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Cyclists: Take care on wet roads
It’s not too often that I pedal my bike down wet streets, but I got a good reminder this morning of why it’s important to be extra careful when I do.
It was still dark when I was cruising south along Shoal Creek Boulevard at about 6:30 a.m., admiring the brightly flashing red lights on the back of the bike in front of me.
As we approached Hancock Boulevard, the cyclist, who was wearing a fluorescent yellow safety vest, held his arm out to signal a right turn. But as he rounded the curve, his bike slid out from underneath him and he went down hard.
I stopped to make sure the rider, a 62-year-old man with a thick gray beard, was all right.
Other than a skinned elbow, a banged up knee and a trashed T-shirt, he didn’t seem to be seriously injured. He was a little shaken, but mostly annoyed that he’d fallen.
We chatted for a few minutes. He was on his way to work, and just had a mile to go. We inspected his helmet, which had two new dents in it. Time for a new one!
As we talked, another cyclist pulled up to make sure we were OK. He was on his way to work, too.
It felt good to know that as cyclists we keep an eye out for one another. If I’d fallen, or had a flat, or needed help, I’m sure another cyclist would have stopped to lend a hand.
We’ve got a good cycling community in Austin.
It also reminded me to be extra careful on damp roads. Tires don’t have the same grip as they do on dry roads and a little water can send you sailing.
The three of us wished each other safe biking, and pushed off.
There’s a good chance of rain on Tuesday. Be careful out there, cyclists.
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By Mark Cathcart
November 7, 2011 3:14 PM | Link to this
Given the distinct lack of rain, cyclists and motorists need to be more aware than normal.
There hasn’t been enough rain for a long time to wash the oil off the roads, when it does get wet, the oil will start to foam(looks like the road has dish liquid bubbles on it) as you point out the oil/wet roads are a danger to cyclists, but if the roads do get seriously wet, even when the rain has stopped the roads will be much more slippery than normal wet roads.
By Austin Commuting Cyclist
November 7, 2011 8:37 PM | Link to this
What is a wet road? I thought usually when a watermain breaks or a homeless person relieves themselves, it mostly goes in the gutters.