Frank, You probably don't want to lengthen your list, but there are 2 lessons I like to stress that might eliminate some of the other problems. These are DO's rather than DON'Ts
1) Drive at or below the posted speed limit. This gives everyone more time to predict, prevent and react to unpredicted incidents.
2) Keep off the cellphone (or have a passenger handle the call) while you are driving. Focus on driving and do everything else before you start or after you're stopped (makeup, putting on seatbelt, etc...) If an unpredicted emergency comes up, stop at the nearest safe place and deal with it out of traffic.
Now for the stuff you asked for...
- Leave at least 3 feet of passing space between the right side of your vehicle and a bicyclist.
On Fayette St last week a car passed me in the 50ft before the light at Spruce St, forcing me into the door zone. As near as I could tell he was rushing to get through the light before it turned red, which was silly since you can turn left on red there.
- Pass only when you can see that it's clear far enough ahead to be able to complete the pass before traffic comes.
This happened to me approaching the intersection in Suncrest where Laurel St. comes to University Ave (across from Pocohontas). I was forced into the ditch, fortunately at low speed.
- Don't pass a cyclist and then cut them off.
This happened to me on Mon Blvd at the intersection with 8th St. A driver in a big pickup truck passed me and then turned right in front of me, forcing me to brake evasively. I noticed he was on his cellphone.
- Look both ways for cyclists before pulling out of an intersection, driveway or alley. Cyclists are hard to see. Cyclists riding far to the right can be obscured by vegetation or parked cars. Look for cyclists on sidewalks, too.
This has happened too many times for me remember. I think the intersection of Fayette St with Spruce St is probably a good example since building corners obscure the view of street and sidewalk.
========================================================= at this point it's late and I'm tired. I'll try for the rest tomorrow. Thanks for your diligence on this and other issues. =========================================================
- When turning left, yield to oncoming cyclists just as you would yield to an oncoming motorist. Look for oncoming cyclists. Cyclists are hard to see. Cyclists riding far to the right can be obscured by passing cars.
- Watch for cyclist hand signals and lane position that indicate that they are going to stop, turn right, go straight or turn left.
- Before opening your car door, look behind you for cyclists.
Perhaps one way to think about this is to recall when and where you almost crashed (or did crash :-( ) because a motorist didn't practice one of these lessons. (For example, cars always seems to pass me really close on Pleasant St. between So. Univ. and High St. even when I'm in the middle of the right lane. So, that stretch might be a good example of where they should leave 3 feet.)
Thanks to Marilyn for leading the effort to get bicycling in the Driver's Ed curriculum!
Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/
-- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --