The Big One?

In some NASCAR races they talk about the "big one", referring to a really bad crash.  I'm afraid at some point I will end up witnessing a big one because of drivers who are either really impatient or don't understand the concept of lanes and when and how to pass.
Yesterday and today I had people who gave me plenty of room when they passed but since they passed directly into oncoming traffic they almost caused the big one.

In the pass that the  Lexus (License 432MJM)  made, you can see in the rear facing camera that the car in the oncoming lane was almost off the road when the Lexus moved into that lane.

Then the bonus was Chevy pick up truck parked IN the road, blocking the entire lane of a two lane road at the base of a hill at the end of a curve.  It was still parked there an hour later so I called the police and hopefully they either ticketed or towed this truck or both.

I'm running out of things to say about the people who drive like this, but maybe I'll give the police a call about the Lexus, as it was a pretty egregious pass.
Bikesafer
Jeff

Spring, The Season of Impatience

It seems spring is often the worst season for impatient drivers.  Maybe they just aren't used to bicycles being on the road yet, but that doesn't excuse dangerous or illegal behavior.
Approaching a stop sign this red Dodge pickup license LA 8481 decided he needed to get to the stop sign before I did.
He didn't quite make it and in the process he almost took me out. In the rear facing angle you can see my hand come within an inch or so of the bed of the truck.  I was pretty sure he was gonna hit me so I took my hand off the bars so I could avoid him hitting my handlebars and sending me flying.

During our conversation at the stop sign he told me that he was 2 feet away from me.  I think it was a little closer than that but in any case it was nice of him to admit on camera that he broke the law.
I asked him 3 times if he would have passed me the same way if it had been his son or daughter on the bike.  He declined to answer all 3 times.  He did tell me that the road was narrow and I should ride elsewhere.
What he neglected to acknowledge is that we were a few feet from a stop sign, so there was insufficient time to complete the pass and even if there had been, there was an entire oncoming lane clear of traffic he could and should have used.
The road I was on is right next to a village park where countless families take their kids to play.  Not a county highway or a busy city street.  If anyone should be told to go elsewhere perhaps it should be the truck driver who violates the law.

Patience and Keith Bontrager's pants

The good and not so good from today's ride.
The good was Keith's pant's or more accurately tights.  They weren't his actual tights like the Vince Lombardi West Point jacket, but the ones with the Bontrager logo on them.  They might not fetch a five figure price tag at auction, but they are worth every penny I paid for them for rides with temps in the teens.  Best tights I've worn so far.

The not so good, and I say not so good because it wasn't really the worst infraction, but one that makes you shake your head and say "what the hell" none the less.

Silver Camry license 490 VPJ passes me then a hundred yards down the road stops and blocks almost the whole lane and just sits there.  As I looked back the car pulled up and backed into the driveway it parked in front of.  

If you know you're gonna block the road, why the hell do you feel the need to pass someone one hundred yards from the spot you're gonna stop?  

It's called impeding traffic!  

346.59 Minimum speed regulation. (1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or is necessary to comply with the law. (2)

Other than that it was a good but slow ride.  Hopefully faster rides to come.

Bikesafer

Jeff