Advocacy & Safety - What Would You Do And Why?

There's a two lane road. With vehicles parked on both sides of the road, there is only just enough space within the lanes for opposing vehicular traffic to pass.

Road speed limit is 30 mph.

You're cycling along the road at ~ 15 mph near the edge of the road (2~3 feet out) as there are no vehicles parked along your the side of the road at this stage. However, about 40 feet ahead of you, a vehicle is parked on your side of the road. There are other vehicles parked on the opposite side of the road also.

You glance back to check for any following vehicular traffic. There are two or three vehicles following about 100~150 feet behind you. Another two or three vehicles are traveling in the opposite direction in the other lane.

I'd do a barrel roll.

I'd have to see the situation but I'd either slow down and let the motorized traffic do its thing, or speed up and pass the one parked vehicle on my side of the road.

It's best to get out of the way of motorized traffic and not antagonize them ... happier for everyone all around.

I'd do a barrel roll.
:roflmao2::thumb:

I would just maintain my speed with a slight increase if the people behind me decided to ride my ass.

Right down the middle of the road like I owned it baby.
F em all.

It sounds like you will likely pass the parked car before the traffic behind you catches up, in this case (or if it appears will be close) I will increase my speed and get out into the center of the lane so the cars behind me can see that I need the room.

I increase my speed to get past before the traffic and to avoid inconveniencing them any more than necessary. I also tend to stand up so the cars behind me can see I am trying to get past the obstruction quickly.

If it looks like the cars will have to jam on the breaks, I will wait, but I am not concerned if they have to slow down a bit.

Assert your position on the road. Go out into the lane far enough so that a door opening won't take you down.
If you hug the side of the road, you risk getting nailed by a door, and you tempt the drivers behind you to thread the needle which offers you NO margin for error.
It's your lane. You don't have to yield to people coming up from behind.

At that speed, if I sense that they're going to thread the needle anyway, I'll waggle my bike a bit to show them that I'm not as predictable as they'd like me to be.

I'd do a barrel roll.

I was thinking the same thing...

assert your position on the road. Go out into the lane far enough so that a door opening won't take you down.
If you hug the side of the road, you risk getting nailed by a door, and you tempt the drivers behind you to thread the needle which offers you no margin for error.
It's your lane. You don't have to yield to people coming up from behind.

At that speed, if i sense that they're going to thread the needle anyway, i'll waggle my bike a bit to show them that i'm not as predictable as they'd like me to be.

+1

Mod note: Moved to A&S..

+1 + another 1

Right down the middle of the road like I owned it baby.
F em all.


+1. They're expecting anyway. You don't want to confuse them with something like slowing down and waiting for them to pass.

Assert your position on the road. Go out into the lane far enough so that a door opening won't take you down.
If you hug the side of the road, you risk getting nailed by a door, and you tempt the drivers behind you to thread the needle which offers you NO margin for error.
It's your lane. You don't have to yield to people coming up from behind.

At that speed, if I sense that they're going to thread the needle anyway, I'll waggle my bike a bit to show them that I'm not as predictable as they'd like me to be.

+1

signal early, and move into place and hold your position.

It all depends and I'd have to be in the moment to figure it out.

If it really looks close and traffic isn't moving quickly behind me-take the lane and get past, then back over towards the right.

If I am at a moment were my legs are starting to give-late in the ride or after getting up an incline-I might gear down and slow, move a bit and just let the cars get ahead.

I tend to ride in the right tire track, which seems to work well for our roads. On the wider roads it keeps me just clear of parked car doors and gives enough room for a car to pass. On the narrower roads it forces most of the drivers over-and if I start getting buzzed, I'll slowly inch over. Don't know how that would affect things in this situation.

I would control the lane and I would not look behind me. If the motorists don't like driving behind a bicycle, perhaps they should consider taking another route next time. (Please remember, when considering my snarky answer, that whatever conditions on the road make it appealing to cyclists will most likely also make the street appealing to motorists. For example, smooth surface, few stop signs, going to a popular area.)

