I just found out a good friend's sister was killed training for a Triathelon. She was biking in the morning and hit by an SUV. One of our Oregon swimmers was similarly killed earlier this year. Every time I read about a Triathlete it seems somewhere in the story they had to spend a year recovering from when they were hit by a car. Is this as common as it seems? I don't know what we can do,but it seems we should do something.
First of all the majority of cyclist injuries from cars comes from (1) the red neck pickup drivers who can't turn the steering wheel a 1/8" to avoid a cyclist because their fat ugly gut is in the way (2) the soccer moms with a latte between their legs and the cell phone up their rear end and (3) Canadians who are completely in a mental fog about US driving regulations with regards to cyclist on the road or more likely stoned on Couver Gold.
There are two ways to ride a bike on most rural roads with limited or no shoulders. First one and most dangerous is to stay on the shoulder line. Everyone of the above three driver types will come within 3" of you. Second, get out in road where the auto passenger tire would normally be. Force the autos to move around you. If they come to close you can bail into the shoulder.
Always wear a rear view mirror on your glasses ($10), you can tell when trouble is coming usually. Take a cell phone along, and if possible bike with a group or partner. Pickup trucks you can smell , Soccer moms will be in Chrysler Minivans, and Canadians will have a picture of a weed on their licence plate.
First of all the majority of cyclist injuries from cars comes from (1) the red neck pickup drivers who can't turn the steering wheel a 1/8" to avoid a cyclist because their fat ugly gut is in the way (2) the soccer moms with a latte between their legs and the cell phone up their rear end and (3) Canadians who are completely in a mental fog about US driving regulations with regards to cyclist on the road or more likely stoned on Couver Gold.
There are two ways to ride a bike on most rural roads with limited or no shoulders. First one and most dangerous is to stay on the shoulder line. Everyone of the above three driver types will come within 3" of you. Second, get out in road where the auto passenger tire would normally be. Force the autos to move around you. If they come to close you can bail into the shoulder.
Always wear a rear view mirror on your glasses ($10), you can tell when trouble is coming usually. Take a cell phone along, and if possible bike with a group or partner. Pickup trucks you can smell , Soccer moms will be in Chrysler Minivans, and Canadians will have a picture of a weed on their licence plate.
