Advocacy & Safety - Good for him!!

While driving home from work today, I came up on a decked-out rider spinning his way to the crest of a hill on a two lane rural road. Aware of my presence, he took the lane so I would be less likely to try and pass. He obviously knew I had no way of seeing any oncoming traffic and that if anything ugly were to happen, he most likely would get tangled up in it. Of course I knew better anyway, but I still thought to myself, “Good for you man!”

Problem is, some drivers may have become upset with this cyclist “Deliberately blocking the road.”

I do the same thing when riding my bike in a similar situation…do you?

Yes, the law in this state recomends (not reequires) you to take the center of the road and be seen in those situations and also when there are hazards on the side of the road.

The only way to do it - same goes for blind bends in the road.

I always take the lane when I feel a need to. The school bus driver this afternoon did not really like it when I did at a red light, so he/she (I didn't try to look) passed me awfully close. Later, after dropping kids off in a subdivision, the same bus driver made a left turn onto the road right at me as I was passing in front of the side street. I considered chasing the bus through the next subdivision, but I decided to enjoy my ride instead.

Your post, Moose, reminds of that old story about the tourist who went zipping across the European countryside in his fancy new sports car. :rolleyes:
One day he zipped past a peasant who shouted "Pig!" at the tourist, just as he was about to go flying around a corner.
The tourist shouted back, "Jerk!" then went careening around the corner... and crashed into the biggest sow he'd ever seen, lying in the middle of the road. :eek:

Originally posted by Moose
I do the same thing when riding my bike in a similar situation…do you?

yes, depends on the situation though....

as for a sorta funny story about taking a lane, here's mine
I was commuting to college, and came up to an intersection with a red light, there was a right turn only lane on the far right, so I placed myself to the left of this lane, so right turning cars could pass and turn on red (this is legal in vegas). Anyhow light turns green I go and work my way back to the right hand side of the road, (there is plenty of room to pass on the left) and I hear a honk... and I think, 'who is this joker' I look back and there is a car behind me, in the far right lane :eek: the car had gone straight through the right hand turn only lane and was trying to pass traffic, but somehow failed to notice me? I didn't budge (mostly because there wasn't room to do this safely) so I slowed down the car, who eventually got into the left lane again and passed. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by VegasCyclist
yes, depends on the situation though....

... the car had gone straight through the right hand turn only lane

The same thing happened to me once, but the motorist actually passed me on the right == scary! Another time, a motorist used a semi-paved road shoulder to pass me on the outside -- even worse!

Yes, I do the same thing. I usually wave the motorist by when I can see a clear path, and I take the shoulder. So far I have had very few problems with irate motorist other than teenagers that see a need to use me as a target for pitching things at.

Yes you should take the lane when safety demands you to do so. Personally I don't worry about blocking traffic in such situations. People have to wait their turn in any other facet of life, so why should this be any different?

Originally posted by Chris L
Yes you should take the lane when safety demands you to do so. Personally I don't worry about blocking traffic in such situations. People have to wait their turn in any other facet of life, so why should this be any different?

in theory you are 100% correct, however the person behind you is in control of a 2000+ lb, machine that is capable of being used as a deadly weapon... this tends to change people's mind as to who should yeild right of way. :rolleyes:

In the city with all the obstacles, It can be especially useful to take the lane to dodge that pothole that creeps up on you. I do get honked every once in a while by that impatient worker who can either not be bother to switch lanes and pass (In the city I am almost always on multilane roads) or just feels like honking for the hell of it.

I recently got told that I have no right to be on the road at all because my bike does not require gasoline.

Tell em' you DRINK the gasoline, eat steel and ****e vegetables :)
Doug

Originally posted by VegasCyclist
in theory you are 100% correct, however the person behind you is in control of a 2000+ lb, machine that is capable of being used as a deadly weapon... this tends to change people's mind as to who should yeild right of way. :rolleyes:

Oh well, I'll soon be too dead to care! :roflmao:

No, it still doesn't change my mind. I still take the lane whenever I feel it necessary. I'm yet to die as a result, despite having ridden over 100,000km in that fashion.

Originally posted by Moose
While driving home from work today, I came up on a decked-out rider spinning his way to the crest of a hill on a two lane rural road. Aware of my presence, he took the lane so I would be less likely to try and pass. He obviously knew I had no way of seeing any oncoming traffic and that if anything ugly were to happen, he most likely would get tangled up in it. Of course I knew better anyway, but I still thought to myself, “Good for you man!”

Problem is, some drivers may have become upset with this cyclist “Deliberately blocking the road.”

I do the same thing when riding my bike in a similar situation…do you?
It's a balance between taking control and yielding; between experience and intuition.

Be assertive, but not aggressive. Take control as if you belong, but be ready to yield.

Cyclists that are confident are easier to predict. The problem that sometimes arises is that motorists don't always expect cyclists to be confident.

(Good for him.)

;)

Originally posted by Pete Clark
It's a balance between taking control and yielding; between experience and intuition.

Be assertive, but not aggressive. Take control as if you belong, but be ready to yield.

Cyclists that are confident are easier to predict. The problem that sometimes arises is that motorists don't always expect cyclists to be confident.

Agree.

Most people, cagers included, will usually yield to a person who is decisive and confident. Get eye contact if possible, signal your intention, and then just do it without hesitation. (And hear Alec Guiness' voice in my head: "These are not the droids you're looking for. Move along." :))

Originally posted by Moose
I do the same thing when riding my bike in a similar situation…do you?

My training route has a left hand sweeper that is blind. I always take the lane to avoid any unpleasantries. Drivers behind don't like but I hope they understand.

I do the same thing when riding my bike in a similar situation…do you?
I have done this on blind curves a couple of times. In addition to taking the lane, I held up my hand behind me in a "stop" gesture. As soon as the way was clear, I waved them on and moved over.

The interesting thing is, both times I got a big smile and wave as the auto went by. It seems that they appreciated my actions! ?

Originally posted by Prosody
I always take the lane when I feel a need to. The school bus driver this afternoon did not really like it when I did at a red light, so he/she (I didn't try to look) passed me awfully close. Later, after dropping kids off in a subdivision, the same bus driver made a left turn onto the road right at me as I was passing in front of the side street. I considered chasing the bus through the next subdivision, but I decided to enjoy my ride instead.
Prosody,
god thing you didn't run after the driver, coz, out here in T.O. you can be charged with a criminal offense, I remember, about 5 years ago a cyclist was almost run over by a Taxi driver, the cyclist run after the driver he caught him at the next stop, one thing led to another, the driver got the better part of him , guess what the cyclist was charged for assault, the police said its not right to run after the driver, you have a complain call the police, that's what they say. good if they are almost there to help you...
Oscar

Yes, I always ride in the safest part of the road, which can be the middle of the lane.