Here we go with another You-Tube video. This one may stir up a bit more controversy, because unlike my previous efforts, I haven't shown what my rides look like; I've shown what motorists' driving looks like. In this case, I've tried to show what passing a cyclist looks, and feels like. I have a few very close passes in two rides, both into the outer suburbs of Toronto.
This video doesn't do justice to the cycling experience, since I just wanted to talk about passing here. I actually left out a lot of really beautiful riding footage from some lovely roads because it didn't make my point. I'll try to put together another video to show the beauty and the pleasure of riding -- soon, I hope.
Just one note: in this video, I have made every effort to avoid identifying individuals or organizations responsible for the passes (good and bad) shown in the video. I try to edit my videos to avoid filming identifiable people.
Comments
simplicius2wheels
Pretty neat...
Tue, 06/22/2010 - 08:33...and I am sure quite a bit of work to compile this video.
I am an instructor and wonder what a class would make of viewing this.
For cyclists, a strong stomach is required as to not get scared off the road by a few of the latter sequences.
If it was shown to a class of drivers, I have the nagging feeling that quite a few would find nothing wrong with the scenes and feel it's the cyclist's problem, not theirs. I wonder how one could present the video in a way that it would change such attitude. Maybe include some still pics with measurements overlaid...?
dances_with_traffic (not verified)
spam filter ate my comment
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 18:43Honest.
dances_with_traffic (not verified)
Oh look, a contractor in a white van acting like a sociopath.
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 18:46Well, not surprised about the last fellow. Most of the outstanding harassement comes from the idios in contractor or pickup vans...
If you dare to experience some real close passing just cycle over the 401 near an on-ramp!
Anyway, as usual many motorists did pass safely... if we can only work on "Joe the plumber" type of guys. To me and others they seem greatest offenders.
just google white van man.
RANTWICK
line
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 20:03I agree that drivers need to leave enough room when passing. I think the line you choose depending on lane width is very important. The right line can help quite a lot in reducing close passes.
Sometimes taking the lane like that brings on the honks and some crabbiness, which sucks and why lots of cyclists don't want to do it. I am too timid to do it some of the time, even when I know I should, and I pay the price with a little of my safety.
Check out the link below to see what I mean...
http://rantwick.blogspot.com/2010/02/sweet-and-sour.html
Oh, by the way Contractor Vans and other work vehicles do seem worse in my experience... but I have no hard data to back that up. I think the drivers of those vehicles are often under greater time pressure, and may well be on the phone or radio as well.
locutas_of_spragge
Not a generic van,
Thu, 06/24/2010 - 05:19believe it or not. I have a frame grab of the door of that white van as it went by, and surprise surprise, it had a logo on it. I thought about calling 311, but I didn't know what to say. "Excuse me, a city employee just tried to kill me, can I have a rebate on my taxes?"
[img_assist|nid=3996|title=Close pass, Toronto van|desc=The Toronto logo on the door of a white van that passed me, too close for comfort, on a ride to Canada's Wonderland|link=node|align=left|width=500|height=278]
qwerty (not verified)
"On Camera" Jersey?
Thu, 06/24/2010 - 13:25I have been tempted to have a "You are on Camera" jersey made, whether or not I really have one on my bike, because fear of prosecution (not human decency) might make people drive safer, unless you have the connections of an Attorney General...
Anthony K. (not verified)
On Spadina
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 01:29One stretch of road that can be surprisingly scary is Spadina, between Bloor and Bathurst. For drivers, it's very straight with not that much traffic, allowing for higher speeds. It was probably rebuilt to unusually high standards for motorists given the city planners' ambition of building an expressway there. For cyclists, it means that at least one jerk at rush hour will typically pass a cyclist at 70-80 in the right lane without leaving much room, even when the left lane is empty.
I sometimes take the lane there.
TIm Horton (not verified)
surprisingly scary is Spadina, between Bloor and Bathurst.
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 14:54am I missing something here???
Anthony K. (not verified)
correction
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 16:05Bloor and Dupont, that is.
locutas_of_spragge
when they honk...
Sat, 07/03/2010 - 19:17you know they see you. Even if the aggression can get a bit disconcerting (I had a driver on Rutherford Road yesterday start beating on his horn the moment he saw me in the lane ahead of him), a motorist who sees a bike and hits it anyway can get charged with assault or murder, and most motorists, at some level, know it. We need to worry most about the motorists who don't see us, or who think they can claim they don't see us.
Pat McGee (not verified)
Good video. As flash-based
Sun, 07/04/2010 - 09:40Good video. As flash-based camcorders and media get cheaper, it almost makes sense for the average cyclist to mount cameras fore and aft to document some of the aggressive behaviour that is unfortunately commonplace on our roads, and to provide documentary evidence of any criminal acts. If a $150 "720p" camera is good enough to capture license plate numbers, why not?
The instructional video format is a good platform to reach those average drivers who might be more considerate if they only decided to pay more attention. For the small number of sociopaths who seem to enjoy intimidating others with their vehicles, bringing documentation of their acts to police might be a step towards getting them off the roads.