Chris516

This is exactly what I didn't want. I didn't want a bunch of motorists' thinking they could step on the gas coming across the bridge. Trapping me right in front of the oncoming traffic waiting for the light to change. Regardless of which side I were coming down, I would have been boxed in. Had I 'shared' the lane.

Also, Why the DOUBLE STANDARD where a motorist can cross the bridge however FAST or SLOW they go. BUT, IF a cyclist goes slow or doesn't get out of the way of a motorist, they are committing a cardinal sin.

FBinNY 

There's no double standard. Slow drivers who block traffic get cursed, called road hogs or Sunday drivers, and passed the same way. Sometimes at poor opportunities because folks behind them get impatient.

The road is for everybody, first come first served. You're entitled to as much as you want, but have some consideration for others and let them pass when it's reasonably safe, and IMO it is safe on this 14' wide bridge. In fact seeing hpw difficult it is to prevent passing, it's safer to encourage it to be done safely.

If this bridge were striped 5'4'5' it would make a 9' and a 4' lane in either direction and neither you nor any drivers would have a problem. It isn't but you could ride it as if were and have less to post about here.

The bulk of one way single streets here are narrower after allowing for parked cars, and there's never an issue. That's with a door zone. There's no door zone on this bridge, so it's one less thing to worry about.

I understand you think it's not reasonable for a car to pass on the bridge, but you're not getting support among many cyclists here, so imagine how much you get from motorists. This is part of the same commute you do daily, so you see the same drivers who'll remember. Do you want them to feel they need to do whatver they can to beat you to the bridge?

Chris516

Look at these two links that were posted earlier:

The first one, is the direction I was travelling on the bridge.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1377...FshdNQi7OQ!2e0

As you will notice, there are vehicles waiting for the light to change so they can cross the bridge.

If I give motorized traffic the lane, by going to the left side of the bridge. Sure they might get by. But the probable flood of traffic crossing the bridge will force me to have to brake to avoid hitting the traffic waiting for the light to change so they can cross the bridge.

If I give motorized traffic the lane, by going to the right side of the bridge. I run the risk of suddenly being cut while coming off the bridge.

This direction is if I was travelling the opposite direction
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1376...4PqCVSU7Bg!2e0

If I were travelling this direction and moved to the left of the lane, and making a left turn.I would have to brake due to the speed of traffic coming off this side of the bridge. Then wait to get back in the traffic. If I pulled to the right of the bridge for a right turn. I would run the risk of getting knocked off the road and into the trees. If was on the left side of the bridge, as I was having to suddenly brake for a right turn on account of some motorist, the risk increases. Because the right turn is very tight.

FBinNY 

Look, you'll do what you will, so this is only a theoretical discussion of options.

You posted about a "near fatality" caused by someone trying to squeeze by you. Most here feel the bridge is wide enough for you to let folks pass safely, and to make it difficult for you to control the flow by riding down the middle.

So you have a choice. You can continue as you are and risk a repeater. Or you can allow passing and manage the pinch at the end, which is a legitimate concern. IMO the pinch is easily managed, and as you point out not at center span where you could go over the side. Consider allowing passing while climbing, then merging into a gap on the far side to be in the lane at the pinch.