My SO and I were out for a bicycle ride one afternoon and some Bubba in a big ol' bad-ass 4-wheel drive pickup damn near took out the back of her head. I don't think he did it on purpose, but he wasn't in any mood to give any extra room to her despite the fact that there was no traffic in the opposing lane. His mirror was one of those that stuck WAAAY out beyond the sides of the vehicle, he probably towed a trailer and needed the visibility. I have conflicting feelings regarding what he would have done had his mirror impacted her head, but based on his choice not to give her extra space as he passed I'd damn near bet a paycheck he would have just kept on going.
Blame the heat if you want to, but we haven't been out for a ride since. I know my SO was rattled by the incident, don't know for sure if the Bubba even knew there WAS an incident. I know I shook in my shoes for about 15 minutes just imagining what ALMOST happened...and I mean by mere inches.
Sad state of affairs....way TOO many people think that bicycles should not be on the roads, but in fact they have every bit the right to be there that those Bubbas in the big ol' 4-wheel drive pickups have. That's the law....the reality is that the Bubbas win that one EVERY TIME!
I don't even ride to the corner convenience store without a helmet, developed the habit when I was a poor college student and a motorcycle was my primary form of transportation...never got on the street without a helmet on that bike, either.
Put 'em on, guys 'n' gals!
Cheers from Doug!!