redden

Ever get pinched when taking a lane. Happen to me last week on Sepulveda Blvd. Construction zone eliminated the shoulder/bike lane, so I took the right lane. Driver in a Honda came within inches. Caught him in traffic and expressed my displeasure. Seemed clueless.

Helmet Head

I rarely get passed closely now that I take the lane by default (and only move aside to allow faster traffic to pass when safe and reasonable to do so).

When I used to keep to the right by default (whenever it was safe and reasonable to do so), I used to get close passes regularly.

LittleBigMan

I'd suggest moving more to the left. Some motorists don't realize when a lane's too narrow to share.

CliftonGK1

I had someone use the left lane to make a right-on-red because he didn't want to wait behind me in the correct lane. The officer that pulled him over as he rounded the corner didn't think he made such a good decision.

TRaffic Jammer

^^^^yea officer^^^^

genec

Yeah, but they aren't aways around... when idiots make bad decisions.

CliftonGK1

This was the same intersection, roughly same time of the morning, where an officer pulled up next to me in the pouring rain and commented about how he was impressed because he could see my bike from 3 stoplights back as he was approaching. Maybe it was the same one...

mechBgon

What kind of visibility stuff are you using? Was it dark?

redden

I was about half a foot left of center in the lane. Figured if I were any further over I'd be buzzing the cars. This is the 1st time I've had some do this when I clearly had possession of the lane. My other option would have been to go right of the construction cones but that seemed like a bad idea at the time.
Do u ever deliberately weave a little to make yourself look unsteady in the hopes of getting a wider berth?

wheel

Well I suggest either center of lane or first tire markings on the right leave the rest for buffer.

The point here is not to have enough room for a motor and a bicycle. So the Motor has to move over into the other lane or hit you. This might mean they will still be in your lane and adjecant lane buzzing you.

Bekologist

i get close passes by drivers regardless of my lane position- and if i'm too center or left, they pass on the right!

drivers will close pass cyclists, across double yellows, into the face of oncoming traffic.

"close passes in the city,
they pass close in the country,
they pass close all thru the town."

sbhikes

I've had people try to pass me on the right, while I was making a left turn from the center of the left turn lane, while THEY were also making a left turn from the SAME LANE!

I believe that many motorists don't have a clue what to do when they see a bicycle in traffic. And that's not for lack of people using good destination positioning, either. I am not the only cyclist by any means who uses destination positioning. And yet there is always someone out there who just doesn't get it.

redden

Not sure what destination positioning is. Could u define?

Speedo

Yep, happened to me last Thursday...

'nother

Haven't gotten pinched yet as you say, but I occasionally get impatient honks, drivers tailgating me and revving engines, and "Get the #@*$ out of the road!" shouted at me when I yield back the lane (even when there are multiple lanes and ample opportunity for them to pass, it's comical). I suppose I am still missing some critical acronym-based techniques and/or beliefs that are supposed to eliminate this kind of thing in drivers.

2manybikes

I knew you were going to say that !

CommuterRun

I agree with LittleBigMan. My default road position is the right tire track, but when I take the lane I take the middle of the lane or the left tire track. One thing I have found is that positioning myself in the left tire track tends to make some on-coming drivers a little antsy. As if they expect me to suddenly loose control of the bike and somehow swerve into their lane.

Redden, destination positioning is (in a nutshell) choosing your road position based on your intended direction of travel, i.e., at an intersection, middle of the left turn lane for left turns, middle of a (usually the right, but there can be exceptions) straight ahead lane for traveling straight through, middle of the right turn lane for right turns, etc.

Normally the right most lane for the cyclists intended direction is used. However, there may be exceptions. Such as if turning left with multiple left turn lanes the cyclist may desire to use the left most lane if they intend to make another left very soon. This sort of thing mitigates having to turn, then change lanes to turn again. Road debris may be another reason to not use the right most lane and there are others.

redden

I can't see the difference between tailgating someone on a bicycle and pointing a gun at them. Either way your threatening a life. It should be a felony.

Something related to that.
https://tinyurl.com/nvxoy

redden

I can't see the difference between tailgating someone on a bicycle and pointing a gun at them. Either way your threatening a life. It should be a felony.

related link
https://tinyurl.com/nvxoy

noisebeam

Riding in center of lane will not eliminate close passes, but it certainly helps reduce it. Keep you eye on same direction traffic in your mirror and use hand signals to encourage slowing and/or safe passing.
Al

Helmet Head

Controlled weaving can help in some situations.

It's what the CHP does on freeways to get motorists' attention and to get them to slow down for a hazard.

It surprisingly effective for increasing passing margins too.

redden

Ya the CHP saved my a** with that tatic when my chain broke on the 101. I was straddling the center divider, seemed like the safest place to be. CHP really seems to be there to protect and serve. Very professional.

genec

Tend to agree and even the local police feel the same way when a vehicle is pointed at them...

However, neither police nor public tends to feel that way about vehicles "pointed" at cyclists... or driven in an aggressive manner around cyclists. I wonder why?

redden

Sure wish that weren't true. Think it might have something to do with being considered a nuisance on the road. Also the feeling of entitlement to go as fast as possible. I don't drive a car very often but being caught in traffic is incredibly frustrating.

'nother

Protect and swerve?