Mixed Feelings in the Left Hand Tire Track

Steve A. responded to my first post, and I said I would address his comments. So here goes.

SA) I have mixed feelings about that left tire track lane position. Here's why:#1 - it tends to be smoother at the center of the lane.

CS) I'm jealous! Most of my roads are coated with Chip-Seal. After a good hot summer, the tires wear a much smoother surface. There is a particular type that Ellis county favors that fails to stick to the under-surface if not pressed down firmly by passing traffic. It becomes an extraordinarily rough surface between the tire tracks. When light permits I will take some photos.

SA)#2 - As vehicles tend to pass closer to the cyclist (on average) if one is traveling in the left tire track. This is simply due to the fact that the road is only so wide.

CH) Correct. If the motorist overtakes in the next lane. They are more prone to straddle pass (where they share part of your lane with you) when in the right tire track. Motorists have hours and hours of practical training of keeping their vehicle within a lane. I have more confidence that they will accurately judge their clearance when there is a lane marker between us!

SA)#3 - An overtaking vehicle has less total time to get back into the proper position the further it has to move left to pass.

CS) I am not really concerned about this. It is the duty of the vehicle operator to pass with due care. Besides, how hard is it to pass a bicycle anyway?



SA)#4 - If I look at the Sousa data, passing separation is best when traveling in the right tire track. That's consistent with the observation that one should position oneself so that the overtaking motorist makes a correct move with the minimum need for thought. Moving further to the left doesn't cause any added impact on the automatic motorist response.



CS) First the actual difference in the observed distance between the two lane positions is about four feet, with six to seven feet the closest pass from further out in the lane. (Note, the data is from the right tire track to the center of the lane.) There were no straddle passes observed from the most commanding positions. I am comfortable with that, but then, I was a bicycle racer in my youth. I may have a greater tolerance for objects being in close proximity than other cyclists.

Second, overtaking traffic is not my primary concern. I face much greater peril from what is ahead of me. I have better sight lines from the left side of the lane. I think I am likely to have better success at avoiding right hooks from there as well.


SA)#5 - Riding too far to the left encourages a pass on the right side of the cyclist.

CS) Yes, this behavior caught me by surprise when I first began riding exclusively in the left tire track. It is surprisingly common. I inspire such overtakes about every week. They are most common on state highways when a shoulder is present, but like you I've had a number of them off in the grass as well. One of them was on the road that is pictured on the previous post!

Curiously, they seem to give me more room on that side!

Another common objection I hear about is that such an "aggressive" lane position displays "arrogance" and is designed to annoy motor vehicle operators.

On the roads I commonly travel on, motorists cannot overtake me without encroaching the oncoming lane, so no matter what position in the lane I take, they must wait for a gap to pass me safely.

The fact that a motorist cannot reason this out and gets upset is neither my fault nor my problem. He may pass me or not as he wishes. It remains his duty to pass slower traffic in a safe manner and in due care.

Room to Share?

Is this a wide enough lane to share side by side with overtaking traffic?

If the wrongheaded "vulnerable user" law gets passed here in Texas, this vehicle will be in violation of it if he passes me in either direction while I am riding in my normal lane position.

The version of the law being considered by the Texas legislators says this:

(b) An operator of a motor vehicle passing a vulnerable road user operating on a highway or street shall:

(1) vacate the lane in which the vulnerable road user is located if the highway has two or more marked lanes running in the same direction; or
(2) pass the vulnerable road user at a safe distance.

(c) For the purposes of Subsection (b)(2), the operator is presumed to have failed to comply with Subsection (b)(2) if the distance between the operator ’s vehicle and the vulnerable road user is less than:

(1) three feet if the operator ’s vehicle is a passenger car or light truck; or
(2) six feet if the operator ’s vehicle is a truck other than a light truck or a commercial motor vehicle as defined by Section 522.003.

522.003 DEFINITIONS.

(5) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle or

combination of motor vehicles used to transport passengers or
property that:

(B) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds;

On this road, the one I must ride a minimum of two miles on to get to or from my home, this vehicle cannot comply with this proposed law unless I am crowding the fog line- which I never do! If I am centered in my lane, or as I normally position myself, in the left tire track, this vehicle cannot overtake me lawfully, and it could be argued, he would break the law if he passes me going the other way!

