[SDCBC] The Poway Grade

[Danette Hoffert]

I agree that this is a problem.  No matter how assertive I am when
rightfully taking the lane, there is often this type of driver.  I too, have
had the burning rubber to get around me and in some cases the driver swerved
dangerously close as they passed in front of me.  I must say that I did not
know about the concept of cyclist "taking the lane" until I got involved
with SDCBC and I am a cyclist!  We really do need an educational campaign.
A video ride with a camera on a helmet through Leucadia would do it.  You
have one narrow lane on the right with car doors galore.  The irony is the
big trucks and vans insist on the right lane despite numerous bicyclists in
the lane.  The left lane can be available but they insist on using the right
and often get aggressive when I take the lane.

On a lighter note, it was so fun to see drivers actually
driving versus swerving while talking on the phone or dialing.  I thought
that the drivers looked utterly baffled as what to do besides drive.  They
actually have nothing to do but look ahead of them where they should have
been looking all along.

Happy Work Week,
Danette

On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 10:09 PM, Tom Lettington <tlettington at san.rr.com>
wrote:

> This hot Sunday morning I decided (as the leader of our regular
> Sunday morning ride) to bring our small group to Poway.  Recognizing
> that the slow ride up the Poway grade on Poway Road is a bummer with
> no bike lane on a very narrow section of pavement, I brought our
> small group up the long slow grind on Community Road from Poway to
> Scripps Poway Parkway, up to SR 67 (*MUCH* longer and grinderier),
> north a bit on SR67, then down the Poway Grade on Poway Road.
>
> This route decision was made to allow us to descend at speed on the
> Poway grade as to not impede traffic.
>
> Due to "construction" in the area, the speed limit down the Poway
> grade (at least most of the way) is now 35mph instead of it's normal
> 50mph.  I "let her rip" and against a small head wind I "took the
> lane" and flew down the Poway grade at 33mph.  To my amazement, an
> automobile behind me found the 2mph differential between the speed
> limit and his/her heat-thumping "need-for speed" to be totally
> unbearable.  A I took one of the two "slow traffic turn-outs" between
> SR67 and Espola Road to let traffic behind me proceed at their own
> pace, the tailgating perusers actually burned rubber to get around me.
>
> As we neared the end of our ride westbound on Rancho Bernard Road, an
> area where on-street parking (mostly an informal used car lot) makes
> riding in the bike lane a door hazard nightmare, I again took the
> lane again and was nearly wiped out by a young soccer Mom in her
> Mini-Van as she veered left just enough to pass me with 8 inches to spare.
>
> Oh my, we have to do something to educate motorists that cyclists
> have a right to use the roads in safety.  I believe that I have
> sensed an appreciable increase in the number of cyclists on the road
> recently. I also have noticed that a number of them are totally
> clueless as to how to behave responsibly as users of the roadways.
>
> SDCBC  --  I believe we have an educational challenge of
> unprecedented magnitude before us.  Are we up to the challenge?
>
>          - Tom
>
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-- 
Danette M. Hoffert's email
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