Advocacy & Safety - The view from behind is disconcerting

Well I finally got a mirror that lets me monitor the rear constantly. (Although I still need a better one as this one jiggles to much and shifts out of position over time)

But what I learned troubles me. On the PM commute I have a ~3mi of mulitlane (two and three lanes of same direction) densely traveled relatively high speed roads with only NOLs.

In these places I ride well into the lane to prevent cars from squeezing by me to close. I frequently get agressive and angry drivers as they have to slow and merge into next lane over, but with little gaps for them to do so. Yesterday I was honked at 4 separate times, one time was about 8 honks over a period of time.

What I observed it that some drivers get 'stuck' behind me for much longer that I thought. On this 3mi stretch one driver was behind me for a good 1/2mi and was angry after about 1/4mi honking and swerving left to right real close to me. They simply could not pass me as traffic in the adjacent lane was 45mph+, but we were traveling 20-25mph. When they finally did the 2nd car behind them tried also (accerated hard) and couldn't make the gap and braked hard at last minute with tire squeal (which I had previously heard on occasion, but not known why)

I actually felt a bit concerned holding up cars like this and putting them in a situation where they need to agressively pass to get around me. I know why they are stressed, not (just) because they are slowed by me, but because the merge to pass me is not an easy manever in such traffic.

Anyway there was a lot more 'action' going on behind me that I was aware of as previously I only made the occasional shoulder check.

I'll see how it goes today, maybe yesterday was just worse than usual.

Al

Welcome to the real world. Ignorance was bliss.

Today I had a giant tow truck towing a giant motorhome for quarter mile behind me. I don't like it any more than they do. I wish they knew that. I considered just stopping and getting off my bike and letting him and everybody behind him go. But I didn't.

Yup, there are too many cars.

Ignorance was bliss.

I almost used this phrase in my original post. ;)

Al

I guess the part that surprised me more was that since these are multilane roads I didn't think passing me was a 'big deal' I couldn't figure out why drivers got so angry, I previously thought "just freaking pass me, how hard is it"

Al

My gut feel is ride on!

The fault is no more yours for riding at the speed you do than it is the people in the other lane not allowing enough room for people to merge in.

I do appreciate the negative impact on your safety, but if you are concerned about your influence on the traffic pattern, your impact is only a piece of the puzzle. Even if some behind you think you are to blame, there are other factors beyond your control.

Welcome to the real world. Ignorance was bliss.

Another blissful alternative to the real world may be to read the cycling good book(s), experience an epiphany, and adapting the divine revelations as your new guiding light.

I havent had a problem with drivers behind me, but I think motorists here are a lot more considerate in allowing other motorists to merge in to their lane.

I guess the part that surprised me more was that since these are multilane roads I didn't think passing me was a 'big deal' I couldn't figure out why drivers got so angry, I previously thought "just freaking pass me, how hard is it"

Another factor for consideration is the difficulty of merging into lanes (for motorists and cyclists) when vehicle speed-distance judgements are made even more difficult due to headlight glare and lack of references other than headlights in hours of darkness. Neither staring over the drivers shoulder, nor mirrors show/tell much other than headlights approaching.

I do appreciate the negative impact on your safety, but if you are concerned about your influence on the traffic pattern, your impact is only a piece of the puzzle.
The concern I expressed is for my safety as you note. I really don't mind holding up cars behind me, they do have 1 or even 2 lanes to their left to pass and like you said it is not my problem other cars are not letting them do so, nor not my fault they don't adjust their position sooner when they are traveling at a rate the same as the traffic they need to merge into, nor my fault that 3 lanes of traffic get forced into 2 or that the road is often used as overflow for the freeway when an accident happens on it. But all that jockying going on behind me seems to be a hazard for me, one pass that pushes the limit and clips me is a concern.

But I will ride on.

