Commuting - Kooks try to pass on the right

I've noticed a new trend for cyclists here. When I wait for a light in the bicycle lane, other bicyclsts try pass me on the right - even if there's just a foot or two of space.

Last week as the light changed I nearly hit one of them as they tried to race past. He ended up stopping to get his balance.

If you are aware of this than why aren't you positioning yourself
either right or left leaving enuff room for them to get by ?
Some riders dont stop for reds if there is nothing coming....some
dont even if stuff is coming. Right or wrong thats how people ride.
If it bothers you move one way or the other.
Please dont say you are trying to 'advocate' by taking the lane :cry:

I'm not vietnamese, but I'm still offended by your subject title...

Oh wait, that's a K... :p

The trendsters in Seattle must be communicating with the ones in Portland, because this happens to me at least once a day, often more. They pass me on the right as the light changes, and they also pass me on the right as I am standing there so that they can ride through the red light. I'm beginning to think that expecting good manners these days, much less seeing people actually ride in accordance with traffic laws, is an exercise in futility. As for the latter group of cyclists, I can only hope that they haven't reproduced yet. With any luck, they'll go splat before they have a chance to pass along their genes.

Please dont say you are trying to 'advocate' by taking the lane :cry:

There's no advocating about it for me. If I am too far to the left or right on certain streets, it will be cars trying to pass too close and they'll try it on either or both sides. I tried riding like that for 2 days of my commute. Never again.

If you are aware of this than why aren't you positioning yourself
either right or left leaving enuff room for them to get by ?
Some riders dont stop for reds if there is nothing coming....some
dont even if stuff is coming. Right or wrong thats how people ride.
If it bothers you move one way or the other.
Please dont say you are trying to 'advocate' by taking the lane :cry:
I think when you want to post you should just keep a standard line of text handy to cut and paste. Something like:

My standard "it's your fault and you're a whiner" speech here.

It would save you a lot of time.

I've noticed a new trend for cyclists here. When I wait for a light in the bicycle lane, other bicyclsts try pass me on the right - even if there's just a foot or two of space.

Last week as the light changed I nearly hit one of them as they tried to race past. He ended up stopping to get his balance.

Yep. It's pretty annoying. Lots o' hotshots out there right now. These idiots don't seem to realize that there are often storm drains on the far right.

What bugs me is most of these people can't ride a steady pace, so they jump me at the light and I get stuck behind them until it's safe to pass. They also LOVE to ride in the door zone. Fun stuff.

Funny, I've had this happen several times recently also. I really chewed into one guy for sneeking up and squeezing between me and the curb last week. If I'm overtaking someone in the bike lane then I move into traffic, pass them on the left, and move back into the lane.

They also LOVE to ride in the door zone. Fun stuff.

Next post will be "slow riders on the left in seattle area, I got doored trying to pass"

I think when you want to post you should just keep a standard line of text handy to cut and paste. Something like:

My standard "it's your fault and you're a whiner" speech here.

It would save you a lot of time.


Ive noticed one thing about VC militants that might have something to
do with why they are the way they are......
Always the first to be antogonistical and take the thread onto the next lower
level with boorish insults.."You are wrong, I am right" drivel....etc.
You are a case in point. What this possibly have to do with the OP ??
You took time to read this thread and pick my post to comment on.....:rolleyes:

Ive noticed one thing about VC militants that might have something to
do with why they are the way they are......
Always the first to be antogonistical and take the thread onto the next lower
level with boorish insults.."You are wrong, I am right" drivel....etc.
You are a case in point. What this possibly have to do with the OP ??
You took time to read this thread and pick my post to comment on.....:rolleyes:

Actually this thread had nothing to do with VC until you brought it up. The OP said they get passed on the right when they are waiting at red lights 'IN THE BIKE LANE'. Is your position that the OP should wait in the gutter so as not to be passed on the right? Your first post was somewhat hostile for no reason so I'm not surprised someone took you to task for it.

Right or wrong thats how people ride.
If it bothers you move one way or the other.

Nobody should pass you on the right, car or bike, unless there is another lane to use (i.e., i'm in the left lane and there is a right lane). When someone passes on the right AND runs a red light, they ARE in the wrong. Stating that some people ride this way and you should get out of the way is rediculous.

I'm not going to get out of the way because someone wants to be a moron.

