In article <
[email protected]>,
"Claire Petersky" <
[email protected]> writes:
>>> An article about increased commuter use of the ferries, over yonder:
>>>
>>> http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/bir/news/19029979.html
>>>
>>> A video of what it looks like these days:
>>>
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu6VZifLlac
>>
>> I can't do youtube with my paleolithic computer system
>> and cheapie dialup internet account, but I'm assuming
>> this is yet another sign of visibly increased bicycle use.
>
>
> Yeah, just a short vid of people pouring off of the ferry on their bikes. It
> used to be that there'd be just a handful; now there's enough that they're
> talking (per the article) loading one less car so they can cram on more
> bikes - they actually make more money by stacking 10 bikes in the spot a
> single car takes up.
One interesting feature I've noticed about recent
increased ridership is that I'm suddenly experiencing
being passed *on my right* by other riders, scooting
through my door-zone safety margin.
Personally, I don't mind being passed, either on my
right or on my left. When I'm riding back home with
a dozen eggs in the milk crate, I shall not compete
with anyone.
But I get worried that these passers-on-my-right
are gonna get creamed either by dooring, or by a
car pulling out of or into a driveway, when the
driver might see me but not expect anybody being
to the right of me. Especially around the Vancouver
Racquets Club, where drivers perform all kinds of
gnarly and possibly unlawful maneouvers to get off
the street and into the parking lot. Sometimes I
can be such a worry wart. But if any of these riders
gets clobbered, I'd bet dollars to doughnut holes they'll
hang up the bike, and warn-off everybody they know, about
how cycling is too dangerous.
I intuit these folks who pass me on my right are new
urban riders who may have tinkered with BMX or other
bikes in their youth, and who like to think they're fast
and are therefore "skilled" riders (and I'm happy to help
make 'em feel good,) but are timid about venturing deeply
into where the motorized traffic goes, which is what proper
and safe passing to the left would involve.
Oh, well. At least they're not riding on the sidewalk.
At least when they're passing me on my right.
And I'm getting my dozen eggs home intact.
Have you ever noticed how a dozen eggs survives the
bike trip home from the supermarket better than a
half-dozen eggs?
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
