I haven’t said this before so I’ll say it now: I will try to not argue the law, but I will point out the problems or impracticality of laws. That’s to say if you’re caught breaking the law as it’s written, then you deserve the punishment. But just because it’s a law doesn’t always mean it’s the absolute best scenario for all involved.
On to the concept of riding in groups...
In Virginia, there’s a law that states that bicyclists must ride in single file to allow faster traffic to pass. We’re allowed to ride two abreast if we’re not impeding traffic. However....
It's safer for everyone if we ride in small groups. As the saying goes- there’s safety in numbers. Part of the reason is visibility, and the other reason, sadly, is that a rage-a-holic motorist is more likely to assault the lone cyclist (and it does happen) than a group where there could be witnesses.
If we stay doubled up in a small group of 6-8 riders, we take up about the space of a small car, and are visible as a lane-occupying entity. If we single 6-8 riders out in a line, we become much longer and create an unsafe environment. It allows a car to try to pass when there may not be enough room. If we make ourselves the size of a car, it forces a driver to make a decision to pass when the oncoming lane is truly clear rather than allowing a vehicle just enough room to squeeze between the bicyclists and an oncoming car.
By NOT allowing cars to easily pass unless truly safe, we create our own safety buffer. The reason is simple: if someone tries to pass a group of cyclists while an oncoming car is present and has to choose between a head-on collision with another vehicle or taking out a couple of bicyclists, they're going to opt for the softer and safer (for the motorist) bicyclists.
Helping educate the motorized vehicle user (and possibly some bicyclists) regarding bicycles, bicycle use, bicycle laws, and the nuances of bicycle use on public roadways.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Road Hazards #1 - Drainage grates
This is the first post in the Road Hazards series. My goal here is to illustrate obstacles a bicyclist encounters that affect our path of travel, but would not necessarily affect a motorist's. These are obstacles bicyclists MUST avoid, because riding over them would almost certainly result in a crash.
As bicyclists we have to think about how to avoid obstacles in a manner that keeps us safe. We have to remember that swerving into the traffic lane possibly puts us in front of a moving vehicle, and that swerving away from it may put us in further danger, be it a curb, gravel, or a ditch. Sometimes we have no choice but to ride over an obstacle, as it's the only safe option.
I found this particular drainage grate on Riverside Drive in Richmond, VA. This section is actually part of the US Bicycle Route System. The grate is rotated such that the grate is inline with the travel lane. For a vehicle with 7" or wider tires, this doesn't pose a problem. But the spacing between the grate bars is about 1.5", which is much wider than a road bicycle tire.
As bicyclists we have to think about how to avoid obstacles in a manner that keeps us safe. We have to remember that swerving into the traffic lane possibly puts us in front of a moving vehicle, and that swerving away from it may put us in further danger, be it a curb, gravel, or a ditch. Sometimes we have no choice but to ride over an obstacle, as it's the only safe option.
I found this particular drainage grate on Riverside Drive in Richmond, VA. This section is actually part of the US Bicycle Route System. The grate is rotated such that the grate is inline with the travel lane. For a vehicle with 7" or wider tires, this doesn't pose a problem. But the spacing between the grate bars is about 1.5", which is much wider than a road bicycle tire.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Scary motorist maneuvers #1: The “Buzz”
This is probably the most common occurrence, and one of the most frightening for bicyclists: the vehicle that barely misses a bicyclist’s handlebar, elbow, or shoulder. The “buzz” can be as little as an inch, and when it happens it’s a reminder of your mortality. Any closer and you’re splattered on the pavement.
The brush with death almost always comes from a side view mirror - the widest point of every vehicle. It just happens most side-view mirrors are at the perfect height to contact a bicyclist.
The bicyclist is defenseless against an invisible, from-behind impact. Even riders with rear-view mirrors can't possibly react effectively to a vehicle traveling near twice their speed when it approaches from behind.
The brush with death almost always comes from a side view mirror - the widest point of every vehicle. It just happens most side-view mirrors are at the perfect height to contact a bicyclist.
