Another "What would you do?" Poll

[JohnBrooking]

Here's the situation: Narrow two-lane road, no paved shoulder, few turnouts (as in streets, driveways, or parking lots), traffic jam a mile long before the light. Double-yellow line, with moderate opposing traffic. To get to within one cycle of the light (I don't care about after that because I'm more certain of what to do then), what would you do?

More detail on the choices (the poll choices limit the number of characters):
Pass on the right, even though for the most part it means riding in a dirt shoulder, with resulting decrease in speed and control;
Pass on the left, even though for the most part it means riding within 6 inches either way of the double yellow line, or right on it;
Suck it up and wait in the line, since there is really no room to safely pass on either side?
I found myself in this situation last night. I'll tell you what I did later.

[San Rensho]

The left. Cars for some reason tend to crowd to the right in these situations, I guess its fear of hitting on coming traffic or something, so they leave a nice bike path right in the middle of the road.

I just ride right down the middle, fairly slowly, very cautious at intersections and always looking out for the not so occassional cager that has to f#ck with me by swerving over.

[Bekologist]

i have NO problems trying a dirt shoulder. I also like the left side of stopped cars. and like Sam says, always watching out for the drivers stopped in line that want to futzle with you and block you because you are sliding thru the traffic jam....

[Itsjustb]

I chose "Pass on the right", but....

1. I'm on a mtb. Grass/dirt, not as much of a problem as it might be on another type of bike.

2. I'd do this if I felt fairly certain the risk of a right-hook was low (the OP stated that were few turn-outs). Still, I'd be cautious. If there were many turn-outs, or I felt the risk of the right-hook was pretty high, I'd wait in the line (and have).

[Brian Ratliff]

If the line is truely a mile long, I'd just pass on the left. The right is no good because there is no clear path. The left is better because there is a clear path across the yellow line if I need it momentarily. Probably the best is to simply slowly "hopscotch" up the line of traffic, taking to the left as opposing traffic and space allows and slowly working my way up the line. I wouldn't just blow through on the left or right. But any movement is better than sitting with your foot down, right?

That said, it would be a judgement call depending on traffic conditions. There are times when I won't risk splitting the lane and just stay in line with my fellow travelers. I'm not above using the intrinsic characteristics of my bike to my advantage (quick acceleration, small width, nimble, etc.), but you'd have to exercise some extreme caution.

So, was this from a car accident? A multi-car accident with fatalities can really screw with traffic on a rural road, particularly if the shortest detour would be 20+ miles long.

[Helmet Head]

Act like I was on a (narrow) motorcycle... pass (slowly, cautiously, carefully) on the left.

[chipcom]

Hmm, isn't it customarily illegal to cross a double yellow line to pass? Is it VC to break the law just because you don't want to wait in line? What would you think if a cager jumped out to pass in this situation?

I suck it up and wait in line, just as I would if I were in my truck.

[Neist]

Dirt shoulder, though I have to be careful with my 23c tires. If it was that horrible of a dirt shoulder I may just wait or go left. Depends on my whim.

[JohnBrooking]

I didn't have a computer, maybe it was 3/4 mile, but it was definitely more than a few light cycles. No accident, it's just not a very long light. Maybe it ought to be adjusted. This was about 4:45 PM. Usually I ride through there about an hour later, and the traffic is usually better by then, but it's not uncommon.

I actually simplified a little for the sake of the question. About 1/2 mile from the light, the road changes municipalities and begins to have a nice paved shoulder about 6' wide. But in this case, the jam started prior to that. Since I didn't want to ride in the dirt, I passed to the left until I reached the section with the shoulder, then moved to the right and used the shoulder, which is what I normally do when the jam is not quite so long. (Remember, few turn-ins.) I wasn't completely comfortable on the left, since it's not my usual manueuver, and I was pretty much riding the double-yellow, so I don't feel I was really being safe and legal. But I slowed down a bit (not as much as I would have had to in the dirt - and it was smoother), and kept very vigilant. I'm still not sure if I did the right thing, so I thought I'd ask for other opinions.