Al

What I observed it that some drivers get 'stuck' behind me for much longer that I thought. On this 3mi stretch one driver was behind me for a good 1/2mi and was angry after about 1/4mi honking and swerving left to right real close to me. They simply could not pass me as traffic in the adjacent lane was 45mph+, but we were traveling 20-25mph. When they finally did the 2nd car behind them tried also (accerated hard) and couldn't make the gap and braked hard at last minute with tire squeal (which I had previously heard on occasion, but not known whyl

Now you see, if you had a nice bike lane to use there would be no problem! (Sorry, couldn't resist).

I was out in the middle of nowhere one day last summer to enjoy some nature. On the way back I hit some construction on 3-lane road closed to a single narrow lane. No intersections for miles, so there was no going back. A lot of gravel and dirt, so I was going slowly and holding up a lot of traffic behind me. It happens. I figure turnabout is fair play for all those times cars slow me down in gridlock.

Sometimes the reverse happens too. Yesterday on Bank street downtown a guy in a city maintenance van was stuck trying to do a left turn at an uncontrolled intersection. He was holding up rush-hour traffic behind him, and no one was letting him pass. I was using the "door zone" of the parking lane as I sometimes do to avoid gridlock, so I merged back into the lane, slowed, and stopped. He gave me a big wave and grin as he made his turn. I don't think the driver behind me, who had kindly let me merge, was all that impressed, but hey, its only a few seconds of his time. :rolleyes:

Now you see, if you had a nice bike lane to use there would be no problem! (Sorry, couldn't resist).

Actually I know as fact that if I had a WOL there would be no problem. This same road has a WOL that turns into a NOL and only there is where the issues start.

Al

Yup, there are too many cars.
And not enough bikes.

The more common bikes become on the roads, the better the situation will become. We need to ride on, together.

The more common bikes become on the roads, the better the situation will become. We need to ride on, together.
I really agree. Specifically these other cyclists need to be on the roads.

Al

If motorists have a better chance at seeing you, they react sooner, and with less frustration. Got good lights? Fluorescent colors?

Got good lights? Fluorescent colors?
Yes to both.

Al

Al, you've just described to me my own feeling when I drive my car..
I've been given the finger by a driver passing me and seen drivers throw up their hands in exasperation while following me while I was driving the speed limit in my car on this same road in the far right lane.
Al

Sorry for the repost.

Al, you've just described to me my own feeling when I drive my car. Average speed is not a concept often understood by many motorists.

The more common bikes become on the roads, the better the situation will become. We need to ride on, together.


I really agree. Specifically these other cyclists need to be on the roads.

Interesting discussion. On the one hand, I agree with you... if more cyclists rode on these roads and asserted their position in the lane, perhaps more motorists would realize that we have a right to be there and learn to adapt.

On the other hand, I don't want to risk my life just to make a point. When faced with a similar situation on my commute, I decided to find an alternate route. My ride is about 1 km longer now but so much more enjoyable. I certainly support a cyclists right to the road and applaud all of you who are comfortable in a situation as described, but I prefer the stress-free alternative.

Jalopy

Well I finally got a mirror that lets me monitor the rear constantly. (Although I still need a better one as this one jiggles to much and shifts out of position over time)

But what I learned troubles me. On the PM commute I have a ~3mi of mulitlane (two and three lanes of same direction) densely traveled relatively high speed roads with only NOLs.

In these places I ride well into the lane to prevent cars from squeezing by me to close. I frequently get agressive and angry drivers as they have to slow and merge into next lane over, but with little gaps for them to do so. Yesterday I was honked at 4 separate times, one time was about 8 honks over a period of time.

What I observed it that some drivers get 'stuck' behind me for much longer that I thought. On this 3mi stretch one driver was behind me for a good 1/2mi and was angry after about 1/4mi honking and swerving left to right real close to me. They simply could not pass me as traffic in the adjacent lane was 45mph+, but we were traveling 20-25mph. When they finally did the 2nd car behind them tried also (accerated hard) and couldn't make the gap and braked hard at last minute with tire squeal (which I had previously heard on occasion, but not known why)

I actually felt a bit concerned holding up cars like this and putting them in a situation where they need to agressively pass to get around me. I know why they are stressed, not (just) because they are slowed by me, but because the merge to pass me is not an easy manever in such traffic.