There's a two lane road. With vehicles parked on both sides of the road, there is only just enough space within the lanes for opposing vehicular traffic to pass.

Road speed limit is 30 mph.

You're cycling along the road at ~ 15 mph near the edge of the road (2~3 feet out) as there are no vehicles parked along your the side of the road at this stage. However, about 40 feet ahead of you, a vehicle is parked on your side of the road. There are other vehicles parked on the opposite side of the road also.

You glance back to check for any following vehicular traffic. There are two or three vehicles following about 100~150 feet behind you. Another two or three vehicles are traveling in the opposite direction in the other lane.

I normally default to the center of the lane so there is no moving left to take the lane in a case like this, only moving right to give it up. I would not be opposed to allowing the overtaking car(s) to go through the choke point first, if I thought they would easily get there before me, and may even stop pedaling and move right (but not brake, and certainly not stop) if that's what it took to help facilitate it. I would have decided who was going to go through first long before 40 feet from the parked cars though.

I normally ride in the right tire track, but in this case I would take the center of the the lane or the left tire track. I would not change my pace based on a car behind me.

I'd likely do what other cars do. Increase speed so as to be ahead before others get there and take my right of way. Heck,( 40 ft,) I increase my speed to 23 mph, I might only hold them up 6 seconds. Big deal. All humans need learn patience and get over their dam 'me first,' gene.

I'd likely do what other cars do. Increase speed so as to be ahead before others get there and take my right of way. Heck,( 40 ft,) I increase my speed to 23 mph, I might only hold them up 6 seconds. Big deal. All humans need learn patience and get over their dam 'me first,' gene.

:lol::lol::lol:

I usually just pass the parked car in such situations and if there are more parked cars ahead, I would stay in the lane without letting the cars behind me pass. I value my safety higher than other vehicles' convenience and swerving in and out of the lane like that is a really dangerous thing to do in a city.

I'd stop and wait. I've got a few seconds of time. If no car were coming at me from the other lane I'd take the lane though. I'd have the right of way. Correct?

First of all, I'm normally not 2 to 3 feet from the curb, I usually out in the lane anyway, or at least my left side of my bicycle is in alignment with the left side of a parked car. To me, motor vehicles that are approaching 100 to 150 feet behind me at 30 mph I would consider an ample distance and speed for me to signal and move left a few feet, if I happen to be riding in the latter mentioned position.

This type of scenario is something that plays out numerous times on my daily commutes.

I believe in sort of a universal karma if a motorists has to wait for me 5 seconds them I am obligated to wait for a motorist for 5 seconds. If the delay I have to endure is greater then the delay to motorists I'll generally assert my place in the road (i.e. I'll hold a door open for one person but not for a whole bunch of other people (like at a concert)) but the 100' noted in the op sounds too late to go jumping into the lane sounds easier just to slow down a bit and jump in at the end of the pack of cars.

Speed up a little to ~20mph and move to avoid an opening door. At this pace and assuming that the cars are doing the speed limit you should be past the parked car before the following cars are within 30ft of you. It is hard for me to envision this situation without actually running the numbers but when riding I think many just have a sense for these things. I generally try to avoid aggravating motorists but that being said, even if the cars were already on my tail, I would still generally move to block the lane and slightly increase my pace. I won't play chicken with a speeding or aggravated motorist but I would almost never stop in this situation and slowing would likely just increase my chance of being wedged too close to the parked car. As a side note, I'm a big fan of designated bicycle routes.

Motorists operate their vehicles differently depending on where cyclists position themselves in the roadway. Years ago, I tried to do like the OP and try to pull out into traffic while only a couple of feet from the curb, most generally, I'd either have to stop and wait for the freight train of cars to pass, or have an over courteous motorist stop in the roadway, delaying traffic anyway, in order to let me go around the one parked car. There was constant confusion or mixed signals on/from both parties when I rode in this matter.