[joejack951]

I've been faced with a similar situation. There's a 4 way stop sign on a rural road that bypasses a few sections of some major roads. At around 5:30pm, it can take 10 minutes to wait through the line of cars. The issue is that most people heading south are going straight and most people coming the opposite direction are turning left. I've only been there during that time twice and the first time I passed on the left, stopping and moving as far right as possible if a car did come up that direction. The second time I waited it out. If I encountered it again, I'd pass on the left again. Motorists pass me all the time on double yellows and I don't mind (when there is enough room to pass safely and I am going slow enough that they won't run out of room). With stationary cars, it's pretty easy to be sure you'll make it by them before any opposing traffic shows up. It also helps that this intersection happens at the bottom of two long downhills. Sight lines are about as good as they get.

[Helmet Head]

Hmm, isn't it customarily illegal to cross a double yellow line to pass? Is it VC to break the law just because you don't want to wait in line?
A common misconception about VC is that VC means you have to follow the letter of the law. However, "vehicular cycling requires sound judgment in the application of the principles of driving, not blind compliance with the law."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicular_cycling#.22VC_means_you_have_to_follow_the_letter_of_the_law.22


What would you think if a cager jumped out to pass in this situation?
That's different since a cager couldn't do it safely and reasonably. A motorcyclist is a better analogy.

I suck it up and wait in line, just as I would if I were in my truck.
I'd wait if I was in a truck too. I wouldn't wait if I was on a Yamaha. I wouldn't wait if I was on a bicycle. The type of vehicle I'm operating, and its physical and operating characteristics sometimes factor into what I would do in a particular situation. That is the case here.

The law has to be black and white in order to be able to enforce it objectively. However, the black & white model often does not fit the real world. The decision about whether to mark a road with a striped or double-yellow solid stripe is a good example of this.

While cycling on narrow 2 lane roads, I am often passed by cagers moving across a double-yellow stripe to do so. It would not be safe for them to pass another cager in that situation... hence the double-yellow, but passing a cyclist is really not an issue.

Similarly, in a situation described in the OP, where an operator of a narrow vehicle can briefly, quickly, safely and reasonably pass on the left by crossing a double yellow, why not? Would I do it with someone approaching on the other side? Of course not. But if traffic on the other side is empty, or stopped as well, why not? Because it would be violation of the letter of the law? I won't risk safety, but I will risk a fine...

[Roody]

Hmm, isn't it customarily illegal to cross a double yellow line to pass? Is it VC to break the law just because you don't want to wait in line? What would you think if a cager jumped out to pass in this situation?

I suck it up and wait in line, just as I would if I were in my truck.
In California, I think it's legal for motorcycles to pass between two lanes of cars. In most states this is not legal. As for bikes, I don't know what the law says. Here in Michigan, unfortunately, we are supposed to stay as far to the right as practicable, with no explicitly stated exceptions.

I wasn't sure how to vote in the poll. Normally in a similar situation, I would pass on the left, and that's how I voted. But John also said "there really is no room to pass." If there really is NO room, or at any rate not enough room, I too would wait in line and suck in fumes for a few minutes.

[Helmet Head]

The OP says "moderate opposing traffic". I took that to mean there are gaps during which brief crossings could be made safely and reasonably.

When there is no room on the right (except for dirt), crossing the double yellow line in order to pass on the left IS riding as far right as practicable!

[sbhikes]

I Fred Flintstone along with my butt out of my seat, one foot on one pedal and the other pushing me along. Slowly of course, and on the right. That's on a regular bike.

On my trike I go find another route. I couldn't stand to wait in line sucking up so many fumes. No other route? Go get a cup of coffee or just wait it out somewhere--anywhere--else.

[sbhikes]

In California, I think it's legal for motorcycles to pass between two lanes of cars.

Yes, it's legal, but I think both lanes you are splitting have to be going the same direction. Also, I've had a terrible time doing this most of the time. It's so embarrassing when you bump into somebody's mirror with your motorcycle mirror when you're doing this!

[2manybikes]

It depends on the quality of the dirt shoulder. If ridden slowly one can ride through a lot even with narrow tires. If I had MTB size tires, (never mind the tread style) a comfort class bike would work for me, I would just ride in the dirt. If it was grass or hard enough dirt I would do it with skinny tires. If one is used to, or not used to mountain biking I would guess the answer would change. It also depends on the time factor, if I had time I would have no problem waiting in line either.

I know this is rare, but my cousin in California was splitting lanes on a small motorcycle at a relatively slow speed. A guy reached out his window to dump his ashtray and hit him square in the chest. I had a person open a door into my car on either side in multi lane traffic.

