K
Got my second close call of the year today. This is actually a much
better rate than last year, so I'm encouraged.
When/where: Today, 07:12, Big Timber Rd at Tyrrell Rd, Gilberts, IL
[1]
Me: Black tights ('twas chilly this fine morn), orange jacket. Full
set of lights [2] enabled, even though it was past sunrise. Heading
west on Big Timber Rd, so sun was not a factor. Going 16mph in a 45
zone, right half of thru lane (Big Timber has both right and left turn
lanes here).
What: Dump truck blows by at 45mph+, about a foot to my left.
I was already on alert, as I'd watched a dump truck run the red light
at Big Timber and Lyle Ave [3] about 5 minutes earlier while waiting
for my light. As I approached Tyrrell, I took up my customary location
in the right half of the thru lane so SB traffic on Tyrrell wouldn't
think I was turning right and cut me off. I heard the truck about 1/4
mile behind me, and a mirror check showed him bearing down, with no
sign of movement (most truckers seem to move early, so I get a good
gauge of whether to move over or not). At about 50 yards, I decided he
wasn't going to move, so I dodged right, and he blew by at full speed,
maybe a foot away. Had there been a headwind rather than a tailwind,
I'd have had a nice draft to follow into the downhill to Tyler Creek.
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and say he didn't see me,
because I'm actively working on keeping a more positive outlook on
things.
[1] <http://tinyurl.com/2cpsje>
[2] CatEye Opticube headlight in solid mode (I don't regularly
commute, so it's good enough to be seen by), Trek red taillight in
solid mode, PlanetBike amber blinkies front and rear, in blink mode.
[3] <http://tinyurl.com/2bwtxq>
--
__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email protected]
(_)/ (_)
better rate than last year, so I'm encouraged.
When/where: Today, 07:12, Big Timber Rd at Tyrrell Rd, Gilberts, IL
[1]
Me: Black tights ('twas chilly this fine morn), orange jacket. Full
set of lights [2] enabled, even though it was past sunrise. Heading
west on Big Timber Rd, so sun was not a factor. Going 16mph in a 45
zone, right half of thru lane (Big Timber has both right and left turn
lanes here).
What: Dump truck blows by at 45mph+, about a foot to my left.
I was already on alert, as I'd watched a dump truck run the red light
at Big Timber and Lyle Ave [3] about 5 minutes earlier while waiting
for my light. As I approached Tyrrell, I took up my customary location
in the right half of the thru lane so SB traffic on Tyrrell wouldn't
think I was turning right and cut me off. I heard the truck about 1/4
mile behind me, and a mirror check showed him bearing down, with no
sign of movement (most truckers seem to move early, so I get a good
gauge of whether to move over or not). At about 50 yards, I decided he
wasn't going to move, so I dodged right, and he blew by at full speed,
maybe a foot away. Had there been a headwind rather than a tailwind,
I'd have had a nice draft to follow into the downhill to Tyler Creek.
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and say he didn't see me,
because I'm actively working on keeping a more positive outlook on
things.
[1] <http://tinyurl.com/2cpsje>
[2] CatEye Opticube headlight in solid mode (I don't regularly
commute, so it's good enough to be seen by), Trek red taillight in
solid mode, PlanetBike amber blinkies front and rear, in blink mode.
[3] <http://tinyurl.com/2bwtxq>
--
__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email protected]
(_)/ (_)