It feels unsafe and borderline reckless to ride in actual traffic where there is no s
08-16-22, 02:34 PM
#126
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However, it seems to make just as much in not more sense for a car equivalent to alert drivers when there are cyclists and pedestrians ahead. Not only that, with gps technology, that device can and should alert drivers when they are exceeding the speed limit as well as approaching an object (like another car or cyclist) too quickly. We do not have the self-driving car yet but we certainly have the technology to alert drivers of dangerous situations.
And, the "transponder" idea requires boiling the ocean to be successful: for this to work, most cyclists/pedestrians would need the transponders and most cars would need to receive the signal.
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08-16-22, 03:39 PM
#128
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Exactly. Every time a car passes us we roll the dice. Who knows what's going on with each driver, other than what I notice, and that ain't very promising.
08-17-22, 04:51 AM
#129
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Talk about a case-in-point, this reporter was talking about a hit-and-run and then one happens as they're filming
08-17-22, 07:06 AM
#130
Cop Magnet
08-17-22, 09:02 AM
#131
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Of course, if the runner vehicle is stolen, that won't do much good. That crash was totally insane... have people just stopped caring at all when they drive now??? Certainly the other cars zooming by behind the reporter seem to be going at a rather high speed, for a street of that nature, with all those crosswalks on it.
08-17-22, 06:11 PM
#132
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What you are talking about is a transponder. And if you think about it, Drivers will become reliant on the "fact" that cyclists and pedestrians have these, and will stop thinking for themselves. So the first time you go out with a low battery in your transponder... you get hit.
Now on the other hand, every driver out there has a big windshield, and is required to at least see out of one eye... and by law is required to NOT HIT THE THINGS IN FRONT OF YOU. One might think that would be sufficient.
But, sure, let's complicate things by adding transponders to ordinary humans so the smart cars can do what the dumb drivers won't do.
BTW as an aside... I like those blinkers that have a system that increases the blink rate as a motorist approaches... is that a Garmin Radar thing?
Now on the other hand, every driver out there has a big windshield, and is required to at least see out of one eye... and by law is required to NOT HIT THE THINGS IN FRONT OF YOU. One might think that would be sufficient.
But, sure, let's complicate things by adding transponders to ordinary humans so the smart cars can do what the dumb drivers won't do.
BTW as an aside... I like those blinkers that have a system that increases the blink rate as a motorist approaches... is that a Garmin Radar thing?
However, if the Varia can work without any requirement for cars, I'm sure the engineers at Garmin can do the same thing for cars without any requirement for cyclists or pedestrians. That's the premise behind self-driving vehicles.
But if the transponder is the current solution, what would be the big deal if they are supplied free of charge to all cyclists and pedestrians paid by, of course, auto manufacturers or licenced drivers. If you can carry your keys, wallet or purse with you everytime you leave your home, you can carry a transponder too.
New cars nowadays supply so many things as standard features anyways and if you also haven't noticed a lot of those features suit the bad driver, like parallel parking and blind spot detection.
Complicated? It's already here.
08-17-22, 09:17 PM
#133
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In case you haven't noticed, a lot of drivers aren't paying attention anyways. If I'm wrong about that, we wouldn't be discussing how dangerous our streets are.
However, if the Varia can work without any requirement for cars, I'm sure the engineers at Garmin can do the same thing for cars without any requirement for cyclists or pedestrians. That's the premise behind self-driving vehicles.
But if the transponder is the current solution, what would be the big deal if they are supplied free of charge to all cyclists and pedestrians paid by, of course, auto manufacturers or licenced drivers. If you can carry your keys, wallet or purse with you everytime you leave your home, you can carry a transponder too.
New cars nowadays supply so many things as standard features anyways and if you also haven't noticed a lot of those features suit the bad driver, like parallel parking and blind spot detection.
Complicated? It's already here.
However, if the Varia can work without any requirement for cars, I'm sure the engineers at Garmin can do the same thing for cars without any requirement for cyclists or pedestrians. That's the premise behind self-driving vehicles.
But if the transponder is the current solution, what would be the big deal if they are supplied free of charge to all cyclists and pedestrians paid by, of course, auto manufacturers or licenced drivers. If you can carry your keys, wallet or purse with you everytime you leave your home, you can carry a transponder too.
New cars nowadays supply so many things as standard features anyways and if you also haven't noticed a lot of those features suit the bad driver, like parallel parking and blind spot detection.
Complicated? It's already here.
08-18-22, 12:01 PM
#134
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I look forward to the pranks I can pull with a transponder and a small drone.
08-18-22, 03:48 PM
#136
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It's funny. Despite my many years and miles, I still find myself subconsciously hugging the curb or fog line when I should know better, and that's always when I get woken up by a dangerously close pass. I occasionally get honked at when I'm taking the lane, but at least that means they see me and are avoiding me.
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08-18-22, 03:54 PM
#137
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It's funny. Despite my many years and miles, I still find myself subconsciously hugging the curb or fog line when I should know better, and that's always when I get woken up by a dangerously close pass. I occasionally get honked at when I'm taking the lane, but at least that means they see me and are avoiding me.
Unnerving for a while at first, but I think it's actually safer. Better visibility and keeps the cars from doing something they shouldn't do in the first place.
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08-18-22, 09:07 PM
#138
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Even if I'm taking lane, they still do it, although many are polite enough to move to the next lane and then move back to my lane in front of me, only to be stopped by the red light. I mean why? Completely pointless, I'll just filter through.
Ofc, I only filter through traffic, if vehicles behind me can easily pass me later on.
Ofc, I only filter through traffic, if vehicles behind me can easily pass me later on.
08-20-22, 04:11 AM
#139
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I rode my bike downtown today, to meet friends for dinner
Part of the ride required me to ride in city traffic alongside cars, since no shoulder.