Anyway there was a lot more 'action' going on behind me that I was aware of as previously I only made the occasional shoulder check.

I'll see how it goes today, maybe yesterday was just worse than usual.

Al

Reading your story makes me feel glad that I live in a city with sidewalks and 25 mph roads. Your situation sounds like night and day from mine.

If you're riding in the middle of the lane, (or taking the lane) on a highway, I think you're asking for trouble. Isn't there another route around this highway?

I would start wearing 4 or 5 of the brightest blinkies on my back pack and helmet even during the day because you need to be treated like a hazzard. (not that you are one)

Good luck.

On the other hand, I don't want to risk my life just to make a point.
I don't see how riding where Al is riding is risking his life.
I agree it's an important point to make - that cyclists have the same right to the road as do other drivers of slow moving vehicles - and that using the full lane is the appropriate, effective and SAFE way to ride when the lane is too narrow to be safely shared.

What really should happen is that the adjacent lane should slow down too. When I'm driving a motor vehicle, and the lane next to me slows or stops, I make it a point to slow down, gradually of course, to reduce the speed differential between my lane and the adjacent lane.

Al,

Maybe you could get your local advocacy group to push for some widening on this street?
No room? How about combining the 2-3 narrow lanes into 1-2 wide lanes?
Is there a middle lane used for left turns? How about scrapping that, turning the left lane into left or straight at the relevant intersections? The extra space ceded by losing the turn lanes could be used for lane widening.

Maybe you could post your picture again (attach it to your OP)?

you need to be treated like a hazzard. (not that you are one)

Good luck.

No, they are treating him like a hazzard... it would be better if they treated him like a fellow commuter.

Two options:

Find an alternate route.

Let the motorists handle their own disappointment.

I use alternate routes all the time.

I don't see how riding where Al is riding is risking his life.
I didn't say Al was risking his life. However, the way his situation was described (cars swerving around behind him, screeching to a stop while attempting a pass) it sounds an awful lot like a situation that I was in when I started commuting in Toronto. In my situation, I felt travelling on that particular road at that time of day was an unnecessary risk.

Jalopy

...I considered just stopping and getting off my bike and letting him and everybody behind him go. But I didn't.

I'm curious, years ago someone mentioned to me that, in California anyway, there was a rule about pulling over. Something along the lines of having to pull over (when able) if you were 'holding up' a line of five or more vehicles. The utility of such a law becomes clear when one is trapped behind a large heavily laden truck on a LONG winding mountain road going a small fraction of the speed limit.

Assuming there IS such a law, anyone know if bikes have to pull off too? It seems to me they'd legally be considered no different than the aforementioned truck.

Actually I know as fact that if I had a WOL there would be no problem. This same road has a WOL that turns into a NOL and only there is where the issues start.

Al

Sadly a common problem, for both bike lanes and WOL/WCL. How do we solve the case of the mysterious disappearing pavement?

I have a pet theory: for every competent civil engineer there are five incompetent politicians affecting construction plans.

I'm curious, years ago someone mentioned to me that, in California anyway, there was a rule about pulling over. Something along the lines of having to pull over (when able) if you were 'holding up' a line of five or more vehicles. The utility of such a law becomes clear when one is trapped behind a large heavily laden truck on a LONG winding mountain road going a small fraction of the speed limit.

Assuming there IS such a law, anyone know if bikes have to pull off too? It seems to me they'd legally be considered no different than the aforementioned truck.
Yes, the CA law exists, and, yes, it applies to cyclists (all laws that apply to drivers of vehicles apply to cyclists in CA, unless stated otherwise).


21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division, including, but not limited to, ...

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21200.htm


However, the law only applies on 2 lane highways (one lane each way) where passing is unsafe...


21656. On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow-moving vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this section a slow-moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21656.htm


There is an additional law that applies only to cyclists about having to keep to the side, that does apply on multi-lane roads, but not when the lane is too narrow to be shared.


