Re: [Ebbc-Talk] Ebbc-Talk Digest, Vol 384, Issue 1

Hi Rick-
It's incidents like this that make me wish we had an unlimited pot of money to 
create and air public service announcements on TV about rules of the road for 
cyclists.  It would be for motorists' edification as well as cyclists, of 
course.  Things like "yes we ARE supposed to be on the ROAD" would be covered 
(in response to those irate motorists who keep trying to wave me off the road 
when I'm in the left-hand turn lane in Emeryville), and "No we are NOT required 
by law to dismount bicycles in a shared path across Stanford Ave" or other 
similar shared paths, and "Get a bell to pass other cyclists and pedestrians and 
USE it" would be lovely messages to put out there.  

Maybe it would be less costly to create videos that could be shared on Facebook 
pages and websites.  At least we'd reach more people than we are now!

Until that time comes, all we can do is vent.  ;-(  I'm with you there, Rick!

Marcy

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 19:40:14 -0700
From: Rick Rickard <[email protected]>
To: GPC Listserve <gpc-talk-LqWVpvOAWH/[email protected]>,    Public list EBBC
    <[email protected]>
Subject: [Ebbc-Talk] Safe Passing
Message-ID: <331CE83C-755E-4C38-9416-565A18CD03CF-mn4gwa5WIIQysxA8WJXlww@public.gmane.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I'm usually more upset by motorists who pass me than by other bicyclists, but an 
episode today reminds me that bicyclists passing other bicylists can also be a 
pain! What's so difficult about calling out one's intentions?

A friend and I were riding a loop through the Oakland/Berkeley hills and had 
stopped for lunch at Inspiration Point (sitting on the Grizzly Peak Cyclists 
bench!).

After lunch, we headed out of the parking lot to turn right (west) on Wildcat 
Canyon Road. As we left the parking lot, I looked in my helmet-mounted mirror to 
see another bicyclist coming up behind us (since we were just starting out, he 
was going considerably faster). I don't know where he came from, but he blew 
past her with no warning and very close.

Even though I saw him in my mirror, I couldn't tell where he was going. Although 
I was trying to turn right onto Wildcat Canyon, I tried to hold my line until he 
passed. He looked like he was going to pass me on my left, so I turned slightly 
to the right, only to have him then swerve right to pass on my right. At that 
point, a collision wasn't out of the question! Never a peep from him!

As he passed, I made a loud comment about how nice it would be to call out one's 
intentions, but he was so intent on his ride that he totally ignored me -- not 
even a rude comment! I guess the macho approach is to blow past and ignore those 
who are slower.

I doubt he's reading this post, but I thought the story was worthwhile if only 
to remind all of us that passing another bicyclist (even one with a mirror) can 
be hazardous -- no harm in calling out!!

Rick

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End of Ebbc-Talk Digest, Vol 384, Issue 1
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