Another Darwin Award candidate

Making a right turn on red on busy A1A, I nearly collide with this prospective Darwin Award candidate. I'm not a gutter bunny or stripe rider, but if I were, he'd be down in a blink, as the collision would certainly have taken him out. There's valid reasons to ride in the same direction as traffic and here's another good example.

The second clip is of another impatient, inconsiderate and unsafe motorist, just to keep things balanced. Rather than wait the ten seconds for me to clear the intersection, the driver crosses the solid white line (a violation in FL), cuts me off, hits the brakes and makes the turn.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• velomobile
• bicycle
• traffic
• inconsiderate

[hauserkaspar]

Every time I watch one of your vids I'm so happy the WAW gives you so much relaxation.

[freddotu]

driving my velomobile does give me great relaxation most of the time. As long as there are unskilled drivers on the road (always?) I will be on my guard. It's been much better since I learned Effective Cycling skills and taken the League of American Bicyclists' courses.

[hauserkaspar]

I really want to make a fairing on my ICE QNT. I don't have the money for a nice velomobile like the WAW, Quest or Mango. But I know it will make car drivers act less friendly then an open trike. People assume you are protected in that wapon of mass destruction. Without the shell cars leave much more room.

[freddotu]

Because most of the roadways on which I ride are sub-standard width, I am permitted to take control of the lane, which I do. The end result is that most motorists give me the proper space on the roadway, and I am safer as a result.

I am seen and I am "avoided" and I am happy with that!

[hauserkaspar]

I guess you have already seen this vid.

watch?v=YJ5Qertz2OA

Translated: The owner explaines he takes the road on numerous occasions because things like roundebouts and narrow cycling path are often more dangerous.

[freddotu]

I have not seen that video and thank you for sharing it with me. Very impressive speed of 63 kph at the beginning of the video! I only reach that speed with great effort or a downhill.

He lives in a country with dedicated cycle paths and drivers who are far more skilled than USA drivers, and he prefers the road for safer riding, which I understand fully.

In the USA, such paths would mean increased crashes, as drivers are not as well trained, nor as considerate.

[freddotu]

@karlstade, a good portion of the poor cycling conditions in the US is due to miserable education of cyclists, especially when young. A poorly educated cyclist makes for an extremely poorly educated driver, in my opinion.

[hauserkaspar]

Luckely people like rtblackwidow, ( get the spraycan!),webassasin( if not killed by one of his colleague web surfers) and Nascarboy2 (hopefully a pc game user) fully understand your concern about USA driving skills.

[ReisendeEuropa]

The first person was just an idiot. The second one is definitely typical, no matter what you are driving.. velo or big rig.

[CDickFly]

Typical traffic where I live as well..