Advocacy & Safety - Another wrong-way cyclist story

Was riding on a marginally-traveled, residential, two-lane NOL road that serves as the perimiter of the local golf course. The minimal traffic on this road makes it a favorite for the occasional jogger, roadbiker, or hybrid rider.

Today, on my loop back home on my '61 Paramount, a father & son on a pair of Trek hybrids (one an '05 4300, if I recall, not that it matters) pulled out of an adjacent road about 350 feet ahead of me, and proceeded to take the right (from my perspective) edge of the road. I was, at this moment, on the same side, coming head on at about 20 mph. The father, riding ahead, was not aware of my presence, having not bothered to look up from the handlebars (I gather he had some form of cycle computer to keep his eyes occupied).

About 200-150 feet before a possible collision, I began to move to the left to avoid them, having noted that neither rider had noted my presence ahead. Murphey's law, of course, had our fellow wrong-way cyclist look up at this very moment to swerve in the same direction as I, at a near identical angle. Knowing quite well that any further direction corrections at this distance would be dangerous, I just stopped.

He passed at this point, upon when I gave him a friendly tip that wrong-way cycling can be a lot hazardous then one might be lead to believe. I then proceeded on my way - noting that when I checked for traffic behind me, both father and son took the proper side of the road.

Proves that even at minimal speeds and minus automobiles, wrong-way cycling can still be hazardous to you and others.

Wrong-way cycling proponents need not apply to this thread, thank you, I don't care to see this thread become a flamewar.

Take care,

-Kurt

I don't think I've ever seen a wrong-way proponent on these boards. This is the first wrong-way story I've ever heard here that ended with the wrong-way cyclist crossing to the correct side, though. Good job.

I don't think I've ever seen a wrong-way proponent on these boards. This is the first wrong-way story I've ever heard here that ended with the wrong-way cyclist crossing to the correct side, though. Good job.

I've seen them. They're a little strange. Do a search on wrong-way cycling and see what you find.

I've seen them. They're a little strange. Do a search on wrong-way cycling and see what you find.If it were my board, people advocating WWC would be warned once, then perma-banned on the next offense.

I had to dodge two wrong-way cyclists myself a few weeks back. But they didn't go over to the other side, and just oblivious to their wrong-way riding, kept going.

John

Believe it or not, one of the roads in the estate where I live is a one-way system...except bicycles can legally go up it the "wrong" way. I've been up it a few times and am very wary.

In the UK is the right/correct way on the left side (same for HK, Japan, South Africa, Australia, and UK Virgin Islands) I'm assuming?

I don't think I've ever seen a wrong-way proponent on these boards. This is the first wrong-way story I've ever heard here that ended with the wrong-way cyclist crossing to the correct side, though. Good job.

Yes, they exsist. Odd, persistent, trolllike bunch they are.



In the UK is the right/correct way on the left side (same for HK, Japan, South Africa, Australia, and UK Virgin Islands) I'm assuming?

Correct, at least for the UK. Couldn't tell you with certainty about the others.

-Kurt

I had the same problem a little over a week ago. I'm on a wide two lane road without a marked shoulder, w/ a retaining wall/jersey barrier, moving about 20mph. I nearly run head on into a mother and daughter, coming around a blind curve, neither one wearing a helmet. I had about 50' to avoid them.

I had the same problem a little over a week ago. I'm on a wide two lane road without a marked shoulder, w/ a retaining wall/jersey barrier, moving about 20mph. I nearly run head on into a mother and daughter, coming around a blind curve, neither one wearing a helmet. I had about 50' to avoid them.

Typical. God help them if they're ever involved in a similar situation with a motor vehicle.

-Kurt

I've warned countless cyclists of the dangers of going the wrong way from my bike, my car, and on foot. I've always been gentle and considerate and tried to come at the issue from their perspective. I've never had anyone listen to the advice, so congratulations. Maybe it just took a near accident to get through to them.

This morning I almost took out a wrong way cyclists in a roundabout.

I was going straight through, and zipping up the mild incline with no problem.
He came from my right cruising down the hill with a fair amount of speed, and turned left to cut the roundabout short. I think my blinkie startled him, because he hit the brakes (disc equipped mtb) and I saw the front end squish down and the back end went up.

Had he gone over the bars I probably would have stopped to help.. but since he didn't I just did a nice hockey skid while politely singing "Wrong wayyyyy!".

I think that if I were asked to pick only mistake that many cyclists make, that is worse than all others, it would have to be riding against traffic.

I saw another prize winner this past Sunday morning. A family, riding on the sidewalk, led by daddy.
The only one not on the sidewalk was mommy, who was dutifully rolling along on the wrong side, complete with a sappy suburban grin.

Most of you already know what happens if you try to tell any of these *********** anything: They go ADC: Agitated-Defiant-Confrontational. "I'll ride any way I want!!" is some sort of war cry.

The Dumbing-Down of America?

This morning I almost took out a wrong way cyclists in a roundabout.

I was going straight through, and zipping up the mild incline with no problem.
He came from my right cruising down the hill with a fair amount of speed, and turned left to cut the roundabout short. I think my blinkie startled him, because he hit the brakes (disc equipped mtb) and I saw the front end squish down and the back end went up.

Had he gone over the bars I probably would have stopped to help.. but since he didn't I just did a nice hockey skid while politely singing "Wrong wayyyyy!".

^
One of my most considerable fears, where I ride. We have numerous residential roundabouts of which neither drivers nor leisure cyclists drive/ride through correctly.

Have yet to come across a wrong-way cyclist at one of these intersections, but it's only a matter of time...



saw another prize winner this past Sunday morning. A family, riding on the sidewalk, led by daddy.
The only one not on the sidewalk was mommy, who was dutifully rolling along on the wrong side, complete with a sappy suburban grin.

I'll applaud the portion of the family that remained on the sidewalk. Why applaud the sidewalk? You can imagine what chaos would result if you put these leisure cyclists on the road.

My favorite "idiot's rebuttal" from such cyclists is the following excuse (or something close to it):

"Everything has become so regulated these days - I just want to enjoy riding!"

As if those painless little 'regulations' of riding properly didn't mean diddily. Forget trying to explain to them that those road rules are for everyone's mutual benifit...

-Kurt

P.S.: I'm not against sidewalk cycling for the inexperienced:

I've seen an example of folks - who should have been on a sidewalk - on the street once: A family of four, riding (or more appropriately "weaving") their balloon tire cruisers down a NOL, two-lane, 30 M.P.H. residential road - a road that all the 'trendy' motorists in their sports cars take at 45. They ultimately came to a stop with great difficulty - and a few near falls - to make a left turn from the left extremity of the lane. Immidiately behind them was a bridge with a sharp curve behind it, rendering them both blind and deaf to any traffic coming behind them that they might cut off without warning.