I'd signal a left lane change and move out into the lane well before they overtook me.

A 30 mph zone is a place that drivers have to expect things like doors opening and pedestrians crossing the road. It isn't a place where the primary concern is to increase the rate of car traffic. 30 mph is a very slow road in the US!

I'd fairly-gradually move out into the middle of the lane before the parked cars so that the following drivers would know exactly what I am doing. That is, I'd take the lane. Note that, in the US, this is (generally) legal to do. Note that this approach is possibly more courteous to the drivers because you give them lots of time to react and require only a minor reaction (If the cars are 100-150ft behind they would likely only need to let off the gas to slow down enough). (As the prior poster said, I'd probably signal too!)

I might increase my speed a bit. (Note that radically increasing your speed means that other people (drivers/pedestrians) will have a harder time predicting your position!)

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I'd have to see the situation but I'd either slow down and let the motorized traffic do its thing, or speed up and pass the one parked vehicle on my side of the road.
It's best to get out of the way of motorized traffic and not antagonize them ... happier for everyone all around.
For an experienced cyclist, this is a somewhat surprising statement.

Slowing down could be the wrong thing to do if the parked car is 40ft (or less) and the following traffic is 100ft behind. You'd have to slow down quite alot to make sure you have enough space to move around the parked car without surprising following traffic. (Is the cyclist going to "swerve" in front of me?? Is the cyclist going to stop?? Does the car following behind me have enough space to stop??). In this scenario, I strongly believe you are helping the motorists because your actions are clear and predictable and can be easly and safely accomodated.


but the 100' noted in the op sounds too late to go jumping into the lane sounds easier just to slow down a bit and jump in at the end of the pack of cars.
This is a surprising statement too. How much time are you spending figuring out how many cars are in the pack? What if you miss one or two of them? What if one of the cars in the pack slows down and makes the pack longer?

The parked car is only 40ft ahead. You'd have to almost stop to let any number of cars driving at 30mph by. If you don't take the lane, the drivers are more likely to expect that you are going to do something rash and have much less time to react to it. Taking the lane likely reduces the anxiety of the drivers!

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I'd stop and wait. I've got a few seconds of time. If no car were coming at me from the other lane I'd take the lane though. I'd have the right of way. Correct?
In the situation described, there is enough room for two way traffic (ie, it's not a one lane road). In the US, you (basically) have the right of way, regardless of the opposite traffic, to take the lane in this case.

I think this is likely approached differently by commuters than it is by recreational cyclists.

On a side note and not to hijack; many of the designated bike lanes here often are used by joggers. I'm generally not bothered by this as most jog against traffic and give up or safely share the lane when confronted with an oncoming cyclist. There are however certain routes that seem to be favorites for jogging and walking mothers and nannies (with strollers and sometimes two wide). These ladies rarely yield to cyclist and you generally have to stop or, if possible (read safe), move into the regular traffic lane to avoid them. Am I wrong to be annoyed (and a bit astounded) by this behavior or is this the same as motorist sharing the road with cyclists? I generally just avoid these routes now.

I think this is likely approached differently by commuters than it is by recreational cyclists.
The difference would be between casual/inexperienced cyclists and experienced cyclists (I don't commute by bicycle). What is interesting is that the statements made by some experienced cyclists seem to be more like what one would expect from inexperienced cyclists.

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Motorists operate their vehicles differently depending on where cyclists position themselves in the roadway. Years ago, I tried to do like the OP and try to pull out into traffic while only a couple of feet from the curb, most generally, I'd either have to stop and wait for the freight train of cars to pass, or have an over courteous motorist stop in the roadway, delaying traffic anyway, in order to let me go around the one parked car. There was constant confusion or mixed signals on/from both parties when I rode in this matter.
This is often what happens when you ride in an "abrupt" manner. It gives the drivers the impression that cyclists ride in an erratice and unpredictable manner. In any vehicle, it's safer and more courteous to give other drivers an idea of what your intentions are well in-advance of taking an action.

