This video sort of speaks for itself. Cars regularly make u-turns in front of me. They swoop in and out, presumably without even noticing that I am there, crunching on my brake handles. I find it a little uncanny; rarely do I see cars making u turns in the distance. It seems they only do so right in front o me. Anyway, I’m sure that’s an awareness bias. This car dumbfounded me though. I assumed it was pulling into the driveway. It didn’t and it had tons of space in front of it. Why it was trying to back up (wher I was waiting for it), was beyond me.
PSA: Cyclists might not be safe riding in the bike lanes! It's slippery leaf season!
I love fall leaves, they are a beautiful sign of the changing seasons. They are also terrifying for anyone on 2 wheels. A car pulled in front or me to turn ride on Greenwood avenue last night. I locked my brakes to avoid hitting them and skidded all the way out of the bike lane, into traffic. It had rained recently and wet leaves were under my tires. Wet leaves destroy traction and hide potholes, rocks, glass, and other hazards to cyclists. If you drive a car, please note that a cyclist might be riding in the road instead of the bike lane. Don't worry, that's legal in Washington state. Know that the Cyclist isn't trying to be an ass, the leaves are probably just too slick to ride on safely. Also note that braking distance is double what it is in dry weather, which may cause unpredictable behavior. Here's to hoping we all stay safe this fall and enjoy all the colors!!
Complexities of Cycling
When I visit my health club, I travel on the sidewalk for a bit. Ideally cyclists wouldn’t be on sidewalks, but that’s where the bike racks are. When I leave the sidewalk to get back on the road I have the option of getting to the bike lane by crossing a left-hand turn lane (the blue path). I don’t like doing this as many cars turn left here and I have to slow them down just to confuse them by stopping part way through the crosswalk. So I behave like a pedestrian, traveling on the pedestrian crosswalk until I pass the turning cars and can safely reach the bike lane (the red path). Pedestrians don’t like this and turning cars still sneer at me. Cars traveling west who want to turn right also get confused because I enter the street at their turn spot. I think I’m doing the best I can and it feels weird merely because of the general congestion of the roads. It’s just these sorts of things one has to think about as a cyclist. I am certain neither the drivers nor the pedestrians saw me exit the health club and wonder why I am on the sidewalk in the first place.
A bad day for encounters with trucks
A small Toyota pickup pulled out in front of me without using a turn signal or even lights (this was in the dark of morning). It pulled out from its street-side parking spot into the road, crossing my path on the bike lane. I don't think the driver ever saw me. It was a perfect opportunity to use my horn, but when the horn lever competes for my hand with the brake lever, the brake always wins. My brakes squelched in the rain, braking just in time for me to feel safe. I hoped the driver would eventually see me, but I think he had other things on his mind. His turn signal going the other way lit up as soon as he got in the road (still no lights) and he drove like that at least a half mile before turning. Later a large white truck waiting to turn right from a smaller cross-street pulled out in front of me. I saw the driver looking in my direction, so I braked with the hope they would eventually see me. I practically came to a stop by the time the driver noticed me. This happened when the truck bed crossed the bike lane and the cab was well into the road. They stopped anyway. I veered out into the road to pass. As I passed, I stuck my arm out with the "stop" hand sign. I do this to remind drivers when I have the right of way. It is something I do with some regularity at 2-way stops. I have no idea if the drivers realize I have the right of way, or if they just think I am being an ass.