21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21202.htm

As to pulling over, not only is it not required by AZ law (very similar to CA law as HH provided above) but it would be difficult and impractical. Difficult because it would mean having to find side streets to pull off onto and impractical as once I pulled off I wouldn't be able to get back on without holding up traffic immediately again.

As to alternate routes.... This is the road (not a highway) that lead to home. There is an alternate route that cuts 1 of the 3mi out, but it adds ~5min to by commute and the 1mi it cuts out is not the most difficult of the 3.

Al

Sadly a common problem, for both bike lanes and WOL/WCL. How do we solve the case of the mysterious disappearing pavement?

I have a pet theory: for every competent civil engineer there are five incompetent politicians affecting construction plans.
Actually in this case it is a matter of the newer sections of road being built with a WOL and slowly older roads are being rebuilt. So in the very long term (city has plan to widen this road in 2030) the problem will go away.

Al

What really should happen is that the adjacent lane should slow down too. When I'm driving a motor vehicle, and the lane next to me slows or stops, I make it a point to slow down, gradually of course, to reduce the speed differential between my lane and the adjacent lane.

Nice thought, but most drivers speed up to make sure nobody from that slow-arsed lane has the gall to merge in front of them. Politeness and good manners are getting rare on the roads these days.

I find that intersection density and signal cycle length affect the degree of inconvenience motorists might experience when preparing to pass me on narrow-lane 4-lane roads.

With long distances between intersections and long signal cycles, large platoons of dense traffic overtake me. A queue inversion sometimes occurs behind me as those closest to me must wait for the traffic behind them to clear before moving left.

The platoons and resulting queues are larger if the traffic signal cycles are longer. If the signal cycles are shorter, then there are fewer drivers in the line and the traffic will clear sooner. Obviously, the more often a signal turns red for the road, the more frequently a gap in traffic will appear allowing passing.

Closer distances between signals and shorter signal cycles also mean slower maximum vehicle speeds, making it easier for drivers to find anadequate opportunity to merge laterally, or sometimes making them less interested in passing at all. This is the typical situation in more urban downtown areas. Longer signal cycles and longer spacing between signals is more common in suburban and exurban areas.

For these reasons, I generally advocate to prioritize provision of wide outside lanes on roads with higher speeds due to longer intersection spacing and timing. WOLs are less importan on more urbanized multilane roads with frequent signals and slower speeds.

-Steve Goodridge

I find that intersection density and signal cycle length affect the degree of inconvenience motorists might experience when preparing to pass me on narrow-lane 4-lane roads.
[cut the rest]
-Steve Goodridge
Yes, makes sense. Here the light controlled intersections are 1mi apart - so speeds go high. Turning x-traffic (often from dual turn lanes) and entering traffic from side streets often fills the gaps it seems.

Al

I respectfully posit that Serge is wrong about the California law. First, bicycles are not considered vehicles under california law:


670. A "vehicle" is a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.


The section governing bicycle operation is specific about which sections apply to bicycles:


21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division, including, but not limited to, provisions concerning driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, and by Division 10 (commencing with Section 20000), Section 27400, Division 16.7 (commencing with Section 39000), Division 17 (commencing with Section 40000.1), and Division 18 (commencing with Section 42000), except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.


Section 21656, the "pull-over" rule, is in Division 11, which is not in the list of codes applying to bicycles. See http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm .

Section 21656, the "pull-over" rule, is in Division 11, which is not in the list of codes applying to bicycles. See http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm .I think you missed the part that said "including, but not limited to," which would make most of Division 11 applicable to bicyclists.

I think you missed the part that said "including, but not limited to," which would make most of Division 11 applicable to bicyclists.
Actually what I missed is "this division"; since the section is part of Division 11, Division 11 applies to cyclists as well. I stand corrected.

A simple solutin for Al:

Ditch the mirror!

