BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I'd like to second that. For every a*hole driver there are literally a hundred who are courteous and understanding and let cyclists do what they need to do. Now if we could only convince the a*hole cyclists to do what they ought to do...

Yes, today's excellent bus driver was shepherding Bus5311 up 18th Street at around 1030am Saturday. There were two cyclists plus a few volunteers doing road cleanup and the driver really made sure it was safe before proceeding - courteous, professional, WOW. There was a couple that parked in a car in front of us on Mt Washington, the pax started to get out on the right had side and then said something to the driver. I said to SR watch for the dooring, driver's about to come out. They both waited patiently until we passed. WOW. We rode from the Northside to 18thStreet, up the hill, stopped at GrandView Park, down Mt Wash to the West End Circle, back to the cars. 15 miles - not very long but good work, a tremendous day to ride.

Today I rode 60 miles. Much of it was on trails, much of it was on roads. Every single car I encountered was respectful, and some were outright nice (letting me turn in front of them or waving me through intersections). It was a good day.

Yes, it was a good day. Despite the heat, there were lots of very respectful and careful drivers. There were at least five over-the-top-nice drivers for every overly aggressive jerk encountered.

The main problem is the nice ones don't make you undead or unhurt after you get hit by one of the other type.

The healthy reminder is that it is not bike-vs-car... it is aggressive-driver vs bike/pedestrian/motorcycle/other-cars/etc.

And we're keeping this thread positive, right?

This morning on Aiken approaching Baum there is a box truck in the turning lane blocking the view an and a bus is turning left in the opposite direction— my first thought is oh shit. I slow down expecting the bus driver to turn. Not really because he is a jerk, but because he can't see me. He waited until he could see around the box truck, saw me and yielded. +1

With all the crappy weather to deal with & after reading several posts to the Dangerous-Driver thread, I thought it would be good to revive this old thread to hear some good news for a change. I don’t have any one specific driver to call out; but I have noticed that most of the passes this past week or two have been way more than the required 4 feet. (I hope I haven’t just jinxed myself.)

I noticed this also, Marko. Lots of courteous drivers. Maybe they respect us for riding in this weather.

I had a nice descent on greenfield avenue this morning. Was descending a lot slower than normal, 20, maybe even a touch less due to very poor traction on my bike (maybe NEXT year I'll get winter tires) and a desire not to wipe at speed. The guy was behind me before the stop sign. But all the way down, not a peep, no veering sideways to look for a passing opportunity, and no crowding from behind. Downright pleasant.

I think they're just going slow. I went out Sunday and was faster than the cars.

"Don't mess with him - he's obviously crazy."

Yesterday around 4:30 PM I was riding up the hill on Lincoln, going from Bellevue Bridge to downtown Bellevue. The traffic was slow, there was a bus ahead making frequent stops, and I was a few car lengths behind the last car but generally traveling at the same speed. This nice guy in a big dark colored truck followed me and didn't attempt to pass. Once the traffic stopped at the light at CVS/Fremont, I heard a honk. When I looked back, he smiled and waved his hands apologetically - I guess the honk was an accident.

Wow, I am not used to reading this. Thanks for starting the topic and reviving it. Nice to read good things for a change. For the most part, I can't complain about 80% of my trips. For the most part people are fine. I think buses are being more kind to cyclists because so many cyclists are filming while riding. The word got out. That is my theory. People making over $80K a year and some over $100K don't want bad press. One bus driver comes inches from a bike and cuts them off on film and KDKA gets hold of it, watch out. Thank you folks wearing cams.

I just got back from the Major Taylor OTB ride. We had a group of 14 riders heading back toward town from Mckees Rocks just before twilight. We decided to ride the cattle chute that is route 51/Carson street. As you would expect we held up traffic, but we were moving as a group at a steady 15mph. The cars behind us were great - no honking or aggressiveness at all. We pulled off into an opening once to let the traffic pass us and pleasant waves were exchanged. Then another group of cars were behind us and again no aggressiveness at all. We formed a single file bike line as the road goes under the WEC and the cars passed us at very reasonable speeds & distances. It was a very unexpected display of patience from multiple drivers on a nasty stretch of road. Kudos!

Hey, I saw that MTCC ride group on Sunday. I can't remember now where - Shadyside maybe? I was in a car heading in the opposite direction. It was nice to see such a big group this early in the season!

Swalfoort wrote:Hey, I saw that MTCC ride group on Sunday. I can’t remember now where – Shadyside maybe? I was in a car heading in the opposite direction. It was nice to see such a big group this early in the season!

Yep, it was short ride (around 14 miles) after Bicycling 101 at the Oval. We took people on the street just to teach them how they are supposed to bike :) -- leaders, sweepers, post signs for non-drop, intersection, traffic, stops, correct left turns, etc.

I had a weird one today. It was my first time on a bike in 3 weeks due to some back problems, and I was riding back from my PT appointment on Centre/Penn around 4:30 - it took me 10 minutes to go a mile, mostly stuck in traffic. So, I'm completely stopped by Whole Foods when I hear some kind of big vehicle right behind me, laying on the horn repeatedly and revving the engine. At some point some jackass in a car goes flying by in the other lane before being forced to screech to a stop 100 feet later. Meanwhile, the vehicle behind me keeps laying on the horn, so I finally turn around to see what was up. It's a CMU bus, so I decided against flipping the bird, but still gave the driver a kind of "wtf are you honking at me for?" look. Finally she leans out the window and says "that car tried to hit you". So, a couple lights up, she pulls beside me and we chatted for a minute. I guess the jackass in the car initially went flying around her and then tried to quickly cut in front of the bus, then continued trying to force his way in there. The revving was because she was trying to move up to block his path, and also honking at him. I was fairly oblivious to the whole thing - the bus engine was loud so I didn't hear the other car. I told her "thanks" and let her go in front of me. I guess it goes to show, don't always assume someone is being an asshole - maybe they're actually trying to protect you from an asshole.

I rode out along the Mon and then across the hills to the GAP and back on Saturday. There were a lot of trucks out presumably belonging to EQT. Every one passed me very safely and the ones going in the other direction were driving very safely as well.

I'd say for every jerk I encounter I get 50 who are super nice. I especially like the people on negley who give me 15 feet to pas . I think it is crazy excessive when they drive fully in the oncoming traffic lane but I'll take it.

I've marshaled 321ride at One Wild Place and Buttler. Not a single bad driver for 3+ hours. I started to hurdle rides all together in one group during red light if they arrived by 1-3 asking them to filter on the left while cars standing still. Drivers stopped at request to provide some space. Quite a few of them said: "Thank you for doing this!" :)

Reviving an old thread. Today on Penn Ave at 31st street I rolled up behind a new red Mazda RX8 stopped at the light. As I was looking at the car its thirty something female driver started saying something to me out of her window, but I couldn't quite hear her. As I rolled up closer to her window she asked me if I needed water and then offered me a bottle from a case she had just bought. She apologized that it wasn't cold and I was almost speechless. I thanked her for her offer and commented how nice it was of her. She really made my day.

Aw I love seeing this thread revived! for all the crankiness and heat-rage I've encountered lately, I've had nothing but wide passes from cars lately. super respectful, waiting till there's space. I wish I could do something in the moment for positive reinforcement!!!