Anybody Riding Swedesford Road (around Philly, Pa) every morning?

If, by some chance, they're reading this NG....

I've seen you riding Swedesford Road several times already - yellow bike,
yellow/black jersey, no helmet, black hair - always going eastbound around 8-9
am ....and had already witnessed a couple of hairy situations as
rapidly-closing traffic encountered you.


There's zero shoulder on sections this road and some of the commuter traffic is
going 50+ while they talk on cell phones going around curves and over blind
rises. A few them are taking notes while they talk on their cell phones.
(some weeks ago, my dentist told me he almost got creamed by a guy that appeared
TB doing email on aBlackberry.)

On Thursday, you were riding eastbound and I was driving westbound. As I came
around a bend and crested a blind rise, suddenly I was looking at a beemer SUV
passing you - not just straddling the double center line...more like 2/3 or 3/4
over it. Since there was no shoulder and fairly substantial trees along the
roadside, there was no place to hide. I just stood on the brakes while my
eyeballs stuck out like golf balls. When the two vehicles passed, mine was
stationary and the other was doing whatever he was doing when he passed you. As
he swerved back into his lane, the distance between us appeared TB less than 3
feet.

About three weeks ago, on the same road, I witnessed another near-head-on when
some club or another was riding westbound.

I know you're technically in the right and the beemer driver was 100% wrong -
but this stuff happens with some predictability when people ride a road like
that. Being right doesn't trump being dead or maimed.

I work in the are and would think twice about even *walking* that road -
although, to be truthful, I've picked my way along it once on my MTB...and been
scared enough to never do it again.

Find another road to ride. Think of it this way: you might get hit by a flying
hubcap or something in the ensuing head-on collision that kills 2-3
drivers...or, maybe if I hadn't stood on my brakes, that beemer driver might
have done the rationally-self-serving thing and creamed you to avoid a head-on.
--
PeteCresswell

On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 14:47:03 GMT, "(Pete Cresswell)" wrote:

This post is OT for rec.bicycles.tech

Find another road to ride.

Could you perhaps also talk to the town or local police to get some
enforcement against dangerous passes like the BMW you mentioned.

Thanks,

JT

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The proper way for a motor vehicle to pass a slow moving vehicle is to wait
behind until safe to pass. Bicyclists have every right to the roadway. In
CA only when you are blocking the flow of traffic (defined as five or more
vehicles) do you need to pull over at the first safe opportunity to do so.

Those irresponsible drivers are making it just as dangerous for other forms
of traffic. With your logic, maybe everyone should avoid that road because
of the danger those drivers create.



"(Pete Cresswell)" wrote in message
...
If, by some chance, they're reading this NG....

I've seen you riding Swedesford Road several times already - yellow bike,
yellow/black jersey, no helmet, black hair - always going eastbound around
8-9
am ....and had already witnessed a couple of hairy situations as
rapidly-closing traffic encountered you.


There's zero shoulder on sections this road and some of the commuter traffic
is
going 50+ while they talk on cell phones going around curves and over blind
rises. A few them are taking notes while they talk on their cell phones.
(some weeks ago, my dentist told me he almost got creamed by a guy that
appeared
TB doing email on aBlackberry.)

On Thursday, you were riding eastbound and I was driving westbound. As I
came
around a bend and crested a blind rise, suddenly I was looking at a beemer
SUV
passing you - not just straddling the double center line...more like 2/3 or
3/4
over it. Since there was no shoulder and fairly substantial trees along
the
roadside, there was no place to hide. I just stood on the brakes while my
eyeballs stuck out like golf balls. When the two vehicles passed, mine was
stationary and the other was doing whatever he was doing when he passed you.
As
he swerved back into his lane, the distance between us appeared TB less than
3
feet.

About three weeks ago, on the same road, I witnessed another near-head-on
when
some club or another was riding westbound.

I know you're technically in the right and the beemer driver was 100%
wrong -
but this stuff happens with some predictability when people ride a road like
that. Being right doesn't trump being dead or maimed.

I work in the are and would think twice about even *walking* that road -
although, to be truthful, I've picked my way along it once on my MTB...and
been
scared enough to never do it again.

Find another road to ride. Think of it this way: you might get hit by a
flying
hubcap or something in the ensuing head-on collision that kills 2-3
drivers...or, maybe if I hadn't stood on my brakes, that beemer driver might
have done the rationally-self-serving thing and creamed you to avoid a
head-on.
--
PeteCresswell

The proper way for a motor vehicle to pass a slow moving vehicle is to wait
behind until safe to pass. Bicyclists have every right to the roadway. In
CA only when you are blocking the flow of traffic (defined as five or more
vehicles) do you need to pull over at the first safe opportunity to do so.

Those irresponsible drivers are making it just as dangerous for other forms
of traffic. With your logic, maybe everyone should avoid that road because
of the danger those drivers create.



"(Pete Cresswell)" wrote in message
...
If, by some chance, they're reading this NG....

I've seen you riding Swedesford Road several times already - yellow bike,
yellow/black jersey, no helmet, black hair - always going eastbound around
8-9
am ....and had already witnessed a couple of hairy situations as
rapidly-closing traffic encountered you.


There's zero shoulder on sections this road and some of the commuter traffic
is
going 50+ while they talk on cell phones going around curves and over blind
rises. A few them are taking notes while they talk on their cell phones.
(some weeks ago, my dentist told me he almost got creamed by a guy that
appeared
TB doing email on aBlackberry.)

