RazorWind

I currently make my fiveish mile commute to work in my car, but given the relatively short distance, I've been considering switching to one of my bikes for when the weather is nice.

The problem is this one section of maybe a third of a mile between Cedar Bend Dr. and Bittern hollow heading south, seen in the satellite photo here:

https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=3...03369&t=h&z=19

The Google Maps satellite imagery is old, and there's now a bike lane on Metric Blvd, however, as you can see, the road gets considerably narrower as you head south on Metric as it goes across that creek, so the bike lane disappears at Cedar Bend (there's a stop light), and then reappears on the other side of Bittern Hollow (where there's no stop light).

My question is, what is the proper procedure for dealing with a situation where the bike lane disappears at an intersection like that? Do I take the bike lane up to the light and then get out in front of the cars and make them go around me?

Do I merge in with the cars somehow way before that? This would be difficult in the morning, as the traffic is moving 40ish mph there, and it's heavy enough that there isn't space to jump out in the regular traffic lanes safely, I think.

Do I just stay to the right and let the cars pass? This seems like it would be incredibly dangerous in heavy traffic, as there's a curb, the lane is narrow, and a significant portion of the traffic there is busses, which are obviously really wide.

noisebeam

I think you are on the right track with the options you are considering - somewhere between your option one and two I recommend.

Start to monitor traffic before the bike lane width ends (a rear view mirror is helpful). Either you will need to find a gap to safely merge into, or if traffic is denser you may need to negotiate a gap using your left arm and looking back until a motorist slows and lets you merge.

That is why you should be starting to plan this merge well before the bike lane width ends. Some days you will find you merge early before the bike lane width ends due to a gap, other days you may nearly run out of the extra width before you successfully negotiate a merge.

Al

AndrewP

Since there are two lanes in each direction cars should have no trouble getting past you. A glasses mounted mirror would make it much easier to watch for a gap in the traffic so you could move out without alarming anyone. There is also a sidewalk for about half that stretch that you could use. I dont normally support sidewalk cycling, but there are no driveways or shopping centre exits crossing the sidewalk, so it should provide easy riding.

RazorWind

There's actually a sidewalk that covers the whole thing. I've done what you suggest a couple of times on the weekend, and it was doable and kind of seemed seemed like what the road's designers had in mind, frankly.

dexeqex

I'm in a pretty bike friendly town, but I've found that people are often willing to slow down and let you merge if you signal earler than you need to and just leave your hand sticking out.

Luckily, no one's taken my arm off yet.

Allister

Try each of the different approaches, and figure out which works best for you.

If you don't think it's safe for someone to pass you, don't let them pass you.

John E

Much depends on traffic volume and speed, as well as how accustomed local motorists are to seeing vehicular bicyclists.

MrCjolsen

Carefully merge into the traffic lane.

caloso

Option 1 or 2, or 1.5. Definitely not option 3.

BarracksSi

Looks like a great place to work on your sprints.

Good advice so far, BTW, IMO.

Pscyclepath

Scan behind you to ensure that there's no overtaking traffic, signal left, and then move into the right-hand traffic lane. Take the lane (e.g., down the center or at least in the right-hand wheel track) as needed for your safety. Go through the intersection just like you're a car... e.g., obeying any applicable traffic signs, signals, etc.

When you get back to where there's a bike lane, again look behind you to make sure the coast is clear, signal your move, and shift back over into the bike lane.

Bike lanes will often disappear about a hundred meters or so short of a signalized intersection, with the intent of reducing the chance that a right-turning vehicle might turn in front and right-hook you at the intersection. You can be seen a lot more readily if you're out in the lane, in front, than on the right in the bike lane where far too many motorists are not conditioned to be looking for cyclists (or pedestrians, for that matter).

JohnBrooking

Good advice here. I can only add that I make it a habit of taking over the lane when stopping for a red light. (There are not many bike lanes here, so I'm used to not having them.) This prevents the motorists from trying to split the lane with you in the line. Cars are slowing down on the approach anyway, so if you watch behind you (with mirror or head turn) and maybe signal if you need to, you shouldn't have a problem merging in at about the time you are matching their speed on the approach. When the light changes and everyone starts moving, I gradually drift over to the right again once I feel there is room. At no time do I let myself be pushed closer than 1.5-2' from the usuable side of the road.

cooker

RazorWind, you mentioned using the sidewalk across the bridge, but if you do that make sure the railing is high enough that you can't bump it and fly over the side, especially in a vicious cross wind.

twobikes

If the light is red I have stopped ahead of the intersection where the bike lane ends and put one foot on the curb. I crane my neck to see what is coming. When the light turns green, I wait until the last car has gone through the intersection. Then I get into the lane and ride through the intersection while the light is still green. That assumes there is no continuous flow of traffic. If the light is green, I look behind me to see if there is traffic. If so, I will probably put my foot on the curb and wait. If there is no traffic for a reasonable distance, I will ride through the intersection. If there is a continuous flow of traffic, I will probably get onto the sidewalk where the bike lane ends and be a pedestrian until I get to where the bike lane begins again on the other side of the intersection. These things may slow my trip, but they keep me safe.

Helmet Head

This thread is a great example of the knowledge and excellent advice this forum has to offer. Well, at least until this post.

Seriously, I second what noisebeam, AndrewP, MrCjolsen, Pscyclepath and JohnBrookings have suggested and advised, though I'm not too keen regarding the suggestions about using the sidewalk. You can if you want, of course, and I'm sure it can be done safely, if you're careful especially when getting ready to merge back onto the road, but probably not without sacrificing some time.

In terms of staying on the road, I would like to clarify that it's important to start the merging-left process early, like noisebeam said, and to take a lane-controlling position that clearly communicates lane control in no uncertain terms. Avoid a wishy-washy position near the right tire track, for example, where it's not clear right away to drivers approaching from behind in your lane that they will either have to slow down to your speed or change lanes to pass. You want them to realize that is the case as soon as possible, and the most effective way to do that is to be at least as far left as the center point between the left and right tire tracks, though you may want to be a bit further left to avoid the oil slick area.

The mirror is also useful to continue monitoring rearward once you're in your controlling lane position which, with practice, can be accomplished with a split-second glance back every few seconds. By monitoring rearward, you can read approaching motorists, and know whether they need to be informed that you know they are there and you're still not moving anywhere. This can be accomplished with a slight lateral adjustment, a quick look back accompanied with a nod, or perhaps a slow/stop arm signal.

I hope you report back to this thread in about a week, a month, 3 months and 6 months to give us updates on how it's going.