BajaNomad - pass bicycles safely

pass bicycles safely

chrisx - 11-29-2010 at 06:21 PM

pass bicycles safely!
When passing a bicycle on a narrow road,
1. hit the brakes
2. wait until it is safe to pass
3. cross the yellow line and go around
reading the anti bicycle statements on this forum is just sick Is everyone here from Arizona the anti bicycle state? Why do the Mexican drivers in the city of Tijuana drive better than the rural drivers of California?

A truck driver said it cost him $1.93 to hit the brakes. Not to stop, but to hit the brakes and slow down. Life is cheap, very.

Has anyone ever seen what a mangled cyclist looks like on the rear axle of a truck? Cut off just above the navel, no legs, drop bars still in his hands. 1,500 miles of heat off the back wheels turns the body into a mummy. dose not even look real. most of the bicycle broken and gone.

Truck driver says with a dismissive wave of his hand ¨had to push a bicycle off the road down in Arizona¨. In Seattle when he saw the remains. He tried to flee, but the cops got that one. The punishment was light compared to the crime. he thinks like many of the posters on this forum, Crawl out of the bottle you damn fool!

desertcpl - 11-29-2010 at 06:39 PM

:?:

UnoMas - 11-29-2010 at 06:45 PM

Tick...Tick...Tick :lol:

Is disturbia a real disease?

mcfez - 11-29-2010 at 06:50 PM

A most informative subject Newbie chrisx.

Please come by and grab your jacket that you left here last week...

jajc.jpg - 9kB

David K - 11-29-2010 at 06:51 PM

What's a bicycle doing on a road without a shoulder or riding in the car lane? Mexico built Hwy. 1 for economic development... trucks move cargo that people need and busses move people... if a bike riding tourist can't hear them coming and get off the road, he shouldn't be on a skinny road. Not only is he endangering himself over a crazy hobby, but the lives of the people who pass him or worse.

I have nothing against bicycles on highways that are built for them to share with autos.

It is great for bicycles that Mexico is finally widening the highways in Baja with shoulders now... that are finally allowing SAFE use of bikes and autos.

You will find these new highways replacing narrow 2 lane roads for 30 miles north of San Felipe, 18-24 miles south from Puertecitos, north and south from El Rosario a few miles, and now being widened south from Maneadero and south from Tecate. These are the 2 lanes bikes can safely ride on as well as the hundreds of miles of 4 lane roads in Baja and the dirt roads, of course.

I don't have a clue about your Arizona or California comments or how they relate to Baja.

DENNIS - 11-29-2010 at 07:13 PM

Those riders have an obligation to stay out from under my car. They scratch up the undercoating and rust sets in.
Speaking of crawling out of the bottle, you should follow your own advice.

maspacifico - 11-29-2010 at 07:18 PM

When driving down, or up, Mex 1 in a motorhome or pickup hauling a large boat or travel trailer....and coming around a blind corner to find a bicycle rider going 5 mph....and a car or truck coming the other way....all you have to do is hit the brakes and wait till it's clear to pass..........pull your head out

I used to ride bikes a lot. It would be fun to ride all the way down. Riding on Mex 1 is just stupid and needlessly endangers not only the rider but everyone on the road.

DENNIS - 11-29-2010 at 07:25 PM

This subject comes up every six months or so. It's always good for a couple of laughs.
I've got to dig out some of my "Hood Ornament" one liners. This is Deja Vu all.....oh well, you get what I mean. :lol:

chrisx - 11-29-2010 at 07:42 PM

Occasionally the cyclist catches up with the bad driver at a rest area or a truck stop. what happens when a guy that exercises all day meets a guy that sits in a chair all day?

Most Mexican people can navigate Mex 1 safely the beer before noon gringo drivers can´t

Many states and cities are safe for the bicyclist. For example, Bainbridge Island, WA, Ft Meyers, Fl. Arizona has the worst drivers in the nation. By worst drivers: I mean, people with the least respect for human life.