[PaulH]

My bike has 622-40 tires, so a dirt shoulder is nearly as good a riding surface as pavement. The situation described (minus the dirt shoulder) is very common here in the DC area and nearly guaranteed if there is snow or heavy rain.

If there are alternate routes, one can expect some frantic cagers to be turning right, turning left, or even doing U-turns to try to escape. I'll take whichever passing side is safest, based on road topology and my familiarity with driver behavioe on the route.

Congestion is good. Congestion is the best bike advocacy. We need more of it :)

Paul

[LittleBigMan]

Here's the situation: Narrow two-lane road, no paved shoulder, few turnouts (as in streets, driveways, or parking lots), traffic jam a mile long before the light. Double-yellow line, with moderate opposing traffic. To get to within one cycle of the light (I don't care about after that because I'm more certain of what to do then), what would you do?
I'd sort of have to be there to get a better feel for what you're facing.

But I don't feel comfortable passing on the left when I'm sharing a lane, for two reasons. One, I don't like being that close to oncoming traffic when I'm locked in by a wall of cars on my right. Two, when traffic moves again, I'd have to merge again, then move to the right again if traffic speed was faster than me--too much conflict and maneuvering. If I'm passing on the left, I like to be in another lane, and when that happens, the traffic I passed passes me again on the right, and I wait until it's gone before I move right again. But that move is something I don't want to do over and over again when I don't have my own lane.

No, if really necessary to avoid an extended stop-and-go scenario, I'll go ahead and pass on the right by sharing the lane, but carefully. That way, I'm where I need to be when traffic starts moving again. The bottom line here is how much room there is.

Still better, if I see it backed up, I'll take a detour.

[-=£em in Pa=-]

Definately A or B but I would have to access the
situation in real life to make the determination.
Absolutely no way would I sit in a line of cars.

[chipcom]

A common misconception about VC is that VC means you have to follow the letter of the law. However, "vehicular cycling requires sound judgment in the application of the principles of driving, not blind compliance with the law."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicular_cycling#.22VC_means_you_have_to_follow_the_letter_of_the_law.22



That's different since a cager couldn't do it safely and reasonably. A motorcyclist is a better analogy.


I'd wait if I was in a truck too. I wouldn't wait if I was on a Yamaha. I wouldn't wait if I was on a bicycle. The type of vehicle I'm operating, and its physical and operating characteristics sometimes factor into what I would do in a particular situation. That is the case here.

The law has to be black and white in order to be able to enforce it objectively. However, the black & white model often does not fit the real world. The decision about whether to mark a road with a striped or double-yellow solid stripe is a good example of this.

While cycling on narrow 2 lane roads, I am often passed by cagers moving across a double-yellow stripe to do so. It would not be safe for them to pass another cager in that situation... hence the double-yellow, but passing a cyclist is really not an issue.

Similarly, in a situation described in the OP, where an operator of a narrow vehicle can briefly, quickly, safely and reasonably pass on the left by crossing a double yellow, why not? Would I do it with someone approaching on the other side? Of course not. But if traffic on the other side is empty, or stopped as well, why not? Because it would be violation of the letter of the law? I won't risk safety, but I will risk a fine...


Sorry, but your wikipedia definition is all wet - if you want to behave like a vehicle you have to obey the same laws unless there is a valid SAFETY reason not to do so. Being delayed is not a valid safety reason. Breaking the law for convenience sake makes us no better than any motorist.

Of course in California it's legal to engage in the behavior you describe...but it's NOT legal nor acceptable practice for ANY type of vehicle is most of the rest of the country.

[Helmet Head]

I don't want to behave like a vehicle. Do you?
By the way, vehicles don't obey any laws. Vehicles do not obey, period.

[chipcom]

It seems the consensus is that everyone has no problem breaking the law because waiting in line is an inconvenience. If it were a matter of cutting through a lot, jumping onto the sidewalk, etc. I would agree...that is one of the advantages of riding a bike...but in this situation (well at least the original until John gave us a few more pesky details :p) there is not a safe AND legal way to bypass the line. When we start breaking the law for convenience only, we are no better than any motorist and have no standing to criticize their behavior. Indeed, while you are passing up the line of waiting cars, you are giving each and every driver another reason to not respect cyclists...but we didn't have to wait in line, so wtf.

