Purrs for Nathan please

Several years ago, I broadsided a car in a parking lot while riding a
bicycle. I was riding down one of the main lanes, and a middle-aged
lady, who had been stopped in a side lane that was marked "Stop",
pulled forward just in time for me to end up sprawled across my
handlebars and the hood of her car. She said that she had seen me,
but I should have known that cars always had the right of way over
bicycles, regardless of stop signs or other traffic markings. In
retrospect, I am sorry that I didn't report the accident to the
police, as this attitude is likely to get some cyclist killed
someday.

Sheesh. I happen to live in one of those "friendliest bicycle cities". We have
lots of bike paths set aside on the major streets, well, you kinda have to share
them with the buses and the folks turning right! If you are on a road with
no designated bike lane then ALL vehicles must give you 3 feet or berth when
they pass. Failure to do this will get a motorist a nasty ticket. I always
ride the white line in these cases so that they can pass me with ease without
having to go into the oncoming traffic lane.

The police department frequently issues tickets to cyclists for not coming to a
full stop at a stop sign, not yielding when there is a sign etc. Basically we
cyclists have to follow all the same laws out there on the street that the cars
do. However that doesn't stop folks in their cars from turning in front of you,
ignoring your right of way and flying by at 45 mph so you can feel their right
side mirror almost graze your elbow. I had a friend who was out cycling in the
bike lane and some young guys in a truck thought it was really funny to reach
out and slap her on the ass as they went by in their car. She lost control of
her bike, fell in the street and really banged herself up. They just sped off.
shakes head

I never assume anything anymore out there on the road anymore.

TJ an The Z's