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These ladies rarely yield to cyclist and you generally have to stop or, if possible (read safe), move into the regular traffic lane to avoid them. Am I wrong to be annoyed (and a bit astounded) by this behavior or is this the same as motorist sharing the road with cyclists? I generally just avoid these routes now.
Are these other users legal users of the path? Personally, I'd probably just move into the roadway and not think about them.

Motorists operate their vehicles differently depending on where cyclists position themselves in the roadway. Years ago, I tried to do like the OP and try to pull out into traffic while only a couple of feet from the curb, most generally, I'd either have to stop and wait for the freight train of cars to pass, or have an over courteous motorist stop in the roadway, delaying traffic anyway, in order to let me go around the one parked car. There was constant confusion or mixed signals on/from both parties when I rode in this matter.

Exactly, most car drivers couldn't care less about a cyclist in that situation. You think you're being gracious, and in return they treat you like a car pulling out of a parking space or something - if they even notice you at all...
It is usually safest not to give up your right of way, whether on a bike or some other vehicle, because even if it's inconvenient to other vehicles and maybe you'll get insulted or so, at least you are predictable.


Am I wrong to be annoyed (and a bit astounded) by this behavior or is this the same as motorist sharing the road with cyclists? I generally just avoid these routes now.

No. Unless there's some strange law allowing such behaviour in Denver (which would kind of defeat the purpose of a bike lane), you are vey right to be annoyed.

There's a two lane road. With vehicles parked on both sides of the road, there is only just enough space within the lanes for opposing vehicular traffic to pass.

Road speed limit is 30 mph.

You're cycling along the road at ~ 15 mph near the edge of the road (2~3 feet out) as there are no vehicles parked along your the side of the road at this stage. However, about 40 feet ahead of you, a vehicle is parked on your side of the road. There are other vehicles parked on the opposite side of the road also.

You glance back to check for any following vehicular traffic. There are two or three vehicles following about 100~150 feet behind you. Another two or three vehicles are traveling in the opposite direction in the other lane.

There are a couple of roads here where I live with parking on both sides of the street and there is just enough room for ONE car to drive between them and these are roads with two-way travel. I would move over far enough to the left so as to avoid being doored and keep riding.

I think this is likely approached differently by commuters than it is by recreational cyclists.

On a side note and not to hijack; many of the designated bike lanes here often are used by joggers. I'm generally not bothered by this as most jog against traffic and give up or safely share the lane when confronted with an oncoming cyclist. There are however certain routes that seem to be favorites for jogging and walking mothers and nannies (with strollers and sometimes two wide). These ladies rarely yield to cyclist and you generally have to stop or, if possible (read safe), move into the regular traffic lane to avoid them. Am I wrong to be annoyed (and a bit astounded) by this behavior or is this the same as motorist sharing the road with cyclists? I generally just avoid these routes now.

Are there sidewalks along the same stretch of road? If so why aren't the walkers using them? I would say that no you are not wrong to be annoyed by this behavior. A bike lane is just that a bike lane and not a MUP.

filter after signal intent. also signal the "1 or 2 vehicles behind at 100 ft" to proceed first. wave :-) !
communicate intent - follow through, everyone is happy!

I'd start checking behind me much more in advance, and would have already come up with a plan by the point you're describing. In fact, I'd probably already be out in the lane.

Thanks for the comments and votes (so far)!

I thought about track standing in the middle of the lane and doing a headstand on the saddle, but I thought I'd better not showboat today; maybe tomorrow. :p

OK. In the situation I described in my first post, this is what I did -

I maintained my line of cycling, about 2~3 feet away from road edge, until I was 15~20 feet from the parked car. Then I started to move into the lane to overtake the parked vehicle. I also increased my cycling speed to maybe 20 mph.