I remember in the military it was quite legal and accepted for me, as an NCO, to go to the head of the line in the chow hall. But I waited in line - it's called leadership by example. If more of us practiced a little example in regards to following the same laws motorists do, we might not have so many threads b1tching about how we get no respect from motorists.

[chipcom]

I don't want to behave like a vehicle. Do you?
By the way, vehicles don't obey any laws. Vehicles do not obey, period.

So you and vehicles DO have something in common then.

I am a vehicle, so of course I behave like one - by following the same rules and laws of the road and sharing the same misery experienced by other vehicles when necessary.

[Brian Ratliff]

It seems the consensus is that everyone has no problem breaking the law because waiting in line is an inconvenience. If it were a matter of cutting through a lot, jumping onto the sidewalk, etc. I would agree...that is one of the advantages of riding a bike...but in this situation (well at least the original until John gave us a few more pesky details :p) there is not a safe AND legal way to bypass the line. When we start breaking the law for convenience only, we are no better than any motorist and have no standing to criticize their behavior. Indeed, while you are passing up the line of waiting cars, you are giving each and every driver another reason to not respect cyclists...but we didn't have to wait in line, so wtf.

I remember in the military it was quite legal and accepted for me, as an NCO, to go to the head of the line in the chow hall. But I waited in line - it's called leadership by example. If more of us practiced a little example in regards to following the same laws motorists do, we might not have so many threads b1tching about how we get no respect from motorists.

You're right, of course. But I'd still probably jump up the line if the situation allowed. The legal thing to do, though, is to wait.

[chipcom]

Still better, if I see it backed up, I'll take a detour.

:beer: for the man with common sense! :D

[Brian Ratliff]

:beer: for the man with common sense! :D

Realize that out in the sticks, a detour might mean an extra 20 miles...

Actually, I don't know what type of street this is; he said narrow, two lane, so I automatically equate that with rural, but perhaps not. If there is an alternative, I'd take that into account.

[chipcom]

The OP says "moderate opposing traffic". I took that to mean there are gaps during which brief crossings could be made safely and reasonably.

When there is no room on the right (except for dirt), crossing the double yellow line in order to pass on the left IS riding as far right as practicable!

But crossing to where? Yes, there may be gaps in oncoming traffic, but if traffic is backed up in your direction of travel, you gotta merge back in someplace. In essense you are acting like the jerks on the roadways when two lanes merge into one...the ones who fly up past the stopped traffic in one lane, via the other, 'negotiating' (ie. cutting off) for space to merge at the last minute.

Tell you what, this thread is proving that many cyclists and so-called cycling advocates are no better than the average motorist when it comes to courtesy and patience.

[-=£em in Pa=-]

we might not have so many threads b1tching about how we get no respect from motorists.

I always agree with you so this disagreement is my first with you, Chip :eek:
Cars will never respect us. Period. I cannot worry about it and have other fish to fry.
Passive resignation is your friend ! I will never b*t*h about no respect from cars.....
Its just a fact of life. I dont care about what they think of me. Only what I think of me.
If any of the people in those stopped 25 cars has a problem they create for themselves
with me, there are 100X more every day who ride by me as I make my way on the
shoulder, minding my own business and staying out of thier way , saying "Finally,
one of them knows thier place".

[chipcom]

Realize that out in the sticks, a detour might mean an extra 20 miles...


Horsepucky Brian...I've lived farther out in the sticks than you can even imagine, in a place where is was legal to ride on the Interstate because no other paved roadway would get you south, west or north of town, and outside of town, places where even the coyotes brought a lunch...there is always another way...may not be paved, but the detours are there.

[chipcom]

I always agree with you so this disagreement is my first with you, Chip :eek:
Cars will never respect us. Period. I cannot worry about it and have other fish to fry.
Passive resignation is your friend ! I will never b*t*h about no respect from cars.....
Its just a fact of life. I dont care about what they think of me. Only what I think of me.
If any of the people in those stopped 25 cars has a problem they create for themselves
with me, there are 100X more every day who ride by me as I make my way on the
shoulder, minding my own business and staying out of thier way , saying "Finally,
one of them knows thier place".