Actually this thread had nothing to do with VC until you brought it up. The OP said they get passed on the right when they are waiting at red lights 'IN THE BIKE LANE'. Is your position that the OP should wait in the gutter so as not to be passed on the right? Your first post was somewhat hostile for no reason so I'm not surprised someone took you to task for it.

The person who needed to attack me unecassarily is referring to posts in
another thread. HE sides with militant VC....a position I am firmly against.
This is how VC entered.
No hostility was intended by my first post to the OP and Im sorry if it
was interprited that way. I was only pointing out that people on bikes ride
irresponsibly too and as a cyclist you have to be prepared for them in traffic
too....not just cars.
My suggestion is that if this keeps happening in the future the OP might want
to want to position himelf at a light in a manner that wont involve him when
this does happen. No offense intended.

The trendsters in Seattle must be communicating with the ones in Portland, because this happens to me at least once a day, often more. They pass me on the right as the light changes, and they also pass me on the right as I am standing there so that they can ride through the red light. I'm beginning to think that expecting good manners these days, much less seeing people actually ride in accordance with traffic laws, is an exercise in futility. As for the latter group of cyclists, I can only hope that they haven't reproduced yet. With any luck, they'll go splat before they have a chance to pass along their genes.With the scofflaw, "I'll do what I want" attitude cyclists have today, it's no wonder motorists can't stand cyclists.

I'm not vietnamese, but I'm still offended by your subject title...

Oh wait, that's a K... :p

You should still be offended - the K word fits you too. :p

I figure the best solution for cyclists jumping you on the right is the old 'right turn Clyde'. WTF is everyone always in such a hurry that they forget what manners and courtesy are?

edit: does having manners make me a militant VCist, VCer or just a G....Kook?

I only wish I was so blessed to see other cyclists on my commute, much less actually have enough of them to be jockeying for space. I'd rather have a traffic jam of bikes than auto traffic and semis. A lot of you guys don't know how nice you have it. ;) [sigh] I need to hurry up and move to Minneapolis...

I only wish I was so blessed to see other cyclists on my commute, much less actually have enough of them to be jockeying for space. I'd rather have a traffic jam of bikes than auto traffic and semis. A lot of you guys don't know how nice you have it. ;) [sigh] I need to hurry up and move to Minneapolis...

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I saw *two* commuters (Well, I think they were commuters, most cyclists don't generally go out for a workout ride wearing a backpack.), last week. That's two more than I usually see.

Must be a bike-to-work month thing. My employer is too small to do any sort of promotions/contests/etc. for that, but I know the county sponsors a contest in May, and I wouldn't be surprised if the big software company here in town also sponsors something of the sort...

-Trevor

With any luck, they'll go splat before they have a chance to pass along their genes.

Exactly. If I sit too close to the curb, cars try to turn right into me...in the middle jokers try to scootch past. I don't want to crash another bike just cause he won't wait in line.

I'm not vietnamese, but I'm still offended by your subject title...

Oh wait, that's a K... :p
ha ha! slvoid, my friend, you are many things...but not a kook!

Kook: A person regarded as strange, eccentric, or crazy.

...then again... hmmmm I'll just ignore that avitar of yours :p

Never happened to me. A better grade of cyclists here? Or that about one cyclist a year gets killed in this county so cyclists are more careful?

I only wish I was so blessed to see other cyclists on my commute, much less actually have enough of them to be jockeying for space. I'd rather have a traffic jam of bikes than auto traffic and semis.

I wish it were that simple. Thing is, we have a traffic jam of bikes, autos, and semis. When some of the cyclists are doing the kinds of moronic things that could put others in danger of going splat from the autos and semis, "blessed" isn't the first feeling that comes to mind. I am in no way complaining about having lots of cyclists out, mind you, just about some of the heedless, dangerous, scofflaw behavior. Some of it is ignorance, but in a place like Portland, a lot of it is just plain, old, self-centeredness.

Some of it is ignorance, but in a place like Portland, a lot of it is just plain, old, self-centeredness.

Exactly!Not just somebody trying to get home. The posuers are in kit, $$ bikes, and carry a desparatie desire to be #1.

Perhaps the solution is...Stopping with the back wheel can be slanted toward the curb. That probably won't work if they do a curbside pass while traffic is moving.

Last year I was passed on the right, in a bike lane, by a fool on a motorized scooter. I wanted very much to fit my elbow into his ear. :mad:

I do advocate taking the lane when necessary. It helps to protect me from motorized traffic and the two-wheeled dopes.