The bicyclist is defenseless against an invisible, from-behind impact. Even riders with rear-view mirrors can't possibly react effectively to a vehicle traveling near twice their speed when it approaches from behind.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Turbulence from passing vehicles
You’ve felt it before: a large vehicle passes you, and your vehicle moves or shakes a little. If the windows are down it might blow your hat off your head or your hair into your eyes.
Any vehicle in motion pushes air out of its way- a car less so, because it’s more aerodynamic (and one reason why wedge-shaped sports cars can go faster with less effort, and why fuel-efficient cars look funny!) A flat-front Mack truck pushes a tremendous amount of air out of the way. Much like a subway train pushing air through the station, vehicles do the same thing. There’s just more outward space for the air to go. One of those spaces is to the side of the vehicle.
Imagine you’re in a 3000 lb vehicle. That airflow is going to have minimal effect. But to a bicyclist, this has the ability to push us a few inches, or maybe even a foot to the side. In some cases it’s not a surprise, but many times it will catch us unaware, and we have to steer slightly to correct our travel path. Sometimes it causes an overcorrection, and we may move as much as a foot or even two feet into the travel lane.
Very large vehicles such as tractor-trailers or dump trucks (especially those with open space underneath) have another effect: there’s a slight vacuum in the air it pulls with it. This has the effect of pulling a bicyclist into the side of the vehicle as it passes.
These are reasons we need substantial separation from all vehicles to prevent the turbulence from affecting our travel path.
Any vehicle in motion pushes air out of its way- a car less so, because it’s more aerodynamic (and one reason why wedge-shaped sports cars can go faster with less effort, and why fuel-efficient cars look funny!) A flat-front Mack truck pushes a tremendous amount of air out of the way. Much like a subway train pushing air through the station, vehicles do the same thing. There’s just more outward space for the air to go. One of those spaces is to the side of the vehicle.
Imagine you’re in a 3000 lb vehicle. That airflow is going to have minimal effect. But to a bicyclist, this has the ability to push us a few inches, or maybe even a foot to the side. In some cases it’s not a surprise, but many times it will catch us unaware, and we have to steer slightly to correct our travel path. Sometimes it causes an overcorrection, and we may move as much as a foot or even two feet into the travel lane.
Very large vehicles such as tractor-trailers or dump trucks (especially those with open space underneath) have another effect: there’s a slight vacuum in the air it pulls with it. This has the effect of pulling a bicyclist into the side of the vehicle as it passes.
These are reasons we need substantial separation from all vehicles to prevent the turbulence from affecting our travel path.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
I am trying to make it home for dinner/to work on time, too
And I don’t have a gas pedal. It takes effort to ride a bike at any speed. It takes effort to start moving and keep moving. And it also takes time that can’t be made up by pressing harder on a small metal pedal that actuates a cable that opens a valve and lets more gas and air flow into a cylinder that creates a compressed explosion that drives the wheels. My legs are my engine.
When I’m running late, the only thing that gets me home any faster is pushing harder on the pedals. And they push back. Every inch of ground covered is due to effort and energy. If I’m going up a hill, it takes more effort, and my speed will decline. A headwind (which a motorist can’t feel in an enclosed vehicular environment) also slows me down and requires more effort.
The simple fact of riding a bike is that the time your commute requires is regulated by the body’s ability to push the pedals (and this varies greatly between all of us.) The fastest (for a commuter) is usually below the speed limit, possibly as fast as 20 miles per hour, possibly as slow as 5. There’s just no easy way to push that limit and make up time.
When I’m running late, the only thing that gets me home any faster is pushing harder on the pedals. And they push back. Every inch of ground covered is due to effort and energy. If I’m going up a hill, it takes more effort, and my speed will decline. A headwind (which a motorist can’t feel in an enclosed vehicular environment) also slows me down and requires more effort.
The simple fact of riding a bike is that the time your commute requires is regulated by the body’s ability to push the pedals (and this varies greatly between all of us.) The fastest (for a commuter) is usually below the speed limit, possibly as fast as 20 miles per hour, possibly as slow as 5. There’s just no easy way to push that limit and make up time.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Please don’t honk. We know you’re there.