Yeah, I already know that I have to agree to disagree on this issue. I've been commuting the same route for some time now, and I have seen the difference in the respect I get from many of the 'regular' motorists on the route. At one particular intersection I commonly get comments about how they appreciate that 'I don't ride like those other idiots' as cyclists split lanes, filter up the right, or jump the crosswalk from the road, in order to avoid waiting in line. So it works for me...your mileage may vary. Respect is not given, it must be earned. ;)

[DataJunkie]

Personally, I would feel like a hypocrite if I performed maneuvers on a bike that I find annoying as a motorist.
I do not split lanes or filter. I do occasionally jump out of line and take an alternative route. I have an advantage in traffic jams due to riding a bike and intend to use that advantage to avoid traffic jams. Mainly by using parking lots or detouring around the traffic using lesserly traveled streets.
Still, I do not filter or lane split. This is not an alternative means of picking my route for me.

[Helmet Head]

You guys are too much. Motorcyclists filter forward on the left, sometimes briefly crossing double yellow stripes to do so, when it's safe and reasonable, all the time. Do car drivers respect motorcyclists any less for doing so? :rolleyes:


Chipcom asks: "But crossing to where? Yes, there may be gaps in oncoming traffic, but if traffic is backed up in your direction of travel, you gotta merge back in someplace. "

A: Same place a motorcyclist merges back into... in between a couple of cars. What's the problem?

Chipcom asserts: "In essense you are acting like the jerks on the roadways when two lanes merge into one...the ones who fly up past the stopped traffic in one lane, via the other, 'negotiating' (ie. cutting off) for space to merge at the last minute."
I can see what you're saying, but that seems different to me. When a cyclist cuts into a gap on his side, he waits until there is a break in oncoming traffic, then he moves again. At some point he gets to his final destination, and waits there, moving out of the way as soon as reasonably possible after the light turns great. No one is actually held up by even a nanossecond. What's the problem?

[Helmet Head]

I am a vehicle
If you are the vehicle, who is driving?

[catbus]

Pass at moderate speed on the right--at least you'd be moving. You'll always see a dipstick who has to do the ol' "peek left" manueuver with his/her vehicle every few stops to see what's causing the jamup.

[Helmet Head]

It seems the consensus is that everyone has no problem breaking the law because waiting in line is an inconvenience. If it were a matter of cutting through a lot, jumping onto the sidewalk, etc. I would agree...that is one of the advantages of riding a bike...but in this situation (well at least the original until John gave us a few more pesky details :p) there is not a safe AND legal way to bypass the line. When we start breaking the law for convenience only, we are no better than any motorist and have no standing to criticize their behavior. Indeed, while you are passing up the line of waiting cars, you are giving each and every driver another reason to not respect cyclists...but we didn't have to wait in line, so wtf.

I remember in the military it was quite legal and accepted for me, as an NCO, to go to the head of the line in the chow hall. But I waited in line - it's called leadership by example. If more of us practiced a little example in regards to following the same laws motorists do, we might not have so many threads b1tching about how we get no respect from motorists.
Chip, you might want get off your bike, slowly and carefully, and get a saddle on that post (after you clean it with bleach!) before you try to sit down on it again... :eek:

You are arguing, militaristically, that the letter of the law is more important than the underlying principles and the spirit of the law. I think you've got it backwards.

As long as one is behaving in accordance with the underlying principles and the spirit of the law, I don't care what the reason is for them breaking the letter of the law.

In this case, the double yellow line and corresponding law is there obviously to prevent head on collisions, usually because traffic engineers have determined that sight lines or distance to the next intersection is too short to allow for safe passing by cagers. When a bicyclist or motorcyclist briefly crosses the double yellow line in an OP-like situation, or where even a cager briefly crosses the double-yellow line in order to pass a cyclist (a point you keep ignoring), these are special cases that would over-complicate the law to account for them. In the end, there must be some room for reasonable judgment in our system.

If you cross a double yellow line, and a crash results, it's clearly your fault. If there is no double yellow line, it's not as clear. It's on you, the double yellow crosser, to be darn sure that what you're doing is safe and reasonable.

It's a matter of following the letter of the law, or being reasonable and practical. I have police officers routinely cross double yellows as they pass me out of convenience, rather than waiting their turn behind the slow moving vehicle in front of them...

[AlmostTrick]

It seems the consensus is that everyone has no problem breaking the law because waiting in line is an inconvenience.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe riding in the dirt (or gravel) off the road on the right shoulder is illegal.

