".jdb." (brockmjd)
04/20/2015 at 16:14 • Filed to: None
3
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".jdb." (brockmjd)
04/20/2015 at 16:14 • Filed to: None | 3
| 14 |
Some of the stories of car-bike interactions lately have reminded me of an old rhyme my mother taught me, that she probably learned from her father, a sailor in the British Merchant Marine...
Here lies the grave of Henry Day
Who died defending his right-of-way
He was right, dead right, as he sailed along.
But he’s just as dead as if he were wrong.
Stand up for your rights, know your rights, exercise your rights.
But understand the physics of an interaction between a 3,000-lb car and 250lb of rider and bike, and act accordingly.
(hey. I’m a fan of the cookies. Sue me.)
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 16:17 |
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Very true, stick to the rules STOP AT RED LIGHTS and let the little things go and you’ll be fine. Source: been cycling very regularly for a decade.
ACESandEIGHTS
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 16:18 |
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They call these people “Clydesdales.”
Source: I used to be a very large man on a bicycle.
P.S.: Words hurt.
ttyymmnn
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 16:21 |
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A good friend of mine had a bike accident just this afternoon. He was riding on a four-lane divided, in the bike lane, when somebody pulled out in front of him. Road rash on the knee, sore shoulder, cracked helmet. Thank god he was wearing a helmet. Similar to your poem, I was taught, “It’s better to be alive than to be right.” Some arguments you just aren’t going to win.
Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 16:21 |
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Fact is, the person operating the 3000lb semi-guided missile is just as capable of making a mistake as anyone else. If you have the power to minimize the effect of the mistake, f*ck your right of way and do it. Eg, if a driver making a left turn doesn't see a pedestrian because their pillar is in the way, and has to stop partway through the turn, RUN. The driver isn't being a dick, they're being a human. Clear the way ASAP, and everyone will thank you. I am in no way advocating charging at pedestrians to make them hurry up.
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 16:22 |
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As my dad always says, “right of way is to be given, not taken.” It’s what the other driver is supposed to do, but that doesn’t mean they will.
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Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> ACESandEIGHTS
04/20/2015 at 16:24 |
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Hey, a Clydesdale can produce up to 15hp.
Source: I heard something once. Don't fact check, just feel complimented every time you get called that.
PS: You can use words right back. I'm not a lightweight myself.
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.jdb.
> ACESandEIGHTS
04/20/2015 at 16:42 |
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Still am a pretty big dude, still am a fan of the biking (and running and swimming, when I can). There was a dude who would dominate the Clydesdale division in the local triathlons where I used to live. He was like 6’5 and about 250 and lean enough to have visible abs. When he signed up, the rest of us Clydes were all like “oh. Well, shit”.
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.jdb.
> ttyymmnn
04/20/2015 at 16:45 |
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So glad he’s OK. And so glad he was wearing a helmet. Please have him throw it out, mount it on the wall, whatever. And this is your reminder that helmets should be chucked after one good fall/hit or 2-3 years, whichever comes first.
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ttyymmnn
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 16:46 |
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Good advice. I ride regularly, on a 10-mile route through my neighborhood. I don’t like riding on busier streets. But I always wear a helmet. In fact, it feels weird when I don’t. I’m sure my friend will pitch the helmet. He’s very safety conscious.
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.jdb.
> ttyymmnn
04/20/2015 at 16:51 |
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Or give it to a local bike shop so they can say “LOOK. THIS ONE SAVED A LIFE.” I actually tried taking a full-size, 10-lb sledgehammer to one I was chucking anyway. I was shocked at how well it took the abuse.
My mantra is: Obey the rules of the road. Act like a car. Be as visible as possible. And presume that every driver is somewhere between “can’t see you” and “actively wants to kill you”. I’ve been hit exactly once. I was crossing against a light in a crosswalk and a driver clipped my back wheel at like 20 miles an hour. I was OK, the wheel was pretzeled. It was my damn fault. He gave me $20 and I was lucky as hell. I was 16 or so and really stupid. Lucky to have learned my lesson: Obey the damn law.
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ttyymmnn
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 16:54 |
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I asked my friend if he has a light, and he said no, it’s bright and sunny. I told him it doesn’t matter. I have a very bright LED light, white front and red back, that blink rapidly. I know for a fact that drivers pulling out of driveways or at intersections have waited because they see my light. That’s a good idea on the helmet, too.
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ACESandEIGHTS
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 17:08 |
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Yeah, prob a former student athlete or a pro ballplayer etc. I’m guessing.
Or at least someone with a lot of time on his hands. Let’s face it, you don’t get a muscled abdomen without hours spent daily working on it.
Funny though. The alpha male shows up at the pool and everyone just gives up and lets their chest deflate and gut hang out.
cornerslide
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 18:02 |
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I act as if other cars are 2 tons of bad judgement when in a car. I would be even more defensive on a bike. An ounce of prevention................
The Compromiser
> .jdb.
04/20/2015 at 20:51 |
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I always say to new people that they have the right of way with forklifts. They can excercise it anytime they want. I will even say that they did at their funeral.
With motorcycles, the rule is no one can see you. Act accordingly. Rule two is that if you make eye contact and the driver waves you on, remember rule 1. Act accordingly.