Obligatory regard for cycling safety

So, on my way home from the TNR last night I passed 5 cyclists on Bauer road west of 48th.  4 were together, and 1 appeared to have been dropped by the group. They were all in similar kit...and, it was kit I've seen at Grattan.  I don't know if it was shop kit, team kit, or just "look at us, we wear matching spandex" kit.  In any case, it was clear that they were together.

So why bring this up?  It's not as if I write something on this blog every time I drive past someone on a bike.

Here is the deal...it was dark outside when I was nearing Jenison.  Thus, it was dark when I passed these fellows pedaling along.  The guy who was by himself was nearly invisible in those light conditions and I damn near pegged him with my car.  So, you can imagine the guilt I'd have felt about that one!

Shortly ahead of him (1/4 mile) were the other four riding together.  There was one guy among these four who came prepared with front and rear blinkies.  Still...I could see that there was A cyclist ahead.  I could not determine that there was a group of cyclists ahead.  So, even though I knew to be looking for them, it was still a bit dicey passing these guys riding two abreast.

So my question is as follows...where does my obligation to their safety begin and end?

My first reaction was...Uh Oh, these guys got caught too far from home after dark and now their going to get killed.  So, I slowed down as I passed the lead group...rolled down my window and waited for them to catch me.  But, then it occurred to me that they didn't need my help...it was the poor guy they had dropped that needed help.  So, I turned around and drove back to the guy who had fallen off the group.

I don't know what I was thinking I would do for this fella...but, it just seemed like I should tell him that I had nearly killed him 2 minutes before that.  I pulled next to him and asked if he had a blinkie...he said no.  I informed him that he was nearly invisible and that I was concerned for his safety.  He then informed me that he'd already made a phone call and had someone coming to pick him up.

I took this to mean that he understand his precarious situation, but that he was dealing with it.  So, I told him to be safe and I made my way home.

Afterward I wondered if I should have done more...did I do too much?  When I'm in my car, I have the standard obligation to keep cyclists on the road safe.  This is no different than any other motorist.  However, since I'm a cyclist (I still had my rack and bike on the back of my car as I was on my way home from my own group ride), should I hold myself to a higher standard in regards to cyclist safety?

Should I have turned around and said something like I did?  I was half expecting him to tell me to buzz off..."I know its dark, leave me alone", or something similar.  But, he didn't...he seemed grateful for my concern and answered it by letting me know that he was dealing with the situation.  He could have just as well told me to mind my own business, though.  So...was I just making an nuisance of myself or was it the right thing to do?

Should I have done more?  I had a space left on my rack and plenty of seats in my car.  I could have given at least him a ride somewhere to wait for whoever was picking him up.  But, I didn't offer that.  And, afterward, I felt like I should have.  I also thought that I could have taken a few minutes and just trailed behind him with my flashers on...it sounded like he wasn't going far.  It would have cost me 10 minutes, but possibly saved his life.  A pretty small trade off in my opinion.  But, I didn't do that either.  After I spoke with him it sort of felt like it would have been a bit presumptuous on my part to do that.  Still...even if he didn't particularly need or want my help, should I feel a moral obligation to keep him safe?

If I picked up the paper this morning and found an article about how that guy had been hit by a car, I don't think I'd have relieved my guilt by reminding myself that it would have been presumptuous to take responsibility for his safety.

So, again, where does my own responsibility for his safety begin and end?  I know the legal answer.  I'm not sure I know the moral answer.