[SDCBC] Fwd: Passing side, suicide

[JonIsaacs at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/16/2008 12:52:39 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
serge at issakov.org writes:

> Perhaps the increase in safety that results from higher bike modal share is 
> wiped out by the decrease in safety that I believe stems from the segregated 
> facilities, such as the physically segregated bike lane depicted in the 
> photo in the article.
> 
> Serge
-----

Serge:

The photo and the article were quite interesting...  I was particularly 
struck by the "a few dead cyclists ain't that big a deal" attitude.

These days I am a cyclist but as a young man I was a truck driver and drove 
quite a variety of trucks ranging from gasoline powered dump trucks to over the 
road rigs, truck and trailers sometimes, but mostly doubles.   

As a cyclist slipping along the right side of a truck does not make much 
sense, I am a sitting duck for a driver who will probably be looking as hard as 
possible for cars, motorcycles and yes, even bicycles.  As a driver I would have 
been looking as hard as I could to make sure it was clear but at a certain 
point, I would have to decide that it was OK to go and I would have to look 
elsewhere.  I would probably be doing this either while stopped or while going 
very slowly, only a few mph, which gives plenty of time for someone to slip in.  
As the truck in turning, one has more trouble seeing the length of the truck 
as the cab is turning more than the trailers so one is looking at the side of 
the trailers with the main mirrors.

 I think your advice never to pass in front of the rear bumper of a vehicle 
to your left would be appropriate in this situation.  I see cyclists passing on 
the right of cars and trucks who are indicating a right turn...  Not healthy 
IMHO.


Jon


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