[CommuterRun]

Hmm, isn't it customarily illegal to cross a double yellow line to pass? Is it VC to break the law just because you don't want to wait in line? What would you think if a cager jumped out to pass in this situation?

I suck it up and wait in line, just as I would if I were in my truck.

If I absolutely had to take that route, this is what I would do. For all the same reasons Chipcom posted in this and later responses.

In other words. Yeah, what he said.:)

[sbhikes]

HH you should ride a motorcycle before you start preaching about what they do or do not do. Last I checked, motorcyclists aren't respected much as law abiding, safe drivers either, and a lot of motorists hate them even more than bicyclists.

[JohnBrooking]

Tell you what, this thread is proving that many cyclists and so-called cycling advocates are no better than the average motorist when it comes to courtesy and patience.
BUSTED! :eek: Guilty as charged. :o

To clarify more, I would not classify this road as either rural or urban. It's not out in the sticks, but it's not downtown. It's mixed use zoning, both homes and businesses clustered along the road with woods behind them. It's about 4 miles from its termination in a small town at each end. The speed limit is 35 MPH (I think), and most people keep it under 50. The traffic volume tends to be grouped by the light cycles.

I chose not to use the dirt shoulder because it was fairly loose dirt, with stones of varying sizes distributed unevenly. I probably would have had to stay under 12 to do it, and it would have been very bumpy and unpleasant. I estimate my speed passing on the left was around 16. (I didn't have a computer to know for sure.)

There are a few slightly-longer alternatives, but from where the jam started, it would have taken me at least as long to pedal back to pick up one of them as it would have to wait in line, if not longer. "Yea, more riding!" you might say, but my family expects me home for supper.

I am concerned about both the safety and the example being set. Even apart from being so close to oncoming traffic, one of the cars in the line could certainly have pulled out to the left at any time, for a U-turn maybe, without expecting or looking for anyone passing. And I think Chip has a valid point about annoying motorists, and I'm not convinced that all motorists would be okay with motorcycles doing the same thing, especially if they were on or across the double-yellow to do it. At the same time, I don't think all motorists would mind, even if some would.

I guess for me, in the end, the misgivings about safety and example were outweighed by the desire to not be held up. I freely admit it. But obviously I still don't feel certain that it was the right choice by all possible standards.

[nova]

Here's the situation: Narrow two-lane road, no paved shoulder, few turnouts (as in streets, driveways, or parking lots), traffic jam a mile long before the light. Double-yellow line, with moderate opposing traffic. To get to within one cycle of the light (I don't care about after that because I'm more certain of what to do then), what would you do?

More detail on the choices (the poll choices limit the number of characters):
Pass on the right, even though for the most part it means riding in a dirt shoulder, with resulting decrease in speed and control;
Pass on the left, even though for the most part it means riding within 6 inches either way of the double yellow line, or right on it;
Suck it up and wait in the line, since there is really no room to safely pass on either side?
I found myself in this situation last night. I'll tell you what I did later.


I cant find it now but i seem to recall that in ohio its legal to pass on the right where room permits. There are places here near me where the road ways have very wide shoulders covered in crappy cravel. The idea behind them is to allow through trafic to procede while behind a car turnign in to a parking lot.

Not like you can move very fast on that shoulder less you like gravel chiped paint :)

[nova]

:beer: for the man with common sense! :D

Same here ill detour hell i dont know how many times ive said piss on this and found a dif route. With a few exceptions. cleavland massilon road by the chicken joint. Ill just do like every one else does including the cops both on and off duty and pass on the right on thaat lovely lane wide crappy gravel shoulder. Yeh i unclip and stradle walk my bike a few feet :) Even there i wont pass more than 2 cars on the left cause its hell on the tires.

The road i hate to cross is where cleve mass becomes 31st by arthur cretures. You can get basicly stuck on one side or the other for 5 or 10 minutes. But its also the most bike friendly road other wise. Cant cross it but never realy had a conflict with a motorist or even a moderatly close call.

Ive used tire depots parking lot a few times to by pass the light but only if im needing to adjust something on my bike like my blasted breaks that always seem to start rubbing after i slow for that damn light.

