Comments on: What Do You Do When a Motorist Almost Runs You Over?

By: Crowe

Crowe — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:59:48 +0000

Being both a motorist and a cyclist, I can tell you there are plenty of dick cyclists that share just as much of the blame.
I wont be shedding any tears for the next asshole I see run a stop and get splattered by a dump truck.

By: janel

janel — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 02:15:45 +0000

lets switch the bike lane and parking lane so we don’t have to deal with the situation in the first place.

By: matthew bennett

matthew bennett — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:09:33 +0000

Yup, expensive cars, seems like Mercs are more dicks than BMWs, Audi is bad. Prius is the worst, though, followed by the Civic Hybrid, not sure why.

I totally researched this daily on market st.

By: justin case

justin case — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:16:09 +0000

“How do you teach people to share the road and be more aware of their surroundings?”

That’s a difficult question as there are far more dick bicyclists as with motor vehicles. Discussion points:

What is the percentage of motorists that drive on sidewalks?

How many motorists routinely drive with no lights at night?

What is the percentage of motorists that routinely drive on the wrong side of the road?

Bicyclists need more training that for motor vehicles, if for no other reason that cyclists don’t believe how or why vehicle laws apply to them. Completely oblivious.

By: erlthegirl

erlthegirl — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:25:26 +0000

As one of those dang city car share drivers I don’t have the glazed over thing going that my fellow drivers do. I don’t drive as often and maybe don’t know the ins and outs of every road, but I keep a vigilant eye for bicyclists and pedestrians when driving anywhere. That said – even when I am watching a cyclist like a hawk when I’m about to make a right turn, signal on well ahead of time, I very frequently run into the issue of the cyclist not stopping at lights or signs at all, making it hard to predict where and how to share the road (Folsom more than Valencia). So please be aware of how your bicycling behavior also impacts the drivers.

As a ped, I totally bang on cars in a solid place where I won’t do damage. The hubby is petrified I will some day be shot.

By: ACwastaken

ACwastaken — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:07:10 +0000

a nice, firm, open hand slap to the ass of the car (the trunk). It does no damage and alerts the driver they are too close. I also sometimes don’t mind throwing our a “mother fucker” if I am in an unfortunate mood.

By: hunh

hunh — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:20:17 +0000

I am a very safe car driver and always take pains to be especially careful around bikes/motorcycles. I check the bike lane before signaling and turning right. And I never run stop signs or stop lights (do you!?). So when a bike comes out of nowhere and I get the stinkeye/swearing/fist pumping, even after an “oops, sorry I didn’t see/hit/touch you” it makes me wonder where the entitlement comes from.

Share the road, man!

By: whit

whit — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:55:51 +0000

to clarify, if there’s a bike lane and it is safe, i will ride in it. however, when approaching tricky intersections (there’s a huge curve in the road or cars are already moving into the bike lane to turn right or whatever), i safely move over into “real” lane so i am more visible to drivers.

everyone on the road needs to learn/understand that bikers often need to “take the lane” for a myriad of reasons. today it was:
-not going to roll over a shit ton of glass just because i “have to ride in a bike lane” etc

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:37:56 +0000

I think this is more dangerous than just riding defensively in the bike lane. Drivers see you as slowing down traffic needlessly, thinking that if there’s a bike lane you should be using it, not the car lane – whether this is correct or not, it’s how they see it, and you being in their lane can make drivers angry, which can lead to aggressive driving that threatens you and everyone in your vicinity. I stay in the bike lane and slow down to stay behind any car that I even suspect might make a last minute turn, and it’s gotten me by unscathed for the last 5 years or so.

By: neigh-bor

neigh-bor — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:56:13 +0000

I used to do the stinkeye and in extreme instances pull up to their window and confront. I was getting really mad. I was riding around the City mad and seeing the streets as more of battlefield, feeling a real need to defend my rights. Basically that sucked.

Now I try to keep the anger out. I ring my bell to let people know where I am. If I’m going around them because they are parked in the bike lane, or because they are turning right across a bike lane, etc.

The things that still piss me off are the intentional assholes – the ones that weave close or cut me off after passing me. These people are just jerks – there is no reasoning with them.

By: whit

whit — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:24:11 +0000

always take the lane. never get wedged in the bike lane at intersections or you will get hit. i get yelled at by bikers and motorists a like for taking the lane in weird situations like that. but you know what, i’d rather be safe than dead.

when i do almost get run over, i yell like crazy but ride away. luckily nothing too close has happened recently.

By: i ride bikes

i ride bikes — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:48:34 +0000

That’s exactly what I do. I never trust a car that is in the right lane and assume they will always make a right turn signaling at the last moment, if they even signal. You just have to ride defensively and take the lane if a car looks like it might be turning right. I usually like to hang back behind them and make sure I am never on the inside.

I think I’ve been honked at twice in the last five years riding in the city doing this. Just waving at them with a smile is enough to irritate them and get them to be quiet.

By: sevan

sevan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 06:34:48 +0000

did you take his license plate # to try to file a report or get his name? if you file a report and he is pulled over for something else might be retribution, if that is what you are looking for.

but you do get an “I’m sorry that happened to you” from me! sincerely!

By: sevan

sevan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 06:33:07 +0000

something has gotta happen so that drivers can take right turns and bicyclists don’t have to gamble if there is no signal.

I took a bicycle coalition class and they said to go to the left at such intersections. I feel like an idiot swerving in the lane since no one knows this rule and when I do it cars just stop behind me.

By: Iknowrebekah

Iknowrebekah — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:39:08 +0000

As someone who owns a car in town [mostly to run short errands & also to leave said town] as well as a bus taker & walker, I try to be as decent to bike riders as possible. I take extra care when I’m in bike heavy areas to make sure I’m not in their way.

I think there are many folks like me who want to be as courteous to folks as possible, it doesn’t mean that accidents are totally inevitable.

There are going to be jerks on both sides–cyclists who think they are ALWAYS in the right & cars who don’t give a shit–placing a wide cast net isn’t going to make it better.