Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!israel
From: israel@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.bicycle
Subject: Re: bikes and vehicles
Message-ID: <3180@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Oct-83 21:04:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.3180
Posted: Mon Oct 17 21:04:11 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Oct-83 20:34:00 EDT
References: <719@utastro.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 32

There is another major reason that a biker wants to ride with the
traffic besides against it.  That reason is relative speeds (I always
considered this the main reason).

Lets say I bike down a road at an average speed of 12 mph (I've timed
myself going at an enjoyable rate (i.e. not rushing along) and 12 mph
is approximately my cruising speed, but then I'm a fairly slow rider)
and a car is going 30 mph.

If I ride against the traffic (going towards him), then we are
approaching each other at a speed of 42 mph.  If I ride with the
traffic, then he is gaining on me at a speed of 18 mph.

I would much rather get hit by a car going 18 mph, than one going 42
mph!!! (I would much rather not get hit at all, but it these two were
my only options then I'd obviously choose the slower car).  Also,
the car coming up behind you, because its relatively slower, has
more time to see you and react and take appropriate action.

Another justification for riding with traffic is curves on roads.  If
we are heading towards each other with a curve in between us, then you
can guarantee that he does not know I'm there until he's on top of
me (in a manner of speaking, hopefully).  If I'm riding with traffic
and there is a curve between me and the car behind me, then he still
might not know that I'm there, but he might know because I was on
his side of the curve earlier, and if there was a straight-away before
it, he would've had a chance to see me.
-- 

~~~ Bruce ~~~
Computer Science Dept., University of Maryland
{rlgvax,seismo}!umcp-cs!israel (Usenet)    israel.umcp-cs@CSNet-Relay (Arpanet)