BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Sorry to hear that. Get better.

Some thoughts. On lane position, when going downhill, never be any farther to the right than the left wheel track. You are much more likely to be seen if you are fully in the lane. Gloves: I kept wearing the winter gloves long after it stopped being cold, just for the reason of preventing road rash. Lights: Do you run with a flashing headlight in the daytime? I recommend it if you do not. I had a near miss a few years ago when someone pulled out in front of me. He stopped to apologize, saying he would have seen me better if the headlight I was using was putting out a light he could see. Apparently he did see the dim light better than the bike itself, so was able to avoid hitting me, but a bright light would have tipped him off earlier that I was there at all. Batteries: I only use rechargeables, never alkalines, and keep chargers at both home and work. If the light is dim when I get to my destination, the batteries come in with me and go right in the charger.

I'm glad you're OK, sorry for your injury, grateful you posted such a frank report to raise the awareness level. you're a good cyclist!

I think if you hit your helmet it should be decently scuffed up

Glad to hear you're OK. Thanks for the reminder - it's easy to get a bit complacent.

Helmet has small scuff , I am Ok , bike is fine i normally don't run my lights during daylight or at least bright days but may rethink that , i have a helmet mounted petzl i use in conjunction with bar light since i like to do night trail rides , i was also not wearing a bright t shirt . So there are a number of things i need to work on ? still beats the hell out of the car or couch Thanks for your concern Be SAFE !

I'm not a big believer in lights during the day or day-glo clothing, it is just one more way of shifting the blame from the driver to the cyclist. It is obviously not going to help if the driver never even looked like you said, and I'm dubious that it helps at all.

To Salty's point, my only frame totaling accident was at night when I had a very bright flashing light and the dude still left hooked me with no other cars in sight

Some people JUST AIN'T GONNA SEE YOU ! wear helmet , flak jacket , gloves , goggles , knee pads ,Lights , reflectors , ribbons , whistles , bells And Horn

A good many of the people out there driving cars should not be allowed to drive.

I agree just heard the news story of a greyhound bus driver texting and was caught on video by passenger , this is the trend that scares the hell out of me , 1/2 text and drive the other half try to fit it in on red lights . even seen a teenage girl text while riding a bike ! Makes me want to grab thier phone and throw it as far as i can , is that legal ?

No, you're not allowed to grab somebody's phone and throw it as far as you can. Also, texting while operating a vehicle is illegal too. The law doesn't restrict the kind of vehicle, so bicycles would be included, too.

A friend of mine who was a sailor had a ditty about being in the right but being dead. It is great to have the right of way from 2000lb of metal, but the asymmetry of consequences is so severe. I always assume every car is going to hit me and every door is going to open until the laws of physics say otherwise.

@neilmd, I agree with you -- always assume that every driver doesn't see you until they show they have by slowing etc. When I ride in front of a car at an intersection I always gauge how long it would take them to hit me if they started moving from where they are, to leave a sufficient gap. That is, I do this all the time except when I forget. It is very easy to be thinking about something else at the time. It's just not in our nature to be 100% vigilant.

@jonawebb - The law mentions that texting while operating a motor vehicle is illegal, it doesn't have a provision for non-motorized vehicles. It could be argued that it's perfectly legal to text while riding a bike (but probably still a really bad idea).

§ 3316. Prohibiting text-based communications. (a) Prohibition.--No driver shall operate a motor vehicle on a highway or trafficway in this Commonwealth while using an interactive wireless communications device to send, read or write a text-based communication while the vehicle is in motion. A person does not send, read or write a text-based communication when the person reads, selects or enters a telephone number or name in an interactive wireless communications device for the purpose of activating or deactivating a voice communication or a telephone call. (b) (Reserved). (c) Seizure.--The provisions of this section shall not be construed as authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of an interactive wireless communications device, unless otherwise provided by law. (d) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $50. (e) Preemption of local ordinances.--In accordance with section 6101 (relating to applicability and uniformity of title), this section supersedes and preempts all ordinances of any municipality with regard to the use of an interactive wireless communications device by the driver of a motor vehicle. (f) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "text-based communication" means a text message, instant message, electronic mail or other written communication composed or received on an interactive wireless communications device. (Nov. 9, 2011, P.L.406, No.98, eff. 120 days)

@Benzo: Rule 3501a says that bicycles follow the same rules as motor vehicles, except where noted. Using your phone while driving is not one of the exceptions.

No, that's not what 3501a says. "Every person riding a pedalcycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except as to special provisions in this subchapter and except as to those provisions of this title which by their nature can have no application." So 3316 does not apply to bicycles, since it specifies only motor vehicles, not vehicles. Perhaps texting cyclists could still be cited under a more general provision like 3714, careless driving, which applies to all vehicles. But you could argue that the fact that the legislature restricted 3316 to only motor vehicles meant they intended to permit cyclists to text, and perhaps get a citation like that tossed.