Interesting discussion. On the one hand, I agree with you... if more cyclists rode on these roads and asserted their position in the lane, perhaps more motorists would realize that we have a right to be there and learn to adapt.

You mean the way they learned to adopt to farm equipment, trains, elderly drivers who are conservative with speed, and other slower vehicles? Don't kid yourself -- drivers get upset if anything blocks them.

You mean the way they learned to adopt to farm equipment, trains, elderly drivers who are conservative with speed, and other slower vehicles? Don't kid yourself -- drivers get upset if anything blocks them.

Nah the real solution is to depower the cars... such that 0-60 is measured in minutes and 60 is top speed... period.

Excuse my noob ignorance, but how does one "stay as close as practicable to the right-hand curb?"

I can ride right up with the curb, but theres parked cars all over the place and if I swerve around them I may swerve in front of someone who doesn't see or expect me. If I chose to ride a straight line where I'm clear of parked cars, I'm still in trouble if someone opens a door. And if I ride left enough to be safe from rogue doors, I'm far enough left to annoy drivers. I'd hate to get into an accident and then be told it was my own fault because I was breaking the law. What's the secret?



There is an additional law that applies only to cyclists about having to keep to the side, that does apply on multi-lane roads, but not when the lane is too narrow to be shared.


21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21202.htm

I respectfully posit that Serge is wrong about the California law. ... I stand corrected.
Noted. ;-)

By the way, I never wrote that bicycles were considered vehicles in CA, nor wrote anything that implied as much. Yet you wrote this, implying that I had: "I respectfully posit that Serge is wrong about the California law. First, bicycles are not considered vehicles under california law: ..."

Excuse my noob ignorance, but how does one "stay as close as practicable to the right-hand curb?"

I can ride right up with the curb, but theres parked cars all over the place and if I swerve around them I may swerve in front of someone who doesn't see or expect me. If I chose to ride a straight line where I'm clear of parked cars, I'm still in trouble if someone opens a door. And if I ride left enough to be safe from rogue doors, I'm far enough left to annoy drivers. I'd hate to get into an accident and then be told it was my own fault because I was breaking the law. What's the secret?
"Practicable" means repeatedly practical, more or less. If a certain distance from the curb puts you in parked cars, requires you to swerve dangerously, puts you in a door zone, etc., that's not far enough from the curb to be practical, and, therefore, not practicable.

The secret is don't worry (much) about annoying drivers. Riding outside of door zones etc. annoys drivers much less than you might think. Remember that you have as much right to be there as they do, and if the practical position is so far left that it slows them down, that's okay.

I don't know about you steely-gazed, alpha-dog, macho men, but I really don't like having traffic back up behind me, make unsafe lane changes, rev engines and screech to a halt just because I'm trying to get to work. I'd much prefer a bike lane or bike path that carves out a little space for me and lets all those folks get on their merry way.

I don't know about you steely-gazed, alpha-dog, macho men, but I really don't like having traffic back up behind me, make unsafe lane changes, rev engines and screech to a halt just because I'm trying to get to work. I'd much prefer a bike lane or bike path that carves out a little space for me and lets all those folks get on their merry way.I believe the self proclaimed steely-gazed, alpha-dog, macho man may be indifferent to having traffic back up behind him, make unsafe lane changes, rev engines and screeching to a halt -because in a book it is only a harmless adventure.

I believe the self proclaimed steely-gazed, alpha-dog, macho man may be indifferent to having traffic back up behind him, make unsafe lane changes, rev engines and screeching to a halt -because in a book it is only a harmless adventure.
You feeling alright? It seems like your posts are getting harder to understand.

I don't know about you steely-gazed, alpha-dog, macho men, but I really don't like having traffic back up behind me, make unsafe lane changes, rev engines and screech to a halt just because I'm trying to get to work. I'd much prefer a bike lane or bike path that carves out a little space for me and lets all those folks get on their merry way.
I don't enjoy it, but I accept that a few (very few) cagers are impatient bullies. I certainly don't blame myself for their boorish behavior.

