Recumbent - Vehicular cycling and bents

I have ridden using VC techniquews for years now and am a believer in the soundness of this method. However, now that I am riding a quasi-lowracer, I am less confident that VC is the best way to proceed. I would like to hear how you folks go about riding your bents in traffic situations, what changes do you make to basic VC recommendations?

I have ridden using VC techniquews for years now and am a believer in the soundness of this method. However, now that I am riding a quasi-lowracer, I am less confident that VC is the best way to proceed. I would like to hear how you folks go about riding your bents in traffic situations, what changes do you make to basic VC recommendations?What exactly is Vehicular Cycling?

What exactly is Vehicular Cycling?

Hi Eric. I am especially interested in your experience! Vehicular cycling is from a researcher here in the US named John Forester. If you Google his name, you can get a synopsis of his work. Essentially, he says that a cyclist should ride using the same rules as any other vehicle on the road. So, take the lane when you need to, signal and get in the left lane to turn left on a multi lane road, and so forth. It has worked very well for me over the years on my DF bike. How do you ride your Fujin in traffic?

There are some very trying drivers out there. Yesterday I was riding my bent through an intersection. I was through traffic and had the right of way. A guy in an SUV (of course) attempting a left turn inched into my lane with an agressive look on his face. He was trying to crowd me out of the way so he could steal the right of way. I stood my ground, fixed him with direct eye contact, lit up my light and continued through. As I was spinning along, I heard in the distance the inevitable "FU." Sweet.

I do my best to practice the rules of VC, but it would be nice if some of these cavemen in buildings on wheels would practice the rules of the road. They are, after all the law of the land.

Cheers

Charles

Hi Eric. I am especially interested in your experience! Vehicular cycling is from a researcher here in the US named John Forester. If you Google his name, you can get a synopsis of his work. Essentially, he says that a cyclist should ride using the same rules as any other vehicle on the road. So, take the lane when you need to, signal and get in the left lane to turn left on a multi lane road, and so forth. It has worked very well for me over the years on my DF bike. How do you ride your Fujin in traffic? I haven't studied JF so far, but I find him interesting from your description. As for your question: How do I ride my Fujin in intense traffic, let me tell you this. I certainly follow the traffic rules the same way I would do if I used a car( which I left behind some 15 years ago). But I add to my cycling style that extra prudence it takes to cycle safely in various traffic situations. I never take unecessary risks and I am always prepared to meet a situation where cardrivers won't follow the traffic rules. Either I stop or stick to the right as good as I can. I don't like improvised cycling or "smart cycling" with no particular interest in the traffic rules. Let me add that I never use a flag on my Fujin. I am more confident with my rearlight and brakes.

Hi Eric. I am especially interested in your experience! Vehicular cycling is from a researcher here in the US named John Forester. If you Google his name, you can get a synopsis of his work. Essentially, he says that a cyclist should ride using the same rules as any other vehicle on the road. So, take the lane when you need to, signal and get in the left lane to turn left on a multi lane road, and so forth. It has worked very well for me over the years on my DF bike. How do you ride your Fujin in traffic?

I have ALWAYS followed these rules but I thought I MADE EM UP.
The only real accident (besides falling off a couple of times) was
when I had a flat in the Pre-LA MARATHON bike ride in '02 and
broke my hip 1/2 mile from the finish line.

I swear by BOLD, DEFENSIVE riding, but I always realize that
ANY left turn could be my last. It is a humbling thought and
has kept me out of trouble so far. That and a good LEFT HAND
MIRROR (velcro attached to bike grip) AND I ALWAYS LOOK over
my LEFT SHOULDER after I check the mirror ESPECIALLY AT DUSK
because some dufus's don't use their headlights at dusk.

Ned Goudy

This sounds like a dumb idea to me, because bicycles are either significantly slower than motor vehicles on clear roads (and even very very much slower on freeways) and significantly faster in congested urban areas, therefore applying the same set of rules on both types of vehicles doesn't make much sense: nobody in his right mind would ride in the middle of a lane on the freeway, and conversely, it's ludicrous to expect bicycle riders to sit quietly behind the next car in traffic and politely stay stuck there, while they could easily escape between cars or going up a one-way street.

Riding bikes and driving cars are two different things. I'm personally in favor of a common trunk of traffic laws for both, and adaptations that make sense for bikes and for cars. So is most of Europe apparently: it's very common here to allow bikes to use one-way streets the wrong way, let them pass a red light slightly in advance, or let them use certain pedestrian-only areas. On the other hand, they're not allowed on the freeway, and barely tolerated on fast national roads.

I have ridden using VC techniquews for years now and am a believer in the soundness of this method.

I believe in it too. My commutes to work were rough until I adopted that way of biking. Now the cars seem more accepting of me being on the road.

Sorry, I do not have a quasi low racer so I cannot comment on that. :(

Once I build my electric-enhanced trike, I will be able to VC even better than before... because I'll be able to keep up with traffic. I won't limit myself to staying in the right lane either, I'll ride in the left lane for two blocks if it means that I'll be able to make an upcoming turn a little easier.

Yes, that will be one sweet day....

My dual-20" Tiger has an 18" seat height - is that a "quasi-low?". I generally ride vehicularly, and more so as time goes on - taking the lane when I need it (or when I'm going just as fast as traffic), using my mirror, etc. People who are paying attention see me just fine. Nearly got rear-ended yesterday by someone who was apparently oblivious to my left-hand signal as I merged left - the right lane became a turn-only lane and we were approaching a red light. He *did* see me, however, and locked up the tires slowing down. No excuse, he had plenty of time to see me and a red light ahead so he should have been slowing anyway. Maybe it was the bright yellow sports coupe he was driving ...

Now, when the light at that intersection is green and cars are pumping through at 30+ mph, I don't try to force my way over to the through lane but simply "take" the turning lane (I have to anyway, there's no shoulder) and then continue straight. It's a little dicey, but there's no other really viable option. I have to get through this two-mile stretch between bike lanes/paths somehow, and this is the least objectionable route.

FWIW,

I ride a low trike (always with a flag) , and have always ridden as much like a car as possible, ie. take the lane at intersections, flow with the traffic and stop when it does.
I also ride my bikes the same way.
So I would probaly keep riding the way you have been.

Hi Eric. I am especially interested in your experience! Vehicular cycling is from a researcher here in the US named John Forester. If you Google his name, you can get a synopsis of his work. Essentially, he says that a cyclist should ride using the same rules as any other vehicle on the road. So, take the lane when you need to, signal and get in the left lane to turn left on a multi lane road, and so forth. It has worked very well for me over the years on my DF bike. How do you ride your Fujin in traffic?I just read an article by John Forester on safe bicycling and I very much agree on his ideas. If cyclists as a vehicular group want to survive in the traffic it is very important that they are recognized and treated as a such a group equal to cardrivers. To survive in the traffic you have to cooperate not compete. Many cyclists do not deserve the respect of cardrivers as they ignore elementary aspects of trafficrules and consider every ride as a competition, a tour de france through the city where anybody else has to watch out for the wild rider on the bike. That is not cooperation and consideration. It's anarchy and chaos!