One rule for cyclists and one for pedestrians?

[Radioactive Man]

On Fri, 29 Nov 2002 12:59:57 -0600, "Edward Dike, III" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>a 1/2 second tap of the horn, 1/4 mile behind, is not a traumatic experience. Helmet strap noise is
>frequently louder to the ear than the wheels of an approaching vehicle. Making an unobvious
>presence known is not improper use of the horn, it is safe vehicle operation.
>
>

I'll second what was said earlier in these threads about simply passing with proper space between
one's vehicle and the cyclist. The only times I ever honk at cyclists while I'm driving is when they
do the same things I for which I would honk at other drivers, like going the wrong way or pulling
out in front of me. Just a week or two ago, I honked at several "cyclists" pulling out of some
trailer park or something going the wrong way on their beater bikes from walmart. Fortunately for
them, I think everyone spotted them in time enough to avoid flattening them.

 

[Guy Chapman]

On Fri, 29 Nov 2002 12:59:57 -0600, "Edward Dike, III" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Helmet strap noise is frequently louder to the ear than the wheels of an approaching vehicle.

I've heard this comment before, but I really don't recognise this effect. I've ridden at 20mph with
and without a helmet, and the sound of the wind in my ears was (subjectively) the same.

In any case, in winter I ride with my ears covered

Guy
===
Now available in both wedgie and bent flavours!

** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. http://www.chapmancentral.com (BT ADSL and
dynamic DNS permitting)
NOTE: BT Openworld have now blocked port 25 (without notice), so old mail addresses may no longer
work. Apologies.

 

[John Foltz]

Edward Dike, III wrote:

> As this thread progressed, It became apparent the behavior in rural/ crosscountry situations, as I
> was describing, were misinterprted to be applied to more conjested environs. Belligerent horn
> honking in traffic is close to obsenity, in my opinion.
>
I think you still don't understand. Regardless of the traffic density, I expect the same
right-of-way that a car would enjoy. Cars passing me safely do not surprise me or threaten me. What
does surprise and threaten me is a car horn. IME, horns are usually followed up by, "get out of the
f***ing road!" Those toots from 1/4 mile behind usually evoke the group to question what the hell
the driver thought needed communicating. Perhaps, "get over, I'm coming through?"

If I'm riding as per traffic laws, how will the knowledge there's a car behind me change my
behavior? (Answer: it won't.) A car honk is at best superfluous, and at worst an implied threat to
the cyclist.
--

John Foltz --- O _ Baron --- _O _ V-Rex 24/63 --- _\\/\-%)
_________(_)`=()___________________(_)= (_)_____

 

[Baka Dasai]

On Sat, 30 Nov 2002 20:01:49 -0500, John Foltz said (and I quote):
> Edward Dike, III wrote:
>
>> As this thread progressed, It became apparent the behavior in
> > rural/ crosscountry situations, as I was describing, were misinterprted to be applied to more
> > conjested environs.
>> Belligerent horn honking in traffic is close to obsenity, in my
> > opinion.
>>
> I think you still don't understand. Regardless of the traffic density, I expect the same
> right-of-way that a car would enjoy. Cars passing me safely do not surprise me or threaten me.
> What does surprise and threaten me is a car horn. IME, horns are usually followed up by, "get out
> of the f***ing road!" Those toots from 1/4 mile behind usually evoke the group to question what
> the hell the driver thought needed communicating. Perhaps, "get over, I'm coming through?"
>
> If I'm riding as per traffic laws, how will the knowledge there's a car behind me change my
> behavior? (Answer: it won't.)

But it can.

LOCAL CONDITIONS. I ride on roads that are narrower than two car widths. A car *can* overtake
a bike, but it's a relatively tight fit, and it requires the bike to be very close to the edge
of the road.

Now I don't generally ride that close to the edge - it's much more pleasant and relaxing to ride in
the centre of the road. When I hear a car coming up behind me I move over to the edge to let it pass
- a simple courtesy, and it doesn't slow me down.

If I can't hear the car (this sometimes happens), then the car will often give me a toot of the horn
to let me know it's there. I move over, the car passes, and we're both happy.
--
Baka Dasai Bingo!

 

[Prof. Wilhelm V]

"John Foltz" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Edward Dike, III wrote: I think you still don't understand. Regardless of the traffic density, I
> expect the same right-of-way that a car would enjoy. Cars passing me safely do not surprise me or
> threaten me. What does surprise and threaten me is a car horn. IME, horns are usually followed up
> by, "get out of the f***ing road!"

