My route for my bike commute is the same every day, but it is amazing how it is never the same ride twice. Time of day, weather, traffic volume, etc. all change.
Yesterday I worked a split shift, so I rode to work and back twice. I think I was in the rain each time, but beyond the rain a bigger challenge was traffic – specifically busses.
On the way to work in the morning, a school bus passed me at Riverside & McKay, and passed within inches of me. If it wasn’t clear to pass without giving me more room, it could have waited 30 seconds, and there would have been a bike lane for me to move into. A quick call to the school bus company, and they said they would speak to the driver.
On the way back to work in the afternoon, a Caesar’s bus passed me as I was approaching Riverside & Glengarry. The light was red, and there wasn’t enough room for the driver to completely overtake me. If I was a motorcycle, slowing for the red light, would the driver have still attempted to pass me? So there I was, sandwiched between the bus and the curb, almost behind the bus – when I notice the turn-signal start flashing. Great, the driver is setting me up for a right hook!
With the right gear, riding in the rain isn’t so bad. But it takes a lot more to change the behaviour of drivers. If even (professional) bus drivers refuse to share the road, how can we expect the rest of traffic to share the road?
” If I was a motorcycle, slowing for the red light, would the driver have still attempted to pass me?” I have no idea how many times I have asked myself the same question, “If I was operating a car would they have tried fill in the blank.” Exactly. As much as possible this is why I “take the lane.” Motorists find it annoying but there is no question where I am and what they can and can’t do from that position. It’s a tough call though because sometimes the situation happens fast, as in your case.
Riding in the rain is enjoyable, unless very windy and very cold. It does add one more challenge to our commute though. Generally, people make very little in the way of adaptation to their driving for wet roads and again.
I keep running into the same problem on Riverside Drive with School Buses and Casino Shuttled not moving over a bit so their big mirrors don’t hit me. All the more reason I guess I should get some sort of little rear view mirror for my helmet. Usually when I hear them coming I move closer to the curb but it really annoys me how the school buses don’t respect our space.
Oh my goodness, you ride without any kind of rear view?!! Never. I’d feel naked without such. I used to use the helmet mount kind but being a one who wears glasses I now prefer the kind that mounts to my glasses. I use the Third Eye brand – see item (5) http://www.3rd-eye.com/ Bought mine from Leonard at The Bicycle Shop but perhaps other local stores have them.
I also ride without rear-view. I’ve tried handlebar mounded mirrors before and found that they weren’t useful – I couldn’t see where I wanted to see!
I had one years ago too and wasn’t much good since it took my eye off the road. I depend more on my ears.
I haven’t used handlebar mount since I was a teenager – quite a while ago, ahem
With my eye glass mounted mirror I can see a lot in a quick glance of the eye and meanwhile I am very much aware of what’s ahead of me. Did take a little getting used to but not much. I still rely on a shoulder check for lane changes and such but as I say, I wouldn’t ride without a mirror. Ears and eyes, both and not either or 😉
I just meant I depend on my ears more for what’s behind me. So far I haven’t felt much of a need, but maybe I will try it out one of these days.
s’all good. I followed what you meant and was just chatting away in my enthusiasm from the mirror