This bugs me

[Laura]

I hate it when I am riding down a road, and a car at an intersection, driveway, or parking lot to the right creeps out to my lane, and even enter my lane, as I'm going by. This never happens when I am driving my car, only when I'm on the bike. WTF? Even before I ever considered riding a motorcycle, I gave riders EXTRA room, because they seem so vulnerable out there. I can't tell if they don't see me, or if they are just being jerks and taking up my space. When it is happening, I have to assume they don't see me, and it freaks me out. IT IS MY LANE! I'm sure car drivers would get PO'd if I lane split, why do they think it is okay if they come into my lane? AAAaargh.

Venting over.

Laura

[Daniely]

Don't worry, unfortunetly getting cut off is a daily occurance for me, and probably for MK1incali (Tony) as well seeing as how he lives like 2 min away from me in the same town. Just stay on your toes, and stay safe. And feel free to give the driver a piece of your mind, possibly scaring them into watching next time.

[Michael]

It's not that they don't see you, although sometimes they don't.  It's all to do with perceived threat.  In your car you are as big as they are and so are just as likely to hurt their paintwork as they are to hurt yours, so they be a bit more careful.  If you were in a Hummer, they'd be even more careful again.  On your bike, you are not seen to be as much of a threat, so they feel they can be a bit less careful, because if they do hit you, the damage is ikely to be minor.  try being a pedestrian or pedal cyclist and see how true this is!
The answer is to  seem more of a threat.  Hard to do when you are small, but some things are still possible.  EG, try wearing gloves with metal studs on the backs.  The implication is "if you get too close you will lose paint, so stay back" kind of thing.  Maximizing visibility is controversial.  As I said above, it's not so much what they see but how threatening that appears to be.
Unfortunately, at the end of the day, most of your safety comes down to you, as others don't care about.[/i]

[john]

I have so many stories about cars and cycling I wouldn't know where to begin.

Many car drivers suck.  Not much else to say...

[Blueknyt]

Heheh, cruising around US1 on fortlauderdales strip this weekend, halloween freaks on the beach and such.  it was entertaining seeing all those drunken she vampires, and nurses, and well, couldnt tell the goth were dressed up but some cuties anyway.  rolling down the street about 35 or so and im watching this HUGE Ford (excursion?) inch out as the driver is laughing at his passengers, i grip the tank with my knees and quick tap the front brake in preperation as he edges out into my lane just as i expected he might, he is about 3/4 out and i snatch down on the front brakes on purpose bringing the rear end up into a rolling endo, my thumb happen to be on the horn while holding in the clutch so it added to the drama. EVERYONE inthe vehicle started screaming bracing for this outa control bike to hit only to stop inches from the drivers door and settle down.  the front passenger jumps out runs around to see if im ok while the driver puts his forehead on the wheel.  i ask her to do me a favor and poke her head in his window and yell trick or treat. alittle slow at first she grins understanding and does as asked. i back up abit to go around, the driver upon hearing her yell my message jumps out all pissy, problem was he did, wet himself. and i drive off.  i had plenty of time and distance to pull my stunt/lesson on the "Distracted" driver so chalk one up for us. they will remember this halloween and to watch for bikers.

[johncam4]

i hate that so much...i get it all the time and kick at the cars when they get close

[Dom]

As a child I my parents had a friend who was kind like an uncle to me. He told me about a time when was cut off and left a boot print in the offender's door panel.  I've yet to go to that extreme.

[ghostrider]

The psychology of road use perplexes me. It's like a giant race to nowhere.
When did we all get so competitive and selfish?

Stupid drivers don't really bother me when Im on the bike, but if I'm in the car with my son and someone does something which endangers his safety, I'm likely to take a tyre iron to thier windscreen.

[cozy]

When i get cut off and i'm in the driver's line of vision when it happens, i return the favor immediately. Only inside Philly, though.  Make your presence known and the BS stops.

[se7enty7]

My idiot ex gf cut off some biker (in his lane)  (at the time I didn't recognize the bike.. it was a cbr600f2 though) and the dude kicked her car hard enough to put a huge dent in her door.  I think she was more scared that she hit him (because it honestly sounded like she did...)  from then on she she (and I) were much more careful..

[Ed_in_Az]

This is one of the worst, blatant offenses drivers can make against bikers. I'll slow down and glare at them as they inch forward. If they stop, fine. If not, I have stopped in front of them and glared. So far, that has always stopped them. If sometime they don't, I'll jump off, they can crush my bike and pay for it!

[Kerry]

On the way to work this morning I was putting down a semi-residential two-lane street.  Speed Limit was 35, but actual flow was between 25 and 30.  The guy in front of me slowed down a tad, probably because of traffic in front of him.  I applied a bit of brake and edged over to the right side of the road just in case he hit his brakes hard.

The next thing I know, there's a car on my left.  I'm not sure what the lady was thinking - that I was about to turn into a driveway or something?  We rode along side by side for a few seconds, and then she edged on past.  I got back into the center of the lane and silently asked the world with my left arm & hand, "What was THAT all about?"  Looking back there was no reaction from the cars behind, but in front of me the lady was checking her mirror.

Hopefully next time she'll "wait and see" a little longer....  :x

[callmelenny]

Kerry said

center of the lane and silently asked the world with my left arm & hand

When I first read that I thought Wow ! Kerry gave someone the finger!!  :lol: Talk about pushing someone too far.

[luksi]

Luckily I travel on mostly 4 laners, sometimes I can see someone ahead hedging into my right lane...plus someone from the other direction turning left and looking antsy (you just want to stop and see which side would win).  When encountering this I slow/speed enough to match speeds with a car in the lane next to me...sort of picking up a blocker for those turning left from the other direction...while at the same time stopping the right hand encroacher in their tracks.  Thought I was outsmarting them until my next door neighbor had his Suburban TBoned/Totaled by a 16 year old who pulled out from the right.  :dunno:

[Kerry]

Kerry said

center of the lane and silently asked the world with my left arm & hand

When I first read that I thought Wow ! Kerry gave someone the finger!!  :lol: Talk about pushing someone too far.

I KNEW I should have said "outstretched hand" or "palm-up hand" or something.  

[Blueknyt]

We rode along side by side for a few seconds, and then she edged on past

i know what you mean kerry,  now imagine that happening to you at 65mph on a major highway.  ive had it happen to me 3 times this year.