At the red light, my instinct was to run off the road and hide, but I queued at the red light like any other car.
It was not that bad at all.
I chained my bike to a sign post behind a dumpster.
Part of the ride required me to ride in city traffic alongside cars, since no shoulder.
At the red light, my instinct was to run off the road and hide, but I queued at the red light like any other car.
It was not that bad at all.
I chained my bike to a sign post behind a dumpster.
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08-20-22, 04:16 AM
#140
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Last edited by CheGiantForLife; 08-20-22 at 04:20 AM.
08-20-22, 08:44 AM
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08-21-22, 03:30 AM
#144
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08-21-22, 02:32 PM
#146
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Rode different route today, and stayed in traffic instead of hiding on the sidewalks.
$8 mirrors also came in handy. Gaining more confidence to stay in traffic, especially at intersections.
$8 mirrors also came in handy. Gaining more confidence to stay in traffic, especially at intersections.
08-22-22, 10:53 AM
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As of now, if there is no shoulder on either side, I simply do not ride on those roads without an obvious shoulder lane. I currently refuse to ride on roads without a shoulder on at least one side. (or at least grass or sidewalk, where I can walk the bike until shoulder is available on one side) Also, I feel its safer to salmon in a shoulder lane, than to ride with traffic in the actual traffic lane. Shoulder equals safety where you're not an obstacle impediment to cars.
It feels unsafe and borderline reckless to ride in actual traffic where there is no shoulder. For those who ride on roads with no shoulder, how do you deal with the fact that when you're riding with traffic, cars are constantly having to move half way out of the lane you're occupying? If there is not much traffic, this is not a big deal for the car, as there is another entire lane to use for passing the bike. But, during thicker traffic times, where cars are in both lanes, the bike is creating an obstacle on the road and potentially causing car accidents, particularly if there are cars in both lanes and one sideswipes another while having to avoid the bike by swerving into the left lane. Not only is this totally unnerving for the rider, but it creates a real danger for cars. This also applies to one lane roads, where the car must cross over double yellow lines to avoid the bike, thereby risking a fatal head on collision. This is an ethical line I simply can not cross.
Best practices for riding with traffic when there is no shoulder?
It feels unsafe and borderline reckless to ride in actual traffic where there is no shoulder. For those who ride on roads with no shoulder, how do you deal with the fact that when you're riding with traffic, cars are constantly having to move half way out of the lane you're occupying? If there is not much traffic, this is not a big deal for the car, as there is another entire lane to use for passing the bike. But, during thicker traffic times, where cars are in both lanes, the bike is creating an obstacle on the road and potentially causing car accidents, particularly if there are cars in both lanes and one sideswipes another while having to avoid the bike by swerving into the left lane. Not only is this totally unnerving for the rider, but it creates a real danger for cars. This also applies to one lane roads, where the car must cross over double yellow lines to avoid the bike, thereby risking a fatal head on collision. This is an ethical line I simply can not cross.
Best practices for riding with traffic when there is no shoulder?
08-22-22, 01:54 PM
#148
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Glad your getting out there into the traffic OP. Just to add to the stories, which have been very interesting, I live in Colorado where cycling is done by many, so I have not had too many issues in the last 17 years riding in traffic. But when I lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I got hit from behind. AND I was on the shoulder!! The key as others have pointed out is visibility, and your ability to see what's happening behind you so great that you have the mirror. I also run a tail light that is super bright in the daytime.
08-24-22, 09:53 AM
#149
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Just did another ride.
At one particular intersection, I still can't resist going salmon in the shoulder instead of waiting at the red light to take a left at the intersection (only to ride in no shoulder)
So, I bypass the intersection by cutting over left before the intersection, doing salmon for 100 feet, and the crossing over into the correct lane.
Also, when there is a shoulder, I can't help but ride in the shoulder instead of in traffic. On a one lane road, this just feels safer. Because it is.
At one particular intersection, I still can't resist going salmon in the shoulder instead of waiting at the red light to take a left at the intersection (only to ride in no shoulder)
So, I bypass the intersection by cutting over left before the intersection, doing salmon for 100 feet, and the crossing over into the correct lane.
Also, when there is a shoulder, I can't help but ride in the shoulder instead of in traffic. On a one lane road, this just feels safer. Because it is.
08-24-22, 10:53 AM
#150
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Just did another ride.
At one particular intersection, I still can't resist going salmon in the shoulder instead of waiting at the red light to take a left at the intersection (only to ride in no shoulder)
So, I bypass the intersection by cutting over left before the intersection, doing salmon for 100 feet, and the crossing over into the correct lane.
Also, when there is a shoulder, I can't help but ride in the shoulder instead of in traffic. On a one lane road, this just feels safer. Because it is.
At one particular intersection, I still can't resist going salmon in the shoulder instead of waiting at the red light to take a left at the intersection (only to ride in no shoulder)
So, I bypass the intersection by cutting over left before the intersection, doing salmon for 100 feet, and the crossing over into the correct lane.
Also, when there is a shoulder, I can't help but ride in the shoulder instead of in traffic. On a one lane road, this just feels safer. Because it is.
For me, the shoulder vs. lane thing is decided on a road-by-road basis.
I'm not going to second-guess you on this but besides avoiding salmoning, I also try to avoid "solutions" that require me to cross the same lanes repeatedly. I look at this as an issue of probabilities, and I figure I'm more statistically likely to get hit if I'm swerving between lanes repeatedly than if I hold a single position in a place visible to drivers. Just as a matter of math, the more lanes I'm crossing, the more cars I'm likely to encounter and, as a practical matter, being unpredictable by swerving around is more likely to cause a problem by confusing the drivers.