I suppose if i was on a long stretch of road and a car was hopelessly broken down at just before the light id walk past on the left or stradle walk on the right. But under pedal power no thanks been there done that had passenger open door to get out and see what was going on. Remember people in cars are not goign to expect any one coming up alng their right.
A passenger is not going to do a mirror or shoulder check before opening their door to have a look up the road to see whats going on. They will just open it. I dont care if your doign 2 mph or 20 your going to hit the door and probably piss off the people in the car possibly damaging their vehical. And it will be your fault. Need to pass on the right walk it.

[SingingSabre]

I would pass on the right. My bike handles dirt very well, and I could easily filter back in. A quick smile and wave at the car that so graciously let me in front of them will usually defuse any hostility when they see that I am easily passible.

I think the correct answer is to wait in line, like everyone else. However, I feel there are practical answers if someone wants to avoid waiting. The most practical thing for me would be to pass on the right; for others, on the left; for the rest, waiting.

[chicharron]

best answer yet, look for a detour if possible. Or I would just wait it out if there aren't any altenate routes.

[nova]

I would pass on the right. My bike handles dirt very well, and I could easily filter back in. A quick smile and wave at the car that so graciously let me in front of them will usually defuse any hostility when they see that I am easily passible.

I think the correct answer is to wait in line, like everyone else. However, I feel there are practical answers if someone wants to avoid waiting. The most practical thing for me would be to pass on the right; for others, on the left; for the rest, waiting.


Id pass by stradle walking my bike. I just dont trust or expect a pasenger to expect me to be there. If theres a big jam up theres a pretty good chance that some one in one of the cars will get out to see whats going on up ahead.

Corse when your walking a bike your essentialy for intensive and legal purposes a pedestrian. Walking in such conditions is legal. Much in the same manner that walking from your broken down or out of gas car down the highway is legal.

[JohnBrooking]

Do you think that motorists don't mind a cyclist passing on the right as much as they do on the left? It seems that on the right is more what people expect cyclists to do, whereas on the left it makes it seem ruder, somehow, as it you were a car doing the same thing. Is that just my imagination, or is there something to it?

Kind of silly, of course, since the end result is the same, but it could be a matter of expectations (thus, in a strange way, "predictability"). Or maybe they just think of it as cyclists staying "in their place" (out of their way).

[mechBgon]

We have this going on near my apartment right now, due to some major arterial construction. I either get in line and wait, just like all the other people are doing (except for a couple of Random Rider cyclists), or I dismount and walk up the sidewalk to the crosswalk, walk across at the next green light, and then get back on the road and ride.

So +1 for the get-in-line-and-wait option. I've tried some detours, but because of where I live, the detours take me so far out of my way that they actually take longer.

[mechBgon]

Do you think that motorists don't mind a cyclist passing on the right as much as they do on the left?I think they don't like having to re-pass me, especially not on a road like you described. And I certainly don't like it when I pull up at a stoplight in a NOL and someone tries to sneak their car up alongside me in my lane.

[Polonswim]

If the line is truely a mile long, I'd just pass on the left. The right is no good because there is no clear path. The left is better because there is a clear path across the yellow line if I need it momentarily. Probably the best is to simply slowly "hopscotch" up the line of traffic, taking to the left as opposing traffic and space allows and slowly working my way up the line. I wouldn't just blow through on the left or right. But any movement is better than sitting with your foot down, right?

That said, it would be a judgement call depending on traffic conditions. There are times when I won't risk splitting the lane and just stay in line with my fellow travelers. I'm not above using the intrinsic characteristics of my bike to my advantage (quick acceleration, small width, nimble, etc.), but you'd have to exercise some extreme caution.

So, was this from a car accident? A multi-car accident with fatalities can really screw with traffic on a rural road, particularly if the shortest detour would be 20+ miles long.

What he said.

[noisebeam]

I voted left, but if too tight with too much oncoming traffic, then perhaps I'd just wait. Gives one time to ponder life.

edit: oh, just read Brian's post. yeah, hopscotch, pass on left, squeeze in when tight, pull out and pass when clear. thats what communication is for ;)

Al

[mechBgon]

You could always challenge the nearest motorists to a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to pass the time :D Or... OR...

Look honey, the bike guy is challenging us to a charade! :) Ok... one word, two syllables... first syllable sounds like... anger? No? Mad? No? Rage? Yes! :) Sounds like rage... age? Uhh.. bars. Cage? YES! :) Second syllable... two letters... uh...