The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

  The Biggest Threat to Long Distance Cyclists: The Rise of the Distracted Driver While the dangers of the open road are numerous – from inclement weather to mechanical failures – the single biggest threat to long-distance cyclists today is the rise of the distracted driver. In an era of smartphones, texting, and in-car entertainment systems, drivers are more preoccupied than ever before. This inattention has devastating consequences for cyclists who share the road. 1 Texting While Driving: This is perhaps the most insidious threat. Drivers who text are functionally blind, unable to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions, such as a cyclist moving into the lane. Social Media Scrolling: The allure of social media can be powerful, distracting drivers from the crucial task of safely operating a vehicle. 2 Eating and Drinking: Eating, drinking, applying makeup, and adjusting the radio all take a driver's focus away from the road, increasing the risk of accidents. 3 The con...

  Up Your Nose With a Rubber Hose: My Rant About Car Drivers Who are Blind to Cyclists Okay, I'm officially at my wit's end. I've been cycling for years, and I've seen it all. The impatient honking, the near misses, the outright disregard for my very existence on the road. But lately, it feels like things have gotten worse. It's like some drivers have developed a selective blindness when it comes to cyclists. We're invisible. We're annoyances. We're simply not worth acknowledging. Passing too close: I've had countless close calls with cars whizzing past me inches away. It's terrifying and frankly, dangerous. Do these drivers even understand the physics of wind? Doorings: The dreaded "dooring." You're happily cruising along, minding your own business, and suddenly a car door swings open right in front of you. It's a miracle I haven't ended up on the hood of a car yet. Right Hook Turns: This one takes the cake for sheer ...