One thing a motorist often will do that is perceived as a warning to the bicyclist that you’re approaching is the little honk of the horn. While it’s a good notification, it’s an unnecessary one. It’s also terribly dangerous.
As road users, we’re fully aware that we’ll be passed by approaching vehicles. We listen for the engine and the tires on the pavement. The louder those two get, the closer a vehicle is.
The part that many motorists do not understand is that when a horn sounds very close from behind, the bicyclist’s initial reaction is to turn our heads in the direction of the sound. Think of someone yelling your name or your dog barking at you. You immediately turn towards the sound.
Why is this bad? For the most part, a bicycle follows the path that the head sees. In other words, when you honk and we turn our heads towards your approaching vehicle, it’s very likely we’ll drift in the direction our head is turning- which is directly into your path of travel and the fender of your vehicle.
We know we’ll encounter vehicles. We expect and listen for them. And the sound is all we need.
As road users, we’re fully aware that we’ll be passed by approaching vehicles. We listen for the engine and the tires on the pavement. The louder those two get, the closer a vehicle is.
The part that many motorists do not understand is that when a horn sounds very close from behind, the bicyclist’s initial reaction is to turn our heads in the direction of the sound. Think of someone yelling your name or your dog barking at you. You immediately turn towards the sound.
Why is this bad? For the most part, a bicycle follows the path that the head sees. In other words, when you honk and we turn our heads towards your approaching vehicle, it’s very likely we’ll drift in the direction our head is turning- which is directly into your path of travel and the fender of your vehicle.
We know we’ll encounter vehicles. We expect and listen for them. And the sound is all we need.
Lane width and vehicle width
A 2011 Toyota Camry (what I’d consider a typical mid-size sedan) is 71.7” inches wide. That’s just a hair under 6 feet, so for the sake of simplicity let’s just use 6 feet. Large SUVs are about 6.5’ wide. That’s just the vehicle dimension. What’s not taken into account is the side-view mirrors. Again, for simplicity and to err on the safe side, I’ll say that the mirrors are in the vicinity of a foot wide each. This adds approximately 2 feet to the width of these cars- therefore a mid-size sedan is now about 8 feet wide, and a large SUV is about 8.5’ wide. When we get to extremes, a HUMMER H2 is 81.2” wide, which is approaching 7’ wide. Typically the larger the vehicle, the larger the mirrors.
No matter what you drive, understanding the full width of your vehicle is critical to passing a bicyclist safely. The mirrors of many vehicles are very close in height to the widest point of a bicyclist, which is the handlebars. If you are towing a trailer, it’s also important to remember that your trailer may be wider than your vehicle, and that with a trailer your passing distance increases by the length of the trailer!
How does this affect a bicyclist? A typical travel lane on a 2-lane road is about 11 or 12 feet wide. Sometimes they are a little narrower, but 12 is about the most you’ll find on any road with designated lanes. Again, erring on the safe side a pair of wide flat handlebars are about 28-30” wide.
Most experienced riders (and there's no good way to tell an experienced rider from an inexperienced rider when approaching from behind) ride about 1-2 feet to the left of the edge of the pavement or the white line (and it's difficult to ride a perfectly straight line.) The reasons for this are many- the edge of the pavement is often where glass collects, drainage grates may be located, or where there is broken pavement or gravel from driveways. Riding further into the lane also increases visibility, as a motorists behind should be able to see us better and earlier if we're in their line of sight.
So, let’s do some math:
A cyclist riding 2 feet from the white line takes up 39" (3.25') of designated lane- the handlebars being the widest point, and the wheel being centered between the 30" handlebar. 2' + 1.25' = 3.25'
A typical sedan takes up about 8' of lane.
Now for some laws: In Virginia, the law states that you must give 2' between your vehicle and the bicyclist (we're trying to make this 3', but so far have been unsuccessful.) In Maryland and many other states, the law states that you must give 3'.
