Either a used car or a new bicycle ? Wow

[tomato coupe]

Given the size of a city lane (11-13 feet on a thoroughfare, 10 feet on an urban street) and the average car (7 feet for Pickup or a SUV) you pretty much don't have 3 feet clearance unless the car hugs the center line and the bike rides in the gutter.

In this case, the car or truck has to cross over the center line to give the cyclist 3 feet of clearance. No different than passing a slow moving vehicle.

[A.K. Boomer]

and the real scary thing, don't forget trucks towing trailers wider than their width, like car dollies and such,

very easy for the driver to forget how he needs to leave extra room for the cyclist as it's not just his vehicle but the one "he forgot about" in the back that he's towing...

[danlb]

What kind of scenario are you thinking of? I can't think of a situation where there wouldn't be 3 feet available.

On edit: I can think of one scenario -- construction zones.

It's more common than people think.

Given the size of a city lane (11-13 feet on a thoroughfare, 10 feet on an urban street) and the average car (7 feet for Pickup or a SUV) you pretty much don't have 3 feet clearance unless the car hugs the center line and the bike rides in the gutter.

Dan

[PStechPaul]

I don't think a bicyclist will wear leather boots, gloves, pants, and metal-studded jacket in 95F heat. Motorcycle protective wear is mostly for protection from road burn when you lose control at highway speeds. Not much will protect a cyclist from impact from a 3000+ pound motor vehicle, although a 500 pound motorcycle will give a little more protection than a 25 pound bicycle.

[mattthemuppet]

I think that your reply makes the inference explicit.

If you want to state your opinion, state it, this is the land of the free and I am just as free to ignore it

[reggie_obe]

ah, I see, the original question wasn't posed out of interest but more so you could ask this question?

Infer what you like....
I asked the question as you're traveling 50 miles per day sharing the (two lane, residential, highway?) road with cars. A helmet is required by law for cyclists in most states. I don't see reflective gear and flashing lights as protective, more like just a warning beacon. I was expecting a description of protective clothing.

Why do motorcyclists wear leather? Not just because it makes them look cool.....

[mattthemuppet]

Other than the helmet, nothing to protect you from a spill, skid or brush with an auto?

ah, I see, the original question wasn't posed out of interest but more so you could ask this question?

[AD5MB]

some guy rides a 3 wheeled recumbent on the back road from the big burg ( pop 9,000 ) I shop in to the little burg ( pop 165 ) I live in, 11 miles each way, every day. at least he has the sense to wear a reflective vest. I don't have that much time, and I'm retired.

there are random farm devices that cost like a Vette and move like a yak. things that take up 12 feet of width, with pointy whacky choppy bits all across the front. there are enough hills and curves that anybody with a grain of common sense would slow down and enjoy the scenery. half of the auto traffic does 25 in a 45, the rest does 75.

In NM we got freeways, state roads, county roads, back roads, ditchbank ( irrigation canal maintenance ) roads, off roads, and "you call that a road?"s. we also have people who build specialized vehicles to drive at excessive speeds on every kind of road. says the guy with the baja bug. there is simply no place to safely wrap yourself around a steel vehicle when you are surrounded by people wrapped up in steel.

[tomato coupe]

It just seems like it would be a very silly law to require cars to provide the clearance margin without a complementary section that prohibits bikes in areas where there is not 3 foot of clearance available. After all, if that's an important safety margin it should apply 100% of the time.

What kind of scenario are you thinking of? I can't think of a situation where there wouldn't be 3 feet available.

On edit: I can think of one scenario -- construction zones.

[reggie_obe]

Lots
On me - fluoro socks that are a complete embarrassment, fluoro jersey, helmet mounted ~600lm front light that saves my bacon each and every ride (a quick flash into a car that's screaming up to a junction or is about to pull out usually stops/ slows them down), helmet mounted cheapie rear light just to get some light higher up (one response to an incident I mentioned earlier), Camelbak mounted 100lm rear light on beacon mode, bright red Camelback (backpack style water bladder) with reflective strips.

Other than the helmet, nothing to protect you from a spill, skid or brush with an auto?

You could ride something like this to wake away the focus from your fluoro socks.

[mattthemuppet]

Riding as much as you do on public roads, what safety gear do you wear? I don't mean the obvious, a helmet.

Lots

On the bike - 3M reflective tape in different places to catch light at different angles (side, front and rear quarters mostly), On-and-flashing rear light that's visible from at least 1/2mile, flashing front light which has a similar reach.

On me - fluoro socks that are a complete embarrassment, fluoro jersey, helmet mounted ~600lm front light that saves my bacon each and every ride (a quick flash into a car that's screaming up to a junction or is about to pull out usually stops/ slows them down), helmet mounted cheapie rear light just to get some light higher up (one response to an incident I mentioned earlier), Camelbak mounted 100lm rear light on beacon mode, bright red Camelback (backpack style water bladder) with reflective strips.

The biggest safety gear however is between my ears. I'm constantly checking my 6 for shadows, cut-and-shutters and shelter, especially when I'm coming up to junctions where cars can pull out in front of me, turn across me or cut in and turn. I'm always aware of what's around me and I always assume someone will do the most stupid thing possible. So far at least that's kept the grass under me feet.

[danlb]

It just seems like it would be a very silly law to require cars to provide the clearance margin without a complementary section that prohibits bikes in areas where there is not 3 foot of clearance available. After all, if that's an important safety margin it should apply 100% of the time.

Dan

[tomato coupe]

When it comes to riding two abreast, California has an odd law that should complicate things: The Three Feet for Safety Act - California Vehicle Code 21760. CVC 21760 requires motor vehicles to leave a 3-foot margin while passing a cyclist if possible.

Most states have an equivalent law.

The onus is placed on the auto driver to change lanes, slow down or change lane position to give a bike 3 foot margin. When two bikes are in the bike lane and they are riding side by side the left rider is often very close to the automobile traffic. In an ideal world the autos would shift left to accommodate this behavior. In reality, it's seldom feasible. In our city we have narrowed the lanes to allow adding the bike lanes.

Unfortunately, many motorists don't fully understand this law. Some think they cannot cross the centerline when overtaking a bicycle, or that the presence of oncoming traffic is an excuse to ignore the 3 foot passing rule. Most motorists also don't realize that they are allowed to cross a solid yellow centerline to give a cyclist the required clearance.

[danlb]

When it comes to riding two abreast, California has an odd law that should complicate things: The Three Feet for Safety Act - California Vehicle Code 21760. CVC 21760 requires motor vehicles to leave a 3-foot margin while passing a cyclist if possible.

The onus is placed on the auto driver to change lanes, slow down or change lane position to give a bike 3 foot margin. When two bikes are in the bike lane and they are riding side by side the left rider is often very close to the automobile traffic. In an ideal world the autos would shift left to accommodate this behavior. In reality, it's seldom feasible. In our city we have narrowed the lanes to allow adding the bike lanes.


Dan