A little old lady with a walking stick has the same write to use Mex 1or any other road as you do.

woody with a view - 11-29-2010 at 07:55 PM

everyone has the wright, but that doesn't make it write. left, or right?

bajaguy - 11-29-2010 at 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrisx
Occasionally the cyclist catches up with the bad driver at a rest area or a truck stop. what happens when a guy that exercises all day meets a guy that sits in a chair all day?

Ah, grasshopper.........one should never judge a book by it's worn cover..........

jbcoug - 11-29-2010 at 08:06 PM

Chrisx,

My guess is that the Mexicans know what is safe and legal in their own country. Now I have seen some incredibly stange goings on down there, but I can honestly say that I have never seen a Mexican foolish enough to challenge trucks on Mex 1 with a bicycle.

John

Bike Riders heed warning!

LancairDriver - 11-29-2010 at 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Those riders have an obligation to stay out from under my car. They scratch up the undercoating and rust sets in.
Speaking of crawling out of the bottle, you should follow your own advice.

bajadogs - 11-29-2010 at 09:48 PM

While I think it is quite dangerous to bicycle down the 1, if you cannot safely navigate your pickup or van or SUV or car around a bike rolling down the side of the road, you are not competent to be on that road in the first place. How can you handle stalled cars, accidents, cows, burros, dogs, construction zones, potholes, washouts etc.? If you hit something after a blind curve, (cow, car, bike, whatever) it's your fault because you assumed the road would be clear and you were driving too fast. You can't do that on that road. drive safe, ride safe

DENNIS - 11-29-2010 at 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrisx
A little old lady with a walking stick has the same write to use Mex 1or any other road as you do.

Did you go to UC Berkley? You sound as ridiculous as the ACLU. I mean...anyone who would stare into the oncoming radiator of a Kenworth and babble about their rights is confused.

By the way....a lot of those crosses you see on the side of the roads down here started out as walking sticks.

dtbushpilot - 11-29-2010 at 09:55 PM

When I encounter a bicycle on hwy1 I try to slow down and give him or her all the room that they need. I don't know if it is Murphy's law at work but it seems that as often as not there is traffic coming the other way just as I get abeam of the bicycle.

Hwy1 wasn't designed for 3 vehicles passing at the same time. If you are a bicyclist intent on exercising your right to be on hwy1 (I'm not sure just what those rights are) and I have to chose between running me and my family off the road and your stupid a$$ you will be in the rocks or under my truck every time. If you should manage to catch up with me somewhere and want to challenge me go for it. I'll probably still be pi$$ed off that you made me run your stupid ass off the road and I'll be more than happy to teach you another lesson about Baja......dt

Darwin at Work

MrBillM - 11-29-2010 at 10:39 PM

Red Foxx, back in the 60s, had a joke about not ruining his Five-Thousand Dollar Lincoln over a Fifty Cent Cat. The same principal applies with Cyclists.

Except that, even if you run over them, it still does a lot of damage. Better than the alternative, though.

Marc - 11-29-2010 at 10:43 PM

I have raced bicycles in all categories (divisions) and have spent years and thousands of miles on the road. I have trained with and raced against world champions. That being said; WHAT THE H### ARE THESE CYCLISTS ON MEX1 THINKING ABOUT?. I totally agree to slow down, be careful passing, but it's just a matter of time before something bad happens. We used to say"it's not IF, but WHEN" you go down, either hooked by another biker, sloppy bike handling, or your hit by a vehicle. What happens when two trucks and a cyclist all meet on a narrow road with no shoulder? I admire their pluck and they do have a right to the road but I think they are nuts.

rv6mike - 11-29-2010 at 10:46 PM

Chrisx,
If you guy's would not ride like marooons this subject would not come up. On my last trip north from LA in Malibu there were about 20 of you burrows riding in the right lane and not giving room to auto's, so i tapped my horn so I could go around. When we got to the next red light as you say the marooons hit my motorhome with their fist's. Yes I got out and all you pussys ran. If I was going to the river with my buds and not wine tasting with the wife I promise the outcome would have been more fun for us. If you guys want respect then ride like you deserve it.