Probably because of YOUR belligerent attitude.

> Those toots from 1/4 mile behind usually evoke the group to question what the hell the driver
> thought needed communicating. Perhaps, "get over, I'm coming through?"
>
> If I'm riding as per traffic laws, how will the knowledge there's a car behind me change my
> behavior? (Answer: it won't.) A car honk is at best superfluous, and at worst an implied threat to
> the cyclist.

And your attitude is an overt threat to sane cycling and driving!

But you probably won't be around much longer anyway and hopefully you haven't already contributed to
the gene pool.

Prof

 

[Zoot Katz]

Sun, 1 Dec 2002 10:34:49 -0600, <[email protected]>, "Zippy the Pinhead"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"TomP" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>>
>> Yes. But, a bell on a road bike looks dorky; so I whistle, in a soft friendly manner. The
>> whistle works well with dogs too.
>
>I can't whistle. I've found a really raucous fart to be equally effective as the dorky bell.
>
On a shared facility here, there are signs instructing a cyclist to yield to pedestrians and to use
a bell or vocalised warnings when overtaking them.
--
zk

 

[Zippy The Pinhe]

"Zoot Katz" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Sun, 1 Dec 2002 10:34:49 -0600, <[email protected]>, "Zippy the Pinhead"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >
> >"TomP" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> >>
> >> Yes. But, a bell on a road bike looks dorky; so I whistle, in
a
> >> soft friendly manner. The whistle works well with dogs too.
> >
> >I can't whistle. I've found a really raucous fart to be equally effective
as
> >the dorky bell.
> >
> On a shared facility here, there are signs instructing a cyclist to yield to pedestrians and to
> use a bell or vocalised warnings when overtaking them.

Funny, not many people want to "share" the "facility" with me after a couple of my warning shots.

 

[Prof. Wilhelm V]

"Tom Keats" <tkeats@NO_SPAM.vcn.bc.ca> wrote in message news[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, "Prof. Wilhelm von de Leihavon"
> <[email protected]> writes:
> >
> > I don't have a problem with and I do appreciate it when a driven gives several light beeps to
> > let me know that they are about to pass.
>
> In this city, it's just more background noise, lost amidst a cacaphony of car alarms, loud
> motorcycle pipes, and bouncy dump trucks that sound like train wrecks whenever they hit rough
> pavement. Drivers here will toot at the drop of a hat -- to tell their girlfriends to hurry up out
> of the house and into the car; to vent their rage; to say "hi" when passing friends on the street;
> to just frob the horn button. There was a time when /nobody/ here would sound their horn except in
> the case of the most dire emergency or wedding procession. Then, a bunch of Type A's who think
> Vancouver is too laid-back came here from Toronto. Car horns no longer have meaning here.

I can see where that is a problem, I don't ride in the city except through a residential area to get
out of town.

> On twisty-turny rural roads, I think it's okay for drivers to give a couple of toots just before
> entering a blind curve. I apply the same idea with my bell, on some local park trails that allow
> bikes -- especially where there's an adjacent playground.

This is more of what I was thinking.

Prof

 

[Zoot Katz]

Sun, 1 Dec 2002 20:12:01 -0600, <[email protected]>, "Zippy the Pinhead"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Zoot Katz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Sun, 1 Dec 2002 10:34:49 -0600, <[email protected]>, "Zippy the Pinhead"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >"TomP" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> >>
>> >> Yes. But, a bell on a road bike looks dorky; so I whistle, in
>a
>> >> soft friendly manner. The whistle works well with dogs too.
>> >
>> >I can't whistle. I've found a really raucous fart to be equally effective
>as
>> >the dorky bell.
>> >
>> On a shared facility here, there are signs instructing a cyclist to yield to pedestrians and to
>> use a bell or vocalised warnings when overtaking them.
>
>Funny, not many people want to "share" the "facility" with me after a couple of my warning shots.
>
It says "overtaking" not "over coming" pedestrians. Besides, a "no bell" prize is $75.00.
City by-law.
--
zk

 

[Golightly F.]

"Guy Chapman" <[email protected]> quoted and replied:
> >Helmet strap noise is frequently louder to the ear than the wheels of an approaching vehicle.

> In any case, in winter I ride with my ears covered
>
> Guy

Thanks for sharing... muffs or a hat?

<left eye rolls