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Me First!
 We have all met them. No matter
the traffic or road conditions they have to be in front, they have to
pass, they have to be first. I am referring to motorists and cyclists
alike. This attitude is common to both and a pain to all. Whether it is
the motorist who screams past a cyclist only to stomp on their brakes or
the cyclist that goes up on the side walk when they can't get by in the
lane; it is the same mind set. Motorists will try and pass even though we
are doing the speed limit and are less than a car length back. Cyclists
will wiggle and weave though the traffic and pedestrians with no awareness
of the anger and fear they engender. The problems are: motorists who don't
believe we belong on the road and don't respect or understand how fast we
are going and cyclists that don't believe they are vehicles and subject to
the "same rights and duties." I can only laugh and shake my head when I am
passed by, and then follow, these people for blocks. What do they think
they achieve?
Merges, diverges, unions and
separations
A merge occurs when a lane of traffic must blend
into your lane to continue. A diverge is where drivers exit into a new
lane. A separation occurs as a lane leaves and all drivers in that lane
must exit. A union is where a new lane is added and drivers need not leave
their lane to continue. Most cyclists react to these situations with a
simple "yuk how do I get out of here." Many stop and wait for a gap in
traffic to continue. Given normal visibility and traffic conditions there
are ways to cope which don't involve either stopping or becoming a
pedestrian. Merges and diverges are the most common situations along
highways and at some driveways and cross streets. Look at least 30 seconds
ahead. When you are 20 seconds from the exit lane, move left off the
shoulder by crossing the shoulder line. This requires shoulder checking
for a gap in traffic long enough for approaching drivers to adjust to your
change in position. Leaving the shoulder draws their attention and
communicates your intention to go straight. Ride along the left edge of
the shoulder line and continue straight as the line be-comes dashed. It is
the responsibility of the traffic passing you to time their move prop-erly
and your responsibility to be very visible and consistent in your actions.
When traf-fic is merging with you, it is again their responsibility to do
so safely and yours to be visible and predictable. Approaching the merging
lane, shoulder check right for merg-ing traffic. If there are large gaps
or no traffic you can move right when clear. Don't stop in the striped-off
triangle between the merging traffic and the through traffic. (A cyclist
was nearly killed in 1999 when a motorist merged early.) When there is a
steady stream of traffic, move left off the shoulder onto the road and
ride straight along the side of the lane. It's up to the traffic in the
merging lane to yield to you. Again, all bets or off when the visibility
drops. At night in horizontal rain we must assume no one can see us and
ride accordingly. Under these conditions I am in no hurry and will wait as
far out of the way as is necessary and move across the traffic only when
there is a large space. Separations are no problem if you want off at that
road. If you hadn't planned to go in that direction, you must move into
the rightmost through lane that goes your way. This is a lane change, the
same moves you would use to make a left turn or to move out of a right
turn only lane. Look well ahead and plan your moves early As a rule of
thumb, it takes one block for every lane of busy traffic you want to
cross. Unions are tricky. After the lanes come together, the unaware
cyclist is between two rows of traffic. Don't head immediately for the
right-hand curb. The motorists in the right lane aren't aware of you yet.
Shoulder check right and watch for someone letting you in or wait for a
gap. This is stressful but not necessarily hazardous. The motorists in the
new lane are also wanting to move over and are looking for traffic in the
left lane, they can see you.Wait for them to see the situation before
moving right. If there is no one in the new lane, no problems. A common
situation is a union lane which separates again within a half a kilometre.
In front of shopping malls for example, an extra lane is usually added for
traffic into and out of the mall. Cyclists going straight should stay in
the straight through lane. Moving right into the new lane suggests you are
going into the mall and also means having to move left again out of the
lane. Like most traffic situations, if you see them well before you must
cope with them you have time to think and plan your moves.
Mud flaps
Road grime thrown up from the
front wheel contaminates all the running gear; chains, derailleurs, cables
and freewheels They wear, corrode and stop working. A piece of flexible
material attached to the bottom of the front fender and dragging on the
ground at low speed, will catch this grit and keeps your feet drier.
Drafting board cover material is the best I have found so far. It is
light, stiff enough and doesn't get brittle when cold. A rear flap reduces
your rooster tail keeping the stuff off your back and makes the people
following you happier. I use pop-rivets and an extra piece of fender to
hold the flap in place. Small bolts and a piece of bleach bottle work as
well.
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