General Cycling Discussion - One Lane driving!

So I just want to rant if anyone else wants to feel free love to hear your stories.

So My route is in construction and now a two lane road. They coned it off so it goes all over the place (lane shifting) .

I ride on the left so cars can pass me on the right.
Sometimes I have to block traffic.

I wish I could ride on the left all the time everywhere. Your so visible to drivers. It shows also they pass me with so much caution or not at all. Could be just construction though.

Of course you have at least one cager along your way.

When I go through one-lane construction areas, I take the lane so that no one can go by. Cars are supposed to slow down through those areas anyway.

If it is really long, I might pull over half way through and let a few go before resuming riding.

I've encountered construction on the highways too, and in those cases, I ride up beside all the cars (on their right) all the way to the flagperson. When I reach the flagperson, he/she will usually let me go first, ahead of all the cars. It's great for them because I slow the traffic right down! :)

I too often find construction areas comfortable and make it even easier to manage other traffic. Speed is reduced, drivers are paying more attention to navigate thru the maze of cones, lanes are narrow so sharing is not an option.

One note however is that it can sometimes be tempting to go outside the designated lanes often marked by cones - one sees wide open pavement, but this can quickly lead to a dangerous situation, a trench, sudden ending of pavement, a contruction vehicle backing up, etc. I never take the temptation.

wheel - is this a future lightrail zone ;)

Al

Ah, yes, riding thru construction zones.

One of my favorite confrontations ever was in a construction zone many years ago. The DOT had ripped up all of the pavement for about 1/4 of a mile. Because of the construction, they'd also dropped the speed limit to 25. Realizing that I could easily do 25 for a 1/4 mile on my road bike (even with no pavement), I took the lane. Some JAM in a car behind me honked continuously for the entire distance, only to get stuck next to me at the light at the end of the stretch. I went off, screaming at him, "I'm doing the f**king speed limit! It's a f**king construction area! WTF are you thinking?" etc.

He started to get out of his car, and then I REALLY lost it. "Yeah, get out of your f**king car! I'll kick your ass, you piece of s**t!" and so on. He very sheepishly got back into his car and left when the light changed, driving much more politely than he had been.

wheel - is this a future lightrail zone ;)

Al
Yeppers Central AVE area and Washington.. 2009 Baby Gee will I even be here in Phoenix hope not!

Yea your right Al Plus it is hard to merge back in traffic.

Machka Central was like 80 feet so the two lanes are very wide. Of course I do take the lane when needed and ridding on the left you can easily take the lane anytime you want. Note cones block on comming traffic.
I will take a picture next time I ride.


Itsjustb well I could easily avoid this. However construction is your friend kinda (ride junky bike). I expect to meet the cagers. So I prepare and not get to worked up. I tell them to use 7th st or 7th ave if they don't like it. Only a half mile away.

I started ridding in the left position due to the fact our center lane had brick inlay. So if I rode right I would have to take the lane. If I ride left I can let them drive over the brick. Worked great and now I ride on the left.

This is Camelback and 3rd ave. Talk about the best bike lane.

On one way streets, I ride on the left. It gives drivers a much better way of passing safely.

When I go through one-lane construction areas, I take the lane so that no one can go by. Cars are supposed to slow down through those areas anyway.

If it is really long, I might pull over half way through and let a few go before resuming riding.

I've encountered construction on the highways too, and in those cases, I ride up beside all the cars (on their right) all the way to the flagperson. When I reach the flagperson, he/she will usually let me go first, ahead of all the cars. It's great for them because I slow the traffic right down! :)

:beer:

So far every flag person has let me go first.
Same on taking the lane, it's slow anyway if the road narrows to one lane.

I was riding on this scenic route that wound around a cliff 300' feet above a river
any way i get up to the windy part and they are shooting a car commercial
about 20 cars were waiting
The flagman let me go and the cars had to sit there for 45 minutes or go 8 miles out of their way
to get a mile down the road

:D