Back to the math- if a lane is 12' wide (again, a maximum), a bike takes up 3.25', a mid-sized sedan takes up 8', and you should give a minimum of 2' clearance: 8+3.25+2 = 13.25. The narrower the lane, the more critical the numbers. In other words, to pass a bicyclist with minimum safety, you should at least be over the lane lines with the driver's side tires.
To pass a bicyclist without giving enough room for them to safely navigate an obstacle, or to make an attempt to pass a cyclist without being clearly in another lane (oncoming or same-direction) is unsafe and extremely dangerous for a bicyclist.
No matter what you drive, understanding the full width of your vehicle is critical to passing a bicyclist safely. The mirrors of many vehicles are very close in height to the widest point of a bicyclist, which is the handlebars. If you are towing a trailer, it’s also important to remember that your trailer may be wider than your vehicle, and that with a trailer your passing distance increases by the length of the trailer!
How does this affect a bicyclist? A typical travel lane on a 2-lane road is about 11 or 12 feet wide. Sometimes they are a little narrower, but 12 is about the most you’ll find on any road with designated lanes. Again, erring on the safe side a pair of wide flat handlebars are about 28-30” wide.
Most experienced riders (and there's no good way to tell an experienced rider from an inexperienced rider when approaching from behind) ride about 1-2 feet to the left of the edge of the pavement or the white line (and it's difficult to ride a perfectly straight line.) The reasons for this are many- the edge of the pavement is often where glass collects, drainage grates may be located, or where there is broken pavement or gravel from driveways. Riding further into the lane also increases visibility, as a motorists behind should be able to see us better and earlier if we're in their line of sight.
So, let’s do some math:
A cyclist riding 2 feet from the white line takes up 39" (3.25') of designated lane- the handlebars being the widest point, and the wheel being centered between the 30" handlebar. 2' + 1.25' = 3.25'
A typical sedan takes up about 8' of lane.
Now for some laws: In Virginia, the law states that you must give 2' between your vehicle and the bicyclist (we're trying to make this 3', but so far have been unsuccessful.) In Maryland and many other states, the law states that you must give 3'.
Back to the math- if a lane is 12' wide (again, a maximum), a bike takes up 3.25', a mid-sized sedan takes up 8', and you should give a minimum of 2' clearance: 8+3.25+2 = 13.25. The narrower the lane, the more critical the numbers. In other words, to pass a bicyclist with minimum safety, you should at least be over the lane lines with the driver's side tires.
To pass a bicyclist without giving enough room for them to safely navigate an obstacle, or to make an attempt to pass a cyclist without being clearly in another lane (oncoming or same-direction) is unsafe and extremely dangerous for a bicyclist.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Why we ride
People ride bikes for many reasons. Some ride as a family recreational activity. Some ride for fitness or health, some ride to train for racing. Some ride to work and some ride to the grocery store. Some ride because they don't have any other means of transportation. But we all face the same dilemma- we have to share the road with motorized vehicles.
For some, bicycling is leisure, for some it's competition, and for some it's a necessity. No matter what the situation, bicycles are utilitarian, fun, economical, efficient, and cheap. And for those who love bicycles, it's a passionate experience.
Everyone loves something. People love video games, books, football, knitting, woodcarving, and all other sorts of hobbies. And we're just like everyone else in that we love doing that activity. It's a lifestyle and it's part of who we are. But our activity requires a road, and unfortunately there aren't roads that are completely void of vehicles. We don't play on a field or a court. We can't get to work or the nearest store on a path that exists solely for bicycles. And while bike paths and bike lanes are becoming more and more common with every roadway project, there are many miles of road that won't have them for years, and many that will never have them.
As such, we must share the road with motorized vehicles, and motorized vehicles must also share the road with us.
For some, bicycling is leisure, for some it's competition, and for some it's a necessity. No matter what the situation, bicycles are utilitarian, fun, economical, efficient, and cheap. And for those who love bicycles, it's a passionate experience.