I don't know about you steely-gazed, alpha-dog, macho men, but I really don't like having traffic back up behind me, make unsafe lane changes, rev engines and screech to a halt just because I'm trying to get to work. I'd much prefer a bike lane or bike path that carves out a little space for me and lets all those folks get on their merry way.
Diane, I prefer to have alternative too. For example, I prefer a wide lane to a narrow lane in high speed traffic situations.

But we're talking about what to do in situations where there is no width nor separate path. What do you do then?

I'll see how it goes today, maybe yesterday was just worse than usual.

And I did. Yesterday (which is today in above quote) was a different story. I left work about 30min earlier (ahead of rush hour could have been a factor) and found the view from behind to be ideal. Drivers were merging well in advance of me (50ft to 100yrds) and all passed with good clearance. Traffic was less dense. I have had days like this without the mirror and similarily to how I didn't know how bad it was on bad days, I didn't realize how good it looked behind on good days. Unfortunately it is an exception to leave work before the rush hour.

Back to the bad day I first wrote about... What I didn't mention, but was a key if not primary factor in my discomfort, was not that cars were held up for so long, but that they followed so close. The car that followed me for 1/2mi while we were going 20-25 was about 6ft behind me, much closer than one car length. I even gave them a momentary hand signal, but this only encouraged them to honk more as they knew they had my attention. I experienced very close following cars before I got the mirror, on one rare occasion a truck right up on my wheel, like 2-3ft back, so close I could see them without turning my head in peripheral vision.

Al

A simple solutin for Al:

Ditch the mirror!
Considered it. But I find it valueable when preparing for a left merge, I don't do many on my commute, but like to know what is going on behind me before I turn my head to negotiate. That is the primary reason I got it and the reason I'll probably keep it.

Al

Diane, I prefer to have alternative too. For example, I prefer a wide lane to a narrow lane in high speed traffic situations.

But we're talking about what to do in situations where there is no width nor separate path. What do you do then?
Fortunately conditions are not like that much here. I do have a portion with no width nor separate path. I have done the following:
1. Walked my bike up the adjacent horse trail
2. Written letters to the powers that be
3. Complained to the Bicycle Coalition
4. Continue on my way since that is the only way to get where I am going (usually way as far to the right as I can so those people will just GO--I'm only going 6mph and they don't like that much at all). Thankfully it's only 1/4 mile or so.

Recently I went to Atlanta. Narrow lanes with no shoulders and terrible traffic are the rule. I tried to picture what I would do. Sadly, all I could picture was I would use the sidewalk or discontinue being a bicycle commuter.

I don't know about you steely-gazed, alpha-dog, macho men, but I really don't like having traffic back up behind me, make unsafe lane changes, rev engines and screech to a halt just because I'm trying to get to work. I'd much prefer a bike lane or bike path that carves out a little space for me and lets all those folks get on their merry way.
I don't like it either. I do like negotiating with drivers and riding in traffic, but when I am in a situation when I am being treated so poorly and put in un unsafe position (close following, agressive passing) and I don't have a way to respond it makes me uncomfortable.
The way the city is layed out there will never be bike paths that provide the connectivity required to use a bicycle for transport, so I rule these out.
As to bike lanes, we have discussed endlessly and as has been noted before, regional differences and they type of road infrastucture can make a difference if they are workable. So in this case on the streets here I find them quite a bit worse than a WOL. I was nearly clipped this AM riding in the left side of a bike lane - I get this fairly often, drivers just do not make any lateral adjustments in their lane position when a BL is present. I also find drivers often don't let one negotiate out of BLs when one needs to near intersections. I find the opposite behavior with WOLs and now that I have a mirror note it even more so.
Again, not to argue here once again (we can use your thread for that, just kidding ;) ) but it is regional perhaps. Here roads are straight, good sightlines, but with fast and dense traffic. Perhaps in a place with windy and/or hilly roads or roads with single lanes, having the painted bike lane stripe may provide some benefit, but I have less experience with this type of road so I can't comment.

Al