Sunday, December 6, 2009

single tip- don't cut off a big truck

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/12/the-one-tip-for-staying-safe-on-a-bike.php

Pretty shocking stat.
Trucks scare me.
I experienced "truck suck" a few years back, and it still makes me break out in a cold sweat.
That's where air currents try to pull your bicycle under the side of a big rig truck.
Spooky stuff.

Again, don't think a rig is like any other vehicle.
An uneven load can sway sideways past the white dividing lane.
Don't think that hugging the edge of highway asphalt is a good idea.
I swerve off into gravel every time I hear/see a big truck coming.

(I finally will use a mirror on a recumbent bicycle. No eye strain, no annoying vibrations and wild pivotting of rear field-of-view.)

In a bike lane, I try to centre myself off the curb now instead of the lane on this side of the curb cement. I occupy a whole lane with my big chopper handlebars. Plus when my folding baskets are deployed. I've had cars that are *just* in their lane nearly touch me...

D.

Congrats to Raj at WPIRG for her Record sound bite on ghost bikes and that dead cyclist.