit more room when there was no curb beside him), and very nearly into my trailer. For about half a second, I thought that cyclist was going to be toast. I always keep this in mind when I'm cycling on the road. Don't make drivers pass you twice. I simply don't think the minimal time savings are worth the extra danger of having a whole bunch of cars passing you extra times. The first time, they'll give you more room, but when they start having to pass you second and third times, they will get lazy and start not giving you as much room, it's just human nature. I'd rather stay alive then save a few minutes. My experience both as a driver, and as a cyclist being terrified having cars pass me when the road conditions were less than optimal, leads me to want to minimize interactions between drivers and cyclists. I'd love to see a specific bike lanes added to major streets. Having a bit of a shoulder would be great in some places too. Remove the worry for drivers passing cyclists.