I didn't look back again to see how far behind the following vehicles were, but I didn't hear them close by (I can usually tell by hearing when vehicles are very close (~ 10 feet away or less)).

As I just finished passing the parked vehicle and started to move back towards the road edge, I heard a car horn just behind me. The first vehicle (driven by middle aged overweight guy) of the three vehicles following and now beginning to overtake me had tooted, presumably in protest at my cycling maneuver.

This is why I thought I'd start this poll to get others thoughts.

When on a narrow road such as this one, I usually weave in and out of the lane to overtake the occasional parked vehicle. But I usually look/listen for following vehicles before moving out into the lane, and I usually speed up a bit when overtaking parked vehicles, particularly when there is traffic following behind.

Maybe I should have signaled my intention to move into the lane using hand signal before starting my move into the lane?

Although I've been cycling on and off for over a year, I seem to have a problem cycling with one hand on the handlebar at the moment (wobbly bicycle; can't maintain a straight line properly) and using the other hand for signaling, using the water bottle, scratching myself etc. :( It is going to take practice cycling one handed, I think.

A few points:

1) Staying close to the road edge when there are no cars and then taking the lane at the last minute when there are cars is sort of backwards, rethink your general strategy and give less priority to following the edge of the road and more priority to acting like a predictable driver of a vehicle.

2) Go to your nearest empty parking lot and work on looking backward while going in a straight line. A repeated glance back works as good if not better then a hand signal.

3) Think about getting a mirror so you can work with traffic and not against it.

i'm usually positioning to avoid parked obstacles about 200 feet in front of me if I'm moving 15mph.

barry's last point -to get a mirror so as to work with traffic and not against it is sound advice and the pinnacle of bicyclist courtesy. keep in mind that some motorists will still be pissed at the slightest allusion to being delayed much less actually being delayed so expect some

road flack regardless of how or where you position your bike.

Though it has been covered in previous posts:

Check behind regularly. Give a long clear signal in plenty of time before you move towards the centre of the road to start the passing manouver. No need to speed up, but I'm sure it is appreciated, and I would in this situation. Check behind again and move out again once you have passed the obstruction.
Give a quick wave or thumbs-up to the driver for their patience. Easy

Ed

Generally, I will be riding in the lane in the situation in the OP. This happens a lot on my commute, and people wouldn't be catching me if they weren't speeding like maniacs. Weaving in and out of parked cars, no matter how sparsely spaced, is not the best idea.


If the motorists don't like driving behind a bicycle, perhaps they should consider taking another route next time.this thought informs my riding style fairly often. There are a couple of new, multi-million dollar roads in my area, but people are still taking back country roads out of habit and because they can speed and run stop signs with impunity and get to their destination a few seconds faster. I see no reason to cower so they can maintain the fantasy that their route choice is a good idea. Similarly, our downtown area has a couple of high capacity roads that through motorized traffic should be on. Instead, they are driving at top speed down residential streets. Again, it saves them a few seconds, but only because they can break the laws without penalty.

I didn't look back again to see how far behind the following vehicles were, but I didn't hear them close by (I can usually tell by hearing when vehicles are very close (~ 10 feet away or less)).

As I just finished passing the parked vehicle and started to move back towards the road edge, I heard a car horn just behind me.

Echoing other posters: Looking back is one way of signalling. It tells the driver you are not recklessly moving into their path. Had you signaled or shoulder checked, I doubt he would have honked. I suspect honking was his way of commenting on what seemed to him to be a dangerous maneuver - changing lanes (seemingly) blindly.

You should start right away practising the skill of shoulder checking and/or signalling while holding your line.

I maintained my line of cycling, about 2~3 feet away from road edge, until I was 15~20 feet from the parked car. Then I started to move into the lane to overtake the parked vehicle. I also increased my cycling speed to maybe 20 mph.
15-20 feet is like three bicycle lengths. It's much too late to warn the cars who are following you that you are going to move!


