If We Could Talk: Passing in Blind Curves on Roads

"If We Could Talk" is a continuing series of posts. It covers topics regarding information, based on encounters, that a cyclist or motor-vehicle driver wish they could share with one another.

Dear Driver,

It was around 5:10 p.m. when I met you the other day. It was a brief encounter, so I understand if you don't remember me. But, I know you saw me. I know you saw me because you actually moved out of your lane and gave me a good amount of space, enough space that I wasn't scared and thought, "wow, that was close", and I thank you for that. However, there's something I wish to tell you.

I appreciate you sharing the road that has no bike lane, or even an inch of pavement, on the side to the right of the lane line. We both could tell there was nowhere else for me to be and that our straight lane would soon be sharply curving to the left. You figured that at our different speeds you could quickly and easily pass me, as other cars did, on that short straight stretch of Eagle Harbor Dr. The thing is, you passed me right at the end of the straight-a-way putting yourself onto the on-coming traffic lane, only landing safely back on our lane in the middle of the curve. Please! Don't ever pass anyone on a blind curve.

Maybe if we were in the midwest or even eastern Washington, where rare is the hill and the view is unobstructed from trees as far as the eye can see would it be alright to pass on a curve. Bainbridge is different though, this curve is different. This curve is a complete blind spot (in the SE direction). Not only is it a sharp left but the curve turns into a short hill. There's just no way you can see what's coming from the opposite direction as you pass entering, during, or leaving the curve.

So I repeat, Please, please, don't pass in blind curves on roads. I'm not worried about myself, I am afraid for you the driver in the car that is going 35 m.p.h. At this time in the evening you are most likely on your way home and the sooner you get there the better. I understand, I really do, but passing when you can't see more than a second or two in front of you is an accident waiting to happen.

I promise that if you drive slowly behind me until we get through the turn, until you have more of a clear view to make passing safe, that I will speed up and pedal my hardest up that hill for you. I am more than happy to do this because you are making a conscious effort in keeping us both safe. I've also been the driver caught in that curve behind a cyclist, and can assure you that it will take less than a minute of your time. If something went wrong, those few seconds would turn into minutes; hours. At the time of our encounter I was on my way home to an Airedale, patiently waiting and ready to play, I can only imagine who was counting on you to get home safely.

A Grateful but Worried Cyclist.

Biking on Bainbridge:

Whether you live on, been to, know of, or never heard of Bainbridge Island, it's where I live. Most people come and go through Bainbridge as it's a major commuter hub with a short 35 minute ferry ride taking one from Eagle Harbor to downtown Seattle. It's also a semi-rural place that has experience sharing the road with cyclist, whether it be the person who occasionally tours, someone biking for fitness, or the everyday commuter to work.

My husband and I, along with our Airedale terrier, Cheddar Pancakes moved to the island 3 years ago. Previously living in Wisconsin, Texas, and California; all states in which I never once thought about letting go of my car, it of course came with us to Washington. Promptly, I found a job with the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and thus I joined the ranks of the daily ferry commuters. After about a year of observing countless of bike commuters in bright colorful outfits zip by me and make the ferry with time to spare as I desperately ran in order to not be left behind on an island, with no choice but to wait and fret on the fact that I was going to be late to work, for the next 50 minutes until the next ferry left; I decided to become one of them.

Ok, so there's not that many bike commuters that take the ferry on a daily basis (maybe if one counted bikers from all the different commuter times, in the summer).

At the age of 27 I timidly started biking. (Growing up biking and I had a hazardous relationship with me becoming light-headed with minimal effort anytime I was biking. Looking back I think it was the combination of poor nutrition and the beating sun of central California and Texas.) Now I can't imagine ever stopping, however that doesn't make me a stuck-up, entitled, rich, biker that likes wearing neon colors and tight pants. I bike because I enjoy it, PERIOD. Biking can give so much to people, and it can also take everything away.

In the 2+ years that I've been biking I have seen and learned a lot, and not just about sharing the roads with motorists in the city, suburbs, rural roads, and small towns, but about our cultural views, societal politics, myself, and who I want to be. The purpose of this blog is to share that knowledge in the hope that we'll eventually create a culture that strives to keep us all happy and safe.

So feel free to share your knowledge by leaving a comment, liking/sharing a post, or, if you're ever on island, I love coffee and chatting with people. : )