On Thursday, you were riding eastbound and I was driving westbound. As I
came
around a bend and crested a blind rise, suddenly I was looking at a beemer
SUV
passing you - not just straddling the double center line...more like 2/3 or
3/4
over it. Since there was no shoulder and fairly substantial trees along
the
roadside, there was no place to hide. I just stood on the brakes while my
eyeballs stuck out like golf balls. When the two vehicles passed, mine was
stationary and the other was doing whatever he was doing when he passed you.
As
he swerved back into his lane, the distance between us appeared TB less than
3
feet.

About three weeks ago, on the same road, I witnessed another near-head-on
when
some club or another was riding westbound.

I know you're technically in the right and the beemer driver was 100%
wrong -
but this stuff happens with some predictability when people ride a road like
that. Being right doesn't trump being dead or maimed.

I work in the are and would think twice about even *walking* that road -
although, to be truthful, I've picked my way along it once on my MTB...and
been
scared enough to never do it again.

Find another road to ride. Think of it this way: you might get hit by a
flying
hubcap or something in the ensuing head-on collision that kills 2-3
drivers...or, maybe if I hadn't stood on my brakes, that beemer driver might
have done the rationally-self-serving thing and creamed you to avoid a
head-on.
--
PeteCresswell

The proper way for a motor vehicle to pass a slow moving vehicle is to wait
behind until safe to pass. Bicyclists have every right to the roadway. In
CA only when you are blocking the flow of traffic (defined as five or more
vehicles) do you need to pull over at the first safe opportunity to do so.

Those irresponsible drivers are making it just as dangerous for other forms
of traffic. With your logic, maybe everyone should avoid that road because
of the danger those drivers create.



"(Pete Cresswell)" wrote in message
...
If, by some chance, they're reading this NG....

I've seen you riding Swedesford Road several times already - yellow bike,
yellow/black jersey, no helmet, black hair - always going eastbound around
8-9
am ....and had already witnessed a couple of hairy situations as
rapidly-closing traffic encountered you.


There's zero shoulder on sections this road and some of the commuter traffic
is
going 50+ while they talk on cell phones going around curves and over blind
rises. A few them are taking notes while they talk on their cell phones.
(some weeks ago, my dentist told me he almost got creamed by a guy that
appeared
TB doing email on aBlackberry.)

On Thursday, you were riding eastbound and I was driving westbound. As I
came
around a bend and crested a blind rise, suddenly I was looking at a beemer
SUV
passing you - not just straddling the double center line...more like 2/3 or
3/4
over it. Since there was no shoulder and fairly substantial trees along
the
roadside, there was no place to hide. I just stood on the brakes while my
eyeballs stuck out like golf balls. When the two vehicles passed, mine was
stationary and the other was doing whatever he was doing when he passed you.
As
he swerved back into his lane, the distance between us appeared TB less than
3
feet.

About three weeks ago, on the same road, I witnessed another near-head-on
when
some club or another was riding westbound.

I know you're technically in the right and the beemer driver was 100%
wrong -
but this stuff happens with some predictability when people ride a road like
that. Being right doesn't trump being dead or maimed.

I work in the are and would think twice about even *walking* that road -
although, to be truthful, I've picked my way along it once on my MTB...and
been
scared enough to never do it again.

Find another road to ride. Think of it this way: you might get hit by a
flying
hubcap or something in the ensuing head-on collision that kills 2-3
drivers...or, maybe if I hadn't stood on my brakes, that beemer driver might
have done the rationally-self-serving thing and creamed you to avoid a
head-on.
--
PeteCresswell

RE/
The proper way...

Reminds me of a guy I worked with at a summer camp that was gung-ho on
"right-of-way" on the water. One day we had to motor out and pick him up -
clinging to the wreckage of the sailboat he was in when some monster cruiser ran
him and the boat over. He kept saying "But I had the right-of-way...".

--
PeteCresswell

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 01:58:58 GMT, "(Pete Cresswell)" wrote:

RE/
The proper way...

Reminds me of a guy I worked with at a summer camp that was gung-ho on
"right-of-way" on the water. One day we had to motor out and pick him up -
clinging to the wreckage of the sailboat he was in when some monster cruiser ran
him and the boat over. He kept saying "But I had the right-of-way...".

Yeah, and the sad thing is some other well-meaning indivuals
perpetuate the "size=right of way" mentality by talking to the little
guys and not the big guys. Great.

JT


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"(Pete Cresswell)" wrote in message

RE/
The proper way...

Reminds me of a guy I worked with at a summer camp that was gung-ho on
"right-of-way" on the water. One day we had to motor out and pick
him up - clinging to the wreckage of the sailboat he was in when some
monster cruiser ran him and the boat over. He kept saying "But I
had the right-of-way...".

Do you know why sailboats have right of way over motored boats? It's
because they can't maneouvre as quickly or as easily.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

RE/
Do you know why sailboats have right of way over motored boats? It's
because they can't maneouvre as quickly or as easily.

Tell that to the captain of a bazillion-ton cargo barge that:

- Can't see *anything* within a quarter mile of the pilot's station because of
vision shadow resulting from the height of the hip

- *Might* be able to shop within about seven miles if he applied full
reverse.


--
PeteCresswell

In article ,
"(Pete Cresswell)" wrote:

RE/
Do you know why sailboats have right of way over motored boats? It's
because they can't maneouvre as quickly or as easily.

Tell that to the captain of a bazillion-ton cargo barge that:

- Can't see *anything* within a quarter mile of the pilot's station because
of
vision shadow resulting from the height of the hip

- *Might* be able to shop within about seven miles if he applied full
reverse.


My friends at the US Naval Academy have always told me to navigate by the laws
of gross tonnage.

If it is bigger than you or can harm you physically, it has the right of way.

Unfortunately most commuters drive this way...as in I can't see you, so stay out
of my way!

Swedesford Rd is a commuter route. Its not nice to slow down the soccer moms!

HAND