impatient unsafe driver

Let's start off with tailgating. At the beginning, you can see the driver of the pickup truck shifting to his right, close to the curb, tailgating the vehicle ahead of him. Other drivers are performing safe lane changes, keeping safe distances from the vehicles ahead. Clearly they are observant enough to manage to operate more safely on the road than the pickup driver.

Had he been even slightly less impatient, slightly more observant, he would have been able to easily merge into the left lane for a safe pass.

As he closes on me, and the left lane opens up, he barely leaves the right lane and just as quickly moves back into it after performing an unsafe pass.

Not too far up the road, and slightly more difficult to see, the driver nearly strikes the curb.

Before any comments are made about a bicycle in the lane, please note: Florida law allows a cyclist to use the entire lane when it is narrower than 14 feet wide. My safety on the road is my priority and my safety on the road is no less important than anyone else's. If you choose to practice inferiority cycling or no cycling at all, that's your decision.

I am far more comfortable riding under vehicular cycling practices and will delete any comments that do not display rational thought.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• unsafe
• pass
• pickup
• driver
• velomobile
• bicycle

[postalpaulie]

@freddotu....fair enough. I'll be on the road in a bit. However, my comment was directed at how stupid people like to split the lane you are utilizing rather than wait their turn (behind you) and then make a right hand turn. I could have probably been more specific.

[freddotu]

@postalpaulie, my apologies. As you may have noted from the other comments, there are plenty of commenters who don't have a clue how to operate properly and safely on the roadway. It is easy enough to misunderstand one's words. Even when attacked in a comment, I try to remain civil. Your post was a good example of a place I can work to improve.

[postalpaulie]

Right of way and stupidity are two totally different things.

[freddotu]

@postalpaulie, right of way is how the road works. Stupidity is ignoring or disregarding the right of way of legitimate road users. If you don't understand that, you should consider to stay off the roads until you learn how it works.

[StepinacLax]

What I dont get is bicyclist's are supposed follow the rules of the road, right? If thats the case then why dont they get pulled over for impeding traffic by traveling way below the speed limit?

[freddotu]

@StepinacLax, they don't get pulled over because there is no such law in any state in the united states. Uninformed uniformed officers will pull a cyclist over, even write a citation, but those citations have been dismissed by the court. Some people have misconceptions when it comes to right-of-way and use of the roadway.

[fenix9885]

Dude, just get as closer to the bike lane as possible. You are waaaay far out there. You're taking up a whole lane. I ride my bike to work every day, 10 miles each way. We have bike lanes, and sometimes they're filled with debris or parked cars. But don't piss off the people driving, because all it takes is one pissed off idiot to run you off the road and its over. You might be right, but you're dead. Be considerate on the road goes both ways

[xXxchipperchopperxXx]

@freddotu so this thing isnt a motor vehicle then why are you bitching about people going around you get that fuckin thing off the road

[postalpaulie]

Don't worry about it. It was partly my fault. I ride a motorcycle myself and, apparently, drivers feel that is not a mode of transportation either. I guess some kids were never taught to share by their parents. Keep safe and keep riding.

[tonyf686]

@freddotu you ride your bike where you want but im not about to drive my car let alone my bike 15 miles an hour slower than traffic its just asking for some inattentive ass hole to make me a hood ornament

[freddotu]

@tonyf686, your understanding of safe cycling is different than mine, as I've taken a cycling safety course and was a certified cycling instructor. In those classes, one learns things that drivers don't know. Just because you drive 30,000 miles a year doesn't mean you can tell the difference between safe cycling and not.

[tonyf686]

@freddotu ok well i drive over 30,000 a year and i have seen more than a few fearless bikers get hit, just because you follow the law doesnt mean your not putting yourself in unnecessary danger