Between Bikes and Cars

Chinese "Japanese Mini-Truck Parked at Hardware Store in Ocean Shores

This Mini-Truck Might be Owned by Ace

My loyal reader knows all about bikes and cars. In between those two sizes/types, we all know about All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Golf Carts. Justine Valinotti recently expanded our knowledge about electric bikes, with her post, here. However, beyond this, things seem to get complicated. For example, ATVs, electric bikes and Golf Carts are legal on roads - except sometimes they aren't. Even worse, the rules change from State to State and even from city to city. What's more, there are whole classes of vehicles that are in between bikes and cars that few of us know about or ever see. THESE are also sometimes legal on roads - and sometimes not. Even WORSE, sometimes the rules change depending on whether the vehicle is powered by gasoline or electricity. Even in a little place like Ocean Shores, there was a big debate over golf carts and what the rules were and "should they be allowed?" As in most things, the City Council went on to other things without taking action one way or the other.

Lately, I saw one of these at the local Ocean Shores Ace Hardware. It is a Mini-Truck, sometimes also known as a "Japanese Mini-Truck." Japanese Mini-Trucks, or Kei Trucks, are built many places other than Japan. The one I saw at Ace was built in China. Even after reading up on state laws extensively, it is unclear to me whether these would be street legal in Ocean Shores. Probably so, if the speed limit was 35 or less and it had a license plate. I guess a mini-truck is less dangerous than a golf cart that has lights and seat belts. Oddly, these would be allowed to go 10MPH faster in Texas than in Washington on the same road. Still, despite the odball local politics, these would seem ideal for a place such as Ocean Shores where low speeds and low traffic make the full array of safety equipment somewhat excessive.

Mini-Trucks do not Use all Safety Equipment Required on Cars. IIHS Does NOT Like That!

Note Lack of License Plates. The Website Has Been Abandoned by Mag Which is Out of Business
Parts for this Vehicle are now Problematic

HARD RIGHT

Entirely by accident, I almost witnessed a "right hook" collision on my way home from work. No, I was not an involved party, but I have to admit it was fascinating to watch the scenario unfold. It should remind us once again that it is unwise to pass on the right.

I was northbound, taking the role of the "red arrow" in the aerial view of Pipeline Road in Hurst, Texas. Pipeline is a somewhat conflicted five lane road. I had come upon the intersection and was watching the oncoming, eastbound traffic for a gap I could safely enter. Coming on, in the right lane (the lane of the green arrow, I saw an 18 wheeler truck heading east. Who knew what might be behind that truck? So I kept watching.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the 18 wheeler moved left into the left lane. Was the driver planning a left turn at my intersection? Well, as the truck completed the lane change, a BIG, silver SUV started to move forward, beginning to pass the big rig in his now open right lane. Well, the next thing you know, the 18 wheeler suddenly slowed (bringing the SUV forward further) and then it made its HARD RIGHT turn into a business driveway immediately in front of the SUV in his/her blind spot.

Well, that SUV driver was too startled to honk. So keep in mind that such a situation can and does victimize road users regardless of their vehicular choice. That SUV would have definitely fared poorly had this been more than just a "close call." No charges were filed in this incident - no police were present. Remember that there is a good reason why they have those "wide right turn" warnings on big rigs. Also remember that, most often, BOTH parties to a crash made one or more operating errors. Be safe out there.

Thanks for the Memories

Having made my new, "v3" commute for a bit over a week now, it struck me that what I miss most about the v2 commute, even more than the buffalo, are the big trucks. This came to me, prompted by a post at Los Alamos Bikes, where a truck driver was involved with two cyclists in a "road rage" incident. As the story developed, I was heartened to hear that the driver was most likely a pickup driver, though almost certainly NOT one with an "OU" sticker in his back window. Regardless, it reminded me that I miss the interaction with big trucks. I've not encountered any on my new, v3 commute. Whether they were drill rig water trucks, semis, or, my favorites - the guys from "Charley's Concrete," every one of them made the road a little nicer than it would have been otherwise.

Y'all have a blessed Thanksgiving, except those of you up in Canada who jumped the gun last month. Conveniently, that meant that Arkel was open today. If you know a big rig driver, give him or her a hug from me.

Water Truck, Near Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas

Disabled Truck, Denton County, Texas

MY Concrete Guys, I'll Miss You!

True Professional

Another Trucker, Being Careful While Stopped in the Left Lane

This week has the darkest morning commutes of the year. Due to “Daylight Savings,” sunrise is nearly a full half hour later in North Texas than it will be when the winter solstice arrives. Riding in the dark for an hour is fun. Riding in the dark for 6-8 hours a week gets a little old. Yesterday was a good time to encounter a pro amongst my motoring companions.

In this blog, in the past, I’ve mentioned my experience that professional drivers, such as the ones that drive 18 wheelers and my concrete trucks, are some of the most polite and considerate motorists I encounter during my commute. That impression was reinforced due to a true “Knight of the Road.”

I was riding north in the I-35W Service Road right lane; getting ready to make a leftward lane change prior to making a left turn onto Westport Parkway, when I saw a big rig with a trailer coming fast a lane over. It was unclear whether I’d be able to safely make the lane change ahead of the truck, or if I’d need to wait until the motorist passed. In such cases, I’ll often wait and defer my signal until after the motorist commits to, but there were already a couple of cars at the four-way stop ahead, the truck driver was already starting to slow, and I wasn’t sure if there’d be room behind the trailer at the upcoming four-way stop, so I signaled. In this situation, a commute cyclist should be ready to either go or wait, depending on the actions of the motorist with the right of way. Not only did he/she slow further to let me in, but the driver flashed the truck lights so there was no question I was expected to take the lane change ahead of the truck, which I did promptly thereafter. Conveniently, a left turn signal turns into a wave of thanks simply by opening up the hand and raising the arm a little.

As in the case of “Eyes of a Motorist,” I never saw the driver’s eyes, but I sure did see that truck’s wheels slow down, and the headlights signal. Once again, I salute a true professional; their superior communication makes it easy for all those they share the road with.

Charley's - My Concrete Drivers