I like fog. It makes the world mysterous. But I’m not that happy riding my bicycle in fog. So I put on my lights this morning for my ride to work.
My ride was a little longer this morning because I went to my office downtown first and then back to campus — so about 3.5 miles with one fog-related close call. It was a classic, and I was ready for it. At the intersection of Walnut and Kimbrough I came face-to-face with a gap-shooter.
Shooting the gap happens when a driver tries to make a turn through a small gap in the traffic order to avoid sitting through another light cycle. Gap-shooters are itching to move. This guy was making a left from the east-bound lane of Walnut while I was heading west straight through the intersection.
One of the ways to be safe on a bicycle is knowing the likely trouble situations and paying careful attention when these situations occur. Fog = low visibility. Rush hour = driver impatience. Gap = irresistible opportunity.
I slowed down. Attempted eye contact. And I yelled “watch it” because this guy didn’t see me. Luckily I was ready. No contact. Not even close.
Here’s some good advice about bad situations and how to avoid them.
Comments 2
That’s good advice – be aware that this can happen, and being ready for it is half way to avoiding it. In every case when I’ve come close to getting hit, I’ve not been ready for it, and the options to escape considerably reduced.
Posted 16 Mar 2009 at 1:42 pm ¶Another reason to practice “quick turns” once in awhile!
Posted 16 Mar 2009 at 2:34 pm ¶