Commute Biking Etiquette / Pet Peeves

[Anonymous]

With the Canal Road biking thread, want to bring up something that has been bothering me the last few weeks. Every fall I have to deal with the biking newbs who have their high beams on while I am commuting (in the dark) on the CCT. Always at night, not in the morning as these people are hardcore like me and understand the etiquette of dimming their lights. Its getting old when I can't see in front of me while my light is dimmed and not blinding him/her.

What is your pet peeve?

[doodlebug]

I don't understand your post. Who has the high beams on...cars or bikes?

My pet peeve is anyone (car or bike) who isn't paying attention to where they're going and doesn't share the road or thinks they're the only one on the road...cars who don't check behind them before making a right turn and force a cyclist into a dangerous (potentially deadly) situation, cyclists who zig zag in and out of traffic, cars who aren't paying attention to where the rain puddles are and just wantonly splash through them soaking people on the sidewalk/cyclists etc. I don't own a car and only cycle when it's not raining and roads are dry so I don't have a dog in the fight.

[Anonymous]

doodlebug wrote:I don't understand your post. Who has the high beams on...cars or bikes?

My pet peeve is anyone (car or bike) who isn't paying attention to where they're going and doesn't share the road or thinks they're the only one on the road...cars who don't check behind them before making a right turn and force a cyclist into a dangerous (potentially deadly) situation, cyclists who zig zag in and out of traffic, cars who aren't paying attention to where the rain puddles are and just wantonly splash through them soaking people on the sidewalk/cyclists etc. I don't own a car and only cycle when it's not raining and roads are dry so I don't have a dog in the fight.

I think he is referring to people with really bright helmet lights - I have not seen them called high beams. They can be annoying - mine are not that bright (but I don't ride in complete dark that much) and I try to look away briefly when passing someone (so my light points away from them). Its not a completely black or white thing though, as turning aside is not always the safe thing to do.

[Anonymous]

This former newb apologizes for her high beams. I got yelled at once or twice before I figured out that the angle on my light was bad for other bikers. It's not actually that great a light, but I was angling it too high.

[doodlebug]

Good to know. I use a very bright lamp but it attaches to my handlebars not my helmet. I also seldom ride in the dark but it's nice to have a truly good light that allows me to see vs just be seen, so it's good to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

doodlebug wrote:I don't understand your post. Who has the high beams on...cars or bikes?

My pet peeve is anyone (car or bike) who isn't paying attention to where they're going and doesn't share the road or thinks they're the only one on the road...cars who don't check behind them before making a right turn and force a cyclist into a dangerous (potentially deadly) situation, cyclists who zig zag in and out of traffic, cars who aren't paying attention to where the rain puddles are and just wantonly splash through them soaking people on the sidewalk/cyclists etc. I don't own a car and only cycle when it's not raining and roads are dry so I don't have a dog in the fight.

I think he is referring to people with really bright helmet lights - I have not seen them called high beams. They can be annoying - mine are not that bright (but I don't ride in complete dark that much) and I try to look away briefly when passing someone (so my light points away from them). Its not a completely black or white thing though, as turning aside is not always the safe thing to do.

OP here - thanks for clarifying however I did put CCT in the original thread. I've been biking on and off in this town for 30 years and in the past 3 years have notice many who aren't careful while biking. There isn't a week that doesn't go by without hearing about a bike accident, especially in the Spring, Summer and early Fall.