I imagine that because all of you are following my ride, you are in the very least relatively supportive of the increasing push to use bicycles. This movement is often referred to as the "Share the Road" campaign.
Part of being safe around cyclists is them bring able to anticipate what motor vehicles will do and opporators of motor vehicles being able to anticipate what bicyclists will do. While most bike riders are familiar with general car opporations, not as many drivers are aware of bicycal signals so I want to take a moment to review.
Additionally, when you see a hand held like the stopping signal but the hand is opening and closing, that indicates that the rider is slowing.
When you are preparing to pass a bicyclist, please ensure that you are doing so safely. At least three feet clearance when beside the bike is acceptable and more is preferable. Please, when considering passing, don't try to overcome the rider in a blind turn. While it may mean waiting a minute longer to pass, in the long run it helps the rider get safely home and it helps you as a driver get to your own destination without getting into an accident that has the great potential to kill the bicyclist.
Finally, when taking turns, please watch for cyclists. Just as you would look for cars, cyclists are vehicles with right of way on the road and cars legally must yield.
Now to bring the point home. Yesterday afternoon I was cycling in a group of five when a truck towing a boat pulled out in front of us. We had to stop suddenly from a speed of 25 mph or run into the boat. Two of us fell from a collision, myself included. Our bicycles are damaged and the other rider was lucky to walk away without a scratch. However, the driver of the vehicle never stopped and no other driver checked to see if we were okay.
Please be vigilant. Please be careful. And please realize that a car can do a lot of damage to a cyclist.
I'm glad u are ok. Mom and Dad
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