"R15757" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Tom Keats wrote in part:
>
> << Maybe rephrasing "act as if invisible" to "not 100% expect drivers will act predictably" would
> work? But still, we might as well act as if all cars are runaway semi tractors with no brakes.
>
> I think I still prefer to deal with what *is* (i.e: all the due diligence I've taken care of
> myself), rather than imaginative stretches of what might be. And if we assume we're not seen by
> the drivers but we proceed normally anyway, what's the point of all the pretending & guessing?
>
>
> cheers, Tom
>
> -- >>
>
> I see what Tom is saying but the point is to eliminate, as much as
possible,
> the guessing. To take control. this is interesting, because those in the
"be
> loud and proud" camp feel as if they are taking control, when in fact what
they
> are doing is repeatedly putting control into the hands of motorists. They depend on the vision and
> awareness of others.
>
> We must deal with reality, as Tom says. The reality is that, no matter
what we
> do, no matter how proud we feel, no matter what we wear, no matter what
kind of
> trailer we pull, no matter where we ride in the street, there are a number
of
> drivers who will simply not see us. This is the incurable nature of riding
a
> bike on the street. This is the reality that we must deal with.
>
> << Maybe rephrasing "act as if invisible" to "not 100% expect drivers will act predictably" would
> work? But still, we might as well act as if all cars are runaway semi tractors with no brakes. >>
>
> Expect the worst from every vehicle, I say, based on its physical
potential to
> move into a given space, not based on cultural norms, traffic laws, or
common
> sense. Tstreet, I was only momentarily surprised. This move was,
essentially,
> normal for city traffic.
>
> It's a matter of expectations and attitude. The "loud and prouders"
usually
> don't realize that more cynical riders are sharing the same road position, making "vehicular"
> style left turns, etc. They think the "invisible"
cyclists
> are all cowering in the gutter, afraid of the traffic flow. But the gutter
is
> usually a bad place to be invisible.
>
> The invisible cyclist is out in the street, too, but with a fundamentally different attitude and
> set of expectations. The invisible cyclist expects
that
> car to pull out in front of him/her, and will be ready for it. A lot of
the
> "proud" cyclists seem to be rather innocent. The only way someone could
figure
> that bcoming visible to drivers is the most important thing is if they
have
> never been run down by someone who appears to be looking right at them.
When
> that happens, as it eventually does, they will have to reevaluate their
whole
> mindset.
>
> Robert keeping rookies out of the ER since '91
Should anyone care....
I did take the lane at the stop sign, and once through the stop sign. Had I been any closer to the
curb (i.e., not take the lane), I woulda been a bug on a windshield.
Kerry