If so many cities are safer up north then stay north

[Edited on 11-30-2010 by rv6mike]

[Edited on 11-30-2010 by rv6mike]

Marc - 11-29-2010 at 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
What's a bicycle doing on a road without a shoulder or riding in the car lane? Mexico built Hwy. 1 for economic development... trucks move cargo that people need and busses move people... if a bike riding tourist can't hear them coming and get off the road, he shouldn't be on a skinny road. Not only is he endangering himself over a crazy hobby, but the lives of the people who pass him or worse.

I have nothing against bicycles on highways that are built for them to share with autos.

It is great for bicycles that Mexico is finally widening the highways in Baja with shoulders now... that are finally allowing SAFE use of bikes and autos.

You will find these new highways replacing narrow 2 lane roads for 30 miles north of San Felipe, 18-24 miles south from Puertecitos, north and south from El Rosario a few miles, and now being widened south from Maneadero and south from Tecate. These are the 2 lanes bikes can safely ride on as well as the hundreds of miles of 4 lane roads in Baja and the dirt roads, of course.

I don't have a clue about your Arizona or California comments or how they relate to Baja.

I used to train on my bike on Maui 35+ years ago when there were no shoulders on the roads (and no sidewalks) and let me tell you it was scary. I would try to ride on the cane field roads and always get kicked off. There were big trucks hauling cane and really moving along. Similar to what I see now on the Baja road. Now that I am to old to ride much there are shoulders and bike lanes everywhere.

Maybe another 35 rears and there's a nice shoulder all the way to Cabo. I don't think I'll be around to see that.

I would not ride the Baja road without shoulders.

Marc - 11-29-2010 at 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rv6mike
Chrisx,
If you guy's would not ride like marooons this subject would not come up. On my last trip north from LA in Malibu there were about 20 of you burrows riding in the right lane and not giving room to auto's, so i tapped my horn so I could go around. When we got to the next red light as you say the marooons hit my motorhome with their fist's. Yes I got out and all you pussys ran. If I was going to the river with my buds and not wine tasting with the wife I promise the outcome would have been more fun for us. If you guys want respect then ride like you deserve it.

If so many cities are safer up north then stay north

[Edited on 11-30-2010 by rv6mike]

[Edited on 11-30-2010 by rv6mike]

Sheeeet!! That was you??

BajaNuts - 11-30-2010 at 12:32 AM

sounds like crisx has an axe to grind with some one in some state somewheres- (yea, I know it's spelled wrong)

recent personal experience in Washington state...USA....

I'm driving a 1-ton work truck, full box compartment set up/wide body with normal service truck mirrors. I'm driving home in the summer along a rural 2-lane highway with full shoulders (at least 2 feet of shoulder) and come around a corner (legal speed limit of 60 mph) right up on 2 bikers riding side-by-side. One biker is safely on the wide shoulder, the other biker is 6-8" over the white line in the vehicle lane...NOT on the shoulder!

I'm driving a freaking 1-ton work truck, fully loaded with tools and materials! It Does NOT SLOW DOWN QUICKLY! And now add into the equation... THERE'S AN ONCOMING CAR!

So My question to you, crisx, is....what should I do? oncoming car, 2 bicyclists riding side-by-side with one in the vehicle lane, ample room to ride single file on the shoulder if they chose to do so....

Crisx, who is right? Should I stay-the-course in my lane and wipe out the cyclist? should I swerve over the centerline and wipe out the car, which might have children in it? What should I do?

Do they have a right to ride side-by-side and endanger the lives of everyone involved in the episode I just described? Themselves, myself, the people in the oncoming little car which would have been plastered if I had swerved over the line to avoid the bikers and then hit the car with a 1-ton truck.....

This is a true life experience, and you can thank "whomeveryouwish" that the oncoming car saw the situation and moved over onto their shoulder so I could cross the centerline to avoid plastering the stupid cyclist who was riding in the vehicle lane!