...I am in no way complaining about having lots of cyclists out, mind you, just about some of the heedless, dangerous, scofflaw behavior. Some of it is ignorance, but in a place like Portland, a lot of it is just plain, old, self-centeredness.

Word! Activists here may prate about how cyclists aren't respected as traffic, but the fact is that many* riders act like spoiled, belligerent brats.

*(As in 'not all', okay? Save the napalm, Shifties.)

You know, this is where I'd advocate lane-splitting and passing cars on the left.

Cyclists hate to stop, since they have to work to get back up to speed, so as they approach a light that's about to go green, they look for a clear path so they don't have to brake. Unfortunately that means that they try to squeeze past any fellow cyclists who stopped for the light and are about to get going.

Sometimes they don't even time it with the light changing: you'll see 4 or 5 cyclists waiting at a light and some goof with headphones just cruises past them all and moves to the front of the line. A lot of the time they turn out to be slow riders, so as soon as we get going, everyone has to pass them, then at the next light they cruise to the front again.

Good bicycling etiquette would be that you only pass another rider when they're moving, not when they're stopped at a light.

Good bicycling etiquette would be that you only pass another rider when they're moving, not when they're stopped at a light.

Agreed! Whenever I approach a red light I always stop behind cyclists who have arrived before me. This doesn't happen terribly often, though. Ordinarily I join the line of vehicles while the other cyclists sidle up on the right next to the curb, and seemingly half of them ignore the light anyway and just shoot across once cross traffic slows in anticipation of the red light in their direction. Call me a Type 'B' if you must, but I'll never be in that much of a hurry. :rolleyes:

I don't know where you guys ride, but on the streets here it's every man for himself, no shame and no pity. If you leave room to be passed, you will be passed, left side or right side, car or bicycle.

Good bicycling etiquette would be that you only pass another rider when they're moving, not when they're stopped at a light.

And when using North American bike lanes located on the right side of the road, pass on the left.

I don't know where you guys ride, but on the streets here it's every man for himself, no shame and no pity. If you leave room to be passed, you will be passed, left side or right side, car or bicycle.

It's sad to hear that it has gotten to that point where you live. I am of the opinion that that kind of "every man for himself" outlook eventually bleeds into all other aspects of community and personal life. I personally don't want to live that way, and I don't think I am alone in that. It's why I left Detroit.

I like this essay from one of the "Car Talk" brothers about laws in some areas allowing passing on the right. http://www.cartalk.com/content/rant/r-rlast40.html

It's sad to hear that it has gotten to that point where you live. I am of the opinion that that kind of "every man for himself" outlook eventually bleeds into all other aspects

The only thing gonna be bleeding is...I've warned 2 people...saying "hey I almost hit ya, didn't see you"...they keep doing it...along with 4 or 5 other kooks.

Go on an MS150 ride, you'll get plenty of practice dealing with them

Word! Activists here may prate about how cyclists aren't respected as traffic, but the fact is that many* riders act like spoiled, belligerent brats.Hopefully they'll go splat soon.

I most often wait in line with cars and get passed by slower cyclists who use the RTOL or gutter to get to the front of line. I just stay in the lane thru the intersection and pass them after the intersection as I catch up.
Al

The same thing happens to me occasionally. This morning I had a gentleman on a road bike filter to the front of the line while I was waiting in a line with the other motorists. Then I was stuck behind him while we climbed up a hill. Finally gave up and passed him using the car lane (we were in a bike lane).
Me+mondays+hills= speedy climber.

Good bicycling etiquette would be that you only pass another rider when they're moving, not when they're stopped at a light.

.....only when you're under the yellow flag.

I should point out that the pejorative term for Vietnamese was "gooks", not "kooks".

I don't much care where they pass me when I'm standing still, but it is WRONG!! to pass another rider on the right while moving, unless you know that they know you are there.

A young lady on a touring bike passed me silently on the right on Sunday. If I had wobbled just a bit, I would have bumped her. I had no idea she was there until she was even with me.

I would have yelled at her but she dropped me like a hot potato and I didn't get the chance. :o :o :o :o

I don't much care where they pass me when I'm standing still, but it is WRONG!! to pass another rider on the right while moving, unless you know that they know you are there.

