smasha

Why I ride "In the middle of the #^%& road"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wq-raankKA

Sharing the road. It's not so hard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ToOf07kHiA

Bekologist

if you ride in the middle of the _____ road, why in the world in the second video are you pulling over into parking spaces and STOPPING for the convenience of motorists?

Slow speed urban streets like that, no chance in ____ I would be pulling over and stopping for the motorists.

smasha

this one? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ToOf07kHiA#t=33s

because it's a steep uphill that i climb in the lowest gear (and not-so-fast cadence, even then); the lanes are narrow; i'm not losing any momentum by stopping; i'd rather pull over for ≈ 5 seconds and let those two cars pass me, than have them on my ass for the next 1-2 minutes while i climb the hill.

also, i was only expecting one car, and didn't originally plan on stopping. after i moved over the 2nd car came around the corner, and stopping became a much better idea than pulling out. not a big deal.

it's funny that we (collectively) give motorists ("them") a hard time for being impatient, but when it comes to "us" giving up 5 seconds, it's a different story.

genec

"Them" only has to push a pedal easy to get going, "Us" has to exert physical effort to maintain speed.

I may pull over too, if I am going slow and it is a narrow lane and traffic is waiting behind me, but on any road with two or more lanes, I stay in the lane.

Looigi

I ride by the motto: Be conspicuous, courteous, and not obsequious.

On lightly traveled roads, ride in the lane rather than on the shoulder and move to the shoulder as cars approach from behind. You'll stand out more to approaching cars than if you’re mixed in with the visual clutter at the side of the road. Oncoming cars that might be planning to turn left in front of you will be more likely to see you and be more aware of your speed. Cars pulling out of driveways will also see you more easily as you'll be in the lane where they are looking for and expecting traffic and will be more aware of your speed. This is particularly important when riding fast as when descending. Of course the lane often is smoother and has less debris than the shoulder.

When moving at the same speed as the traffic, don’t be shy about riding in the traffic lane.

In town with narrow roads ride in the center of the traffic lane if needed to avoid the door zone, people stepping out from between parked vehicles, especially if there is diagonal parking where a parked car can easily back into your path.

When it's time to take the lane to avoid the door zone or in preparation for making a left turn, signal your intentions and do it well in front of traffic approaching from the rear to give them plenty of time to see you and adjust appropriately. (There're a fair number of motorists who are perfectly happy to slow or stop behind a left turning car or motorcycle but get all steamed up if they have to do it behind a bicycle. There's nothing you can do about that.)

Taking the lane is sometimes appropriate to preempt a “right hook”, a passing car turning right in front of you . If you see a car approaching from behind and signaling a right turn, it may make sense to move into the lane to prevent them from passing and turning in front of you depending the relative speeds and distance to the turn.

Of course wear bright colors and use a bright blinky. Approaching drivers will be able to see you further away giving them more opportunity to see you, recognize what it is they’re seeing, and adjust appropriately.

Bekologist

No, I get amused when motorists are making me slow down on my bicycle because they're ahead of me and slowing traffic, but I don't expect them to pull over and stop so I can get by!

I understand the courteous thing, but what if a hundred and fifty motorists want to pass you on the way up that hill? seems the stopping method would take a lot more time than simply plodding along and expecting others to share the road by moving past you when safe.

When riding up a steep hill, bicyclists often find it courteous and practicable to ride safely closer to the parked cars then when moving the speed of traffic.

smasha

i'll take the sidewalk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udrUmqcNsU8

Paul Barnard

Love the way you share the road!

spivonious

If it's just one car, I'll move over to let them pass if it's safe for me, but I won't stop for them, especially going up a hill, where it's that much harder to get started again. Riding in and out of parked cars is a good way for the drivers behind you to not know where you're going.

gmt13

Although I rarely do it, I don't see a problem pulling over to wait for cars to pass. There are definitely some stretches of road where I would rather have cars in front of me than behind. And, as Smasha says, it doesn't take much time.

And yeah, I wish that cars would get out of my way sometimes. My city spent a lot of money to install speed humps and other traffic calming stuyff on neighborhood streets. I find myself being slowed down by the cars.

-G

cale

Car doors are my #1 fear... From two days ago at the end of a ride.

https://youtu.be/pQZQnWVv8S4

B. Carfree

Why do you ride in the door zone if you are afraid of car doors?

Chris516

I agree with Bek on this!!!

cale

I don't. Why do you post innane questions?

spivonious

I would expect that car door to open. The car is pulled over with it's flashers on - a door is opening somewhere.

cale

And I did! I expected a completely oblivious driver to step out acting as though the world would continue to revolve around her and I wasn't disappointed. I can always hope for better though. :-D

charbucks

I would consider that entire bike lane to be "in the door zone". I wouldn't call it an inane question, but I think a better question would be "why does your city put bike lanes in the door zone?"

Bekologist

they move bicyclists further from the parked cars, make cycle traffic more noticeable, and increase awareness among motorists bicyclists will be on the roadway.

cale

I don't need a full door width (open gap) to change direction and swing wide of a parked car. YMMV.

Turtle Speed

But then what happens if swinging wide isn't safe at that moment, like if there's a car in the process of passing closely on your left?

I watched your video and had had the same thought as the other guy, i.e. the whole freaking bike lane looks like one giant door zone, and it makes me nervous just looking at it.

cale

Having ridden in cities all my life, I guess I'm just used to balancing the zone between parked cars and the moving vehicles coming up from behind. That zone has to be managed relative to my speed. In other words, if I'm moving at a fast pace, like coming down a hill with cars parked inside the bike lane, I will need to have the full space, or more, of any potential door swung wide. The amount of space I need is a function of my reaction speed. On the other hand, as my road speed increases, so does my ability to blend with the traffic and I will frequently take the vehicular traffic lane as necessary to increase the zone.

In the vid, my speed is slow so I've got more time to react to a door that gets opened. The lady parked across the bike lane with flasher's on and swinging her door as I passed wasn't a surprise. It was obvious she was going to exit the vehicle. But when? Would she check her mirrors? Would she remember the cyclist she had passed just moments earlier? Obviously, she didn't have any concern for cyclists so I guess you both are right when you suggest, the bike lane is a magnet for accidents. But the fact that the lines are painted there doesn't increase the dangers to the cyclist unless that cyclist assumes that it is a "safety" zone. I don't but ...

charbucks

I was agreeing with you up until this point. I think the door zone painted lines DO increase the dangers, because they discourage people from riding in the "right" spot (out of the door zone). If there is a bike lane, motorists expect you to be in the bike lane; if you're not, you're likely to get yelled at, buzzed, or perhaps even ticketed.

I would honestly prefer no bike lane at all to a door zone bike lane. At least that way nobody thinks you "belong" in the danger zone.

charbucks

Can you explain this a bit more? I get how it increases awareness and makes cycle traffic more noticeable, but it seems to me that door zone bike lanes move bicyclists *closer* to parked cars, not further.

spivonious

The lane looks wide enough for a cyclist to stay in it and still avoid doors opening. If the lady was properly parked, the rider wouldn't need to move into the vehicle lanes, unless the bike lane is narrower than it appears.

cale

I think we're pretty close to agreement when it comes to how to ride but I think the motorists you speak of are a minority. Still, I'm sufficiently concerned with the sort of behavior you mention that I've taken to wearing a GoPro camera when I ride. If they buzz me, I'll report them.

As far as getting ticketed, I'm not aware that I've given up any rights since bike lanes have been installed in my neighborhood.