I saw something recently about a family cycling down MX1 with little kids in the tag-along-thingies. All I could think of was to pray. "Merciful Lord, please watch over these fools and protect those babies."

Epitaph-
Here lies the body of Mr, Grey,
Who died defending his right of way,
He was right, dead right, as he went along,
but he's still as dead as if he were wrong.

You may have the RIGHT to ride MX1 on a bicycle, but is it smart? Is it safe? Why would a person deliberately put themselves at the mercy of others reactions to stay safe?

You are banking your life on the fact that all the drivers on MX1 have ample room and there are no wide loads, and they are all fully rested and awake and actually give a crap about others safety when it's a choice between swerving over the line towards the crumbling edge of the pavement to avoid a rider.

Let's roll the dice, ride MX1 and see who wins...is your life worth it just because you have the RIGHT?

sounds like maybe crisx needs an airline ticket, a rental car and mas cervesas!

:biggrin:

edit- just to be clear to crisx- I ALWAYS swerve around cyclists as you described, we have LOTS of riders on the rural roads in our area. But cyclists gotta realize not every vehicle on the road is an ultra-responsive sports car, that can slam on the brakes every time they come upon a pedalpusher! and when bicyclists deliberately put themselves in harms way, when there is ample room to ride safely on the shoulder.....
:fire:

I'd never say they deserve to get hit...but....~~~

[Edited on 11-30-2010 by BajaNuts]

DENNIS - 11-30-2010 at 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc
Maybe another 35 rears and there's a nice shoulder all the way to Cabo. I don't think I'll be around to see that.

I would not ride the Baja road without shoulders.

If that shoulder happens to be almost as wide as a car, that's who will use it.

Mike99km - 11-30-2010 at 08:29 AM

As long as he know's the risk I support his adventure. A lot of people make that ride every year and love the ride.
That being said it doesn't change the laws of physics.
I thought he was going to ride on dirt roads?
MMc

Santiago - 11-30-2010 at 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc
Maybe another 35 rears and there's a nice shoulder all the way to Cabo. I don't think I'll be around to see that.

This just might be the funniest typo I've seen in a long time.
:lol:

DENNIS - 11-30-2010 at 08:42 AM

Another thing....Not only drunk, deranged retirees drive HWY 1. Mexicans drive it as well and one of their favored pastimes is "Hit 'n Run."

And another....If you think you have rights in Mexico, then you haven't been paying attention.

wilderone - 11-30-2010 at 08:51 AM

crisx, I hope you're getting the message. Doesn't have anything to do with a theoretical "right" to use the road. Has everything to do with the reality - the fact - that the roads are narrow and not wide enough for two semis and you on the road. With all the blind curves, the number of semis, hundreds of occasions every day when the fatal configuration is lined up (2 semis and a bicycle, bounded by a guard rail or sheer cliff), only a matter of time before YOU will be the little white cross on the side of the road. Bicyclists are no more or less of a nuisance than a goat or a cow on Mex 1. Heed the advice.

Baja Biking

bajaguy - 11-30-2010 at 09:07 AM

crisx, if you want to experience Hwy 1, or any Baja highway, get yourself a mountain bike and ride in the dirt alongside of the highway

UnoMas - 11-30-2010 at 09:40 AM

Not to mention that many Mexican vehicles have little or no brakes so stopping quickly is not an option. :light:

durrelllrobert - 11-30-2010 at 10:39 AM

don't fight children :lol:

mtgoat666 - 11-30-2010 at 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrisx
pass bicycles safely!
When passing a bicycle on a narrow road,
1. hit the brakes
2. wait until it is safe to pass
3. cross the yellow line and go around
reading the anti bicycle statements on this forum is just sick Is everyone here from Arizona the anti bicycle state? Why do the Mexican drivers in the city of Tijuana drive better than the rural drivers of California?

