[TriLUG] [OT] TriLUGger on the news

[tomed at bellsouth.net]

The honking could be an old tradition of letting you know you are being
overtaken. It's the same sort of practice as honking before going around
a sharp curve.

Of course, if they lay down on the horn, that's different.

Tom Ed

At Tue, 22 May 2007 15:14:45 -0400 (EDT),
William Sutton wrote:
> 
> Amen!
> 
> Having been passed by traffic in So Cal going 55 mph with little or no 
> shoulder, I'm comfortable with not much clearance.  I don't understand 
> why someone needs to go into the other lane to pass me.
> 
> The other thing that bugs me is people that honk at me when they pass, 
> like I'm some sort of impediment that doesn't deserve to exist....
> 
> -- 
> William Sutton
> 
> 
> On Tue, 22 May 2007, Warren Myers wrote:
> 
> > Hey! I drive an SUV.
> > 
> > However, I also drive within 5 mph of the posted limit.
> > 
> > Having been a former bicyclist, and starting to get back into it, I know
> > what it's like to be the guy just trying to get somewhere and having dingus
> > in the car/truck/motorcycle/whatever come flying by.
> > 
> > Personally, though, I find it incredibly worrisome when people in compacts
> > give me most of a lane of berth. One major problem with drivers is them not
> > knowing how big their vehicle is. I don't have any problems with being
> > passed by a 18-wheeler who slides to left in the lane, but passes me with a
> > couple feet of clearance. The scary drivers are the ones that don't know how
> > wide their vehicle is and give you the width of an 18-wheeler when they go
> > around you - often times by clipping all the way onto the other side of the
> > road :-/
> > 
> > WMM
> > 
> > On 5/22/07, MG <mgmonza at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I think it would be great if more money were put into wider roads or
> > > more bike paths.  As a once and future bicyclist and current driver, it
> > > gives me the willies to see bicyclists on the secondary roads in the
> > > Triangle.  Posted speed limits are already too high for those narrow,
> > > winding, potholed, randomly obstructed speedways.   Then the
> > > I-gotta-qo-15-miles-over-or-die-trying guy in the pickup or SUV comes up
> > > on someone moving about a tenth of the speed limit and pulls around
> > > whenever, wherever. I know it's not the bicyclist's fault, but if not
> > > for them there'd be fewer front bumpers coming at me on blind hills and
> > > corners, heck, even on straightaways where the drivers just don't give a
> > > #$!.
> > >
> > > MG
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dave Sorenson wrote:
> > > > It's been my experience at numerious accident scenes that that is how
> > > > L.E.O.'s interperet the law. YMMV. I however choose to ride as far to
> > > > the right as possible when I'm riding as I know which vehicle will "win"
> > > > when a bicyclist trys to enforce their "right" to use the road. It
> > > > probably comes from seeing too much blood and brain tissue on the
> > > > road... I don't miss that part of the job.
> > > >
> > > > Be safe!
> > > >
> > > > Dave
> > > >
> > > > Scott Chilcote wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Dave Sorenson wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>> Apples and oranges. Bicycles are classified as slow moving vehicles
> > > and
> > > >>> are supposed to maintain as far right as possible. Motorcycles being
> > > >>> vehicles that can maintain regular traffic speeds are not subject to
> > > >>> that. I speak as a former TV news photographer who covered way too
> > > many
> > > >>> of these types of accidents. If you are on a bicycle, and are in the
> > > >>> middle of a traffic lane you will not get the same leeway from the
> > > >>> investigating LEO in an accident, in fact you could be cited for
> > > >>> impeding the flow of traffic and contributing to the cause of the
> > > >>> accident. The car driver will likely get a ticket for running you over
> > > >>> either way, but the bike rider certainly has responsibility to not
> > > >>> impede traffic the same as other slow moving vehicles (farm equipment
> > > >>> etc...)
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Dave
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >> I need to correct this, because it is a misunderstanding of the law
> > > that
> > > >> deprives bicyclists of their rights.  There is no special "slow moving
> > > >> vehicle" classification for bicyclists.
> > > >>
> > > >>  From the NC Driver's Handbook, Page 95:
> > > >>
> > > >> "Because bicycles are vehicles, bicyclists must obey the same traffic
> > > >> laws as other drivers."
> > > >>
> > > >> "Bicyclists usually ride on the right side of the road, but are
> > > entitled
> > > >> to the use of a full lane."
> > > >>
> > > >> "A bicyclist staying to the right in their lane is accommodating the
> > > >> following drivers by making it easier to see when it is safe to pass,
> > > >> and easier to execute the pass.  Drivers wishing to pass a bicyclist
> > > may
> > > >> do so only when there is abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic is
> > > >> in the opposing lane.  When passing a bicyclist, always remember the
> > > >> bicyclist is entitled to the use of a full lane."
> > > >>
> > > >> The penalty for failing to yield right of way to a bicyclist,
> > > >> motorcycle, or motor scooter is higher than than for another car.  I
> > > >> didn't know that until I looked just now.
> > > >>
> > > >> The guideline that I have heard cited most often is that bicyclists
> > > need
> > > >> to ride as far to the right as is safe under the circumstances.  This
> > > >> allows the full lane to be used when it is dangerous to ride near the
> > > >> shoulder, for example when broken glass or gravel is present.
> > > >>
> > > >> I do oppose a bicyclists blocking the lane unless it is very important
> > > -
> > > >> it certainly does not make life easier for other bicyclists.
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> Scott C.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > --
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> > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> -- 
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