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From: hosking@convexs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Bicycle death & Macho Passing Vehic
Message-ID: <5900004@convexs>
Date: Sat, 24-Aug-85 06:25:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: convexs.5900004
Posted: Sat Aug 24 06:25:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 26-Aug-85 01:17:18 EDT
References: <298@SCIRTP.UUCP>
Lines: 34
Nf-ID: #R:SCIRTP.UUCP:-29800:convexs:5900004:000:1817
Nf-From: convexs.UUCP!hosking    Aug 24 05:25:00 1985


> This means that if you can't see behind a wide or high vehicle
> sufficiently to ascertain whether there is someone behind them, move
> to the right and be prepared to stop or take diversionary action.

I'm not sure which is worse.  If you move too  far to  the right, you
encourage people behind you to try to crowd you out of your own lane.
The closest calls I've had on a bike have been when  someone tried to
pass me with too little room.  In addition, you're less  likely to be
CONSCIOUSLY seen by other drivers  if you're  too close  to the edge.
When you hug the shoulder,  you severely  limit your  choices if some
idiot tries to pass you too closely.   You  can find  yourself in the
uncomfortable position of being "trapped"  with no  room to maneuver,
particularly if you're at the edge of a high curb.  

In some ways, I think it is  safer to  ride moderately  far away from
the curb until you are reasonably sure that the  other driver(s) have
seen you, then move far enough to the right  to let  them safely pass
you IF it is safe to be passed.  If it's not safe to  be passed, HOLD
YOUR GROUND SO  THEY'RE NOT  TEMPTED TO  TRY IT  ANYWAY.   To do this
effectively means that you have  to make  a conscious  effort to keep
track of what's behind you, but that's a good idea anyway.  If you're
alert enough, you can move out of  the way  before you're interfering
with traffic flow, yet still increase your chances of being seen.  

This is probably not strictly legal in many places, but I'd rather
risk getting a ticket than risk getting killed.  This technique seems
to be pretty effective in reducing the number of cases where cars
(coming from either direction) try to crowd me off the road.

			Doug Hosking
			Convex Computer Corp.
			Richardson, TX
			{allegra, ihnp4, uiucdcs}!convex!hosking