A truck driver said it cost him $1.93 to hit the brakes. Not to stop, but to hit the brakes and slow down. Life is cheap, very.

Has anyone ever seen what a mangled cyclist looks like on the rear axle of a truck? Cut off just above the navel, no legs, drop bars still in his hands. 1,500 miles of heat off the back wheels turns the body into a mummy. dose not even look real. most of the bicycle broken and gone.

Truck driver says with a dismissive wave of his hand ¨had to push a bicycle off the road down in Arizona¨. In Seattle when he saw the remains. He tried to flee, but the cops got that one. The punishment was light compared to the crime. he thinks like many of the posters on this forum, Crawl out of the bottle you damn fool!

chrisx:
you are a master fisherman, your choicce of lure for trolling was right on the money. you caught yourself a boatload of lard butt bike haters! now come on back and filet them!

DENNIS - 11-30-2010 at 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

you caught yourself a boatload of lard butt bike haters! now come on back and filet them!

That isn't true....not in the least. We love bikes. It's the marooons who ride them in traffic that we have no tolerance for.

KEEP YOUR BLOOD OFF MY FENDER

sanquintinsince73 - 11-30-2010 at 10:59 AM

I can't stand the pizza delivery guys who dart in and out of traffic on their 50cc murdercycles.

mcfez - 11-30-2010 at 11:11 AM

Occasionally the cyclist catches up with the bad driver at a rest area or a truck stop. what happens when a guy that exercises all day meets a guy that sits in a chair all day?
what happens when a guy that exercises all day meets a guy that sits in a chair all day?

I'm sitting here in my truck at our jobsite...reading this junk of yours.

You write as if all of us here at BN are lazy, weak, and are chair lovers. Most of us go to Baja for hiking, racing, quad riding, dirt biking, fishing, and bla bla bla. Hell...some of us even build our houses and such when down there. We get involved with the local communities. We help lost souls with donkeys....and others that "claimed" to be lost in their red cars(!).

We do all this...while you are peddling your little bikie, wearing them cute tights too.... I bet. You cant be wearing an helmet for I am sure of that....manufactures dont make them for a diminutive person such as you.

Rest stop beating? Must be one of your manhood dreams you little wimp.

[Edited on 11-30-2010 by mcfez]

mcfez - 11-30-2010 at 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lencho

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
Rest stop beating? Must be one of your manhood dreams you little wimp.

Little wimp? The troll sure hooked you! :lol:

Geeze whiz.....it's the troll cop.

Perhaps I thrive on trolls.....good debate materiel and sometimes...the true colors of the troll'er comes out. It's better than watching the I Love Lucy Show!

Bajatripper - 11-30-2010 at 01:43 PM

As one who frequently drives the peninsula and who also was once foolish enough to ride the Baja on a bike (and I haven't yet outgrown the idea of doing it again), I've seen both sides of this argument.

What I found most interesting during my ride was that the only people who seemed they couldn't care less if they cut it too close or not (with their side mirrows to my head) were foreigners. Mexican drivers, without exception, were gracious and supportive as they passed by. Going up the grade north of El Rosario, a Coca Cola truck followed me up the last couple of curves, in spite of my best efforts to wave him on. He probably thought I needed protecting from those crazy gringos following him.

That said, I was once driving behind a group of foreign cyclists who insisted on riding two abreast, which really, really got my skivies in a wad. For them, I have to admit, I got on my horn and gave them a hardy one-finger salute accompanied by some of my "best" sailor talk screamed out the truck window. Since we were north of Santa Rosalia and I knew there was a Policia Federal station in a few miles distance, I took the time to inform myself. These jokers were totally within their legal rights to ride two abreast, so long as they had a vehicle with an amber light flashing in front of them.
As my brother use to say to me; you may be within your legal rights to ride wherever, but you may end up being dead right.