A young lady on a touring bike passed me silently on the right on Sunday. If I had wobbled just a bit, I would have bumped her. I had no idea she was there until she was even with me.

I would have yelled at her but she dropped me like a hot potato and I didn't get the chance. :o :o :o :o

Just be thankful that she didn't hook you with her training wheels - geezer. :p

[QUOTE=vrkelley]I've noticed a new trend for cyclists here. When I wait for a light in the bicycle lane, other bicyclsts try pass me on the right - even if there's just a foot or two of space.

Last week as the light changed I nearly hit one of them as they tried to race past. He ended up stopping to get his balance.[/QUOTEH
Here in Southern France, one takes the initiative as well as personal responsability to get through traffic. Many smaller vehicles, like mopeds and bicycles won't obey the traffic lights, but most people are aware of the other rode users around them. So I think that if there is just enough room for someone to pass, let them do it!

"most cyclists don't generally go out for a workout ride wearing a backpack"

Can one not be both a commuter and a worker-outer? I work out almost daily on my bike, which I also simultaneously commute on to work. I wear a backpack but I also drink Cytomax....

The same thing happens to me occasionally. This morning I had a gentleman on a road bike filter to the front of the line while I was waiting in a line with the other motorists. Then I was stuck behind him while we climbed up a hill. Finally gave up and passed him using the car lane (we were in a bike lane).
Me+mondays+hills= speedy climber.

I totally agree with the op on this but if you're waiting in line in the bike lane behind traffic and not at the front then you leave yourself open to people who would rather filter to the front. If you want to wait behind traffic, cool, but don't expect everyone else to want to sit back with you and suck on the sulphur dioxide. We don't have BL's here but if someone is sitting between lanes behind traffic blocking my way to the front, I will politely say excuse me, so I can move up.

Update: on the curb-side passes

Turning the wheel torward the curb works - sort of. At the light, I waited behind Bike #1 with the wheel toward the curb. Out of nowhere, Bike #3 comes and tried to force his way through anyway!! Then bike #4 tried to force past bike #3.

The light changed and we took off while curbside kooks (#3 +#4) struggled to untangle their bikes.

Wish I had a camera. :)

I almost got rear ended today when a fellow commuter tried to pass me on the right while I stopped for a stop sign. I was in the bike lane and would have been in the lane with the line of cars except that I was turning right.... and the line of cars was soooooo long.

So I stop and he slams on his brakes. He doesn't actually stop and I heard him skidding so I push out into the intersection to get out of the way. I lose my footing trying to clip in and start to make an awkward right turn only to find that the near-rear-ender is trying to pass me on the right in the few feet between me and the curb. Before the stop sign I signaled a right turn with my right arm for some 30 yards because it was down hill and I was coasting quickly.

I've seen bikes with the little fold down flags on the left side to alert cars but I never thought of putting one on the right side too!

I've noticed a new trend for cyclists here. When I wait for a light in the bicycle lane, other bicyclsts try pass me on the right - even if there's just a foot or two of space.

Last week as the light changed I nearly hit one of them as they tried to race past. He ended up stopping to get his balance.
His fault, period. Watch your back!

This is one of my pet peeves.

We have two-way lanes for peds and cyclists, running along the street but separated from it. If there's little ped/bike traffic, there's plenty of room for everyone, even for kooks, to walk and ride as they please. But sometimes, during normal commuting hours at red light, you may have 4-5 bikes in line on both sides of the intersection, both lines facing each other and waiting for the light to turn. Enter the kook, overtaking the line and positioning himself to the left of the first bike. He just stands there, staring at the first cyclist in the oncoming line but apparently not realising the situation. The light changes to green, and soon everyone in both lines is weaving right and left, trying to avoid hitting anything or anyone.

I once started a conversation there. I said hello to the kook on my left side (got a puzzled "umm... hello" back), then proceeded to ask politely exactly which way did he plan to ride once the oncoming bike traffic meets him in the middle of the intersection. I explained to him he would not be turning right, as I would be right there (and the 3-4 riders after me). He would not be going straight ahead, as that's where the oncoming bike traffic would be. I pondered the possibility of him positioning himself even further to his left, avoiding all cyclists but putting himself in danger of being overrun by a car. He shut up, apparently deciding to take a swift start and drop us all.

That might have worked, except that he had forgotten to downshift as he cruised into the intersection. He did not filter to the front at the next light.

--J