photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Wm. Bates | all galleries >> Galleries >> Miscellaneous Photos Gallery > Wanda and Ian Going Down the Road 08_19_07.jpg
previous | next
19-AUG-2007

Wanda and Ian Going Down the Road 08_19_07.jpg

Canon EOS 20D
1/500s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso800 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment | share
Wm. Bates20-Aug-2007 22:34
Jim,

Until I started cycling, I erroneously thought the same way about cyclists who didn't "move the hell over!" (laffin). . . as a motorist, you can't see all the debris on the shoulder, , ,bits of glass, gravel, thorns, all kinds of stuff. And the further you get to the edge of the road, the worse it gets. Oh, and then there is that new trend with putting "rumble strips" just to the right of the white line to wake up sleepy motorists who drift. Lemme tell ya, riding on those aint a treat! (contrary to what some people may believe)

Thanks for being a courteous driver! Us cyclists just wanna survive while out there getting some exercise and revisiting our childhood. (SMILE)
Jim McKinlock20-Aug-2007 18:55
Thanks for the tips Wanda,
I always wondered why cyclists seem to stay right on the fog line even when they have a pretty wide shoulder, I figured they were just being jerks and letting you know its my road too. The truck I drive is 75' long so I get real nervous when I have to pass cyclists, I always wait until I know they've seen me and give them as much space as I can, even going into the oncoming lane when possible.
Be safe out there.
Fred Gary20-Aug-2007 14:05
Great image.
Wm. Bates20-Aug-2007 12:43
Eric,

Cyclists always face the risk of a careless or malicious motorist. I do My best to be a courteous cyclist and stay out of the way and move to the right of the white line when I can hear traffic approaching from behind Me. Cyclists prefer to ride closer to or in the lane just to avoid the debris often found on the shoulder that can cause punctures to their tires. So when you approach a cyclist and they don't move over, it's more than likely because there is something on the shoulder they wish to avoid.

In Utah, it's the law that motorists give the cyclist a 3 foot clearance as they pass them. I read recently that on some of the roads known to be popular with cyclists, they actually have police decoys riding bikes now so that if a motorists crowds the cyclist, the officer can radio ahead and another officer in a patrol car will pull the driver over and write a ticket.

And here's a tip to all drivers. Don't honk your horn as you approach a cyclist. You don't know if it's a new or nervous rider and honking your horn will just startle them. Last thing you want is to cause a rider to jump and wobble right out in front of you!

Don't forget to "share the road". . . Lets all be careful out there. (smile)
Eric Hewis20-Aug-2007 08:30
Do you never have problems with motorists?