From: dbc@po.cwru.edu (Dean Cookson)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.soc
Subject: Re: Motorcyclist Hits Bicyclist...
Followup-To: rec.bicycles.soc,rec.motorcycles,ba.motorcycles
Date: 15 Oct 1992 04:56:13 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: b62003.student.cwru.edu

In article <2928073307.1.p00004@psilink.com>, "Michael Smith"
<p00004@psilink.com> wrote:
> 
> >i occasionally give two quick toots on the horn when i'm about
> >200 or 300 feet away.  that way the rider won't be startled,
> >and knows someone is coming.  usually i do it when there are
> >two abreast; this gives bicyclists plenty of time to line up.
> 
> It annoys the hell out of me. Car horns don't have tone-of-voice, so 
> it's impossible to tell a benign honk from an angry one. If you came up 
> behind a slow-moving car, would you honk just so the driver would know 
> you were there? If you did, the slow driver would probably read it as an 
> expression of impatience. 

Yeah, actually car horns/bike horns do have a tone of voice.  As a 
motorcyclist/bicyclist/cager (in order of preference) I DO appreciate
a brief toot-toot when a car is 100-200 ft. back or so.  It says:
"I see you, and I want you to know I'm back here."  and we all know
that getting seen is half the battle.  Note that a brief toot-toot while
still a ways back is VERY EASILY distinguished from someone laying on
the horn while blowing by at 60.

> 
> Personally, if I'm riding on the pavement, it'll be because that's the 
> only safe place to ride. Even the benign honk seems to imply that the 
> cyclist *ought* to move over and let you squeeze past in the same lane; 
> this is also -- forgive me if I've misread you --  the implication of 
> the phrase "line up" in your post. I consider this quite dangerous and 
> won't do it. 

The cyclist *ought* (and I'm about to quote the MA vehicle code here)
move as far to the right as practicable.  This allows the passing vehicle
to go by with a minimal incursion into the on coming lane.  As far as
lining up goes, you as the bicyclist are *required by law* to ride
single file on the roadway.

> 
> When you see cyclists on the pavement, it's safe to assume they're not 
> there out of absent-mindedness; they're there deliberately. Just pretend 
> they're farm tractors. Loaf along for awhile, let the old pulse rate 
> subside, and pull across the centerline and pass in the other lane when 
> it's safe to do so.  

However, when you see cyclists strung across both lanes of an open
road, it's safe to assume they're being dick-heads.  When I ride
my bicycle I always, unless there is a large/clear/paved should
ride *in* the lane and I ride far enough to the left that someone
can't pass without leaving the lane.  If I see that it's clear,
I there is a person behind me, I move right and wave them by.  If
I'm riding beside another 'cyclist I move back into a single
file line as fast as I safely can.  You cannot expect people you
share the road with to be courteous, unless you are to them.

| Dean Cookson / dbc@po.cwru.edu / 216 754-1834 | DoD #207  AMA #573534|
| Case Western Reserve U. Computer E. and Sci.  | KotNML  /  KotB      |
| "You can lead the house to order, but you     | '81 CB750C           |
| can't make it think"  -William Weld (Gov. Ma.)| '88 Bianchi Limited  |
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.soc