When on a narrow road such as this one, I usually weave in and out of the lane to overtake the occasional parked vehicle. But I usually look/listen for following vehicles before moving out into the lane, and I usually speed up a bit when overtaking parked vehicles, particularly when there is traffic following behind.
"Weaving" means that you appear erratic to other drivers. Plus, if you dodge behind parked cars, following traffic won't necessarily see you before you dart back into traffic! You might think you aren't "darting" but it's quite-likely to look that way to the other drivers.

(Note that "weaving" is one of the signs cops look for to identify drunk drivers!)

One of the key things of safe driving and bicycling is behaving in a manner that other drivers and people can predict what your actions are going to be! Straightest path and constant speed is preferable! (It's OK to speed up initially as you are moving into the lane.)

Keep in mind that most of the people here are likely from the US. You should know what the laws in NZ allow you to do.

As other's have said "weaving" in and out of parked cars is not a good idea. Unless the parked cars are parked one per block (realistically not likely to happen very often) it is better to treat them (even if there is a break 2 or 3 cars long) as one long line of parked car and ride far enough to the left to avoid the "car door zone."

Thanks for the votes and comments!

According to the results of the poll, most people would have continued overtaking the parked vehicle. I thought this would probably be the most likely result.

Yes. I believe I should have at least given some indication (hand signal and/or glance back) of my intention to move into the lane. Alternatively, I could have stopped and waited for the following vehicular traffic to pass. Actually on some recent rides, I've stopped in similar circumstances on other roads. But I've also begun glancing behind more frequently for following traffic before moving into the lane to overtake parked vehicles.

When I referred to "weaving" in and out of parked vehicles, I meant variations in cycling line of, generally, maybe three or four feet while in the process of passing parked vehicles. I don't weave otherwise, unless I'm felling very tired, and then it's time to stop cycling and rest!

If there's a line of parked vehicles with very few, if any, spaces between the vehicles, then I tend to cycle about two feet away from the parked vehicles. There's increased risk of being doored or hit by vehicles pulling out from parking by riding close to the vehicles. However, many roads here are narrow. Riding further away from parked vehicles (beyond open door zone) will place you well into the lane, effectively blocking following traffic which risks increased impatience and animosity towards cyclists by motorists.

I'm particularly vigilant when riding close to and passing parked vehicles. I always lookout for people sitting on the road side of their parked vehicles, in case they open vehicle doors or maybe try to pull out. If I suspect a potential problem, I then check behind for following traffic and if clear, I'll usually cycle wide of the suspect vehicle. If there's following traffic, I'll either slow down, or I'll stop if necessary. There have been numerous times when I've had to avoid opening vehicle doors and vehicles (trying to) pull out of parking.

When there's a line of parked vehicles with frequent gaps (about 25~50 feet) between, I'll usually move into the gap by 2 or 3 feet, then (after a quick glance back for following traffic) slowly move back into the lane again by the same amount to pass the next parked vehicle.

When there is the occasional parked vehicle with large gaps between (~ 100+ feet), I usually move closer to the edge of the road, and then move slowly back into the lane to overtake the next parked vehicle.

I usually increase cycling speed when overtaking parked vehicles when it is likely that following vehicular traffic may be held up until I've finished passing parked vehicles. However, if there is little or no possibility of holding up vehicular traffic while I'm in the lane passing parked vehicles (due to no following traffic and/or due to wide road/lane), then I'll just maintain my present cycling speed.

I'd stop and wait. I've got a few seconds of time. If no car were coming at me from the other lane I'd take the lane though. I'd have the right of way. Correct?

I suggest you use particular care in doing this. In this setting, taking the lane for a few seconds is easy and safe. In stopping and then resuming travel, you can easily expose yourself to increased risk and, depending on the driver first in line behind you, impede the smooth flow of traffic.