There are other problems with the proposed law, but I will address them one at a time in a later post. Until then, Godspeed to all!

Perception VS. Reality

After the incident with with Mr. Maniac as described in the previous post, and while I was calming myself down, a motorist pulled onto the road behind me from a side street after yielding as I passed.

She remained behind me for about 20 seconds and, as we approached the stop sign at Martin Luther King Street, she started to pass. It is obvious she has mis-judged the space available before the stop sign, because there wouldn't be room to get by in time to clear me! I am already wondering if she will encounter opposing traffic before she can clear the intersection, since she will be in the oncoming traffic lane at the stop sign.


So with about two car lengths from the intersection, I begin slowing while she is alongside me in the next lane. There is a stop sign on our road and the cross traffic does not stop. Thus, I am astonished when she guns it- turning sharply enough to make her tires squeal as she makes a right turn at the intersection at about 20 MPH. I am forced to take evasive action to avoid a collision with her!

In all the other times that this has happened to me, (An overtake attempt too close to an intersection with traffic control signs or devices) the offender strands himself in the wrong lane, impeding opposing traffic and enduring the embarrassment of his predicament until the intersection clears.

There seems to be a compulsion by some motorists to pass cyclists in the road. This lady seemed to perceive that I was going slower than I actually was, even though she had followed behind and paced me for a short period of time. Apparently, she also thought that the space available up to the intersection was greater than it really was. She must have poor decision making skills at the least, or she is unable to operate outside of her pre-conceived expectations. I have no doubt that she would describe herself as a good driver, though!

Maybe she didn't expect a bicycle to be using the space a motor vehicle would. Maybe she didn't expect me to be traveling at 15 MPH. She panicked when reality asserted itself and she found herself in the wrong lane at the intersection.

This is the first right-hook that has happened to me in Texas! To put it another way, it is the first right-hook in more than 13,000 miles of cycling.

Sec. 544.010. STOP SIGNS AND YIELD SIGNS

(a) The operator of a vehicle approaching an
intersection with a stop sign shall stop


Sec. 545.101. TURNING AT INTERSECTION

(a) To make a right turn at an intersection, an
operator shall make both the approach and the turn as closely as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.

Sec. 545.103. SAFELY TURNING

An operator may not turn the vehicle to enter a
private road or driveway, otherwise turn the vehicle from a direct course, or move right or left on a roadway unless movement can be made safely.


Sec. 545.053. PASSING TO THE LEFT; RETURN

(a) An operator passing another vehicle:

(2) may not move back to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the passed vehicle.


Sec. 545.401. RECKLESS DRIVING; OFFENSE.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

All of these and other traffic offenses were violated in order to avoid a ten second delay. How silly is that?

When Once Is Not Enough

On Tuesday, on the way through Ennis, I met a fella who is a bully.

I was traveling south on Main, between where the two railroad spurs cross it. The road here is about 25 feet wide with no lane markings- no center lane nor any fog lines. I was riding in the left tire track of a standard vehicle complying with the slow moving vehicle law.

Up ahead of me, a car began to overtake another car . (Both of them were going north.) After clearing the car he was overtaking, he began to return to the right side of the roadway.

Until he saw me.

Changing the direction of his lateral movement, he swung back onto my side of the road!

I held my lane position.After about half the distance between us closed, he adjusted his trajectory to pass within a foot of my left handle-bar. I would say there was about six seconds of time between his clearing the other car and passing me.

I spat on his windshield as he passed by, and I continued on my way. Within a few seconds the whole thing was out of my mind.

But our bully couldn't let such an insult go.

So I continue on my way down Main, maintaining my lane position. A car overtakes me with due care and in a safe manner, completely on the other half of the road. No sooner had that car passed me then I was buzzed by our bully, again passing me within a foot.

I laughed. I'm sorry, but it just struck me as funny that someone who was so anxious to get to wherever he was going that he was over-taking slower traffic, suddenly has the time and inclination to "teach me a lesson" by backtracking more than two miles in order to do it.

CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES
SUBCHAPTER B. DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY AND PASSING
Sec. 545.051. DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY.

