Do you think we're magnets for cars?

[Flowrider]

I've had soooo many close calls riding on the road, so many that I gave away my road bike and now ride 90% on dirt tracks or bike paths.

I have this theory that we are magnets for cars.

Why?

When a car sees us on the side of the road, the driver is naturally cautious and looks at us to be aware that they don't hit us, BUT this means that we become the centre of attention and subconsciously, therefore unintentionally, the driver drifts over towards us.

What do you think?

[Painkiller]

The key is to drift towards them during their approach and then pop back in place. Most drivers will see you and over compensate and you will be further away from the approaching vehicle than if you just let them pass. Some may toot the horn but who cares if it keeps you alive, lol. other cars approaching will take notice of this and take caution when passing too

[rydabent]

To the contrary if you ride a trike. People seem to give trikes a really wide berth. I think that many drivers feel we are some form of handicap device.

[ReapThaWhirlwind]

No, reasonable people will always give distance, but in some regions, there are mentalities of intolerance, unprofessionalism, and entitlement which leads many people to recklessness and belligerence when it comes to cyclists.

[Flowrider]

I guess my question is..

If the driver is looking at you and can't to far over, as that's dangerous too, with their focus on you, and them thinking, "I must watch out for the cyclist." they go closer to you as you because their eyes and attention is on you.

Does that make sense?

[Sue E Eades]

(01-14-2025, 07:26 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  I've had soooo many close calls riding on the road, so many that I gave away my road bike and now ride 90% on dirt tracks or bike paths.

I have this theory that we are magnets for cars.

Why?

When a car sees us on the side of the road, the driver is naturally cautious and looks at us to be aware that they don't hit us, BUT this means that we become the centre of attention and subconsciously, therefore unintentionally, the driver drifts over towards us.

What do you think?

What you describe can occur but in general I don't believe we are magnets for cars, but I do believe cars are magnets for some cyclists in much the way you describe. Pick a random cycling post on social media and it is a good chance you will see a cyclist hitting a car (and, of course, blaming it on the car for being in his way). The worst situation seems to be in the UK but the US is catching up. The days of mutual respect and mutual responsibility are long behind us.

I also believe there are far too many cyclists who choose to ride irresponsibly. It doesn't matter whether they are riding irresponsibly so they can show off their stupidity on TikTok, or on YT, or if they are just naturally idiots. This irresponsible cycling endangers not only the irresponsible riders but everyone else on the road with them, and also endangers other cyclists who aren't even in the area because the irresponsible cyclists taint the opinions of other road users.

[rydabent]

I blame most of this on idiots on their smart phones while they are driving.