"George" wrote
> cshenk wrote:

>> Want to **** me off? I get ****ed when folks tailgate bikes. Tailgating
>> is the style here but as dangerous as it is, it's far worse when someone
>> is on a bike and tailgating them in a 'monster truck' or 'SUV'.

> Unfortunately lots of fluffed up truck drivers totally fit the stereotype
> that they are more important than you and you should simply get out of
> their way even if for no purpose such as when there is a line of cars in
> front of you.

I figure the actual percentage may not be that high, but the ones who do it
stick out like a sore thumb and make the rest get a bad name.

> And it even extends to non motorized bikes. A friend is a strong cyclist
> and he had to negotiate a traffic circle type intersection. One of the
> requirements of the motor vehicle code in every state I am familiar with
> is that a cyclist should take the lane if there is an unsafe situation
> (narrow road, complex traffic etc). And it is only a few milliseconds cost
> for the following driver because a normal cyclist can easily do the speed
> limit on such roads. He took the lane and a women in a giant SUV simply
> knocked him down trying to save those two milliseconds trying to get past
> him. Fortunately for the public she then stopped her truck and got out and
> started yelling at him for being on "her road". This is while he was on
> the ground bleeding and unable to move because of his injuries. When she
> was stopped a sensible person stopped to offer help and got the license
> number and snapped some pictures which will likely lead to criminal
> prosecution.

Sheesh. Hope the woman gets flambe'd. I rode a bicycle to work and back in
Japan for 6.5 years. I used the sidewalks (and got off an walked when
needed) but only because my specific path didn't have a cycle section
(common in Japan).