Passing parked cars
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:33 pm
Passing parked cars
Postby thepeonwhocould » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:37 pm
How do you do it? I look over my shoulder about 20m before the parked car and if it's clear I just go around but if it's not I pull up a bit before the parked car and wait until its clear.
- europa
- Posts: 7334
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:51 am
- Location: southern end of Adelaide - home of hills, fixies and drop bears
Re: Passing parked cars
Postby europa » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:51 pm
With caution, with trepedation and with the sure knowledge that I won't see the git about to leap out in front of me - mind you, I treat all situations in traffic the same way.thepeonwhocould wrote:How do you do it? I look over my shoulder about 20m before the parked car and if it's clear I just go around but if it's not I pull up a bit before the parked car and wait until its clear.
You can't always give them the clearance you want thanks to traffic next to your shoulder - it's even worse when they are parked across a bike lane (which guarantees there isn't enough room on the road for a car and yourself to be next to the parked car at the same time). If stopping is required, I'll stop.
One thing you will NEVER find me doing, is recommending a course of action for a situation described so loosely - every situation is different and often, you don't know exactly what you are facing until you are deep into it.
But in general -
- don't move out into the moving traffic without knowing what is there
- give the doors of that car as much clearance as practical
- have your brakes covered
- assume the world is populated by homicidal maniacs - that's unfair to the vast majority of motorists, but even the best drivers (and riders) make mistakes.
Richard
- Bnej
- Posts: 2880
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 pm
- Location: Katoomba, NSW
Postby Bnej » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:16 am
Check over shoulder
Move out into lane gradually
Pass car with at least 1.5m clearence
Move back left only if there is a long run with no cars
Be assertive about how much space you need, don't pass too close to the car door because you'll get squeezed & door prized.
Don't swerve suddenly into or out of the lane. Motorists need to be able to judge your intentions.
If there is no room in the lane to move into, stop & give way. Being patient never killed anyone.
If you can move the same speed as the traffic, stay in the lane. e.g, busy areas with a lot of cars parking & leaving, normally you're better off in the lane where they can see you easily.
Move out into lane gradually
Pass car with at least 1.5m clearence
Move back left only if there is a long run with no cars
Be assertive about how much space you need, don't pass too close to the car door because you'll get squeezed & door prized.
Don't swerve suddenly into or out of the lane. Motorists need to be able to judge your intentions.
If there is no room in the lane to move into, stop & give way. Being patient never killed anyone.
If you can move the same speed as the traffic, stay in the lane. e.g, busy areas with a lot of cars parking & leaving, normally you're better off in the lane where they can see you easily.
- geoffs
- Posts: 380
- Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:16 pm
- Location: Inner west, Sydney
Postby geoffs » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:43 pm
Good advice.Bnej wrote:Check over shoulder
Move out into lane gradually
Pass car with at least 1.5m clearence
Move back left only if there is a long run with no cars
Be assertive about how much space you need, don't pass too close to the car door because you'll get squeezed & door prized.
Don't swerve suddenly into or out of the lane. Motorists need to be able to judge your intentions.
If there is no room in the lane to move into, stop & give way. Being patient never killed anyone.
If you can move the same speed as the traffic, stay in the lane. e.g, busy areas with a lot of cars parking & leaving, normally you're better off in the lane where they can see you easily.
There was a guy who was killed a week ago by getting doored that hit the news. There was also another girl who was doored as well who ended up in the ICU at POW hospital.
Beware the door zone, take your space, ride predictably and take it easy out there. No matter how wrong the car driver is the cyclist will always come off the worst in any collision.
Cheers
Geoff
- Bnej
- Posts: 2880
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 pm
- Location: Katoomba, NSW
Postby Bnej » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:15 pm
Hitting a door is generally a worse accident than being struck from behind by a car.
Should you be hit by a conventional, modern car, you will be scooped onto the bonnet & windscreen, which are designed to crumple and take some of the force of the impact. You will have room to slide onto the road, and overall your body only takes a fraction of the energy of the collision.
People with bull bars, high 4wds and trucks are much worse in this scenario.
If you hit a door, you will wear the energy from all the speed you have at the time of impact. This is like driving a car into a cement wall.
I don't mean to sound morbid or anything, just trying to illustrate that you shouldn't ride in the door zone just to give cars more space to pass.
Should you be hit by a conventional, modern car, you will be scooped onto the bonnet & windscreen, which are designed to crumple and take some of the force of the impact. You will have room to slide onto the road, and overall your body only takes a fraction of the energy of the collision.
People with bull bars, high 4wds and trucks are much worse in this scenario.
If you hit a door, you will wear the energy from all the speed you have at the time of impact. This is like driving a car into a cement wall.
I don't mean to sound morbid or anything, just trying to illustrate that you shouldn't ride in the door zone just to give cars more space to pass.
- tuco
- Posts: 2016
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:36 pm
Re: Passing parked cars
Postby tuco » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:55 am
I treat parked cars as loaded weapons ready to go off even if it looks empty.thepeonwhocould wrote:How do you do it? I look over my shoulder about 20m before the parked car and if it's clear I just go around but if it's not I pull up a bit before the parked car and wait until its clear.
You never know if the driver is leaning across to get something out of the glove box and just out of view.
Return to “General Cycling Discussion”
Jump to
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Cycling Brands
- Cannondale
- Garmin
- Giant
- Shimano
- Trek
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Mr Purple
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
Brought to you by Bicycles Network Australia | © 1999 - 2024 | Powered by phpBB ®
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.