Everyone loves something. People love video games, books, football, knitting, woodcarving, and all other sorts of hobbies. And we're just like everyone else in that we love doing that activity. It's a lifestyle and it's part of who we are. But our activity requires a road, and unfortunately there aren't roads that are completely void of vehicles. We don't play on a field or a court. We can't get to work or the nearest store on a path that exists solely for bicycles. And while bike paths and bike lanes are becoming more and more common with every roadway project, there are many miles of road that won't have them for years, and many that will never have them.
As such, we must share the road with motorized vehicles, and motorized vehicles must also share the road with us.
The story behind this blog
I am a cyclist in Richmond, VA. I ride to work, I ride to train for racing, I ride to the grocery store, and I ride around the neighborhood with my wife while towing our son around in a trailer. I grew up with bikes, and have always ridden some kind of bike- from my want of a BMX bike for Christmas when I was 5 until now at 37, when I still ask for bike parts for Christmas. It's something I would never consider not doing. It's a hobby and a passion that I hope to keep doing until I just can't turn the pedals anymore.
I also have a car. I drive to work, to races, to visit family, to the grocery store, and to the park so my wife and I can play with our son.
In my role as a driver and a bicyclist, I pay a lot of attention to the way we all interact on the roads. And there is a fair amount of misunderstanding of right and wrong regarding laws (which vary by state) as they pertain to bicyclists, but also the ways in which motorists perceive bicyclists and the ways in which they act upon those perceptions.
Almost every time I ride my bike, something happens that puts my safety in jeopardy, and for a while I've been thinking about ways to make it easier for those of us on bicycles to enjoy our hobby or just get to work or school. A blog seemed like the easiest way to get started in explaining why we ride, why we ride the way we do, and what an encounter with a 3000 pound motor vehicle moving at 40mph is like for a bicyclist riding at 15mph who might weigh 200 pounds including the bike!
As bicyclists, we know we are in a unique yet dangerous position. We are unprotected from the rain, heat, and cold. We are also unprotected from impact with the ground, stationary objects, and possibly even motor vehicles. It is for this reason I feel it's important to explain as best as possible the scenarios we encounter and how we deal with them, and what the ramifications are if we're not defensive riders who are fully aware of our surroundings. Even the most aware, law-abiding, and safety-conscious bicyclist faces serious injury or death if hit by a motor vehicle, and sadly we hear these stories far too often.
My one true goal is to help the non-bicycling motorist understand that there are aspects of bicycling on public roads that are very different from most vehicles on the road. I intend to document the things I have encountered that affect the travels of any bicyclist that rides a bike, either because they want to or because they have to as their only means of affordable transportation.
I also have a car. I drive to work, to races, to visit family, to the grocery store, and to the park so my wife and I can play with our son.
In my role as a driver and a bicyclist, I pay a lot of attention to the way we all interact on the roads. And there is a fair amount of misunderstanding of right and wrong regarding laws (which vary by state) as they pertain to bicyclists, but also the ways in which motorists perceive bicyclists and the ways in which they act upon those perceptions.
Almost every time I ride my bike, something happens that puts my safety in jeopardy, and for a while I've been thinking about ways to make it easier for those of us on bicycles to enjoy our hobby or just get to work or school. A blog seemed like the easiest way to get started in explaining why we ride, why we ride the way we do, and what an encounter with a 3000 pound motor vehicle moving at 40mph is like for a bicyclist riding at 15mph who might weigh 200 pounds including the bike!
As bicyclists, we know we are in a unique yet dangerous position. We are unprotected from the rain, heat, and cold. We are also unprotected from impact with the ground, stationary objects, and possibly even motor vehicles. It is for this reason I feel it's important to explain as best as possible the scenarios we encounter and how we deal with them, and what the ramifications are if we're not defensive riders who are fully aware of our surroundings. Even the most aware, law-abiding, and safety-conscious bicyclist faces serious injury or death if hit by a motor vehicle, and sadly we hear these stories far too often.
My one true goal is to help the non-bicycling motorist understand that there are aspects of bicycling on public roads that are very different from most vehicles on the road. I intend to document the things I have encountered that affect the travels of any bicyclist that rides a bike, either because they want to or because they have to as their only means of affordable transportation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)