>Especially where it is unsafe to pass, it is
>unsafe to pass a cyclist.
As the old saying goes, "Like most generalizations, this is false."
The sightlines needed for a vehicle to safely pass a cyclist travelling
20 MPH are MUCH shorter than those needed to safely pass another vehicle
travelling 45 MPH. If it's a tandem team climbing a hill @ 8 MPH the
needed sightlines shrink dramatically further.
When we lived in the Bay Area, there were a number of nearby country roads
which for years were passing legal with no problems. Then the freeways
went into gridlock and these same roads were flooded with commuters twice
a day. A few impatient, braindead drivers would then pass unsafely to get
home a minute earlier. In response to understandably P.O.'ed locals, the
county responded by putting a double yellow line down the entire road. The
net result when we were riding out there (not at commute time!) it was
quite common for drivers to safely pass us, even if they were technically
in violation of the law.
Chris Neary
Chris & Tracey
1999 Co-Motion Speedster