(a) An operator on a roadway of sufficient width shall drive on the
right half of the roadway, unless:

(1) the operator is passing another vehicle;
(2) an obstruction necessitates moving the vehicle left of the center of
the roadway and the operator yields the right-of-way to a vehicle
that:

(A) is moving in the proper direction on the unobstructed portion of the roadway

So our bully, in expressing his objection to my "arrogant" and high-minded lawful use of the public way, failed to drive on the right hand side of the roadway and he also failed to yield to my right of way. He violated Sec. 545.051.

Sec. 545.053. PASSING TO THE LEFT; RETURN; BEING PASSED.

(a) An operator passing another vehicle:

(1) shall pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe
distance.

He also violated Sec. 545.053 by failing to provide a safe distance between me and himself when he overtook me after he turned around. He did not follow the path of the car ahead of him the did pass me with due care and in a safe manner. He very obviously and deliberately attempted to intimidate me with his car.

With this in mind, I accuse this motorist of violating Sec. 545.401:

545.401. RECKLESS DRIVING; OFFENSE.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in willful
or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

Why is it possible for people such as this to keep their driving privileges?

Imaginary laws

"You have to stay to the side of the road."

The words were shouted at me by a motorist as he crowded me out of the lane.

This was Tuesday, on hwy 34 about four miles from Ennis, traveling west.

This particular motorist, driving a white SUV and towing a utility trailer, had been having a difficult time finding a safe place to pass, due to oncoming traffic and terrain.

He honked at me, and must have been surprised when I didn't pull over out of his way. When he finally had an opportunity to pass me (after being delayed for about 45 seconds) he pulled up in the oncoming lane and slowed down to pace me. His passenger window was down and he was screaming something at me.

At the same time he began crowding me with his vehicle, forcing me to give way toward the edge of the lane. I was tempted to begin pounding on the side panels of his car, but the trailer was wider than his vehicle and it spooked me. (This is usually rather effective though. The pounding can be very loud inside, and can be quite frightening for the motorist, while being unlikely to cause damage.)

Not understanding what he was saying, I yelled at him to "Follow the Law." I repeated it about three times. In the end, he crowded me all the way off the shoulder into the grass, then he sped away. He did this with two vehicles following behind him. The confrontation lasted about 10 seconds.

Sec. 545.053. PASSING TO THE LEFT; RETURN; BEING PASSED.

(a) An operator passing another vehicle:

(1) shall pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe distance; and
(2) may not move back to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the passed vehicle.

(b) An operator being passed by another vehicle:

(1) shall, on audible signal, move or remain to the right in favor of the passing vehicle; and
(2) may not accelerate until completely passed by the passing vehicle.

At a minimum he violated this law, and I complied with it. I was riding legally in the lane in accordance with the slow moving vehicle law and bicycle specific lane positioning law. He failed to pass me at a safe distance (Sec. 545.053(a)(1)) and he pulled back into the lane when before he was properly clear of me. (Sec. 545.053(a)(2)) He did this with full knowledge of what he was doing as he was looking at me through his passenger side window.

Sec. 545.401. RECKLESS DRIVING; OFFENSE.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by:

(1) a fine not to exceed $200;
(2) confinement in county jail for not
more than 30 days; or
(3) both the fine and the confinement.

Because he deliberately used his vehicle as a weapon, he also committed a reckless driving offense, wouldn't you say?

Gun Barrel City 1st Attempt

First attempt was abandoned.

The weather forecast was wrong, and I began experiencing headwinds from the start. I really need a tailwind to have the confidence that I can complete this ride.

I stopped to rest at the Navarro County line and re-assessed conditions, as I was feeling poorly. It was a good thing I turned around. I bonked almost immediately after and I struggled to get back to Ennis, despite favorable winds.

I ate lunch in town before returning home. There were, even on the shortened 42 mile journey, three altercations. None of them, however on state highway 85!

I will relate them in other posts soon, and I will watch for another window of opportunity to complete the ride.

ChipSeal

Gun Barrel City: The Prologue

When weather conditions are right, I am planning a ride out to Gun Barrel City.

