Advocacy & Safety - Safety Suggestions For Specific Situations?

I've read much of this board and other sources regarding safety rules, traffic rules, and so forth. I've basically figured out that the best rule to sum it up is to "stay to the right as far as possible most times and act like traffic when necessary".

I think I know the opinions of many folks here, but it doesn't hurt to go ahead and ask. How do you all handle some specific situations regarding riding?

1) Riding up a steep/long hill with no shoulder & little room for your bike. Couple that with a lack of fitness for the hill... preferable to maybe take the sidewalk if you know you might have to walk the bike or stop and rest? This might be a valid scenario for going downhill for safety (or speed - I do know of someone who got a speeding ticket) concerns as well in walking the bike...

2) A short trip (around 200 ft) requiring a left turn into two-lane traffic and then another left-turn out of the traffic. Ride against the traffic? I know that's generally not preferable and falls against the "behave like traffic" rule, but I'm wondering how people would handle this? I could do it either way, but my initial impulse is to avoid time in the middle of the road as much as possible.

Those are the two scenarios I most encounter, but if people can think of more it might be good discussion...anyway what do people think of these and what would you do in similar situations?

1) Uphill vs downhill positioning: The slower I am going, the farther to the right I am generally riding. If I am climbing at jogging speed (6 mph / 10 kph), I stay in the bike lane or shoulder or along the edge of the road, and I would even consider the sidewalk under a few very specific scenarios. Downhill at 25-30mph / 40-50kph, I often take the right lane, finding the bike lane or shoulder too confining or dangerous.

2) Left - left sequence: Been there ... done that (Vista Sorrento Parkway to Mira Mesa Bl. to Scranton Rd., or Roselle St. to Sorrento Valley Bl. to Sorrento Valley Rd., for those familiar with the Sorrento Mesa/Valley portion of San Diego County). I do sometimes ride contraflow to avoid two consecutive lefts, but I do so slowly on the sidewalk, yielding to all pedestrians, rather than in the street.

1. Ride far enough right to satisfy the law, while riding far enough to the left to cause cars to change lanes to pass you. For me most of the time that means riding in the right wheel track of the lane, about 2.5 feet from the curb. Or 2.5 feet to the left of the white line. Riding this way I've only had 2 close passes in the last 2 years, that inlcudes riding in Miami, Fl. (supposedly bad for biking, but I though it was great). If you ride to far right you will encourage cars to squeeze you and pass close. Uphill, downhill, fast, slow, doesn't matter, take up enough space to cause cars to change lanes to pass.

2. This left turn stuff drives me nuts. Just get on the road, ON THE CORRECT SIDE, ride the bike, put your arm out to signal the turn and turn. If cars have to wait behind you, too bad for them.

Uphill, downhill, fast, slow, doesn't matter, take up enough space to cause cars to change lanes to pass.

if there's enough pavement width, bikes do NOT have to take up enough space to cause cars to change lanes to pass.

Doesn't matter.

There are several ways to make left turns. Safety and comfort dictate to YOU how should traverse an intersection. vehicular left, pedestrian left, the 270 degree left and the messenger left.

all different ways to make a left turn. bicyclists use a variety of these methods depending on traffic speed, bicyclist comfort, traffic volumes, road design, etc.

John E states the speed positioning variances in how far from the curb a rider is positioned; his assessment of being able to ride further right at slower speeds (uphill) is very appropo and usually how it plays out for virtually every rider, without exception.

definetly DON'T ride 'as far right as POSSIBLE', it's as far right as 'practicable', determinable by YOU, feel safe riding.

1. Ride far enough right to satisfy the law, while riding far enough to the left to cause cars to change lanes to pass you. For me most of the time that means riding in the right wheel track of the lane, about 2.5 feet from the curb. Or 2.5 feet to the left of the white line. Riding this way I've only had 2 close passes in the last 2 years, that inlcudes riding in Miami, Fl. (supposedly bad for biking, but I though it was great). If you ride to far right you will encourage cars to squeeze you and pass close. Uphill, downhill, fast, slow, doesn't matter, take up enough space to cause cars to change lanes to pass.

2. This left turn stuff drives me nuts. Just get on the road, ON THE CORRECT SIDE, ride the bike, put your arm out to signal the turn and turn. If cars have to wait behind you, too bad for them.


Oh that all works so well when traffic is moving at 55MPH (as on the roads John E described) and you are moving at say 6MPH (under the conditions the OP described...)

Simply brilliant.

<sarcasm off>

There are indeed times when riding in the right tire track is wholly impractical... one may just as well try to cross an interstate and expect motorists to simply stop for you. Good Luck.

I agree with John E under the circumstances outlined by the OP... as human powered vehicle operators, we have to be aware of our limitations and sometimes that means that we act as pedestrians vice "drivers of vehicles." :rolleyes:

I agree with John E under the circumstances outlined by the OP... as human powered vehicle operators, we have to be aware of our limitations and sometimes that means that we act as pedestrians vice "drivers of vehicles." :rolleyes:

I view it as "we can act like pedestrians" when necessary. I don't have to be stuck in the same traffic, so I can take another option that would work better (whether it's quicker or safer).

Just a more positive perspective. :thumb:

Works for me. No accidents. Only 2 actual incidents in 20 years of riding. No trouble. Big cities, cities with reputations as "bad biking cities", out in the country, all over. Works well for me.

I view it as "we can act like pedestrians" when necessary. I don't have to be stuck in the same traffic, so I can take another option that would work better (whether it's quicker or safer).

Just a more positive perspective. :thumb:

I see your point, but the one I am making is that when we are already moving at the speed of a pedestrian, perhaps we are better off taking that role rather then trying to act like the driver of a vehicle... especially when the other vehicle drivers around are trying to act more like race car drivers.

Around here arterial roads can be 55 and 65MPH... does it make sense to ride in the right tire track on said roads when you are moving at or less then 6MPH? How slow IS too slow? (BTW I can balance my bike at a dead stop... so that nonsense that one can't ride that slow... is just... nonsense)

I see your point, but the one I am making is that when we are already moving at the speed of a pedestrian, perhaps we are better off taking that role rather then trying to act like the driver of a vehicle... especially when the other vehicle drivers around are trying to act more like race car drivers.

It really depends on the local traffic, then. Many drivers around here are trying to act like they forgot where they're going (and they do a very good job of acting, too ;) ). Even a slowpoke like myself can get pretty close to hanging with traffic.

But, yes, when I can't, I find some other route that won't force drivers into making sudden lane changes.