I also found out that the fastest one can legally drive on any part of the two-laner Baja road is 80KPH, about 50MPH, and since we all respect the law of the land, it shouldn't be any problem to slow down from that speed, right? :lol:

I think that the feelings expressed in this thread are more of a release than an expression of what would happen should any of them meet a bicycle. Otherwise, we'd be hearing about the hit bikers all the time. I can't remember ever hearing of anyone being hit while riding the Baja on a bike. Can anyone else?

I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea, it won't kill you (and may save one of those fools) if you gave a bicycle rider a break. That is, so long as she/he is hugging the side of the road. But for those idiots who want to ride two abreast, please run them over with all due haste, they really pi$$ me off! :lol:

[Edited on 11-30-2010 by Bajatripper]

Marc - 11-30-2010 at 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiago

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc
Maybe another 35 rears and there's a nice shoulder all the way to Cabo. I don't think I'll be around to see that.

This just might be the funniest typo I've seen in a long time.
:lol:

oops?!

bajalou - 11-30-2010 at 08:30 PM

I believe in Calif. the law reads that if you have 5 or more vehicles behind you wanting to pass, you MUST pull off the roadway at the first safe spot and let all pass. If bicyclists would do that, they might find less people mad at them.

durrelllrobert - 12-1-2010 at 09:47 AM

Here is a traffic law question. If you miss it you may be too old to drive..

Most men will get this right!

Q: You are driving along a narrow two lane Mexican road with a NO PASSING FOR NEXT 2 MILES sign posted, and you come upon a bicycle rider. Do you:

(a) Follow this slow-moving bicycle rider for the next 2 miles, or

(b) Do you break the law and pass?

Which is the correct choice?

A: Why Take a Chance? :lol:

sorry, I have no idea why photobucketremoved photo of me following a lovely female bike rider :?:

[Edited on 12-1-2010 by durrelllrobert]

shari - 12-1-2010 at 10:34 AM

as Dennis would say...tick tick tick tick :lol:

Pompano - 12-1-2010 at 10:36 AM

Is that a bike rack..or what?

ELINVESTIG8R - 12-1-2010 at 10:52 AM

Bajatripper - 12-1-2010 at 12:01 PM

Another good one, investigator! :lol:

DENNIS - 12-1-2010 at 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
as Dennis would say...tick tick tick tick :lol:

I wonder what I missed? [this is not a request for a re-run]

David K - 12-1-2010 at 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ELINVESTIG8R

That's great David... Bike vs. motorhome! :lol:

wessongroup - 12-1-2010 at 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
Is that a bike rack..or what?

Good one

Ya mean this is something you don't HAVE !!

Can't wait for photo's of your "shopping trip".... :lol:

bajabound2005 - 12-2-2010 at 06:57 AM

Things look different from the seat of a bike carrying a sleeping bag with a cold beer tucked inside. ~Jim Malusa

Thanksgiving Day - Baja Road

Pompano - 12-2-2010 at 07:20 AM

An odd occurence...on this nice straight stretch of the Baja Road....I met one cyclist northbound and one southbound in the same spot. A first for me.

I hugged the center line and we all survived.

GOOD AND BAD HIGHWAYS FOR BICYCLISTS

Pompano - 12-2-2010 at 08:22 AM

Over this last summer's road trip, we encountered bicyclists everywhere...on nice wide modern highways. Some had designated bike lanes, and almost all had wide shoulders that can be utilized by cyclists...

...and pedestrians.

Bikes are great for ferry trips...as to and from Whidbey Island, Wash.

And sometimes the rig is just too wide for a bike..or anything!.. to make it past safely... :rolleyes:

Good luck fishing, chum...

Baja Highway 1 does NOT fall into that category. It is foolhardy and dangerous to make this trip.

[Edited on 12-2-2010 by Pompano]

DENNIS - 12-2-2010 at 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
Over this last summer's road trip, we encountered bicyclists everywhere...on nice wide modern highways. Some had designated bike lanes, and almost all had wide shoulders that can be utilized by cyclists...

That Bike-Lane down here would be the new passing lane.

ELINVESTIG8R - 12-10-2010 at 05:48 AM