The 80 mile solo and unsupported ride will be pushing my current physical endurance, so I am keeping an eye on the weather. I need a weather change between 10 AM and 4 PM, where the wind shifts to or freshens from the east. I will need a good tailwind on the return leg.

The route will be due east on State Highway 85 from Ennis to Gun Barrel City. The first eight miles of Highway 85 is a chip seal surface, and I expect the rest of it is too. That is as far as I have explored so far, though.

Google Maps shows that it is a narrow two lane road for the entire length, and speed limits could be 70 MPH unless signed otherwise. (It is 65 MPH on this end) So that will mean that I will be annoying plenty of motorists.

I will be upsetting motorists who have a “freeway expectation” on Highway 85. This will be especially pronounced if developed shoulders are present, as it appears to be the case on parts of the trip. I expect to be honked at, shouted at, and passed on the right. I expect folks who haven’t been on a bicycle in 30 years to tell me how to ride one. I expect to be accused of breaking imaginary laws. And I expect every vehicle that wants to overtake me will do successfully and in a safe manner.

What is unexpected by me, though possible, is harassment by the police, or being buzzed by a motorist overwhelmed by the horror of being delayed by a cyclist, or having objects thrown at me.

So what do you, dear reader, think will happen in the eighty miles of traveling in the left tire track? Will a motorist run me down and then claim I swerved in front of him? Will I be taking extraordinary and foolish risks? Will I be accused of breaking the law and be reported to the local police?

Stay tuned, there will be pre-ride updates and a full post-ride report.

The daring, if not dashing, ChipSeal

Complacency

Sadly, because driving an automobile has become such an ordinary everyday event, people have become insensitive to the grave responsibility of operating one on the public roads.

Regardless, it is both a moral and legal duty to overtake slower vehicles with due care and in a safe manner, whether they are operating within the law or not.

Wildlife

I traveled the six miles into town today to stock up on vittles. Because of the wet weather this past week, and threating conditions today, I used my fendered single-speed for the trip. And because dog food was on the shopping list, I made the trip twice.

The rain has caused a explosion of Blue Bonnets in every field. Indian Paintbrush rudely interrupts with streaks of contrasting red. The fragrance is delightful.

Scissor Tail Flycatchers flit away from fence rails as I approach. Blue birds and Tanagers cannot remain unnoticed to a cyclist.

Standing water everywhere enables turtles to venture forth in search different waterways. I turn a corner and I am startled by a pair of them in the road! (Don't worry, I managed to out-sprint them!)

A riot of wildlife is testimony that spring has sprung. I am glad.

I hope you can enjoy it as much as I do! ChipSeal

On being friendly

A co-worker once said that the Lycra-clad roadies seem stuck up because they never wave to other cyclists. Huh. That surprised me, because I am a Lycra-clad roadie and I thought I acted friendly to anyone who wasn't honking at me.

In fact, interacting with others when I'm cycling has been one of the serendipitous surprises I've had on my bike. I enjoy waving to other cyclists, no matter their style of cycling. I greet and wave to joggers and pedestrians and folks in their yards and on their porches regularly.

So what about the things my friend said? It turns out, he is right. Even as a uniformed roadie myself, I am rarely acknowledged by other roadies when I encounter them. I really have no explanation for this.

It's too bad, because they are missing out. Motorists are physically isolated from the pedestrians and cyclists, and they miss out too. A cheery hello will always draw a positive response from a jogger or pedestrian. They seen startled to be engaged. Startled, but gladdened as well. A connection, a heightened sense of community.

Maybe the roadies are seeking to travel with the same anonymity as motorists do. I like the texture that being a part of those around me brings. Just as I enjoy being out in the elements, the wind, the sunshine, the smells, the heightened awareness of the space around me- the incidental inclusion of people I come across is part of that. I like seeing the wildlife my bicycle allows me to sneak up on. A view of the world that a motorist will never have, isolated in their cage.

The joggers, the walkers, the folks in their yards and on their porches, I bet they are motorists when they travel. It is an opportunity for us to be ambassadors for our sport, a chance to put a neighbors face on the cyclist in front of them in the lane. It takes such little effort, it costs not a thing. Perhaps it could pay big dividends down the road.

Thanks for stopping by, ChipSeal